Jacob's Ladder: Gabe (Jacob's Ladder #1)

“There are some small differences between us when you look really hard,” Gabe said.

Eli winked at me. “Don’t tell her that. If she looks too hard, she’ll realize I’m the better-looking twin.”

While I laughed, Gabe gave his brother a playful smack on the arm. “Keep dreaming, bro.”

One of the men cleared his throat. “If you guys are ready, we’d love to hear what you have for us.”

With a forceful nod of his head, Gabe replied, “We’re ready, Pierce.”

“Should I wait out in the lobby?” I whispered.

“If you went back to the lobby, you wouldn’t be able to hear the songs.” He stared intently into my eyes. “I want you to hear what you inspired.”

His words sent my heartbeat accelerating, and I found myself unable to respond with anything other than, “Okay.”

Taking my hand in his, Gabe led me over to a smaller room. Inside was what I assumed was the sound booth. The record execs had already taken a seat on the couches and chairs to the side. Instead of steering me over to them, Gabe took the extra chair and pulled it up beside the guy manning the soundboard. “Hey Johnny, how are you?”

“Doing pretty good. How about you?”

“Pretty good. This is Rae.”

As I waved, Johnny said, “I’ll take good care of her while I’m making you guys sound good.”

Gabe laughed. “You do that.”

After I sat down, Gabe kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

I nodded. Since I didn’t know exactly what to say to wish good luck to musicians, I said, “Break a leg.”

With a grin, Gabe replied, “If I do that, I can’t play the drums, and we’re screwed.”

“Whatever. You know what I mean.”

“I do, and I appreciate it.”

He then hurried out of the room and into the recording booth to join Eli and Abby. Since they weren’t actually recording, he would be playing guitar instead of his usual drums. He handed the sheets of music to his bandmates, and they spent the next few minutes warming up and harmonizing a bit. Apparently, over the last week, he’d faxed them the songs he had been writing, and they’d even rehearsed once over FaceTime.

When their voices and instruments were once again silent, Gabe glanced through the soundproof glass to the execs. “I think this is the single we should lead with on the album.”

He and Eli began strumming the opening of a slow song. During the time we’d spent together, Gabe had educated me enough about music that I knew to call it a ballad. Abby’s beautiful voice filled the booth, and as her hand gripped the lyric sheet in front of her, her expression changed to reflect the emotions she was emitting through the song.

Trapped inside these walls,

I made a prison all my own

As I listened to the words, it amazed me how differently they sounded coming from Abby and not Gabe. Although his sister had a much better vocal range, I still preferred Gabe’s singing. Maybe it was the rough, masculine quality of his voice that spoke to me both emotionally and physically.

Closing my eyes, I imagined myself back in that room with Gabe…the way the sunlight streamed in through the windows, basking him in an almost angelic light…the way his voice delivered the range of emotions the lyrics contained.

When the song ended, I popped my eyelids. My thought process immediately went from listening to the song to wondering what the execs thought. Glancing over my shoulder, I surveyed their expressions. When I saw that they appeared to be very satisfied, I exhaled the breath I’d been holding.

A tall, lanky man, who was the definition of California cool, stood up and came over to the soundboard. After holding down a button, he said, “I know we still have a lot to hear from you guys, but I’m really feeling that one as the first single, too. I should know by now to trust your judgement.”

Gabe grinned. “Glad to hear it.” Turning to his siblings, he said, “I’d really love to call the album Ray of Light.”

“Works for me,” Eli replied. He then gazed out of the sound booth at me and winked. I couldn’t help smiling back at him.

“Abs?” Gabe asked.

Abby bobbed her head enthusiastically. “Not only do I love the song, I love the message the title would convey for the album.”

A pleased expression came over Gabe’s face before he glanced out at Pierce. “Then Ray of Light it is.”

Pierce nodded. “I agree with Abby on liking the message.” After the other execs murmured in agreement, Pierce said, “All right. What else do you have for us?”

“Two more ballads and then three upbeats.”

“Okay. Take it away again.”

As Gabe and his siblings played through the rest of the songs, I remained on the edge of my seat. I knew I was witnessing something special. I mean, how many people could say they’d seen the inception of a band’s new album? I couldn’t help feeling honored considering what an intimate moment it seemed to be for the band. Sure, they had an audience of execs, but there was something very pure about the process. It was three artists uniting to weave together the many pieces of a song.

After they played each song, I held my breath for Pierce’s opinion. It felt like I was watching an episode of American Idol and waiting for the yes or no from each judge. Maybe it was because Pierce’s British accent made me think of Simon Cowell.

Out of all the songs they played, there was only one Pierce and the others weren’t too thrilled with. Even then, they only asked for the song to be reworked, not completely scrapped. From the light dancing in his eyes and his beaming expression, I could tell Gabe was on cloud nine. I couldn’t imagine how proud he must be. It was like the old saying that after the darkness comes the dawn. He had trudged through the worst writer’s block of his life to pen some truly amazing songs. I was so very proud for him and of him.

When Gabe and the others came out of the sound booth, I hopped off my stool and hurried over. Before he could ask my opinion, I blurted out, “That was amazing—you were amazing.”

The most adorable blush fanned over his cheeks, one I’d never seen before. It was quite a difference from the usual smirk he wore whenever someone complimented him. “If anyone should be giving praise, it’s me. Without you, none of that in there would have been possible.”

Slowly, I shook my head back and forth. “It still floors me that I had any effect on your creative process whatsoever.”

“Never doubt the effect you have on me.” His voice had taken on a husky tone that caused goosebumps to pop out on my arms. Even though we were in small room filled with people, it felt like it was just the two of us. As the tension crackled, I inched closer to Gabe.

Just as my body was in reach of touching him, Eli popped up beside us.

“Hey guys, you wanna grab something to eat?” Eli asked.

Without taking his gaze from mine, Gabe replied, “Sorry, we have plans.”

After glancing between us, Eli grinned. “Yeah, I can imagine what kind of plans you have and what you’ll be eating.”