Soul Chance (2 page)

“What?” Ari gave an innocent expression. “Hey, I can’t help if I wasn’t feeling well.”

“Oh, I know.” Liza winked at Ari. “Duty calls. See you later.”

“Later.” Ari absently returned the woman’s wave of goodbye as she slid off the barstool. The last thing she wanted Liza to do was tell Ryder she’d skipped out on performing for the full amount of time she was supposed to. “Bye, Manuel.”

“Adios.”

Ari left the bar, annoyed by the butterflies flitting inside her tummy. So she’d nixed a few sappy ballads. Big deal. All in all, she’d done most of what Ryder had asked of her. Feeling better after her mini mental pep talk, Ari headed toward the back of the hall, glad she didn’t bump into anyone else on her way to the exit. She pushed the door open and stepped outside into the balmy night air. Laughter on the veranda propelled Ari in the opposite direction.

Evenings in Florida were the best for Ari. She could handle the lingering heat and humidity minus the intensity of the sun. Ari drew in a deep breath then slowly exhaled as she slipped out of her heels. She took care not to spill her drink as she bent down to get them. Relishing the grit of sand and the warmth of the wood walkway beneath her feet, Ari enjoyed her stroll. She took some comfort in the fact that she had a little time left before she had to interact with Ryder.

Ari’s pulse quickened as she recalled the taste of Ryder’s kiss, the weight of his hard body covering hers. Damn it all to hell, but she wanted to feel him inside her again, had dreamed about it more than one night. She imagined he’d once craved her the same way. Ari kicked a small pebble with her toe, knowing he couldn’t possibly want her—not after what she’d done, how she’d behaved when he’d only been trying to help her.

Ari sighed as she leaned against the railing facing the ocean. Ryder had come to her rescue more than once. She hadn’t wanted to work at The Cove, but she couldn’t deny it calmed her in a way Vegas hadn’t. Florida was a beautiful state. The vibe was completely different than that in Sin City, but she was getting used to it.

Ari admired fragrant blossoms lining the fence. She touched the brilliant red petals of a hibiscus, wondering how long Ryder would stay. A part of her hoped it was for more than a few nights…until she thought about how angry he’d been with her the last time she’d seen him.

Ari blew out a breath. Her brother had always warned her about her smart mouth.

“Loved your singing.”

Ari pivoted in the direction of the female voice. She smiled at the couple moving toward her, linked arm in arm. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re more than welcome.” The petite brunette glanced up, adoration and love shining in her eyes as she looked at her partner. “I was just agreeing with Ron that listening to you has been one of the highlights of our honeymoon.”

“That’s wonderful to hear.” Ari grinned. “Congratulations on your recent nuptials. The Cove has so much to offer newlyweds.”

“Thank you, and you’re right, The Cove is the perfect spot for a honeymoon.” Ron rubbed his wife’s arm. “Well, have a good evening. Erica and I look forward to hearing you sing tomorrow. It’s our last night here.”

“Aww.” Ari pushed her twists over her shoulder. “Any special request?”

Erica giggled. “You’d do that for us?”

“Absolutely. It would my pleasure.”

“Wow.” Erica looked at Greg. “What song, honey?”

“You know.” Greg’s gaze was tender as Erica laughed again. “
As
—”

“
Time Goes By
,” Erica finished, shifting her attention to Ari. “Could you do that one for us?”

Ari nodded. “Certainly. It’s one of my favorites.” She smiled at the lovely couple as they kissed. “I’ll perform it tomorrow night.”

“Oh, my goodness!” Erica squealed then moved forward and wrapped her arms around Ari. “Thank you.”

Ari hugged the woman, moved by her show of gratitude. She shook Ron’s hand as she stepped back. “I’ll give it my all.”

“We know you will.” Ron put his arm around his wife’s waist with a huge grin on his suntanned face. “You have such an amazing voice.”

“Thank you so much. I hope you both enjoy the rest of your time here at The Cove. I’ll see you two tomorrow night.”

“Goodnight.” Erica waved at Ari before turning with her husband and walking toward the resort.

Ari continued along the walkway to her cottage, pleased by the newlyweds’ compliments. She slowed her pace, welcoming the darkness enveloping her as the lights from the resort faded. Watching the moonlight dance on the rolling waves always captivated Ari. The sand was warm beneath her feet, a delicious contrast to the cool glass in her hand.

Her new lush surroundings often inspired her to create new music. She would jot down lyrics at the piano back in the bungalow, losing track of time as she plunked the melody in her head out on the keys. Ari hummed the classic ballad she’d promised the couple. Her soft voice seemed to swirl in the wind, winding around her legs as she reached the edge of the wooden path.

She paused for a moment to finish her drink as she came to her cottage, wondering what it would be like to be so in sync with—and obviously adored by—a lover. Her relationships didn’t last long enough to establish such a connection. She preferred catering to her own needs first, and remaining single allowed her to do just that.

Ari’s thoughts drifted to her mother. Tears stung her eyes as she recalled a conversation they’d had about dating. Her mom had shared that giving her heart to the right man was worth the risk of getting hurt. Past break-ups had convinced Ari that the vulnerability that came along with loving someone was too damn complicated.

Ari dug into the little pocket of her dress for her key, admiring the vibrant blossoms and flowering bushes lining her veranda. She liked how the lush foliage offered privacy from any guests adventurous enough to wander so far from the resort. Here, away from everyone, she could fully relax. Ari turned the key in the lock, pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The airy, ranch-styled beach house was modern luxurious and elegant. The walls were white with teal and tangerine accents scattered throughout the space. Beautiful dark wood floors stood out against the wicker furniture, but it was the imported ivory baby grand in the corner of the living room that had wowed Ari when she’d first arrived.

“First things first.” Ari tossed her sandals on the floor then closed the door, ready to unwind. She went into the kitchen, set her glass down on the counter and released the windows above the sink. Her gaze fell on the counter to the Taser Ryder had gotten her. She didn’t mind being alone most of the time, but the weapon made her feel safe, something she needed after her harrowing experience in Vegas.

Ari plugged in the blender then opened the freezer and grabbed a handful of ice. She dropped the cubes into the mixer then pulled open the refrigerator. Ari groaned when the landline began to ring. She reached for the margarita mix then snatched up the old-fashioned handset. “Hello, Jay.”

“Hey, how’d you know it was me?”

Ari twisted the lid off the lime concoction and poured a substantial amount of it into the blender. “Because you’re the only one who calls on this line.” She placed the drink mix on the countertop and went back into the freezer for the chilled vodka.

“Ah. How are you?”

“I’m working and staying out of trouble.” Ari unscrewed the cap on the frosty bottle and poured the liquor into the blender without measuring. “Isn’t that what you want to hear?”

“Come on, Ari…being at The Cove can’t be
that
bad.”

“The Cove is
boring.
Hang on a sec.” Ari put the lid on the blender then turned it on. She pulsed the mixture until it was the consistency she wanted then shut off the machine. “There?”

“Unfortunately.”

Ari grinned. “How are the wedding plans going?” She balanced the phone on her shoulder as she took a margarita glass out of the cabinet.

“Don’t get me started on that topic.” Jay chuckled. “I knew we weren’t going to get a simple, quiet wedding…but damn.”

Ari smiled as she poured the icy drink into her glass. “Nothing about Shannon is simple or quiet. You knew that.”

“I did and, truth be told, it’s what I love about her.”

“Is Shannon turning into a bridezilla before your eyes?”

Jay snorted. “Not yet. She’s trying not to stress over the wedding or her mother, who keeps adding to the guest list.”

“Uh oh.”

“Yeah. It’s crazy, but at least we’ve finally decided on a venue for the reception.”

“Where’s the wedding going to be held?” Ari sipped her margarita, savoring the zing of lime and alcohol on her tongue.

“Catalina Island.”

“Ooo…nice.”

“Expensive.”

Ari chuckled. “You’ve got the cash and so does Shannon.”

“Speaking of cash…are you saving what you earn rather than spending it all on clothes?”

“You’ll be pleased to know I haven’t bought a thing since I got here.”

“Really?” Jay whistled. “Okay,
now
I’m worried.”

“Hey, I have
some
self-control.” Ari frowned when her brother laughed. “What? I do.” She took another generous swig from her glass, thinking about the real reason she hadn’t been shopping.

“Ari, you can barely go two days without spending money. What’s changed?”

Ari swallowed the melting ice on her tongue. “Maybe I have.” She sighed when her brother snorted. “Don’t you have a fiancée to dote on and a wedding menu to craft?”

“Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you later, Ari.”

Ari hung up the phone with a weary groan as she refilled her glass. She wasn’t upset. She was frustrated. Jay was right. She loved to shop, and not being able to the past few weeks had been difficult, but she was on a serious budget. There was no extra cash for heels or pretty dresses now, especially without having unlimited access to Jay’s bank card. Ari was determined not to ask her brother for any more financial support. She wanted to prove to him and to herself that she could sustain her lifestyle on her own.

“Like I need another pair of shoes anyway.” Ari slammed her drink on the counter, annoyed by how much she desired a new pair of stilettos. She poured more of the slushy margarita drink and exited the kitchen.

After opening all of the windows in the living room, Ari padded into the bedroom. She set her glass on top of a stack of celebrity magazines and stripped out of her silver sequined dress. The breeze moving through the ranch was lovely but it was still muggy. Ari preferred natural air over the air conditioning. Deciding to sit on the porch to cool off with her margarita, Ari pulled open a drawer and reached for her favorite white baby-doll style tankini. She stripped, donned the suit then turned to assess her appearance in the mirror.

The material appeared almost sheer in direct light but Ari wasn’t concerned about that at this time of day. She twirled in the mirror, pleased with the way the swimwear accentuated her curves. Her breasts looked bigger, thanks to the halter design at the top of the bathing suit. Ari wriggled her hips with a delighted giggle, wondering why she’d ever hesitated wearing the suit down to the beach. No one would bat an eye at what she had on, not with so many other women sporting the skimpiest bathing suits ever.

Ari pulled her long twists back into a low ponytail and secured them with a band, feeling instantly cooler. She grabbed her drink, took a sip and headed out of the bedroom. Ari flicked on the ceiling fan in the living room then went to the front door, ready to lounge on the comfy lawn furniture out on the porch.

Humming another love ballad, Ari pulled open the door. She yelped when she saw Ryder poised to knock. “Ryder!” Ari froze as conflicting arcs of excitement and apprehension raced up her spine.

She stared at Ryder, conscious of his gaze flitting over her as she drank in the sexy sight of him in dark jeans and a light purple T-shirt. Her heart thumped against her chest as familiar zings of awareness rendered her speechless.

“Hello, Ari.”

The deep timbre of his voice made her pulse react. How had she ever doubted how much she’d missed Ryder? Ari willed herself to speak. “Y-you’re here.”

Ari wet her bottom lip, remembering the white-hot passion of his kisses. She tightened her hold on her drink, once again stunned by how her body reacted in his presence. He was the only man to have such an intense effect on her and it both infuriated and aroused her further.

Ryder’s slow grin made Ari weak in the knees. “I am.”

Ari attempted to swallow the enormous lump in her throat, wishing she had of come up with something more savvier to say other than state the obvious, but under the circumstances it was the best she could muster. Intense longing she’d been trying to ignore for weeks made Ari wish things had gone differently in Vegas.

Has Ryder thought of me at all since then
?

That question taunted Ari, along with the one that had kept her awake many nights.
Has he forgiven me?

Chapter Two

“I just got in.” Ryder watched Ari take a sip from her glass.

“The rumor around here was that you were getting in tomorrow.”

“Change of plans at the last minute.” Ryder grinned as Ari nodded.

He knew her well enough to know he’d surprised her, but she’d regained her composure within seconds. For a brief moment, he’d thought she might rush into his arms. He would’ve enjoyed such a welcoming, especially after how tense their last encounter had been.

“Easy flight?”

“Easy enough.”

Their polite chit chat and the cool wall Ari seemed hell bent on keeping between them set Ryder on edge. In Vegas, they’d been able to talk about anything and everything. Things had changed, but Ryder didn’t care if Ari was no longer gambling. As long as she was safe, she could resent him all she wanted. He’d done what he could to help her make the necessary changes to get her life together.

Ryder gestured at Ari’s suit. “Going for a swim?”

“No. I was hot.”

Her innocent comment conjured up several naughty responses in Ryder’s head. God, how he’d missed those lips. He wanted to crush those soft, deliciously feminine curves that had haunted his dreams for the past few weeks against him. Ari had made it very clear she wasn’t interested in anything other than sex and his money after what had gone down in Vegas. Ryder had no intentions of further blurring the lines between them by mixing business with pleasure.