Read Online An Unexpected Song by Iris Johansen - Free Book Online Page B

I’ve ever heard it.”
    “I’m not surprised.” Jason’s eyes met Daisy’s across the room. “It’s from a new Broadway musical. There’s no cast album out yet.”
    “What’s it called?”
    “ ‘Last Love,’ ” Jason said. “The lead soprano sings it.” Jason smiled at Daisy as he continued to play. “I think you’d like the lyrics too.”
    She gazed at him helplessly as the music possessed her.
    “Pretty,” Charlie muttered, lost again in his painting.
    Not pretty. Mesmerizing, heart-stopping, ravishing, Daisy thought.
    “Do you like it?” Jason asked her softly.
    He knew damn well she loved it. “Yes.” She tried to keep her voice steady.
    “Perhaps I could find the sheet music for you.”
    She didn’t answer.
    “Would you like that?”
    “No. I have my hands full doing Fantine.”
    “Well, if you change your mind, tell me.” Heturned back to the keyboard. “I’m always willing to oblige.”
    As Lucifer was ready to oblige Eve with the apple of knowledge, she thought bitterly.
    Jason continued to play softly for the next hour. He didn’t confine himself to “Last Love” but he always came back to it.
    Finally, Daisy couldn’t take it any longer. She forced a smile as she jumped up and stepped down from the platform. “Sorry, Charlie, I have to leave early today and get this mop of a mane trimmed.” She turned to Jason. “You needn’t wait. I’ll drive myself.”
    “I wouldn’t think of it.” Jason didn’t look up from the keyboard as his fingers moved over the keys. “I don’t have anything else to do.”
    Daisy gave him a tormented glance before she strode toward the bedroom and closed the door. As she hurriedly changed clothes, “Last Love” drifted to her from the other room.
    She exploded as soon as they were out of Charlie’s earshot and were walking toward the car. “That wasn’t fair.”
    He opened the passenger door of the car for her. “You didn’t enjoy the entertainment?”
    “You—it wasn’t fair, dammit.”
    “I know.” His lips tightened. “But you gave me no choice. I could see from the minute I walked into the cottage today that you were pushing me away.”
    She waited until he had gotten into the driver’s seat and started the engine before she said, “You’re right. I meant to tell you that I know I made a mistake last night. I was upset and—”
    “You want to go back to being buddies,” he finished for her. He shook his head. “No way.”
    “It’s best.” She looked straight ahead. “I can’t handle this right now.”
    “Then you shouldn’t have started it.”
    “I realize it’s principally my fault.” She was trying to speak slowly and reasonably. “But I’ve thought it over and decided we can’t go on with it.”
    His gaze narrowed on her face. “I’m not going to argue with you.”
    “There’s nothing to argue about. My decision is made.”
    “Decisions are made to be changed.” He started the car and edged away from the curb as he said gruffly, “I can’t let you take this away from me, Daisy. Not after I had a taste of what it could be.”
    That was an odd way of phrasing it. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean that you’ve just declared war.” His lips tightened grimly. “And that I take no prisoners.” He drew a deep breath. “Look, I don’t want it to be this way. I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll forget about Desdemona for a while, but I’ve got to have something. I know damn well I can please you. Come to my hotel room after the play and let me show you.”
    She didn’t answer.
    “Will you think about it?”
    She nodded her head jerkily. She would agree to anything to end this scene that was growing more painful by the moment. “I’ll think about it.”
    After the first act that night Jason knocked perfunctorily before opening the door of the dressing room.
    Daisy tensed and whirled on her stool to facehim. “I didn’t expect to see you. Were you out front?”
    He shook his head. “I told