Soul Chance

by Nichelle Gregory

  Table of Contents

  Legal Page

  Title Page

  Book Description

  Dedication

  Trademarks Acknowledgment

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  New Excerpt

  About the Author

  Publisher Page

  Soul Chance

  ISBN # 978-1-78430-793-6

  ©Copyright Nichelle Gregory 2015

  Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright September 2015

  Edited by Rebecca Scott

  Totally Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

  Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

  Warning:

  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 2.

  Souls Entwined

  SOUL CHANCE

  Nichelle Gregory

  Book five in the Souls Entwined series

  Willful and spirited, aspiring songstress Ari Dax discovers it will take more than beauty and talent to hit the right notes in her professional and personal life.

  Ari Dax loves to sing, party and gamble. She’s comfortable using her beauty and talent to get what she wants and is accustomed to things going her way. When a bad bet puts Ari and her loved ones in danger, she knows it’s time to get her life together. She’s determined to make a go of her music career, ready to put her all in pursuing her dream.

  Ryder Stevens sees the potential in Ari’s musical abilities and his attraction to her makes it an easy decision to help her out of a bind. He makes Ari an offer to help and protect her, but her outrageous counteroffer throws him for a loop. Ryder accepts Ari’s terms, determined to teach her a lesson about gambling. He soon wonders if he’s the one being schooled when his heart gets twisted up in their wicked game.

  Initially, Ari thinks her risqué offer to Ryder is a genius idea, until she realizes her deal isn’t getting her any closer to the man she loves. She can’t back out of their new agreement and is heartbroken by the realization it may be too late to fix the mess she’s created.

  Is there a chance for their love?

  Dedication

  Always remember your unique heartsong is a beautiful gift better shared.

  Trademarks Acknowledgment

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  As Time Goes By: Herman Hupfield

  Taser: Taser International Inc.

  Skype: Skype Technologies S.A.

  King Kong: Edgar Wallace, Merian C Cooper

  Kevlar: DuPont

  Chapter One

  Ari swayed her hips to the last few bars of the song, loving the way her silver sequined dress sparkled beneath the lights. She flashed a saucy grin in response to the various cat calls echoing in the room, drawing energy from the crowd as she sashayed across the small stage to the beat of the music. Ari drew in a breath before singing the last phrase of her ballad. She held out the ending note of the song until her lungs burned with the need for more oxygen.

  Breathing hard, Ari lifted her mic above her head as the audience erupted in thunderous applause, imagining she’d just finished singing in front of thousands in a stadium instead of the modest crowd seated before her. She closed her eyes briefly, losing herself for a moment in her favorite reverie. Ari savored the rush that always followed performing, despite how much she hated her current gig. She bowed once, twice then a third time as the cheering onlookers continued to clap. “Thank you…thank you.”

  Ari gave the spectators another dazzling smile as she stepped closer to the piano. She acknowledged Ben, her punctual but often passionless accompanist. Grinning, he stood from the bench and took a bow. She was thankful the old school musician hadn’t messed up any of her numbers like he had yesterday. It had been a good night of singing and Ari was pleased she’d made it through another week of performances at The Cove.

  “Encore!” A male voice cut through the dwindling applause, and his request was quickly repeated by a few others.

  Ari stifled a sigh as she bowed and waved again. After ninety minutes of crooning, she didn’t want to sing another note.

  “Should we give them what they want?” Ben briefly shifted his gaze off her to beam at the crowd while still tinkling the ivories. “We’ve got eight minutes left in our set.”

  Ari slid her microphone in place on the stand in front of her. She met Ben’s gaze, working to keep her expression neutral so he wouldn’t see how aggravated she was by his question. “Oh, Ben, I think we’ve given them enough for one night.”

  Ben shrugged. “I don’t mind playing longer.”

  “Oh? Good. You’ll play something solo then?” Ari ignored the disapproving look Ben shot her way as she walked away from the piano. She gritted her teeth, trying to keep a smile on her face as she descended the short flight of stairs leading her onto the banquet hall floor. Ari made a beeline toward the bar, weaving through the candlelit tables while shaking hands and greeting guests, which, for her, was the worst part of the night. She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally reached the edge of the bar. Ari angled her body away from the patrons sitting close by, hoping her body language dissuaded anyone else from engaging her.

  “Aww.” Liza gave Ari a mock pout from behind the counter. She passed another customer the frothy beer in her hand before giving Ari her full attention. “Don’t look like that. The crowd loves you. I swear this place fills up whenever you’re performing.” The bubbly bartender gave her a wide grin. “You’re good for The Cove.”

  “Uh huh.” Ari slid onto the barstool. She didn’t feel the same about the exclusive resort after three weeks in Florida. Ari fanned her face and her gold bangles jingled with the movement. “Liza, I’m thirsty.”

  “Uh huh.” Liza passed Ari a bottle of water. “Here you go.”

  Ari glared at her. “You know what I want. Make that Long Island iced tea, extra strong please.”

  “Coming up.” Liza saluted her before walking off.

  Ari tapped her nails on the counter, hoping she wouldn’t have to wait long for her drink. She was ready to go. Despite feeling isolated, she couldn’t wait to be alone. A warm, salty breeze swept over her, drawing her gaze to the beach visible through huge open windows across from the bar. Stop complaining. Be grateful, dammit.

  Ar
i sighed again. She knew she should be appreciative of her job and lodging. The little cottage she’d made her home was pretty, close to the ocean and secluded from the resort. It was the perfect place to practice her music and forget the choices made in Las Vegas that had brought her to The Cove. She had no one to blame but herself for her current, boring predicament. Thanks to Jay and Ryder, she had nothing to do but focus on her job, damn them.

  “Hey, pretty girl.”

  Ari turned her head to smile at Manuel. “Hey, yourself.” She eyed his black tank top, admiring his muscled physique as he started removing bottles of liquor from the shelves behind the bar counter. “How’s my favorite bartender doing tonight?”

  “It’s going to be a long night. Liza wants us to make sure everything is in order for the new boss man’s arrival.”

  Ari’s stomach tightened at the mention of Ryder. He was never far from her thoughts, much to her annoyance. Their last encounter hadn’t gone so well and she hadn’t spoken to him since arriving in Florida. “He’s coming in tonight?”

  “I think Liza said he’ll get here tomorrow afternoon? I still haven’t met him.” Manuel wiped off a bottle of whiskey then set it down. “I know you have. What’s he like?”

  Demanding. Arrogant. Pig-headed. Sexy-as—

  “Earth to Ari.”

  Ari cleared her throat as she focused on Manuel’s handsome face, trying to ignore the rush of heat warming her cheeks. “Huh? Oh. Ryder Stevens is a decent guy.”

  “That’s good to hear. Nothing worse than working for an asshole.”

  “Yeah. Nothing worse.” Ari rubbed her bare arms as Manuel went back to work, cleaning and organizing the alcohol inventory. She was far from ready to see Ryder.

  Manuel turned to her, flipping a shot glass with one hand. “Say, do you want to go back to Fort Lauderdale this Sunday? I’m going to meet some friends of mine there.”

  “Really?” A thrill zipped up Ari’s spine as she envisioned the slot machines she’d played for hours in the not so distant past. Hitting the slots lacked the edgy thrill of a high-stakes game of cards, but it had been fun hanging out in the swanky casino.

  “Yep. We’re going to have a good time and I’m only inviting people I know can party.” Manuel gave a low whistle. “You know how to party.”

  “Ha!” Ari’s smile faded when she thought of Ryder again. “Shh. That’s our little secret, remember?”

  “Right. Well, are you in?”

  “Um. Not this time. I’m supposed to get together with Ben and practice some new songs, but thanks for the invite, Manuel.”

  “No problem.”

  “Here you go.” Liza set Ari’s drink in front of her. “One extra strong Long Island iced tea.”

  Ari chuckled as she reached for the glass. “Thanks.” She lifted it to her lips, took a sip and nodded with appreciation. “Oh, yes. This is perfect.” Ari swirled the straw in her drink.

  “Want some dinner to go along with that? That concoction can sneak up on you.”

  “Nah. I’m good. So…” Ari took the straw out of her glass and placed it on a napkin, trying to keep her tone casual. “Manuel told me Mr. Stevens is coming?”

  “Yup. Be here tomorrow, as far as I know.” Liza chuckled as she looked at her. “Don’t worry, I won’t mention to him that you shortened a few of your sets.”

  “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 beneat
h 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.