Sneak Peek!

The Stories We Tell

Chapter One

The day of the monthly marketing meeting at Sharpe Music Group was Piper Presley’s favorite day of the month, and the reason why had just walked through the door: Wyatt Mason. When his blue-green eyes landed on hers and his smile grew wider, she could feel the tingle all the way to her toes.

“Morning, Ace,” Wyatt said, his voice carrying that familiar, teasing warmth that made her stomach flutter.

Sienna Leighton, one of Sharpe’s singers who Piper represented as a publicist, raised an eyebrow at Piper from across the table. “Ace?”

Piper blushed. “Just an inside joke about Gilmore Girls.” Piper had once told Wyatt how she swooned when Logan called Rory “Ace” in Gilmore Girls, and he’d taken to addressing her the same way. She definitely didn’t hate it.

Wyatt extended one of the Island Coffee cups he was carrying in her direction, and she knew without asking that it would have a dash of cream, no sugar—just the way she liked it.

“You’re five minutes late,” she said to Wyatt, trying to sound stern but failing completely when he flashed the lopsided grin that made his dimple appear.

“Traffic was murder on Main Street.” He sat across the conference table from her, next to Sienna. “I got stuck behind Mrs. Henderson’s golf cart. She was doing a solid ten miles an hour.”

Sienna laughed. “Y’all are ridiculous. I always feel like I’m watching a romantic comedy when I’m around you two.”

Heat crept up Piper’s neck. “We’re just—”

“Colleagues,” Wyatt finished, but his eyes danced with mischief from the seat directly across from her. “Strictly professional.”

“Riiiiight,” Sienna said, drawing out the word with obvious skepticism. “And I’m the Queen of England.”

Alyssa Parsons, Sharpe’s newly hired marketing assistant, looked back and forth between them with barely contained amusement. “Should I be taking notes on this dynamic for future reference?”

“There’s no dynamic,” Piper said quickly, then immediately regretted it when Wyatt raised an eyebrow at her. The truth was, there was definitely a dynamic. They’d been like magnets pulling toward each other since the day they’d met two years ago. But acknowledging it felt dangerous, like stepping too close to the edge of a cliff it didn’t feel safe to jump off.

Jacqueline Sharpe, president of the label, entered the conference room just as Wyatt was opening his mouth to respond, saving Piper from whatever comeback he’d been planning. As always, Jacqueline looked every inch the successful record label executive, today in a crisp white blouse and perfectly tailored blazer.

“Good morning, everyone,” Jacqueline said, settling into her chair at the head of the table. “I hope you’re all as excited as I am to talk about Sienna’s new single. The response from our focus groups has been incredible.”

Sienna beamed, her dark hair catching the morning sunlight streaming through the windows. “I still can’t believe it’s really happening. When Callie first heard me sing that song in her kitchen, I never imagined—” She shook her head, looking overwhelmed.

“Well, believe it,” Wyatt said, pulling out a folder thick with charts and spreadsheets. “Because we’re about to make it even bigger. I’ve been working on a tour-announcement strategy that’s going to keep you in the conversation for weeks.”

Piper leaned forward, genuinely curious. She’d seen Wyatt’s preliminary notes, but he’d been secretive about the full plan. “Alright, Mason. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The way he looked at her when she said his last name—like she’d just issued a challenge he was more than ready to accept—sent a warm shiver down her spine.

“Phase one,” Wyatt began, standing and moving to the whiteboard at the front of the room. Piper tried not to notice how his dress shirt pulled slightly across his shoulders as he reached up to write. “Social media teasers. We start posting cryptic photos of iconic landmarks in each tour city. No dates, no venues, just beautifully shot images.”

“Building mystery.” Piper nodded, her publicist brain already spinning. “I like it. Gets people speculating, sharing theories.”

“Exactly.” Wyatt’s eyes lit up at her immediate understanding. “Phase two happens a week later. We reveal the dates one city at a time, spread out over five days. Each reveal gets its own social media moment, its own wave of excitement.”

“Maybe the date reveal posts are the same pictures from phase one but with the date as text overlay and no other information?” Piper suggested.

“Yes.” Wyatt pointed at her. “One more clue, but we still haven’t given them everything.”

Sienna was practically bouncing in her seat. “And phase three?”

“Live announcement on Good Morning Country,” Wyatt said, referencing the wildly popular streaming show. “Full tour reveal, ticket information, everything. By then, we’ll have built three weeks of anticipation.”

Piper grinned. It was exactly the kind of innovative social strategy that made Wyatt so good at his job. “That’s going to create incredible organic buzz. By the time we get to the live announcement, fans will be dying to know the full details.”

“Which is where your expertise comes in,” Wyatt said, turning to face her fully. “I need you to use media magic to make sure we’re maximizing every single moment.”

The way he said “I need you” made her pulse quicken, even though she knew he meant it professionally. Mostly.

“Well,” she said, forcing herself to focus on business, “we’ll want to coordinate exclusive interviews around each phase. Maybe give Country Weekly first access to the phase two reveals, then lock in morning show appearances to support the Good Morning Country announcement.”

“What if Sienna posts the phase one images but we give Country Weekly the phase two images for their social media?” Wyatt’s eyes were lit with excitement.

“Make them part of our campaign. Yes!” Piper grinned at him. “Someone owes me a favor over there. Let me make some calls.”

“See?” Sienna interrupted, gesturing between them. “This is what I’m talking about. Y’all finish each other’s sentences even when you’re talking business.”

“We work well together,” Piper said defensively.

“Okay, seriously,” Sienna said, laughing. “Are y’all going to keep pretending you’re just colleagues or can we acknowledge that the rest of us are just extras in your rom-com?”

“Wait, I thought you were all extras in my rom-com,” Jacqueline joked. She had moved to town three years earlier after meeting and falling in love with Lonnie Lyman, the uncle of megastar Callie Jackson who she had come to town to sign.

“It’s a series,” Sienna quipped.

Piper caught Wyatt’s eye across the table and saw he wasn’t flustered like she was, but then he knew the effect he had on women. But she saw there was something else there beyond his usual charm—a warmth that made her wonder what might happen if they stopped pretending their connection was purely professional.

“Okay, back to business,” Wyatt said, his eyes moving back to Sienna. “The tour. So, timeline-wise, we’d start phase one next Monday.”

They spent the next forty minutes hammering out details, and Piper tried to ignore how natural it felt to build on Wyatt’s ideas, how perfectly their different strengths complemented each other. By the time Jacqueline declared the meeting over, they had a comprehensive campaign that was both innovative and authentic, leaving Piper energized and excited to get started.

As everyone began gathering their things, Sienna paused by Piper’s chair. “For what it’s worth,” she said quietly, “I think you two would be good together if you’d get over yourselves and give it a chance.”

Before Piper could respond, Sienna was gone, following Alyssa and Jacqueline toward the door.

Which left her alone with Wyatt.

“So,” he said, sitting on the edge of the table near her and flashing a broad smile that revealed a row of perfectly straight white teeth. “That wasn’t awkward at all.”

“They’re just—” Piper began, then stopped. What were they? Observant? Right? “They notice things.”

“Yeah, well.” Wyatt looked up at her, and the intensity in his blue-green eyes made her breath catch. “Maybe they notice things because there are things to notice.”

The observation hung in the air between them, loaded with possibilities neither of them had been brave enough to voice before. Piper had the sensation of standing on the edge of that cliff again, but this time, jumping didn’t seem quite so terrifying.

“Have dinner with me, Ace,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. “Not a working dinner. Not a strategy session. A real date.”

The words sent a thrill through her that she couldn’t hide. “We work together,” she said weakly, but even she could hear that her protest lacked conviction. And it wasn’t like they were coworkers. Wyatt worked for Sharpe, but Piper was an independent publicist hired separately by Callie and Sienna. No one would be breaking any HR rules.

“So did Johnny and June Carter Cash, and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill,” Wyatt replied with that easy confidence that made her knees weak. “Seemed to work out pretty well for them.”

Despite herself, Piper laughed. “Did you just compare us to country music royalty?”

“If the boot fits.” He stood up and moved closer, stopping just close enough that she could smell his cologne—something woodsy and warm that reminded her of the island itself. “Come on, Ace. One dinner. What’s the worst that could happen?”

The nickname rolled off his tongue like he’d been calling her that forever, and she realized she wanted him to. “The worst that could happen? We could complicate everything. Our working relationship, the team dynamic—”

“Or,” Wyatt interrupted, reaching out to tuck a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear, “we could find out we’re even better together than we already know we are.”

His touch sent electricity through her entire body, and she found herself leaning into it despite all her reservations. When had she become such a coward? She’d built her entire career on taking calculated risks, on knowing when to seize an opportunity.

“Okay,” she heard herself say. “One dinner.”

Wyatt’s smile was so bright it could have powered the entire island. “Tonight? Seven o’clock? How about Dune & Brine? I’ll pick you up.”

“It’s a date,” Piper said, then immediately blushed at her choice of words.

“Yeah,” Wyatt said softly, his eyes holding hers. “It is.”

*

Back in her room at the Salty Breeze B&B, Piper stood in front of her closet, phone pressed to her ear as she made a call. She needed reinforcement in the form of her best friend since college, Gemma Jones.

“How did you know I was going to call you today?” Gemma asked as she answered, skipping any greeting.

“Did I forget to tell you I’m clairvoyant?” Piper laughed, feeling some of the nervous energy in her chest ease at the sound of her best friend’s voice. “Before you tell me why you were calling, I need fashion advice. Emergency fashion advice.”

“Ooh, this sounds promising. What’s the occasion?”

Piper pulled a sundress from its hanger, held it up to herself in her room’s antique mirror, then immediately hung it back up. Too daytime casual. “I have a date.”

“With that hunky marketing guy?” Gemma’s excitement was palpable through the phone. “Finally! I was wondering when you two were going to stop flirting and actually do something about it.”

“Yes, his name is Wyatt.” Piper rifled through the dresses hanging in the closet, chastising herself for not packing more options. But then, she hadn’t anticipated having a date. “We’re going to dinner at that fancy place I told you about, the one that overlooks the water.”

“Ooh, that sounds romantic,” Gemma said in a singsong voice.

Piper groaned. “Don’t remind me.” She pulled out a navy sheath dress, considering it. Professional but pretty. Maybe too professional?

“Okay, so tell me more. You’ve mentioned he’s devastatingly handsome. What’s he like though?”

“Gemma, this man could charm his way out of a speeding ticket, and if it was a female officer, she’d probably ask for his number. He’s got this way about him where everyone just gravitates toward him. Like, we’ll be in a meeting and somehow he ends up knowing everyone’s kids’ names, and then he actually remembers them and asks about them the next time he sees them.” She almost told Gemma about the “Ace” nickname too, but she decided to keep that as something special just between her and Wyatt.

“And how has this perfect man not been snapped up already? He must be hiding some sort of weird hobby or something. Have you seen where he lives?”

Piper laughed, shaking her head. “No, I haven’t been to his house. His office is spotless though. I think it’s just a product of living in a small town. He probably dated everyone here in high school. I’m sure he’s always been quite the ladies’ man.”

“You’ll have to investigate further and report back. Ask if he has a brother.”

“He has three,” Piper teased. “One is a doctor, and two are twins who played in the NFL.”

“I’m on the next flight,” Gemma deadpanned. “Change the dinner reservation to four and invite the cutest of the three. Or really, whichever one of them is free. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Piper laughed before getting serious again. “Gemma, what if it’s a big mistake? What if mixing business and pleasure ruins everything?”

“Honey, from what you’ve told me about this guy, that train already left the station. You’re just finally jumping on.”

Piper couldn’t help but smile. Gemma had a way of cutting through her overthinking. “I just don’t want to mess up my working relationship with him. Things are going so well with Sharpe, and—”

“Speaking of work,” Gemma interrupted, “I have to tell you about why I was going to call you or I’ll burst! I have some news that might interest you. Remember that Creative Artists Agency party I told you I was going to the other night?”

“Yes, the CAA party…” Piper pulled out a gauzy aqua-colored sundress, considering it in the mirror.

“Well, I met this documentary filmmaker there, Ryder Graham. British accent, does those really compelling music documentaries for Netflix?”

“The one who did the Boys 4 Eva documentary?” The biopic on the most popular boy band of the nineties had been one of the most-watched shows on the streaming platform for months.

“Yes, the very one. Anyway, he mentioned he just got a new documentary series greenlit that’s going to be all about comeback stories. So, of course, I told him I know just the country music singer he should feature.”

Piper’s hand stilled on the hanger. “Omigosh! Callie?”

“Yes! And I may have given him your number.” Gemma’s voice had that singsong quality again that meant she was proud of herself.

Piper sat on the bed, her pulse quickening. A documentary featuring Callie could be exactly the kind of high-profile project that could get her noticed by the right people in Hollywood. Piper and Gemma had both interned at Paramount in college, and it had been their dream to move to LA together after graduation and work in PR in the film industry. Instead, she’d sidestepped into music when her college boyfriend Trent convinced her to stay in Nashville and do PR for his band.

Admittedly, she’d regretted it even before he’d dumped her both personally and professionally, but it had been too late. Ultimately, Gemma had gone to work at one of LA’s top PR firms right after college graduation, while Piper had ended up in Nashville on a detour that had lasted twelve years now. Was she finally getting a second chance?

“You seriously think he’s going to call? Back up and tell me the whole conversation.”

“I just told him that you’re the best publicist in Nashville, and that you understand the balance between commercial success and artistic integrity. Oh, and that you’ve been wanting to get to LA ever since college, so this is exactly the type of project you need to do next.”

Piper’s cheeks grew warm. After Trent, she’d been more careful about mixing her professional and personal lives, but Gemma had been there through all of it. “You didn’t have to mention the LA thing.”

“Why not? It’s been your dream since we did those internships at Paramount. This could be your way back.”

Piper stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the sunset painting the sky in shades of pink and orange over the water. “I know. It’s just…things are different now.”

“Because of Wyatt?”

“No, not because of Wyatt. We haven’t even been on a date yet. Because of everything.” Piper fingered the fabric of the aqua dress, remembering how she’d given up her first chance at a Hollywood internship to stay in Nashville for Trent. “Callie’s career is finally back on track, and now I have Sienna…”

“You’ve been killing it in Nashville, but aren’t you ready for a bigger challenge?”

Piper returned to the mirror, still holding the dress. Gemma was right. She could find someone for Callie and Sienna, and she sometimes felt like she’d hit a plateau in her career. “What if Ryder doesn’t even call? What if nothing comes of it?”

“Then you can have more dinners on that little island of yours with the handsome and available Wyatt who clearly adores you,” Gemma said. “But Piper? If Ryder calls, don’t talk yourself out of it just because you’re comfortable. You gave up this dream once, it might not come back around if you let it go again.”

After they hung up, Piper looked at herself in the mirror holding the aqua dress. Gemma was right. Opportunities like this were rare. But as she got ready for her dinner with Wyatt, she couldn’t help wondering what she’d do if she had to choose between the life she was building here and the dreams she’d been chasing for years.