Read Online Heart Melter by Sophia Knightly - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sophia Knightly
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began a passionate, long distance relationship that culminated in Ian proposing marriage and Natasha impulsively accepting.
But then reality had set in when she got word she’d landed her first adult role on Broadway. As a child, she’d starred in Annie , but right afterward, Anitra had plucked her out of show business proclaiming that Natasha couldn’t audition until she completed a formal education, classically trained in music, dance and acting at Juilliard. Sheltered from the outside world and immersed in her craft, Natasha had worked diligently because nothing brought her more pleasure than singing and using her talent to make others happy. Before meeting Ian, her whole world had consisted of music and performing.
When she fell in love with him, she fell hard. She hadn’t known how to balance their love with her commitment to her career. Sadly, neither had Ian.
Maggie gently squeezed Natasha’s hand. "I remember everything you wrote me following the break-up. I’m glad you kept in touch with us over the years."
Natasha hugged her. "How could I not? I love you and Ranald. And I loved Ian, with all my heart. I never meant to hurt him, but he wasn't able to compromise."
Maggie nodded. "Time has passed and he’s older and wiser. Perhaps his heart has changed."
"I doubt it. He was eager to be rid of me at Inverness.”
Maggie waved her hand in dismissal. "Och. The stubborn lad hasn't gotten over you." "It’s not like that. We hadn't spent ten minutes together in his New York office before we argued," Natasha said, rolling her eyes.
Maggie grinned. "It's good to have a little conflict now and then. Ranald says he looks forward to little fights with me so he can enjoy makin’ up. You ken?"
"Aye, Maggie, I ken," Natasha said. “But what about Danielle?”
“Who told you about Danielle?” Maggie asked, surprised. She looked heavenward. “Never mind, I’m sure it was chatty Ranald.”
“Are Ian and Danielle a couple?”
Maggie hitched a shoulder in a half-shrug as if she didn’t give it much importance. “Last I heard, he wasn’t dating her anymore.”
“But aren’t they collaborating on Ian’s clinic?” If so, Ian had to have close contact with Danielle, girlfriend or not.
“I’m not sure. I wouldn’t worry about that, luv. On another note…your mother called earlier," she said, changing the subject before Natasha could ask more questions.
Natasha’s eyes shot open. “Oh no. What did she say?”
“She asked if I knew where you were, but I didn’t say anything about you coming here.”
“Good!” She touched Maggie’s hand. “Thank you. I wasn’t able to reach Anitra before I left, so I left a message that I’d be out of the show on a temporary leave of absence. I don't want her to know I’m at Glenhaven, considering how she feels about Ian."
"It's a shame those two never got along,” Maggie said, her mouth making a tsking sound.
"I've never understood how Daddy likes Ian so much, yet Anitra hated him from the start."
Maggie looked mystified as she sipped her tea. “I dunno. Different personalities, I guess,” she said after a pause. “Just like Ian and his father. As different as night and day, those two.”
“What was Malcolm like? Ian never said much about his father.”
“Malcolm was Ranald’s older brother, ye know. He was verra successful and ambitious, but also callous—in business and with women. Ian’s mum, Fiona, had a gentle spirit, but Malcolm was a notorious ladies’ man.”
“Really?” This was the first Natasha had heard of it.
“Aye, but Fiona looked the other way. She wanted Ian to have a normal childhood and not be sent to boarding school. She was devoted to Ian and loved his company. Fiona knew how much Ian loved animals and they spent most of their afternoons outdoors, hiking and fishing.” She shook her head in bewilderment and shrugged. “Fiona loved Malcolm, in spite of his faults, and he had many.”
“Oh.” Natasha didn’t
But then reality had set in when she got word she’d landed her first adult role on Broadway. As a child, she’d starred in Annie , but right afterward, Anitra had plucked her out of show business proclaiming that Natasha couldn’t audition until she completed a formal education, classically trained in music, dance and acting at Juilliard. Sheltered from the outside world and immersed in her craft, Natasha had worked diligently because nothing brought her more pleasure than singing and using her talent to make others happy. Before meeting Ian, her whole world had consisted of music and performing.
When she fell in love with him, she fell hard. She hadn’t known how to balance their love with her commitment to her career. Sadly, neither had Ian.
Maggie gently squeezed Natasha’s hand. "I remember everything you wrote me following the break-up. I’m glad you kept in touch with us over the years."
Natasha hugged her. "How could I not? I love you and Ranald. And I loved Ian, with all my heart. I never meant to hurt him, but he wasn't able to compromise."
Maggie nodded. "Time has passed and he’s older and wiser. Perhaps his heart has changed."
"I doubt it. He was eager to be rid of me at Inverness.”
Maggie waved her hand in dismissal. "Och. The stubborn lad hasn't gotten over you." "It’s not like that. We hadn't spent ten minutes together in his New York office before we argued," Natasha said, rolling her eyes.
Maggie grinned. "It's good to have a little conflict now and then. Ranald says he looks forward to little fights with me so he can enjoy makin’ up. You ken?"
"Aye, Maggie, I ken," Natasha said. “But what about Danielle?”
“Who told you about Danielle?” Maggie asked, surprised. She looked heavenward. “Never mind, I’m sure it was chatty Ranald.”
“Are Ian and Danielle a couple?”
Maggie hitched a shoulder in a half-shrug as if she didn’t give it much importance. “Last I heard, he wasn’t dating her anymore.”
“But aren’t they collaborating on Ian’s clinic?” If so, Ian had to have close contact with Danielle, girlfriend or not.
“I’m not sure. I wouldn’t worry about that, luv. On another note…your mother called earlier," she said, changing the subject before Natasha could ask more questions.
Natasha’s eyes shot open. “Oh no. What did she say?”
“She asked if I knew where you were, but I didn’t say anything about you coming here.”
“Good!” She touched Maggie’s hand. “Thank you. I wasn’t able to reach Anitra before I left, so I left a message that I’d be out of the show on a temporary leave of absence. I don't want her to know I’m at Glenhaven, considering how she feels about Ian."
"It's a shame those two never got along,” Maggie said, her mouth making a tsking sound.
"I've never understood how Daddy likes Ian so much, yet Anitra hated him from the start."
Maggie looked mystified as she sipped her tea. “I dunno. Different personalities, I guess,” she said after a pause. “Just like Ian and his father. As different as night and day, those two.”
“What was Malcolm like? Ian never said much about his father.”
“Malcolm was Ranald’s older brother, ye know. He was verra successful and ambitious, but also callous—in business and with women. Ian’s mum, Fiona, had a gentle spirit, but Malcolm was a notorious ladies’ man.”
“Really?” This was the first Natasha had heard of it.
“Aye, but Fiona looked the other way. She wanted Ian to have a normal childhood and not be sent to boarding school. She was devoted to Ian and loved his company. Fiona knew how much Ian loved animals and they spent most of their afternoons outdoors, hiking and fishing.” She shook her head in bewilderment and shrugged. “Fiona loved Malcolm, in spite of his faults, and he had many.”
“Oh.” Natasha didn’t
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