Chapter Twelve
“I can't believe I'm going to ask this, but will you drive Ariel to the airport in a few hours? I've got a meeting I have to get to, and the networks won't let me change it.” Jared entered the room in a frenzied rush.
“Make up your mind.” Zeke narrowed his eyes at him. “Now that you're desperate, it's okay for me to be around her?” The nerve! Granted, he'd do it because it was Ariel, but Jared really hit a hot button at the moment with his back and forth attitude.
“I knew you were going to throw that up in my face,” Jared hissed.
“No, I'm just confused as hell. Are you gonna turn around and be pissed later?”
“Hurt her, and you're going to get it. That's all I'll say.”
Zeke turned to walk away. Nothing he did or said would make Jared calm his shit anyway.
“Zeke.”
He faced Jared again.
“How is she? Does it bother her that she was voted off?” A pain expression stretched across his face.
“Ariel is lost without Lucy. She doesn't want to make music without her. She was smart and turned this into a learning experience and realized some things.”
Jared's eyes darkened. “Lucy always managed to pull people out of their shyness. Ariel took a big step, and I'm happy she did. I'm just worried about what she'll be like when she goes home. Her mother is always trying to give her new ideas to become more sociable, and Ariel is never comfortable. She's always in competition with her sister without wanting to be. At the same time, they always shelter her. They were strict, and still are, even though Ariel is twenty-two.”
“Know what I think?” Zeke slipped his hands into his pockets. “Without the pressure of a singing show and other people, I think Ariel has real talent. I want to show you a video, if you have time.” He hadn't been able to stop playing the recording. He should have sent it to her and then removed it from his phone, but Zeke kept it and continued to watch the woman who grabbed his attention. “Think of her live performances, then watch this.” Pressing play, Zeke handed over his phone to Jared.
“Whoa. When was this? What did you do?” Jared couldn't tear his eyes away from the video. “She's completely lost in the music. I almost want to cry with her!”
“I gave her a little push. A gentle nudge. It's just going to take some more time to pull her out of her shell.”
“Is that what you want with her?” Jared pursed his lips.
“What I want with her is to know her. I can't explain what the draw is, but I don't want to go without giving us a chance, either.” Zeke took his phone back. “I'm going to fly out to see her this weekend.”
He expected a fight from Jared, but his friend only shook his head. “You know my warning.”
“I know. Don't hurt her. It's not my intention.”
“So you'll take her?”
“Of course I'll take her. Good luck with your meeting.”
“Yeah, thanks. Here, take my car so you don't get bombarded with paparazzi.” Jared tossed him a set of keys.
“Your Ferrari? You're actually gonna let me drive it?”
“One scratch, and you'll be paying me in favors big time,” Jared warned, pointing a finger in his direction.
“Worth it. I get to spend a little more time with Ariel.” Zeke smirked, clutching the keys.
“No making out in my car, either! I just had the seats deep cleaned! I'll know!” Jared called after him.
Snickering, Zeke took off, eager to see that sweet little redhead one last time before she had to fly home.
*****
Ariel searched the room one last time, making sure she'd packed everything. For nine weeks, this had been her home. Now the excitement wore down and it was time to go back to her regular life.
Someone knocked on the door. “Be right there, Jared!” she called, slinging her bag over her shoulder and pulled on the rolling suitcase.
The man behind the door was most definitely not Jared.
Zeke stood there, dressed in a pair of jeans and a black tee shirt, and he carried a single rose in his hand. “Door side pickup for one beautiful Ariel Lexington.” The corners of his lips curved up.
“What are you doing here?” she blurted.
“Is that anyway to greet your driver?” Zeke's eyes went wide, and a hint of a pout formed on his face. “I was hoping for a kiss.”
She stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed his lips. “I didn't expect to see you.” Her body tingled with feeling.
“Jared had a meeting, so he asked me to drive you. He says he's sorry, but I'm better and cuter than he is anyway.”
“Somehow I don't think he said anything about that last part.” Ariel smirked.
“No, he didn't. You won't tell on me, will you?”
She giggled. “Of course not.”
“Here, let me take those for you.” Zeke reached for her suitcase, his fingers brushing against hers. Awareness shot right through her.
“You don't have to. I've got them.”
“I know I don't have to. I want to.”
Ariel relented, took one last look around the room, swallowed hard, then followed Zeke out into the hallway. As the door shut closed behind her, a little part of her wanted to cry.
Adventure over.
They walked to the elevator side by side in silence, but once the door closed and the elevator edged down, Zeke let go of her bag, pulled Ariel in his arms, and surprised her with a kiss. “I can't stop the desire to kiss you, woman,” he said seductively in her ear. “I just have to touch you. You're an addiction I gotta have.”
“Are you practicing song lines on me?” Ariel whispered back, swiping at her face when Zeke's stubble rubbed against her cheek.
“Well, I'm sure as hell not practicing lines on your suitcase,” Zeke quipped, stealing one last quick kiss before the elevator stopped.
“Wow, Jared let you drive his car? He really must be desperate,” Ariel said as Zeke opened the door for her, then moved to put her bags in the trunk. Once he climbed in the driver's seat, he moved the seat back to give his long legs more room. “How bad did he threaten you?”
“I got enough warning.” Zeke grinned as he revved the engine.
“What's your draw to music? I mean, how did you know you wanted to be a singer? When?” Ariel prompted him with questions when they were on the road.
“My dad was an avid music collector. As a way to bond, we learned guitar together. I fell in love. I started writing songs in middle school and knew that music was where I wanted to be.” Zeke rested his hand on top of the wheel and settled the other on her knee. Every once in a while, he'd caress her skin. It tickled and felt good at the same time. “I credit my love of music to him.”
Easy as that, huh? Some people were born with a gift. Some took a while to find it. Others, like herself, didn't know where she fit, even in her early 20's.
“I can't stop thinking about the day you sang Without You to me.” Zeke's voice was full of emotion. “I'm not going to press you, but I won't deny how much I feel you're on the brink of opening up. So I will simply ask you this: please don't give up on music. Don't take this loss as a sign that you weren't meant for it.”
She never thought she was meant for it to begin with, but Ariel didn't say as much. “I don't know I can really 'give up' what I never chased for myself in the first place.”
To her surprise, Zeke left the subject alone. She'd expected him to say more, since he obviously felt strongly on the subject. It was great to have someone like Zeke Sketcher behind her, but the thought also terrified her, too. In a dark part of her mind, she had all sorts of ideas about the real reason Zeke wanted to continue to stay in her life.
The ride to the airport went by way too fast. There wasn't enough time to talk more with Zeke. He parked, grabbed her bags and headed inside with her until the point he could go no further unless he had a ticket.
“You aren't worried about getting recognized?” Ariel whispered when he gathered her in his arms again.
“You didn't notice the dark hair beneath the hat?” He winked. “It's my disguise, plus I'm driving Jared's car. Unless someone's stalking me, I'm pretty easy to miss today. Sing It! won't be the same without you. You know that, right? I never wanted to do the show, but Jared called in a favor and I couldn't say no. Now I'm glad I did it, because I never would have met you. He never told me he had a gorgeous and sweet friend hidden away. Just a few more days, and I can have you within reach again. I'd better kiss you goodbye and let you get on your plane before I change my mind, whisk you away, and have my way with you.”
A shiver rippled through her. “Promises, promises.”
“You don't want to miss your flight, babe. But this weekend ... if you're willing...” He ran a hand along her thigh in a suggestive manner.
Was she willing? Those type of relationships never suited her before. What would Zeke do afterward?
“You hesitated. It's not just about this insane attraction I have to you. I swear you're different.”
She blew out a breath. “I'll see you this weekend. Thanks for the ride, and thanks for everything you've done for me while I was on the show. You'll never know how much of a help it was.”
Trying to remain calm and certain, since her mind was full of confused, muddled thoughts, Ariel grabbed her bags from Zeke, gave him a peck on the cheek, though he tried to kiss her back, then headed toward her terminal. This man got to her in ways she was unsure of. He was a rock star with a reputation, and why he landed his sights on her, she'd never understand. But to keep herself from getting attached and hurt, she'd have to be the level headed woman she'd always been.
When she looked back, Ariel didn't expect Zeke to be there. But there he stood, still gazing with longing at her. People weaved around him without a second glance as he continued to hold her gaze like they were the only two people in the world.