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

stew. Screw Daniel Kennedy! I knew he was too good to be true. Just another client who, because we had known each other in the past, thinks my services should come with fringe benefits. If I didn't make my point clear tonight… Yeah, I'm furious and I'm going to bust down crying if I don't get my mind off of him.
    Tonight Archangel will play. My music is always well received, crowds always cry for more. But for me it was nothing more than an emotional release—like tonight, to get Daniel Kennedy off my mind, though deep down inside that was the last thing I wanted to do.
     
    ****
     
    After a night of nearly no sleep, I managed to drag myself out of the bed and get myself ready. When I had slept, damn dreams of Daniel Kennedy kept easing into my psyche. The sort of dreams that left my sheets in knots and damp. Daniel had left numerous texts. I scanned them all. Ah yes, apologizing for the misunderstanding. Blah, blah, blah.
    Then I read a final one from about three in the morning. The video shoot for my idea. That's what was going on. He had arranged for a video shoot. The one we talked about. And I ruined it, my chance to oversee it ruined by the damn feelings I obviously had for this man. Still didn't explain that girl, though.
     
    He strode right over to the six mounted black and white enlargements, just like I wanted him to. He stood there in awe, not moving, his eyes going from one image to the next. Then he moved in closer for a better look.
    "Mary, these are phenomenal. I can't find the words to describe my emotions."
    "That's good enough. It means you like them. These are the six best. I'll show you the rest in a minute. I also have a video clip I put together."
    "Mary, about last night…"
    "Please, don't ruin my moment here, Daniel."
    "I need to apologize. Obviously you had no idea we were shooting the video that you had suggested during the photo shoot."
    Pretend you haven't seen his text . "What? What the hell? All of that was…Then why the hell did you have me bring my violin? Obviously you led me to the wrong conclusions about why I was there last night."
    "And how did I do that?"
    "You were acting so, so weird in front of those other folks, your girlfriend I take it? I'd have never come if I'd known I was going to be humiliated like that."
    "That was never my intention. And Penny is not my girlfriend. She works at the label offices. She was there to observe."
    "Observe what? Because the way I saw her hanging all over you, that is not the impression I got. Observe my ass!" I whispered under my breath.
    "Okay, okay. Truce? I handled the situation wrong. I should not have suggested you bring your violin to practice with me with others around the first time. And, I should have been more upfront about what was going on, as well as being more sensitive."
    "Yes, you should have. I'll let you slide this time."
    "Thank you. I promise I won't let it happen, again. Are you ready for this afternoon, my lioness?"
    I nodded my head. "Yes, I am more than ready, Daniel. If they don't like what I present, well then they are all blind. This has to be some of my best work ever, if I do say so myself."
    "You have something better?" he chided.
    I stared straight ahead at the image directly in front of me. I dared not look at him.
    "Video. How did the video portion come out?" He asked after the awkward silence.
    "Come, let me show you. I won't offer my opinion one way or the other until after you've seen it."
    Leading him over to my laptop, I sat down on one of the stools. He followed my lead and waited as I clicked the mouse and brought it up. As he was watching the thirty second clip, I couldn't help but steal a glimpse of his face. He approved. The corners of his mouth were curved up ever so slightly.
    "Amazing! And I like the fact that you put everything in black and white."
    "I do, too. Much more dramatic; and I think it captures the mood of this body of work, don't you? I have one in sepia tones, which is nice; but for