Fever

by Melissa Pearl

  Melissa Pearl

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  © Copyright 2014 Melissa Pearl

  http://www.melissapearlauthor.com

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

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  Cover art (copyright) by Mae I Design. All rights reserved.

  http://www.maeidesign.com/

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  Permission to use song lyrics:

  To the Agreement dated March 31, 2014 between ALFRED MUSIC and MELISSA PEARL:

  I'M GONNA BE (500 MILES)

  Words and Music by CHARLES REID and CRAIG REID

  © 1988 ZOO MUSIC LTD.

  All Rights in the U.S. and Canada Administered by WB MUSIC CORP.

  All Rights Reserved

  “Cheek to Cheek” by Irving Berlin

  © Copyright 1935 by Irving Berlin

  © Copyright Renewed

  International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved Reprinted by Permission

  FEVER

  Singing in the shower takes on a whole new meaning in Melissa Pearl's first Contemporary Romance.

  Ella Simmons does not want to move across the country. But she is, because her boyfriend has persuaded her to join him at UChicago to finish out her college education. Never able to tell him no, she hops on a plane and makes the trek from LA expecting to adjust to life like she's often forced to, but things are not that simple when she hears a luscious voice singing over her shower wall. His deep, sexy tenor makes her weak in the knees, spreading fire through her limbs and making her question everything about her life and relationship.

  Can one voice really have that much of an impact?

  Cole Reynolds is on his way out. In his final year at UChicago, the only thing he wants to do is finish school and get on with his life. But the sweet voice that interrupts his morning shower turns his world upside down. Compelled to find his shower songbird, he begins a search across campus. The only thing to distract him from this goal is his roommate's gorgeous girlfriend who's just arrived from LA - Ella Simmons.

  Relationships are put to the ultimate test as future dreams are questioned and friendships are thrown on the line for love.

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Music has always been an integral part of my life. My mother is an amazing singer and pianist, and I was raised with music always playing in the house. Sometimes I wonder if I could sing before I could talk. There is always a song flowing inside of me, no matter what I'm doing.

  Being able to combine my passion for storytelling with my love for music has been a real treat. I know I'm going to relish writing every Songbird novel, because each one will have its own special soundtrack.

  Fever is filled with jazz music. When I was in my early twenties, I met the man of my dreams. He loved jazz, and I'd never really given it a fair shot. It didn't take long to fall in love with both him and this genre of music.

  “Cheek to Cheek” was the song we danced to at our wedding, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Its placement in Ella and Cole's journey was very much intentional.

  To me, music brings sunshine into my life. It makes the ordinary, extraordinary. Thank you for letting me share some of its magical qualities with you in this love story.

  FEVER SOUNDTRACK

  (Please note: The songs listed below are not always the original versions, but the ones I chose to listen to while constructing this book. Every song in the soundtrack is used in the book at some point.)

  CHEEK TO CHEEK

  THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME

  LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF

  Performed by Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald

  COME FLY WITH ME

  Performed by Michael Buble

  PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ

  ANYTHING GOES

  SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

  SUMMERTIME

  Performed by Ella Fitzgerald

  I WANNA KNOW YOUR NAME

  Performed by The Intruders

  STEPPIN' OUT WITH MY BABY

  Performed by The Jumpin' Joz Band

  FEVER

  Performed by Peggy Lee

  MACK THE KNIFE

  Performed by Robbie Williams

  STORMY WEAHTER

  Performed by Sarah Vaughan

  CRY ME A RIVER

  Performed by Julie London

  I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU

  Performed by Etta James

  I WOULD WALK 500 MILES

  Performed by The Proclaimers

  For Ella Fitzgerald - the ultimate songbird.

  CHAPTER ONE

  ELLA

  This was a mistake.

  I was such an idiot!

  Why did I agree to this?

  My hands gripped the sides of my narrow airplane seat as the aircraft descended into O’Hare International Airport.

  Morgan sat beside me, agitated and tutting; she hated being late. The flight from LAX had been delayed by over an hour, and it was pure torture for her. She looked at her watch again, clicking her tongue and holding in another sigh; I could tell by the way her cheeks were puffing.

  “We should have left a week ago.” She shook her head. “We've put so much pressure on ourselves now. Classes start tomorrow. You've completely missed orientation, you'll only just make registration, and you still have to get your stuff sorted out.” Her bottom lip protruded in an uncharacteristic pout. “Plus, I wanted to see Brad this afternoon.”

  She pressed her lips together, trying to hold back her myriad of complaints. I knew she felt bad, and I didn't want to rub her nose in it, but she was my friend and I had to say something.

  “Staying for your little sister's eighteenth birthday party was the right thing to do. Jody's my best friend; I wasn't going to miss it.”

  Morgan conceded with an eye roll, her cheeks heating with color. “I know. I just wish the timing could have been better, that's all. Did she really have to celebrate on her actual birthday?”

  I chuckled. “It's Jody, of course she did.”

  Morgan flicked me a dry look, her lips twitching.

  I turned to peek out the window. My new home lay beneath me; the vast, sprawling city of Chicago. A city I'd never set foot in. Most people would probably have been giddy with excitement, but I just felt scared. Not that I'd ever admit it to Morgan or David, but I saw absolutely nothing wrong with a degree from Pasadena Community College, and I didn’t know why I'd caved and agreed to apply to the University of Chicago! My boyfriend could be too persuasive sometimes. It was no surprise to anyone that he had his sights set on law school; he'd be an amazing lawyer.

  I never expected to get into UChicago…and I certainly never expected to get awarded a partial scholarship. It was impossible to say no after that. So, after only one contented year at my little community college, I was shipping myself across the country to start a new life.

  “It's only three years,” I mumbled to myself.

  It was an attempt at comfort, but it fell flat. It wasn't just three years. If David got his way, which he always seemed to, I might never make it back to LA. The idea should have been liberating. LA held a lot of bad memories for me, but it also held Jody and a life that brought with it a certain sense of security.

  “Why am I doing this?” My head whipped back to Morgan.

  Her tense face relaxed as she squeezed my arm. “Because you're an intelligent woman who deserves this chance. Just think of your parents
.”

  That was the clincher. That's how they'd persuaded me to finally make the move. I hated them for bringing my parents into this, but David and Morgan were probably right.

  “Besides, aren't you just so relieved to be out of your psychotic aunt's house? No more cats. No more anal reminders about how the towels should be hung just so. No more random rampages.”

  I cringed, picturing my aunt as she rained a flurry of words over me, telling me how useless I was and how I never seemed to pull my weight around the house.

  I never asked to have you, Ella. The girls and I have had to sacrifice a lot to fit you into our lives. You should be grateful.

  The girls! Ugh. She was more in love with those damn cats than any human beings. I still couldn't believe that woman was related to my mother; it didn't seem possible.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my head against the seat back. “Come on, Morgan. You know I practically moved into your place when you left. I spent more nights sleeping in your old bed than my own. I only went back on the nights Aunt Fiona had a sudden surge of guilt and dragged me home, because I was her responsibility.”

  Morgan chuckled at the fake voice I was using. “I know you're not going to miss that.”

  “I'll miss Jo-Jo, though.”

  Morgan squeezed my arm, making me look at her. “I know. It's just been the two of you—no David, no me—and you guys had a blast, but it's gonna be okay. You need to spread your wings, Ella. It's time for you to fly.”

  “I never asked to fly.”

  “Oh stop it.” Morgan turned back to face the front, rubbing her ear as the plane drew closer to the ground.

  Twenty minutes later, we landed with a soft bump and taxied toward the terminal. As soon as the wheels hit the tarmac, Morgan went into mother-mode. She'd been doing it since she was fourteen and had the whole deal down pat.

  “Okay, so David said he'd pick us up. He better be there on time.”

  “You know he will.”

  “As soon as we get to the dorm, we'll drop our stuff and I'll quickly show you around the floor, but then I need to go find Brad. I hope that's okay. You don't mind unpacking on your own, do you?”

  “I'll be okay. David said he'd give me a tour.”

  “Make sure he takes you past registration. You need to be sure of where all your classes are. I don't want you getting lost on the first day.”

  “I know. He'll definitely have to show me where my Monday classes are. I'm a bit nervous about that actually.”

  “You'll be fine. This is a big adventure, I know, but you can do this, sweets. You're gonna be awesome.”

  I forced a tight smile, my cheek muscles straining.

  Morgan chuckled then broke into a grin. It was her big beaming one, so I knew she wasn't thinking about David as she leaned toward me with a little squeal. “I can't believe we're gonna be roomies! Having spent my first two years with Boring Doreen and then a hideous year with Slutbag Susanna, I am so excited that my senior year will be with my kick-ass bestie. I've missed you so much. Jody's had you all to herself, and now it's my turn.”

  I grinned; I couldn't help it. In spite of my trepidation, it was going to be cool living with Morgan again. We'd met when I was fifteen years old. Moving from Bellevue, Washington to Pasadena had been terrifying. As if my parents dying so suddenly hadn't been enough of a shock, I was then shipped off to live with Aunt Fiona. I wanted to die, literally, until I spotted a set of curious eyes watching me from her living room window. Without hesitation, she'd bounded out of the house and introduced herself.

  Morgan Pritchett. She was two years my senior and her little sister was two years beneath me, but it didn't matter. By the end of my first month in Pasadena we'd become best friends and that status would never change. Mr. Pritchett called us the Terrible Trio, but it was always in jest. I could see tears glistening in his eyes as he hugged Morgan and me goodbye at the airport.

  My eyes stung as I pictured him wrapping his arms around a sniffling Jody and waving us off at the gate.

  Why did I leave them again?

  The seatbelt sign dinged and the plane erupted with movement. Morgan was up and out of her seat in a second, her long body stretching high to lift our bags down. I stood awkwardly from my seat, trying not to stumble as I inched my way into the aisle. She passed my bag down to me, and I hefted it onto my shoulder, nearly getting pushed to the floor by the man in front of me. My face smashed into Morgan's chest.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled, pushing back and righting myself.

  She chuckled and then put on her indignant face as she nudged the guy in front of me. “Watch it.”

  He turned to give her some snide remark, but his features changed when he took her in. Yes, Morgan was tall, like nearly five-foot-ten tall. Her sharp, brown gaze could pierce iron, and she had a way about her that screamed, “Don't mess with me. I will ruin you.”

  The guy backed off, finally having enough space to maneuver himself down the aisle. I grinned up at my friend before turning and shuffling after him.

  As soon as we got off the plane, Morgan put on the speed. She always walked way too fast, in my opinion. Jody and I were often giggling about how we had to run to keep up with her. I puffed my way to the baggage carousel and waited in agitated silence for my big suitcase to trundle into view. It was so heavy, Morgan would have to help me lift it off. I clung to the luggage trolley as Morgan kept talking. I had started tuning out a few minutes ago, my mind growing fuzzy with fear. Everything within me wanted out. I wanted to go back. I wanted to drive Jody to school and then keep going on to PCC, just like I had every day last year.

  Jitters sliced up my insides, attacking my core until I felt like crumbling. This was my first big move since I'd left Washington, and memories were coming thick and fast. Not actual memories, more like emotional memories. That feeling of the unknown swamping me, that pure vulnerability I'd endured as I walked out the arrivals gate to find my sour-faced aunt waiting for me. She was a pale, thin, ghostly lady, nothing like my fresh-faced mother. Unlike Aunt Fiona, my mom had been a woman of infinite joy; always laughing, her eyes sparkling like sapphires when she smiled. I missed her more than ever in times like these. If they'd still been alive, my dad would have been the one waiting for my suitcase while Mom fussed over me. As much as I loved Morgan, she was a poor substitute some days.

  “Okay, let's go.” She grunted, lifting my bag onto the trolley. I hadn't even seen it appear.

  “Thanks.” I forced yet another smile, trying to ward off the barrage of doubts that made me want to run back onto that plane and demand they fly me home.

  Morgan clipped ahead of me in her shiny black shoes. She always looked so professional, her jeans pressed and pristine, her white shirt and navy jacket sitting perfectly. I glanced down at my rumpled checkered shirt and tried to tug the collar straight. Next to Morgan, I was like a kid. I think my forehead was in line with her chin, plus I looked young for my age. Aunt Fiona said I'd be grateful for that in the future, but for now, it was kind of annoying. Twice this summer, when I commented that I was going to be a sophomore, people assumed I meant high school.

  Tucking a thick strand of my mouse-brown hair behind my ear, I walked quietly beside my large friend. She was scanning the crowd as we walked through the gate, her agitation quickly building.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t like David; she just didn't love him. She never said this, but I could sense the hostile vibes between them sometimes. He didn't have to do much to spark her anger, but the problem was, David loved a good fight and he knew exactly how to needle my best friend. Thankfully we didn't get together until after Morgan left for her first year of college. If she’d been around, things might not have happened between David and me.

  “Oh, he's here.” Morgan sounded surprised as she pointed in his direction.

  My eyes popped up and my insides swelled. He was grinning at me and had that adorable look in his brown eyes. I couldn't get enough of that dimple that scored his left chee
k when he smiled. Letting go of the trolley with a little laugh, I raced toward him, loving the feel of his strong arms wrapping around my waist. I pressed my lips to his; they felt warm and familiar. I wanted to deepen the kiss, but he pulled back, aware we were in a public setting. He'd never been a huge fan of the whole PDA thing.

  “Welcome to your new home.” He touched his nose to mine and I bit my lip. I couldn't say anything. Instead, I closed my eyes and squeezed my arms a little tighter around his neck. I could have spent the rest of the day like that, but Morgan cleared her throat, so David let me go and took charge of the trolley.

  “So, how was the flight?” He led us through the massive parking lot, pulling out his keys as we drew near to his black Honda Accord.

  “It was pretty good. Sorry for the delay.”

  “No problem. I kept my entire day free.” He winked at me before closing the trunk and opening the passenger door for me and then Morgan.

  We hit the road and the trip passed by with amiable chatter. I quietly took in the surroundings as Morgan and David talked shop. They were both pretty focused on their studies, no one more so than David. Now in his junior year at UChicago, he had his sights set on Harvard Law. He’d get in for sure. He wanted to pass each year with an A+ average, which I thought was insane, but David was just that kind of guy; he liked being the best. People found his motivation and commitment inspiring.

  “You're gonna love it, El. I just know it.”

  I nodded. His enthusiasm was starting to rub off, and a smile lit my features. A few minutes later we were pulling into Hyde Park and making our way through campus. It was a beautiful place, majestic even. Students milled around, sitting in clumps or walking across the grounds, excited chatter buzzing around them. I couldn't hear it from the car, but I could see it. I was one of them now — a UChicago student. I needed to start loving it as much as everyone else did.