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

my blood begin to get hot. I said nothing, just followed, trying not to notice the smug look on his face, which I wanted to knock off.
    He showed me to a table against a wall and left me to myself. I took my instrument out of the case. Peering around, I noted a few more guys had come in. Or, maybe they’d been somewhere in the room and I simply hadn't noticed them. Whatever the case, I was feeling quite uneasy.
    Daniel approached, taking my violin from me. He began to play it, stopping to make adjustments in the tuning. I might not have had an ultra expensive instrument, but he could make it sound every bit as good as a Stradivarius. I was beginning to enjoy listening to him bring my violin to life when she had to ruin it all.
    "It's not nearly as nice sounding as yours, Daniel."
    Oh really, and you would know this how? I was definitely in a bitch slap mood, now.
    "Perhaps, but it is still an exquisite instrument." He replied, as he gingerly drew the bow across the strings. He flicked a grin my way. "Come, Mary, play for me."
    I took the instrument out of his hands. He walked back over to her and she proceeded to wrap herself all over his arm, rubbing his chest with one hand.
    At that moment, I noticed he was wearing a white shirt, unbuttoned almost all the way to his belt buckle, showing every bit of his chest. I put the instrument under my chin, trying to remember everything I could about the piece I had chosen to play for him. While I wanted to play for him, I did not want my anger to cause me to make any movement that might, well, remind Daniel of my alter ego.
    I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. Damn! She’s fondling his nipple! Does she have no sense of decency or does he lack it and I am just now seeing it? Whatever, the look on my face did not go unnoticed because he covered her hand with his and whispered something in her ear. The next thing I saw was him removing her hand from his body. Smart man. Good choice.
    But my mood was ruined. There was no way I could do this for him in front of other people. In order for me to perform for him for the first time, it would have to be just the two of us. No one else.
    Time to leave.
    I walked back over to my things and placed my violin and bow back into its case and closed it. Picking it up, I reached down and retrieved my purse off the floor beside the table.
    "Mary, what's wrong?" I vaguely remembered him asking.
    "I'm sorry, Daniel. I'm not ready to do this. Not with all these people around. I misunderstood. This was a bad idea, okay?"
    He followed on my heels, his bimbo left behind. "Mary please. Don't leave. Not now." He came around to get between me and the door.
    "I'm sorry, Daniel. I'll see you tomorrow. Big day, remember? And please, leave your girlfriend at home."
    "She's not my girlfriend!" He hissed as I walked past him and out the door.
    "Tell her that. She might be confused with the way you allow her to hang all over and fondle you. If you want a private showing before we meet with your label and management guys, be at my studio at nine sharp. Good night, Daniel, and thank you for a most interesting and insightful evening."
    I pivoted on my heel as best I could, in spite of my seething anger, and walked away. I dared not look back—even when, after a few seconds, I thought I heard the sound of his door being slammed. Good! I got my point across.
    I fumbled in my pocket and retrieved my cell phone. I found the number I was after on speed dial and waited for the person on the other end to answer.
    "What can I do for you this evening, Archangel?" The deep baritone boomed.
    "Archangel wants to play. Can you fit me in tonight, Jake? I really need to let some steam off."
    "For you? Tell me when and I'll make the time for you, darlin'."
    I peered down at my cell phone for the time. "Midnight. Will that work?"
    "Absolutely. See you soon."
    "Yeah, see you soon." I disconnected the call and hailed a cab. There was no way in hell I was going home to sit and