The Spellbinder by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

“I may decide to murder you myself.”
    “But the fault was not mine. Jimmy only played a small trick on Guenevere.”
    “Naomi,” Brody corrected.
    “Whatever. I’ve seen her so often as Guenevere that it’s hard to think of her by any other name.” She frowned. “How could such a horrible person act the part of a queen and make it believable? Anyway, Jimmy played a small trick on—”
    “It wasn’t that small,” Jimmy interrupted indignantly. “I thought it was pretty cosmic.”
    “But not very original.” Louis tilted his head consideringly. “A frog in her cold cream jar? It’s been done many times before. And you should never have hidden in her dressing room to see her reaction. It would have been smarter to have come in with the crowd when she screamed and pretended complete innocence.”
    Jimmy grinned. “It was worth getting slugged to see her face when she opened the jar.” He rubbed his cheek that was already showing a livid mark. “Though she’s got a lot of power for a soprano.” His admiring glance shifted to Sacha. “But you’re even better. What a great left.”
    “Thank you.” Sacha smiled. “And Louis is too critical. The frog in the cold cream jar is a classic. It can never be overdone.”
    Brody let Sacha slip from his arms but retained an iron grasp on her arm. “Do you suppose we could disperse this mutual admiration society?”he asked caustically. “I’m still wet, and it’s damn cold standing in this hallway.”
    “Oh, yes, of course,” Sacha said quickly. “We’ll go to your dressing room at once.” She took a long look at him for the first time, her gaze encompassing his bare feet and legs, the wet hair plastered flat to his head, and the rivulet of water running down his cheek. “Good heavens, you could catch a terrible cold. How foolish of you to run out into this chilly hall with nothing on.”
    “Foolish?” He enunciated the word very slowly and with great precision. “I was rescuing you, dammit.”
    “Were you?” She gazed up at him, startled. Then her face lit with a glowing smile. “Oh, Brody, how wonderful. I’m sorry I scolded you. I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone rescue me before.”
    Her expression was filled with such innocent delight that his indignation began to fade. A wry smile twisted his lips. “I can tell. You don’t carry off the role very well.”
    Cass opened the door of Naomi’s dressing room and dashed into the hall with the air of a man in flight. He hurriedly shut the door and leaned back against it with a sigh of relief. “I feel as if I’ve been through a tank attack.”
    “How is she?” Brody asked.
    “Cursing, swearing vengeance, throwing things,” Cass enumerated. “Shall I go on?”
    “No.” Brody turned away. “Suppose you take Louis and Jimmy out to dinner. I need to talk to Sacha.”
    “Fine,” Cass said. “If they don’t mind a restaurant with dim lights and soothing music. An old man like me needs to recuperate after facing a shrew like Naomi.”
    “Sacha?” Louis gazed at Sacha, waiting.
    She nodded. “I’ll see you back at the hotel.” She turned to Jimmy. “Remember what I said. Stay away from her. I’ll take care of it.”
    Jimmy nodded and waved, as Cass whisked both Louis and Jimmy toward the boy’s dressing room.
    “May we go now?” Brody asked politely.
    “Yes, of course.” Sacha linked her left arm through Brody’s and strolled down the hall. “And I do thank you for your rescue. It was truly very—”
    “Sweet,” Brody finished for her. “I don’t believe I’ve ever been called sweet before.” He opened the door to his dressing room and motioned for her to precede him. “Nor have I ever attempted to rescue a woman before. It feels exceptionally odd.”
    “I’m sure it’s wonderfully good for your character.” Sacha entered the room, plopped down in the beige easy chair by the door and stretched out her jean-clad legs. “This feels good. I think I’m a little