Dream on. What dreams may come? California dreamin’? In this snippet from BILLIONAIRE COUNTRY, our intrepid heroine meets one of her idols–and gets a taste of dreams coming true. Which might taste a little like Dream Whip. 😆 Sorry. Couldn’t resist that. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this peek at Zoe.
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She sang a Carrie Underwood song, then launched into a rollicking Miranda Lambert tune. She finished up with Kelly Clarkson’s heart-breaking ballad, “Piece by Piece.” Zoe didn’t get to sing ballads often. Working the bars, they wanted the up-tempo, the dance tunes. But her soul found solace in the ballads, the songs like this one, or like Cam’s “Burning House.” She lay her cheek against the swell of the guitar and just let her hands wander along until they started picking the melody to Striking Matches’ “When the Right One Comes Along.” She raised her voice to sing, getting through the first stanza of the duet. As she took a breath before starting the part where the male voice would harmonize, she almost dropped the guitar when a voice picked up where she’d left off.

Jerking her head up, she gaped at the five men standing there, but it was singer who held her attention. He’d picked up the song on his own guitar and winked at her as he waited for her to catch up. Her voice found his pitch, and as she began to sing again, he altered his tone to match hers. Outwardly, she remained calm but inside? Inside she was squeeing like a fangirl sitting in the front row of this man’s concert. Deacon Freaking Tate. Along with his band, the Sons of Nashville. She managed to get through the song, even adding some harmony from the guitar in her lap.

When they finished, the band applauded, but she was so flustered she couldn’t speak. Was this what it felt like to be famous? Fame had been a pipe dream from the time her daddy put that first pawn shop guitar in her hands. The man himself walked up to her, a big smile on his face. She’d just thought he was sexy on TV. He held out his hand.

“Deacon Tate.”

She sucked in a breath and thought, Of course you are. Then she introduced herself, placing her hand in his.

“Zoe Parker.”

“Nice to sing with you Miss Zoe Parker.”

“Trust me, the pleasure’s all mine.”

“Aren’t you married?” a gruff voice barked from behind the band. “And doesn’t your wife carry a gun?”

Laughter spilled out of Deacon, the sound as rich and lyrical as his singing voice. “Yes, and yes, Tuck. You didn’t tell us you had such a talented lady waiting for you. We’d have finished sooner.”
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Not that Tucker is jealous or anything. *bwahaha* Hope you enjoyed. If you have a dream or some dream words you’d like to share, feel free!