Once More With Feeling by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online

effortlessly. She needed to think, she decided; a few days to put it all in perspective.
    â€œRaven.”
    She turned to see Julie in the doorway. “Yes?”
    â€œThere’s a call for you.”
    Vaguely annoyed, Raven frowned at her. “Can’t it wait, Julie? I . . .”
    â€œIt’s on your private line.”
    Brand felt her stiffen and looked down curiously. Her eyes were completely blank.
    â€œI see.” Her voice was calm, but he detected the faintest of tremors.
    â€œRaven?” Without thinking, he took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “What is it?”
    â€œNothing.” She drew out of his arms. There was something remote about her now, something distant that puzzled him. “Have some more tea,” she invited and smiled, but her eyes remained blank. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    She was gone for more than ten, and Brand had begun to pace restlessly through the room. Raven was definitely no longer the malleable young girl she had been five years before; he knew that. He wasn’t at all certain she would agree to work with him. He wanted her—for the project and yes, for himself. Holding her, tasting her again, had stirred up much more than memories. She fascinated him and always had. Even when she had been so young, there had been an air of secrecy about her. There still was. It was as if she kept certain parts of herself locked in a closet out of reach. She had held him off five years before in more than a physical sense. It had frustrated him then and continued to frustrate him.
    But he was older, too. He’d made mistakes with her before and had no intention of repeating them. Brand knew what he wanted and was determined to get it. Sitting back at the piano, he began to play the song he had written with Raven. He remembered her voice, warm and sultry, in his ear. He was nearly at the end when he sensed her presence.
    Glancing up, Brand saw her standing in the doorway. Her eyes were unusually dark and intense. Then he realized it was because she was pale, and the contrast accentuated the gray of her irises. Had the song disturbed her that much? He stopped immediately and rose to go to her.
    â€œRaven . . .”
    â€œI’ve decided to do it,” she interrupted. Her hands were folded neatly in front of her, her eyes direct.
    â€œGood.” He took her hands and found it chilled. “Are you all right?”
    â€œYes, of course.” She removed her hands from his, but her gaze never faltered. “I suppose Henderson will fill me in on all the details.”
    Something about her calm disturbed him. It was as if she’d set part of herself aside. “Let’s have dinner, Raven.” The urge to be with her, to pierce her armor, was almost overwhelming. “I’ll take you to the Bistro; you always liked it there.”
    â€œNot tonight, Brandon, I . . . have some things to do.”
    â€œTomorrow,” he insisted, knowing he was pushing but unable to prevent himself. She looked suddenly weary.
    â€œYes, all right, tomorrow.” She gave him a tired smile. “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to ask you to leave now, Brandon. I didn’t realize how late it was.”
    â€œAll right.” Bending toward her, he gently kissed her. It was an instinctive gesture, one that demanded no response. He felt the need to warm her, protect her. “Seven tomorrow,” he told her. “I’m at the Bel-Air; you only have to call me.”
    Raven waited until she heard the front door shut behind her. She pressed the heel of her hand to her brow and let the tide of emotions rush through her. There were no tears, but a blinding headache raged behind her eyes. She felt Julie’s hand on her shoulder.
    â€œThey found her?” Julie asked, concerned. Automatically she began kneading the tension from Raven’s shoulders.
    â€œYes, they found her.”