Come Dance with Me: A Serenity Harbor Maine Novella, Starlight Grille, #2

By Delsora Lowe

Sam Johnson, a burned out, New York City iconic jazz pianist transplanted to small town Maine, finds himself and his muse again through a disparate group of committed teen musicians and their buttoned up, efficient, high school English teacher who is roped into advising the afterschool jazz club.

Ashley Sullivan, an expert in classical music and teaching the bard, is out of her element when it comes to jazz or anything impromptu and desperately needs Sam's help. What she doesn't know is Sam has made it his mission before this gig ends to get Ashley to lighten up and enjoy the things in life she denies herself; music, friends, spontaneity, creativity, and yes, love.

When Sam works to rescue her from her childhood fears, Ashley runs the other direction. Can what is done out of love tear apart a relationship before it's in full swing, or forever cement a love that is true?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beach Plum Publishing
• Release date: Oct 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386326861

Book preview

Come Dance with Me

Starlight Grille Book 2

Improvisational jazz musician meets buttoned up English teacher—will the Christmas lights sparkle or shatter before the dance ends?

Sam Johnson, a burned out, New York City iconic jazz pianist transplanted to small town Maine, finds himself and his muse again through a disparate group of committed teen musicians and their buttoned up, efficient, high school English teacher who is roped into advising the afterschool jazz club.

Ashley Sullivan, an expert in classical music and teaching the bard, is out of her element when it comes to jazz or anything impromptu and desperately needs Sam’s help. What she doesn’t know is Sam has made it his mission before this gig ends to get Ashley to lighten up and enjoy the things in life she denies herself; music, friends, spontaneity, creativity, and yes, love.

When Sam works to rescue her from her childhood fears, Ashley runs the other direction. Can what is done out of love tear apart a relationship before it’s in full swing, or forever cement a love that is true?

Reviews of The Legacy of Parker’s Point

Starlight Grille Book 1

…a feel good story, full of love and romance and hope….no game playing, no lies, manipulation or underhanded deceit to win affection….just two strong people finding love, learning to trust, and trying to make it work.

The author depicts life in a small town with memorable characters and descriptive scenery. Lauralee and Grayson are two beautiful people inside and out. Their chemistry heats up the pages…. The secondary characters are well written and the next book in the series is about the piano player, Luke, at the Starlight Grille.

Dianamcc - Romance Junkies – Five Hearts

Set on the picturesque sea coast of Maine….a heartfelt tale of helping and healing…. a delightful, emotional read.

N, Amazon Reader – Five Stars

…a wonderful story of learning to trust in love enough to put the past behind you….characters are smart, sexy and hopeful and make you feel great for having read their story.

HarborGirl, Amazon Reader – Five Stars

The romance is done very well, with chemistry galore and a rich, beautiful world in Serenity Harbor. Definitely a keeper!

M, Amazon Reader – Five Stars

This is a sweet story. The romance is a well-written small town story where two people learn to trust both each other and themselves. I highly recommend the story.

Mainer, Amazon Reader – Four Stars

I appreciated how well-developed and fleshed out Delsora's characters are, despite this being a shorter story….Lauralee & Grayson grab hold of you from page one. I alternated between smiling over their cute interactions, to swooning over the steamier scenes (closed bedroom door).

Colleen, Amazon Reader – Five Stars

…a lovely, heartwarming story which takes the reader back to a time when family name and honor took priority for power brokers masquerading as parents—and the effects those antiquated beliefs continue to have on the generations that follow….It's a winner.

Kat, Amazon Reader – Five Stars

I loved this novella. The small, coastal Maine town was beautifully described. I really liked Gray and Lauralee right away. They connected quickly, and I loved their banter and flirtation.

Laurie, Goodreads Reader – Five Stars

Dedication

To Maggie Robinson. Her idea to write a Maine-based anthology kicked off this journey with the first book in the Starlight Grille series, and gave me the courage to write books two and three.

To Tanya Noone Baldwin, my daughter, who continually cheers me on. Spending a week in small town, coastal Maine before her wedding gave me fodder for developing my characters and setting. And to Matt Noone, my son, who helps me celebrate each new step as an author, usually with a stellar, Mom.

Acknowledgments

To my beta reader and Maine RW friend, Teagan Oliver. Thanks for all the advice, spot-on questions, corrections, and support. To Sue Ward Drake, my Rose City RW friend, for advice on blurbs and tag lines, and for allowing me to bounce off ideas. To Meg Kassel (Maine RW) for lending me Tyler, Cooper Memorial High School, and the band, Glass Houses with their leader, Benny. Tyler starred in Meg’s Only This Kiss, in the anthology Welcome to Serenity Harbor, where both Sam and the Starlight Grille made a cameo appearance in her book.

To my editor Janet Corcoran for stellar work in several go-rounds. You made this journey painless (okay—a wee bit of pain, as editing always is, but sprinkled with a dusting of fairie magic). To my formatter, friend, and confidante, Nina Pierce, who has the patience of a saint for this newbie at self-pub. To my cover designer, Karen Ronan, Covers by Karen, for designing covers for not only this book, but the entire Starlight Grille series, and for being right on with my many suggestions. To Shirley Hailstock, my NJRW friend for her invaluable time and advice. To Susan Vaughan, my Maine RW friend, critique partner, and proofreader extraordinaire. To Jim Bridge, friend, fine scotch-sipping connoisseur, and member of the Maine Search and Rescue team, who gave me advice on M&M’s. And, who wrote my very first fan letter when I published a short romance in Woman’s World magazine.

Contents

About Come Dance with Me * Dedication * Acknowledgments * Join Delsora Lowe’s Mailing List * Reviews of The Legacy of Parker’s Point, Starlight Grille Book 1

Chapter 1 * Chapter 2 * Chapter 3 * Chapter 4 * Chapter 5 * Chapter 6 * Chapter 7 * Chapter 8 * Chapter 9 * Chapter 10 * Chapter 11 * Chapter 12 * Chapter 13 * Epilogue

Excerpt from Moonlighting, Starlight Grille Book 3 * About the Author * Letter to Readers * Other Books by Delsora Lowe * Copyright

Chapter 1

Samuel Cool Piano Hands Luke Johnson hefted his big-boned body up the stairs toward the sound of a sax drifting from the far end of the second floor hallway. The smooth, sensual sound worked its way under his skin to settle in his gut, easing his nerves. At the top of the stairs he straightened his shoulders and walked toward the music. The guitar riff, now joining the sax, had to be Tyler.

As he stood in the back of the Cooper Memorial High School classroom and loosened his wool scarf, his gaze latched onto Tyler Fitzsimmons. Tyler, the reason Sam had come back to school, back to the one place he’d never felt comfortable. The kid had come a long way since a few months ago, when he’d showed up at the back door of the Starlight Grille asking for a dishwasher job.

Sam scanned the rest of the room, looking for the new teacher Tyler and the others hadn’t warmed up to. His gaze rested on a handful of kids with a handful of instruments, most waiting their turn. Nerves skittered through his belly. Playing Madison Square Garden couldn’t compare to facing this group of kids. He wouldn’t be here today if Tyler, and eventually Ashley Sullivan, the teacher assigned to proctor this once a week after-school jazz club, hadn’t begged him to help with the program.

Finally, he spotted the woman who must be the teacher at the front of the room. Petite. Slender. Straight, coal black hair cascading down her back. Despite this being an unstructured afternoon program, she was dashing out an agenda in a crisp scrawl on the white board. When she turned, penetrating blue eyes seared him from head to toe. Sam expelled a huff of air. He’d only spoken to Ms. Sullivan on the phone. Her breathy, lyrical Irish accent had lured him in, despite Tyler’s warning that she could be a bit aloof and unyielding to the students' wishes. The reason he’d agreed to help. From their phone conversation, he’d expected detached assessment from her. He hadn’t expected a pixie with winter white skin who immediately intrigued him. The top of her head would barely reach his chest.

Luke, Tyler called, cradling his guitar in the stand before striding toward Sam. Glad you’re here. Under his breath he muttered, We need you, big time.

It's Mr. Johnson. The teacher’s gaze and sharp words aimed straight at Tyler’s back, as he flushed, then reached his hand out to Sam. The accent stronger than Sam remembered from the phone call, dictated discipline.

Class, take a seat. Ms. Sullivan’s spine stiffened as if someone had pressed her against the wall.

Sam suppressed a groan. Seems he’d already pissed her off by carrying on a conversation with Tyler.

Tyler rolled his eyes before he strolled back to his seat. Tyler wasn’t one for disrespect, so his eye roll reinforced Sam’s determination to do right by these kids by making these sessions fun. Summoning up a smile, he ambled toward the front, giving the teacher warning he planned to invade her space. Sam extended a palm. Her chin rose as she held out her small hand with the slightest tremor before he grasped it in a quick handshake. Ms. Sullivan.

Thank you for coming. Her accent warmed him, despite the crisp tone.

Do you mind? He gestured toward the group. She backed up and stood by the windows. With an obligatory nod toward the fine looking Ms. Sullivan, he plowed ahead. He turned to the group. Gents. Ladies. Honored to be here.

He hadn’t planned on taking over, but one look at Tyler’s and the other faces told him Ms. Sullivan had already rubbed them the wrong way with her white-board agenda. Tyler had mentioned she didn’t understand music or that after-school clubs weren’t meant to be run like a classroom. Instinct told him he had to get a handle on the group, pronto. First thing. I want to hear what you got. Yo, Tyler. You up for a demo?

Tyler stood, holding in the smile that still managed to shine in his eyes. You got it, Mr. J.

Sam winked. He'd initially balked at being called Mr. Johnson the moment Tyler had started his dishwashing job. The kid settled on his stage name, Luke, and he'd been Luke ever since. Until now.

Retrieving his guitar, Tyler moved into a riff to start the jam, just like Sam had taught him during those late nights once the restaurant cleared and the clean dishes were neatly stacked in their places. Sam stepped around the desk and away from Ms. Sullivan. Who wants to join Tyler? Sam asked. The kid on the drums added beat to Tyler’s playing. Your name, man?

Archie.

Okay. You. He pointed to a girl sitting in the front row, a tatt barely peeking out at her neckline. Name?

Brin.

Do your thing, Brin. She tossed a cheeky look over her shoulder before she sashayed to the keyboard and stepped right into the stream of the jam, adding texture to the free-flowing beat. Bea-utiful, he said, bobbing his head to the rhythm. You kids know how to jam. Everyone beamed, as one by one each student joined in. Lennie, the girl sitting next to Brin, on the sax. Ah, that’s who I heard coming up the stairs. The kid was damn good, considering her sax was almost as big as she. Sasha played bass guitar. Hank stood and blew a few notes on his trumpet. Finally, Miles picked out a deep tone on the bass. Miles, who stood about five feet five, and most assuredly got a ton of heat from the others for his size, especially snuggled up with an instrument taller than his height.

It doesn't get any better than this. Sam picked up the beat with the snap of his fingers. He glanced over his shoulder at the teacher. Ms. Sullivan, you care to join in? I see a tambourine with your name on it.

She blanched. Her pale skin turned even paler.

Shit, man, this woman seems scared of these kids. Or is she scared of having a little fun?

Sam strode to the shelves underneath the bank of windows, grabbed the tambourine and the shakers. He picked up the beat with a slow slide of one shaker, then handed her the tambourine, his back to the kids to shield her. Didn’t mean to put you on the spot, ma’am. You can do this. A little shake or a tap. That’s all you need. Show ’em you know how to have fun.

She backed up toward the white board. Then, with a look aimed straight at him, she seemed to steel her resolve to meet his challenge, and tapped out the beat with her fingertips. He turned back to the group to give the jam another few minutes, while she kept up the tempo.

He gave the cease sign, a swirl of his wrist, and the jam ended in a nanosecond. Right on. Improvisation. Okay, take your seats.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Ms. Sullivan replace the tambourine on the shelf and silently glide toward the back