Project Description
IMPERFECT HARMONY
HOUSE OF ARCHER SERIES, BOOK 1
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
A rock band. A reality show. The opportunity of a lifetime.
As the front man for The Void, lead singer Dane Archer has yet to achieve the success he craves. He hopes that will change when he’s approached about filming a reality show called House of Archer. All he and the band have to do is get some juicy footage while on their upcoming tour.
The problem? Archer’s life is a snoozefest. His parents are happily married, he’s never done drugs or gotten arrested, and he doesn’t get into fights with his band mates. He knows the show will fizzle and die before it ever hits the air, taking his dreams of worldwide fame along with it.
Unless…
If Archer can convince his best friend Lily to be on the show, he’s sure they’ll get all the compelling footage they need. Her life is filled with drama. Hell, she’s practically a reality show in her own right.
Archer’s willing to do whatever it takes to get Lily on board, even if it means charming her into being more than just friends. But when he finds himself falling for her, his seemingly simple plan gets complicated. Soon the line between reality and Reality TV begins to blur, leaving him wondering if achieving his dreams is worth all it might cost him.
Archer wanted blood. Hot temper burned in his chest as he stormed down the tunnels of the venue where he and the rest of Suddenly Something had just wrapped up another concert.
He’d absolutely had it.
Catching up with the band’s lead singer, Brandon Evans, Archer grabbed his shoulder, spun him around, and got right in his face. “I’m so sick of your shit, Brandon!” When Brandon snorted and tried to shrug him off, Archer tightened his hold. “No way. You’re not walking away this time, you prick.”
“Archer, now isn’t the time for this,” came a female voice from behind them.
Archer whipped his head around to pin Regina Greene, Suddenly Something’s manager, with a dangerous glare. “It’s never the right time, Regina. Back the hell off.”
Brandon smirked and nodded dismissively at Regina. She gave them each warning looks before clipping away on her ice pick heels in the direction of the security guards manning the end of the long tunnel. Archer figured she was telling the guards to keep anyone from entering the tunnel while his “conversation” with Brandon took place. God forbid word got out to the public about the band members arguing.
“What are you whining about now, Archie?” Brandon asked in a bored voice, leaning negligently against the tunnel wall.
Archer’s already seething temper threatened to ignite over Brandon’s use of the hated nickname. “You know why I’m pissed, Brandon. You stepped all over my vocals tonight. You’ve been doing it more and more and I’m sick of it.”
Brandon rolled his eyes. “Who the hell cares? No one comes to hear you sing. You’re the backup vocalist, Archie. I’m the lead singer. It’s time you got that through your huge head.”
“My huge head?” Archer echoed. “You’re the one who seems to think this group revolves around you.”
“That’s because it does,” Brandon retorted. “I’m the face of Suddenly Something. You’re nothing.”
The barbed comment hit a bull’s eye, but Archer wasn’t about to let Brandon know it. “That’s bullshit. I’ve played a big part in our success. Hell, I’m more talented than you and you know it. That’s why you keep trying to step all over me.”
Brandon’s blue eyes frosted. His nostrils flared. Archer knew how to get his digs in just as well as Brandon did.
“You’re joking, right?” Brandon said, pushing away from the wall. “You seriously think you’re more talented than I am?”
“Damn right.”
“Then why don’t you go out on your own and prove it?”
Anxiety crept along Archer’s spine. “Don’t tempt me.”
Brandon laughed, loudly and heartily. The harsh sound resonated off the tunnel walls, slapping against Archer’s pride. His hands curled into fists.
Making an exaggerated show of wiping his eyes, Brandon said, “Archie, you’re a talentless, dickless, completely expendable son of a bitch. We’ve had backup singers and guitarists before you and we’ll have others when we finally get rid of you. I dare you to break your contract and try to hack it on your own. Hell, I’ll even convince the rest of the band to sign off on your departure so you don’t get penalized with breach of contract. That’s how sure I am that you mean nothing to us.”
Archer refused to show any of the concern he felt over Brandon’s conviction. “Fine. Maybe I will.”
“Yeah,” Brandon said, shaking his head and laughing again. “Good luck with that. I’m sure it’ll go so much better than the last time you cut a solo album.”
Still chuckling, Brandon turned and headed towards the band’s green room, touching two fingers to his forehead and lifting them in a mocking farewell salute. Regina looked up from her phone as Brandon neared her at the end of the tunnel. She glanced from him to Archer. After a brief pause, she followed Brandon around the corner and out of sight.
Guess it was clear where her loyalty stood.
When he was alone, Archer opened and closed his fists as the argument with Brandon ran through his mind. His anger warred against a heavy onslaught of uncertainty. Why had he gone and mouthed off like that? He’d known it would never go his way. Now he had all but gotten himself kicked out of a band that was making its way up the charts.
Unvented frustration stormed through him. With no one there to shout at, he turned and gave a nearby metal door a swift kick.
“Hey!” yelled a feminine voice from the other side of the door.
“What the hell?” Archer eyed the door. “Who’s in there?”
“My name’s Lily Montgomery. I’m locked in here. Can you open the door?”
He grabbed the door’s handle and attempted to turn it. “No. The lock lo