Read Sweet Harmony for Free Online Page B

do,” she admitted lightly.
    Jeff grinned and slipped his phone in his pocket. He paused, and she wondered whether he was reluctant to go or maybe wanted to ask her something. Maybe dinner later? “Well, I should get going. My schoolteacher sister doesn’t like tardiness. If there’s anything you need, let me know.”
    “Just the picture,” Cat said, trying not to feel a little bit disappointed.
    “I have a feeling I shouldn’t have divulged the whole dare thing to you.”
    “You would be one hundred percent correct.”
    He grinned and there was that slight pause again. “Hope you have a good day,” he said.
    “You too, Farmer Jeff. And thanks again for the coffee cake. Tell your mom I said thanks too.”
    “You’re welcome.” He walked over to the door and then turned around. “Am I going to be Farmer Jeff from here on in?”
    Cat grinned. “Count on it.”
    “Thought so.” Jeff nodded and then headed out the door.
    Cat watched him walk away and then realized she was standing there in the kitchen still smiling. The lighthearted teasing or flirting made Cat feel a little bit giddy. But then she shook her head. The banter was most likely part of the country boy charm and meant nothing more. Not that she wanted her relationship with Jeff Greenfield to be anything more than friendly.
    But then Cat remembered the warm tingle she’d experienced from a mere brush of his fingers and had to wonder whether he’d felt the connection too. She shrugged, trying to dismiss the feeling. As a songwriter Cat tried to remain in tune with her senses and emotions. “Stay focused,” she whispered, but then walked over to the window in time to see Jeff drive down the road in his red pickup truck. She wondered whether he would send a selfie of himself wearing overalls; then she smiled at the thought.
    After locating a small plate, Cat cut a generous slice of the cake and then refilled her coffee mug. She moaned as the cinnamon crumble melted in her mouth. Even though Cat refused to obsess over her weight, she didn’t often eat something as decadent as cake, and the indulgence was a party in her mouth. She worked out and tried to eat a healthy diet, but she had lots of younger fans and didn’t want to portray the too thin image that girls thought they had to live up to. Although her lyrics were flirty and fun, she was well aware of the influence she had on her audience and made a pact with herself to always remain a positive role model. When she was asked to do increasingly sexy music videos, Cat protested, causing even more friction with her label.Wearing a bikini on a boat was as far as she wanted to go, and for Cat that was even pushing it. When the last video was supposed to be her rolling around in bed wearing little more than a sheet, she’d flatly refused. If Matt Stanford wanted to label her refusal as being difficult to work with, well, then so be it.
    “So be it . . .” Cat whispered and was hit with sudden inspiration. “Kinda like ‘Let It Be’ but with an edge.” She scooted back from the table and went in search of paper and pen. For the first time in a long while, words started flowing from her brain onto the page.

4
    While My Guitar Gently Weeps
    A S SOON AS SHE ENTERED WINE AND DINER, MARIA’S empty stomach reacted to the tantalizing aroma of food being served. She hadn’t meant to skip breakfast, but she’d been so engrossed with listening to demo tapes with Rick Ruleman that she’d nearly been late for her meeting with Cat Carson.
    The clinking of glasses and silverware, along with chatter and laughter, brought a smile to Maria’s face. Originally called Myra’s Diner, the renovated restaurant still served classic favorites, but the expanded menu included several gourmet offerings, which drew in both locals and tourists. And while the décor remained true to an old-school diner, with the servers wearing retro uniforms, the atmosphere felt fresh and full of fun. Fifties and sixties music