The House the Built Me

By Melissa Keir

Country's newest rising star, Mandy Watkins, disappears from the limelight for a while with the help of her good friend. She's got a lot on her plate and needs some time to figure out who she is.

 

Travis Perkins loves gardening after teaching at the local high school. He's determined to leave the world in a better state either through his connections with his students or his garden.

 

When Mandy lands on Travis's doorstep, he believes she will be just another of his projects, but what neither of them expect is how much their hearts may change.

 

Can two people with only the love of an old home find a deep, lasting love? Or will their relationship end like the notes of a country tune?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Keir
• Release date: Mar 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393460107

Book preview

The House

that

Built Me

Melissa Keir

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

The House that Built Me

Copyright © 2018 Melissa Keir

All rights reserved.

5764 Woodbine Ave.

Pinckney, MI 48169

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Cover art By Rhonda Duffy

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This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

The House that

Built Me

By Melissa Keir

Country’s newest rising star, Mandy Watkins, disappears from the limelight for a while with the help of her good friend. She’s got a lot on her plate and needs some time to figure out who she is.

Travis Perkins loves gardening after teaching at the local high school. He’s determined to leave the world in a better state either through his connections with his students or his garden.

When Mandy lands on Travis’s doorstep, he believes she will be just another of his projects, but what neither of them expect is how much their hearts may change.

Can two people with only the love of an old home find a deep, lasting love? Or will their relationship end like the notes of a country tune?

Acknowledgements

A big Thank You to Sable Hunter for letting me play in your world. Having met the REAL Desiree, I’m glad I was able to include her in a story. I only hope I did her justice.

And to my own strong cowboy who took in a lost cat when my best friend passed. I love how you love me.

Chapter One

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As she looked out from the stage, Mandy Perkins smiled at the throng of adoring fans holding up their phones and singing along. This was her dream come true. A chance to capture an audience with her lyrics and melody, moving them to another place. Lately, though, being on stage had become more difficult. She swallowed down the nausea creeping into her throat and placed her palm on her stomach to steady herself.

Mandy’s sweet voice carried through the music hall as she held the last note. When she finished, a momentary silence preceded loud applause and screams echoing back toward the stage. She lifted her partner, Desiree’s, hand over their heads then lowered them as they took a bow. As their fourth encore, Mandy always liked giving the fans what they wanted.

A famous country star in her own right, Desiree lifted the mic to her mouth. Thank you, Seattle. You’ve been a wonderful audience. Be sure to grab your copy of our award-winning duet album on the way out and have a safe trip home. She returned the mic to the stand and unhooked her guitar from the amplifier then reached back toward Mandy. They never left the stage alone. It’d been a promise she’d made to Desiree after seeing the panic on her friend’s face the one time Desiree saw a stranger in the wings. Mandy grabbed her violin and bow, placed her hand in her friend’s, and left the adoring fans.

Back in their dressing room, Mandy plopped onto the sofa, tucking her legs underneath her. Excitement practically zinged off her partner who paced back and forth.

Did you hear that applause? You really rocked it tonight. Desiree lit up with happiness.

Wearing a jean skirt and white denim shirt, she looked every inch a country music star. Her long brown hair fell in luxurious curls. Her large doe eyes gave her a look of innocence that hid the painful past she’d worked hard to overcome. Each time Mandy glanced at her friend, she thanked God for giving her this amazing chance.

Her cheeks heated at Desiree’s words. Mandy recalled all the mistakes she’d made tonight and the ones over the past eight weeks. Lately, performing had become more challenging as sickness and raging