Page 11 of Two Hearts' Christmas Homecoming

When Lex walked inside, he watched Zane and Izzy with interest, grabbing a water from inside the fridge. They obviously didn’t realize that he was there, so he sat at the long dining room table.

Izzy was explaining the purpose of some of the equipment resting on the shelves lining the entire interior wall.

“I wouldn’t know about any of the stuff you have here. You’re probably going to have to explain it to me as we go,” Zane admitted, as Izzy fiddled with another machine. “What’s that?”

She gave him a toothy smile. “It’s a karaoke machine. I haven’t used it in a while because no one can stand my singing. I’m sure you’ve seen one of them before.”

“Not often, but yes, I guess I might have seen something similar,” Zane replied.

Izzy handed over the mic as Zane sat back on the couch. “Say something.”

“Testing. One—two—three,” Zane said.

Lex grinned, getting a kick out of watching Izzy attempting to manipulate Zane. She was probably the first person he’d ever seen do it.

“Why don’t you practice one song since everyone else is out of the room?”

When he seemed ready to refuse, she put her hands on her hips and glared. “You can’t be nervous about playing in front of us, otherwise you’ll never be able to perform for everyone at camp.”

“You really think I’ll get in. Don’t you?”

“Yes. Now pick up your guitar. Why don’t you sing the song you were singing yesterday?”

“Yes,ma’am,” he answered, sitting up straighter and picking up his guitar from where he’d left it beside him. “You’re sure bossy, Isabella.”

“I know,” she replied, smiling widely again.

Grinning, Zane began strumming his guitar, suddenly looking lost in the music.

“Life is kind of crazy with a spooky little girl like you…”

“Alright, already,” Isabella said, snorting. “Sing like you did yesterday.”

That’s how they’d met Izzy. She’d overheard Zane’s vocals when they’d snuck onto the winery property to watch the performers at the music camp below.

Zane gave her a side glance.

Izzy was looking unusually pleased with herself and Lex realized she deserved to. Lex had never seen Zane loosen up enough to tease someone.

“I only know classic rock, because that’s what I used to love,” he admitted. “We weren’t allowed to listen to the radio or watch TV, so I don’t have a clue about what kind of music is even popular these days.”

Gabe walked into the room, smiling. “I knew I recognized a kindred spirit. Come on, let’s hear something, Zane. I’d like to see if Izzy knows what she’s talking about.”

“How about something byJourney?” Zane asked.

“Sure. One of my favorites,” Gabe answered, sitting in the club chair across from Zane.

Zane inhaled an unsteady breath, playing a few tricky chords before he broke into song.

‘The winter is here again, oh, no. I hope you hold on a little longer…’

He closed his eyes, his voice growing increasingly louder, giving it all he had before he finally powered into the ending chorus ofWheel in the Sky.

When he was finished, Zane opened his eyes.

Lex watched as a man and a woman, obviously friends of the Giordanos, burst into the solarium from outside.

“What a voice,”a beautiful woman exclaimed, approaching Zane with determination.

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