Falling for the Ghost of You(85)

“What did he say?” I gasp, reaching the top.

Kim shakes her head grinning. “No, you have to watch it!”

“Wait, just tell me—was it good or bad? I mean…”

“Definitely good. Come on!”

She ushers us into her room, and we plop down on the bed, in front of her large flat screen TV. Kim grabs the remote and pushes a couple of buttons.

I’m unprepared for the sight of Zane suddenly appearing on the screen. After seeing him only in my dreams for so long…to actually see him…it’s completely overwhelming. Oh, god, he is so gorgeous!

As Aiden Cross, his masculine beauty just hits you like a physical blow. He looks so amazing and sexy in a v neck black sweater and dark jeans. His dark blonde hair is perfectly tousled (no doubt courtesy of some floozy hair stylist), and his cerulean blue eyes are so bright, they seem to pop out of the screen.

Everything else fades away as I watch Zane (Adrian!) laughing and chatting with Joanna, the quirky talk show hostess. He is completely charming and sexy, and the women in the audience can’t seem to stop screaming and giggling at his every word. God, I don’t blame them.

I listen raptly as Joanna gushes his praises, talking about how many albums he's sold, how many Grammys he's won—while sneakily mixing in questions about his love life. Zane smoothly evades her inquiries, laughing it off or joking his way out of any tough spots.

The more I watch him, the more I see the ghost of Zane in the famous rock star. His half-smile. The way he rubs his jaw sometimes when he's thinking about something else. How he tilts his head to the side when he's amused by something.

The way the muscles in his chest and arms tense when he's...

Oh, wow. That image just popped out of nowhere. Bad Violet. Shaking my head, I try to focus on the interview.

"So you're a busy guy, I've noticed," Joanna is saying casually, smiling innocently at Zane. "All that dating must be hard with your schedule."

He leans back in his chair, completely at ease. "Yeah, no. I've actually been in my recording studio every day working on some songs. And I'll be going on tour in October, so I've been preparing for that, too. I know it's a long way away, but I'll be gone for, like, a year, so—"

"Yeah, mm-hmm," Joanna nods thoughtfully. "So what does Alaina think about you being on the road for so long?"

I bite my lip hard at the mention of that famous bitch. "You're sadistic, Kim," I mutter.

She shushes me. "Just wait."

"Nothing..." On TV, Zane remains inscrutable, continuing to smile. "Why would she care?"

"Because she's your girlfriend, right?"

"We're friends."

"Huh. Okay." The spunky hostess tries another tactic while the audience giggles at her antics. "So, Valentine's day is coming up."

"Is it?" Zane plays it cool.

"Yup. So, Aiden, I'm sure all the women in the audience would like to know—what would be your idea of a perfect Valentine's day date?"

The audience whoops and cheers. Zane looks out and them, and chuckles. "Well, damn, now I have to say something romantic and elaborate, huh?"

"Not necessarily. I'd say it depends on the woman. Like, for example...Alaina Skye."

He looks heavenward as if for help. "You're not gonna let that go, are you?" he asks good-naturedly.

"Did I say her name again?" Joanna shakes her dark curls. "I'm sorry. You just seem like a romantic kind of guy. So what would you have planned for that special day?"

I lean forward, eager to hear his answer. What would our Valentine's have been like? The perfect day, to me, would be just the two of, us hanging out together—preferably in bed.

Zane hesitates for a second. He takes a drink from his cup before answering. "Well, this is going to sound really bad—and lazy—but I think I'd just want to hang out, you know? Spend all morning in bed—" The audience screams, and he flashes that sexy grin. "Then have a picnic in the living room, just her and I. Time is very precious to me, and I think I'd just want to be alone with her, have her all to myself for the whole day. I know that's not really every woman's idea of a great date, but..."

Lauren turns to look at me. "Did he just describe that day at the hotel with you?"

I nod, dazed. "I...think so."

"So yum!" Kim squeals. The whole bed bounces with her excitement.

"Well, Aiden, you could probably take a girl to the dump, and she'd be thrilled. Am I right, ladies?" Joanna winks at the wildly approving audience. "Now let's talk about this 'her.' What does she look like? Five-seven? Blonde hair, blue eyes? Dolphin tattoo?"

Alaina Skye. Ugh.