Aileen's Song (8 page)

Meanwhile, Aileen tried to focus, but she couldn't get the idea of Liam and Roxy out of her head.

“I may not sing,” Siobhan continued, “but I can supervise like nobody's business.”

“Tell me about it.” Liam's muttering was rife with affection. He stood next to Aileen and slowly wove his fingers through hers. “Let's pray.”

He bowed his head. So did the others. Watching Liam surrender this moment to God slipped a thrill into Aileen's bloodstream and awakened every longing in her aching heart. For a moment, she took him in: thick waves of dark brown hair shone beneath recessed ceiling lights. His features were relaxed. His broad, well-toned shoulders were eased.

Suddenly, she realized the silence had grown cumbersome while she gawked and her friends waited on her to lead. Once again, she was expected to take the helm of this endeavor, the unspoken champion of Sisters in Spirit both on stage and in a spiritual way. That truth continued to settle upon her.

Liam kept his head down and eyes closed, but his grin began to spread. He squeezed her hand tenderly. Did he sense her regard? “Send us to Christ, Aileen. Go ahead.”

His low, gentle summons acted like sweet honey to a hungry soul. If her palms began to sweat, she was going to be humiliated. Heart thundering, she beseeched God in silence to send His Spirit. What was she supposed to say to—

She breathed deep to quell all doubts, and she surrendered.

“Lord, we know You bring all things together for Your glory and honor and praise. That's the desire of our hearts as we embark on the pathway You've opened to us.” Words poured forth, straight from her depths. “Thank you for the love we share as friends, and as Sisters in Spirit. Thank you for Liam's leadership and the opportunities we hope to embrace on Your behalf. You brought us to this, Jesus. You have great and perfect plans brewing. May the love in our hearts and the gift of our voices and bodies in motion bring souls to Your throne. In Your precious name we pray. Amen.”

“Amen.”

The group broke free of its prayer circle, but Liam didn't relinquish his hold on her hand right away. He lifted his head and met her gaze. “Now that was a prayer. Thanks.”

Transfixed by eyes of deepest green and a smile that made her senses shimmer, Aileen couldn't formulate a reply.

 



 

Liam turned when Cole Copeland strode into the studio. The multi-award winning singer moved with practiced ease and quiet but he waved to band members he knew who were beginning to gather for his recording session. He offered smiles and a few fist bumps to the technicians.

Liam gave the Zion's Peak star a smile and lifted his chin in greeting before returning his full focus to the view through the glass. Three very successful hours had passed, and the girls were concluding their final demo track, this one an acoustic cover of “Friends.” Siobhan sat on the couch not far away, listening and swaying a bit to the rhythm. Centered on the song, oblivious to anything else but each other and the music, the focus of the trio inside was absolute, and their voices blended into a sweet and soaring harmony accompanied by piano, soft violin, and a very subtle undercurrent of percussion.

“My word. That lady is fantastic. What a sparkler. Who is she?”

Adjusting the mix as a brief acoustic guitar interlude began, Liam watched Cole from the corner of his eye and easily detected the rapt expression that covered Cole's features, the slow building smile.

And Cole's enamored stare didn't move one millimeter from Aileen.

Liam released a laugh that wasn't really a laugh at all. “Careful there, pal. Rein it in.”

Get your eyes off her, is what he really wanted to say, and Liam didn't completely understand the reaction. In an instant, he found himself swept into a level of emotion that provoked his heart and took him completely by surprise. He cared about Aileen—but he had always cared about her. He'd even admitted to being attracted to her since her return to Westerville. But the sensation that sang against his nerve endings right now was jarringly potent and leagues beyond anything he had ever experienced before. Was he this jealous? This captivated?

Had his emotions become this strong?

Evidently his tone acted like a red flag; Cole blinked free of Aileen's pull, and Liam silently cursed himself for being so territorial.

“Oh. I get it. Sorry.” Minutes later the song wound down. Cole moved behind one of the seated technicians, watching the girls gather up and chat inside the recording booth. “I didn't know you guys were a thing, or I wouldn't have—”

“We're not a thing.” The interruption came too fast, and tasted of a bitter lie, but he needed to hedge until he figured things out. Liam's pulse beat thick and strong. “I'm protective. She's been like a sister to me since we were kids. She's special. That's all.”

The forthright and firm conclusion in place, Liam returned to work. Cole, meanwhile, tilted his head, watching him with narrowed eyes. “Yeah. OK. Like I said. I get it.”

Liam wanted to groan. Bathed by the overhead lights of the studio, blithely unaware, Aileen bid her friends farewell as they stored headsets and prepared to take their leave. Doling out hugs, Aileen had no clue how powerful she was. She sent forth pureness, a passionate joy that was compelling.

Cole watched as well, Liam noticed. The musician checked his watch, continuing to keep tabs on Aileen, who lingered in the booth, taking in her surroundings. Her happiness at being in a recording studio was unmistakable.

“Hey, Liam, would you mind if I sing with her? Do we have enough time to do something quick and fun? I'll bet she could find her way through ‘Picture Paradise'.”

Cole referenced his number one hit on the Christian top one hundred. There was no graceful way for Liam to refuse. Artists pulled this type of improv all the time. Doing so fueled creative fires, and since the girls had performed so beautifully, they had a bit of extra time available. Liam didn't answer, but consented with a single nod.

“Super!” Cole hoisted a guitar from a nearby stand and made tracks for the inner studio. He pulled open the door, calling, “Hey, Aileen?”

The door closed, insulating the control booth from the remainder of the conversation; Liam seethed.
Step off, Cole. Step off.

He switched on the interior sound so he could listen in on what was happening. Introductions were made and words of mutual admiration were exchanged. Once Cole proposed the duet, Aileen agreed with enthusiasm, visibly awestruck.

She shook her hair and repositioned a headset, addressing the booth crew via her mic. “Guys, do you think it would be possible to lay down a track on this so I can have a souvenir of my first time singing with a best-selling recording artist?” Cole groaned, and Aileen gave him a playful shove.

Liam's blood simmered into a rolling boil, but he faced no civil option save one. Acceptance. He spoke into the mic. “Yes, we can do that.”

Belatedly he came aware of an intense three-pronged scrutiny. Kassidy, Maeve, and Siobhan studied him long and hard before filing out, ready to take on the rest of their day. How in the name of all that was holy had he forgotten they were stationed nearby? Obviously, they had picked up on vibrations of hostility, because his little sister couldn't resist leaning close before passing.

“Your skin is such a lovely, lovely shade of green,” she sassed. “Makes me long for Ireland.”

“Shut up.”

“You wish.”

“Constantly.”

She giggled and pecked his cheek. “Make a move, brother mine, before she's snapped up by someone else. You know, eventually she's going to give her heart away. When she does, that lucky guy will have a treasure beyond imagining.” She tapped a fingertip against her pursed lips. “Of course, he'll have to pass a three-fold inquisition from her best friends first. Question. Are you going to let that happen?”

She glanced pointedly toward the view through the glass, where the recording was under way. Aileen and Cole played into the emotion of Cole's hit song about finding your way, and finding God, by holding on to love.

Liam wondered. When and how had such a great day flown so totally south?

Now at his breaking point, Liam very slowly turned his head. He hoped and prayed the tiny pest could feel the fire of his wrath at being so thoroughly called out. He narrowed his eyes, edging closer and closer to Siobhan's personal space. Unaffected, she just shrugged and grinned.

She exited the booth, trailing her three friends.

“Have fun,” she trilled. Her knowing laughter lilted through the air.

 



 

From a singing standpoint, Aileen never wanted the session to end. She and Cole laid down their impromptu cover, and when the last chords drifted to silence, they received a series of thumbs-ups from the tech crew. That made her beam. They were right. It was good.

From an emotional standpoint, she was a tumbled mess.

The arrival of Cole's crew caught her companion's eye, and he started to move away, but he barely took a step forward before looking back. “Would you like to have a quick lunch at the commissary? I've got about a half hour while they set the studio.”

Two reactions struck her at once and with equal power. First was the sense of stunned pleasure she felt at being asked out by Cole. Next was a sharp ache that amplified one simple truth. The offer didn't come from Liam.

Her gaze drifted to the studio where Liam seemed drawn into a conversation with the musicians.

What was she holding on for?

Gathering a breath, Aileen turned from the glass divider and its view of what she would never have. She focused on Cole instead. “I'd love it. Sure. My friends and I came separately because they have classes to teach at the community center in an hour or so, and Siobhan needed to get back to her dance studio.”

Cole's answering look filled her with warmth, but not fire. Kindles, but not passion. Still, he struck her as a caring and remarkable man.

“Super. Give me five minutes.”

“I'll stow the gear. Thanks for a great wrap to my first official day in a recording studio. It was a thrill to sing with you.”

“Likewise.”

His tone made it clear the reply wasn't simple pleasantry or an automatic response. He paused and looked her straight in the eyes. Hmmm. That slight kindle of flame danced just a bit higher.

She focused on the results of the day's session. It felt like the demo was going to be amazing. Finishing a song, especially when all the elements combined to goose-bump stirring perfection—like now—shot zings of a thrill through Aileen's bloodstream. Voice, music, and instrumentation had been perfectly blended. Playbacks had been spot-on. At last she pushed open the doorway leading into the control booth, moving on light feet, riding high and enthused.

She came upon Liam and Cole positioned away from the rest of the crew, talking.

“You seem bugged by it. It's just lunch.”

“Yeah, I get that, so go. See you in half an hour.”

Liam's abraded response to Cole's statement stopped Aileen in her tracks, halfway across the threshold, the doorknob still in her ever-tightening grip.

Cole studied Liam, and both men remained unaware of her presence “You and Aileen seem to have a lot of chemistry.”

Aileen's gaze shot straight to Liam and an unmistakable stiffness crept across his shoulders. “What we have is a lot of history.”

Aileen's ears began to ring and her pulse to pound. Euphoria and happiness died a fast death.

“I'm protective.” Liam punched a few keys on the console. His tone reached her ears as a low-rumbling growl. “I'm protective of all of them. They're precious to me.”

Aileen firmed her lips and shook her head. History. Friendship. A precious sense of relationship shared by five. Everything but love. Just as she thought.

Cole shrugged. “I don't know. It seemed different with Aileen. I noticed the way you watched her. I'll say this.” Cole clapped a hand on Liam's shoulder. “If you're not interested, I sure am.”

At that point, Aileen closed the door...soundly...drawing their attention as she acted out a ruse and pretended she hadn't heard a word.

Cole's face lit with a smile. “Hey, Aileen. Like I was telling Liam, you're going to do great things. You were wonderful in there.”

Liam spun from the control deck and nodded. “Yes. As always. You were amazing.”

The compliment was sincere, she could tell by a look into his eyes and the gentleness of his tone. Didn't matter. It rolled straight off her. So did Cole's misbegotten perceptions about Liam's interest.

“Thank you.” In a curt way, she ignored Liam. It was time to move away from unrequited hopes and dreams. “Hey, Cole, we all set for lunch?”

She warmed her tone with expectation, and Cole responded just as hoped, with a ready nod and a warm spark in his eyes. All the while, Aileen wondered:
Why couldn't this be you, Liam? Why?

Out of position to be seen by Cole, Liam scowled.
Let him,
Aileen thought.
Too bad if he doesn't approve. I don't need his protection. I need what I can never have. His love.

“Let me get my coat from the office. I'll be right back,” Cole said.

When he left, Liam rounded on her and took hold of her arm, leading her to a private corner of the control booth. “You might want to be careful.”

His admonishment prompted Aileen to lift her chin and meet his gaze head-on. “Of?”

“Of being carried away.”

Aileen's blood seared her veins. “And just what might carry me away?”

“Flattery.”

He threw the word at her, accusations riding the depths of eyes Aileen had always cherished. How dare he! Meanwhile, Liam didn't even possess the good grace to flinch.