Encore! (Tudor Saga Book 1) by Jamie Salisbury Read Free Book Online

followed him, catching every essence of him and what he was attempting to articulate through his music. That was, after all, this quiet man's primary language.
    Hours later, exhausted, we finished. We sat on stools, in front of my laptop, and ran through everything I'd shot that afternoon. Though we were mere inches from one another, Daniel managed to keep everything quite professional.
    "When do you think you will have everything ready?" He asked, starting to pack up his violin.
    "I'm shooting for Friday. That is the day we're supposed to meet with your people, isn't it?"
    "Yes, and that would be fabulous if you could have something by then."
    "I've purposely cleared my schedule for this week because I knew you were on a tight deadline. I can always go back in and make changes to anything you or your people want."
    "Thank you again, Mary." He glanced toward the door. It was dark outside. We'd been working for hours, pretty much non-stop. "Could I interest you in some Chinese for dinner? We can share a cab and I'll drop you at your apartment building?"
     
    ****
     
    Two days later, I was putting the final touches on the results of the shoot. I was quite happy with what I'd captured. Even the video came together better than I'd thought it would, considering I was using it more for pulling stills than for the actual footage, itself.
    Even though Eloise and my circle of friends knew not to bother me when I was in the middle of a project, especially under such a tight deadline, Elle stopped by and brought me lunch and occasionally texted with the excuse of just seeing how I was. But I knew better.
    When my phone lit up, I thought it was her and was prepared to chide her for another intrusion.  But, I picked up and looked at it. It was Daniel. I hadn't heard from him since our dinner after the shoot, a few nights ago.
    "Good afternoon, Mr. Kennedy. What have I done to deserve a call from you in the middle of the day?"
    "Things are going well, I take it?"
    "Yes, and you do realize you answered my question with a question?"
    He laughed into the phone. "So I did. I was merely curious. Do you think I could steal you away for a few hours this evening? Its work related, trust me."
    "Sure. I'm about through and I could use a break away from the computer. What do you have in mind?"
    He gave me an address. "Meet me there, say around eight this evening? And bring your violin."
    "Am I getting a lesson, Maestro?"
    "Something like that," he replied. "Are we on?"
    "Yes, of course. I'll see you then."
    I arrived promptly at eight. Before hanging up, he had mentioned it was his personal rehearsal space adjacent to his apartment. Made perfect sense to me. With my violin case in one hand and my purse in the other, I waited to be admitted.
    A young fellow with long, stringy blond hair opened the door. He took me off guard completely, but he never uttered a word, except perhaps an unintelligible hello or something.
    Peering slowly around the large room, I let my eyes adjust to the low light. I noted some umbrella lighting and spots throughout the room, and there was video equipment and computers in one area. I didn't think a thing about it, thinking Daniel probably taped himself playing all the time.
    Then I saw him off to one side, a dark haired young girl clinging to him. Funny thing, he wasn't acting like he didn't enjoy her affection. He was laughing with her, their heads together, over something she obviously thought was terribly funny.
    Looking up, I caught his eye. He strode across the room, the female firmly attached to his arm. Liar. No girlfriend, huh?
    "Mary! You made it and you brought your violin. Good!"
    "I didn't realize this was going to be a party," I replied sarcastically, standing my ground and waiting for his reply.
    "Come, let's get started. I want to hear you play some, first. Then we'll try something, together." He stretched out his free hand, the bimbo still attached to the other. And he didn't introduce her, either. I felt