Center Stage: Magnolia Steele Mystery #1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

Nashville Shores. “You don’t know the first thing about me.”
    Sadistic glee filled her eyes. “Oh, I know plenty about you, including how you broke poor Tanner’s heart.”
    What had Tanner told her about me, and what else did she think she knew?
    But she must have decided she was done. She jerked on Tanner’s arm like he was a stubborn puppy. “Let’s go.”
    He followed her, but he cast a glance back at me, looking like there was more he wanted to say.
    Tears burned my eyes. I had never expected to see him here. In fact I’d never given much thought to seeing him at all. Momma had told me he’d moved to Memphis years ago, and the Facebook stalking I’d done a few years ago had confirmed it. Did my mother know he’d returned?
    I found her in the kitchen, barking orders at a server.
    “He’s back,” I said, placing my tray on the island.
    My mother swung to face me. “Who’s back? Luke Powell? Last I heard he hadn’t even deigned to make an appearance yet.”
    “No. Tanner,” I said, feeling lightheaded. “Tanner McKee. You told me he’d moved to Memphis.”
    There was a flicker of sympathy in her eyes, but it was gone so quickly I would have missed it by blinking. “Last I heard he was still there. I saw his mother a few months ago, and she was braggin’ that he was engaged.”
    “Well, he’s back.” I pointed to the swinging door. “And he’s here . With his fiancée.”
    My mother looked exasperated. “Magnolia, you moved away. He moved on. Literally. Why do you care if he’s engaged?”
    “I don’t know.” And I didn’t. It was just that everything at home was so different. A secret little part of me had hoped my old life would be waiting for me if I ever chose to come back.
    “You have a job to do, Magnolia. Now get out there and serve.”
    I grabbed a new tray and exited through the swinging door, taking a deep breath to compose myself. Coming home had been a mistake, but I still had nowhere else to go.
    For better or worse, I was in Franklin to stay.

Chapter 4
    T anner and Chelsea had left the living room, and I spent the next half hour looking for them in my peripheral vision. I still hadn’t figured out if I actually wanted to see him or not. At least there wasn’t too much time to think—the party had picked up, and it was plenty busy. Tilly had moved me out to the large marble entryway, which was a grand hall in and of itself. I was offering a crab puff to a country music power couple when I heard my name again, but this time I knew it wasn’t Tanner.
    “Magnolia Steele. My, my, my. How quickly things change.”
    I sucked in a breath and slowly turned to face Max Goodwin, agent and mega sleazeball. We’d met at a rehearsal, after which he’d invited me to dinner. Over tiny pieces of prosciutto-and-Muenster-cheese-stuffed quail breasts, he’d offered me representation. He said he had big plans for me—a country music album, fame, and movie stardom—and it would all be mine if I went back to his hotel room with him.
    I’d lifted my black camelback shoe to his crotch and started to gently roll the ball of my foot over his important parts.
    “You want my undivided attention?” I asked with a sexy smile.
    His eyelids lowered, his jaw tensed, and his breathing sped up. A knowing smile spread across his face. “You make my dreams come true, and I’ll work on yours.”
    “That’s such a generous offer, Mr. Goodwin,” I cooed as I increased the pressure.
    He gripped the table, his diamond-studded ring flashing in the candlelight. “I can be a very generous man.”
    “And if I don’t feel like going to your room . . . ?”
    He gave me a sly grin. “There are plenty of others who will.”
    “Well . . . When you put it that way, I know exactly what to do.”
    He leaned back, giving me better access to his crotch. “I knew you’d see it my way.”
    My smile fell. “Oh, I see it your way all too clearly.”
    I slid my foot higher and pressed my four-inch stiletto