Six String Sass: Cajun Two-Step, #2

By Leigh Landry

They only agreed to a fling, but Natalie's falling hard for the sound guy who pushes all her buttons.

 

Guitar player Natalie is a full-time librarian rocking a broken heart, a night gig, and a daughter. The last thing this single mom needs is a relationship.

 

Shane has a major aversion to all things complicated. But he's soon craving more than a Mardi Gras hookup with Nat, even if he isn't ready to roll the dice on a serious relationship.

 

* * * * *

 

This sweet and sexy small-town romance is filled with hope, healing, and found family friendship between the musicians of a Louisiana Cajun band.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leigh Landry
• Release date: Feb 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781393699583

Leigh Landry

Leigh Landry is a contemporary romance author who loves stories withhappy endings, supportive friendships, and adorable pets. Once a musician, freelance writer, and English teacher, Leigh now spends her days writing and volunteering at an animal rescue center. She lives with her husband, their two children, two dogs, two cats, and an endless supply of foster kittens in the Heart of Cajun Country. For updates and a FREE book, sign up at: leighlandryauthor.com/newsletter

Book preview

1

Natalie propped her guitar on its stand and stepped over broken strings of plastic beads as she looked around the convention center ballroom. Her bandmates were gathered around a small table, enjoying their post-gig meal of free buffet leftovers before the staff packed everything up.

Well, most of her bandmates.

Natalie decided to make a path along the perimeter of the room instead of cutting through the dance floor. If she couldn’t have her best friend there, she could at least saunter past the delicious scruffy-blond sound guy Robin had hired for the night.

Nice set, he said when she slowed in front of his rig.

Thanks. Not so bad yourself. She ran her fingers through her long, dirty-blonde hair and flashed him a wink. Then she continued on her way, straightening her back as she walked, to give him a nice view of her best asset in her tightest jeans.

If there was one thing Nat knew how to do, it was how to leave her fans wanting more.

Natalie Romero, don’t you dare.

She narrowed her eyes at Robin, their accordion player and band founder, and sat in the empty folding chair beside their drummer, Kelsey. After Natalie picked a piece of fried catfish from Kelsey’s plate and stuffed it in her mouth, she muffled, What did I do this time?

Nothing yet. Robin narrowed her eyes right back. Don’t you mess this up. He’s good. And cheap. And we need him again for the Mardi Gras fair next Friday.

Natalie rolled her eyes. "Fine. I’ll fuck him after Friday. Happy?"

Ecstatic. Robin ate a forkful of crawfish fettuccine.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Kelsey cleared her throat. Nice job tonight, Lauren.

Thanks. Lauren’s voice crackled with hesitance.

Natalie had to admit it took guts for that girl to come back and claim the rest of her audition like she’d done, but the world was gonna roll over that one. If it hadn’t already.

The new fiddle player had held her own during the performance, despite all the shit Natalie had given her over the past few weeks. Natalie was still the only one who refused to call the girl by her name. She was no more than a stray cat, as far as Natalie was concerned, and you sure as hell shouldn’t name those if you don’t want them sticking around.

Natalie grunted softly and immediately felt Kelsey’s foot on top of hers. A dangerous move for anyone else, but with Camille gone, Natalie had to admit Kelsey was the only thing she had left that came even close to counting as a friendship.

So when are we gonna meet this new guy of yours? Kelsey asked. What’s his name again?

Tyler. Lauren blushed. At some point, I’m sure.

He’s welcome to come to rehearsals any time, Robin chimed in between bites.

Natalie was really glad she hadn’t grabbed a plate of food, even though she hadn’t eaten a thing since lunch and it was damn near midnight by now. But with all this talk about Lauren and rehearsals with no mention at all of Camille coming back any day now, Natalie had lost her appetite.

Not that Kelsey was wrong. The girl had done a decent job on fiddle, especially considering it was only her second gig playing with them. But Camille would be out of rehab in a few days, and she was going to expect her spot back.

Natalie had known Camille for almost ten years. Camille was coming back. So someone needed to tell their new fiddle player not to get comfortable.

Speaking of guys, Natalie said. Where’s Eric?

Kelsey looked down at her plate. Robin frowned.

Fuck.

The new girl caught Natalie’s eye and gestured with her head to the other side of the room. When Natalie turned around, she saw tall, dark, and dickheaded Eric propped against a wall, smooth-talking a brunette in a short, purple cocktail dress.

Leave it to Eric to find a straight girl in the middle of a gay krewe’s ball. Natalie tilted her head at the girl with Eric. "Unless she’s not straight. She is cute…"

She’s the sister of one of the captains. Kelsey’s voice was small and strained, not a hint of her usual lightness. Natalie wanted to drag that clueless jerk back to their table and shake some sense into him.

Eh. He’ll forget about her by tomorrow, she said.

Kelsey shook her head and dropped her plastic fork on her abandoned plate, then pushed it away from her. They dated in high school. For two years.

Damn it.

Natalie looked away from Kelsey and twisted around for another look at Eric and the other girl. Her hand was already in his.

Come on. Natalie pushed her chair away from the table. Let’s go tear down your kit and get out of here.

Kelsey nodded and stood, while Natalie put an arm casually around her shoulder to guide her back to their setup. Thankfully, Eric was no longer standing near that wall. Unfortunately, his hot new thing was also missing, but at least Kelsey wouldn’t have to watch them flirt anymore.

Natalie went to work, unscrewing cymbals and folding stands, while Kelsey packed up her drums like they each weighed a thousand pounds. Natalie considered accidentally kicking Eric’s bass over, but then they’d need a new bass player. Again.

Anything had to be better than watching Kelsey go through this agony every few weeks. She and Eric agreed they weren’t good together a long time ago, but that didn’t make it any easier on poor Kelsey, who had to watch him flirt with rich, beautiful women at every fundraiser and private party they played.

I’m gonna pull up my car to the door, Kelsey said.

All right. Natalie continued to fold stands and contemplate ways to torture Eric. It wasn’t entirely his fault Kelsey was hurting. But seriously, the guy could flash that smile and get a date lined up anywhere he went. Why did he have to do it on their gigs?

She set another stand on the floor in line with the others and caught sight of the new sound guy tearing down his own gear. He caught her looking, and she gave him a wave. Nothing wrong with her finding a little action on a gig. Although she did promise Robin she wouldn’t chase him off.

Natalie paused, squatting beside the line of stands, and took another look at the guy, admiring his strong arms as he moved equipment around. He might be worth the wait. A week wouldn’t kill her.

Not like she had time for any extracurricular activities lately anyway. Her life was basically work and gigs and her daughter. No room for much else. That was probably why she missed Camille so much. Or at least one reason. Camille had already been woven into those bits of Natalie’s life. No need to make room between the cracks.

Hey, Nat, I need to talk to you! Robin shouted as she walked across the room to meet Natalie.

Robin never talked to Natalie alone. Not if she could help it. They had a mutual respect between them as musicians, and they mostly gave a shit about each other, but they were more like uncomfortable relatives than friends. Natalie couldn’t imagine what Robin could possibly want to talk about.

Natalie stood and brushed her hair out of her face, pulling it over one shoulder. "I told you,