Waterfront Weddings by Annalisa Daughety Read Free Book Online

they always opened with a Jimmy Buffet song. Tonight they’d decided on “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
    Luke noticed that Summer and Ashley had moved to a table closer to the stage. Even if she was only here to accompany Ashley, he was still glad she’d made the effort. And she looked really great tonight, too. He’d seen a couple of guys give her the once-over, and it had made him want to smack them.
    He couldn’t help but remember the first time she’d heard him play. They were seventeen, and she’d snuck out of her house and met him down at the Battery. They’d sat in the bandstand, and he played his newest song for her.
    “It’s called ‘Summer Girl.’ ”
    “ You actually wrote me a song?” She’d tackled him, and his guitar had fallen to the ground with a thud. But Summer in his arms was much better than a guitar, even one he’d saved up six months to buy
.
    “It’s not finished yet though.” He’d laughed as she covered his face with kisses
.
    “That’s okay. Just play me whatever you’ve got.”
    He strummed the chords and began to sing, loving the way her eyes never left his
.
    “I love it,” she said when he stopped playing. “When will it be finished?”
    He’d grinned. “I’m not sure how it ends yet.”
    Luke held on to the microphone and sang the last line of “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” loving the way the audience joined in. His eyes found Summer’s as the crowd applauded. All these years and he’d never finished “Summer Girl” for her. Did she even remember it?
    The problem was that just like on that balmy August night when they were seventeen, he still wasn’t sure how their song would end.

Chapter 7
    T hey’re really good,” Ashley remarked after she’d heard several songs. “Luke has an awesome voice.”
    Summer nodded. “He’s very talented.” She turned back to look at the stage. “But his real strength is in his songwriting. He’s written several that are catchy enough to be hits.”
    “Has he ever tried to send them to any record labels?”
    Summer shook her head. “It’s been years. I think he’s resigned himself to playing with a band locally.” She shrugged. “It seems to fill the need he has to make music.”
    “Either way, they sound great.” Ashley leaned forward as the band started another song. “So Justin seems nice.”
    Summer looked at her with an eyebrow raised. “Yes. He’s a real sweetheart.”
    “I set up a meeting with him for next week. It sounds like he’d be easy to work with on the web project.” And easy on the eyes, too, but Ashley didn’t mention that to Summer. He could be married or engaged for all she knew. Which would further solidify her theory that all the good ones were taken.
    “Great. I hope that works out.” Summer smiled. “But if you think someone else would do a better job, don’t feel like we have to go with his company just because he’s Luke’s friend.”
    Ashley appreciated the confidence Summer had in her to make the decision. “Thanks.” She turned her attention toward the stage. Luke was doing a perfect rendition of a George Strait song. “I can’t imagine having the confidence to get up on stage like that.”
    “He used to break out in hives before he went on. I think being in Nashville broke him of that problem. He told me once that he realized that there was always someone younger and more talented out there. The difference was that he wanted it more.” Summer shrugged. “But songwriting is where his heart is. He’s an amazing singer, but he has such a way with words.”
    The last strains of the song ended, and the crowd broke into loud applause.
    “Now we’re gonna slow it down a little bit and do an original song.” Luke grinned from the stage. “This one’s going out to all of the lovebirds out there. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles as some of the others we’ve done tonight, but I think you’ll like it.” He began to strum on the guitar, and soon his rich