Read After the Music for Free Online Page A

check would go a long way toward Al's goal for the children's hospital wing. And it would needle the hell out of this overprotective oil magnate. She held out her hand.
    He looked faintly disappointed, even as he reached for the check, yet he tossed it to her with careless accuracy. "Smart girl."
    "You don't realize how smart. Yet," she added. She blew him a kiss and walked out. "Have a nice day," she called to the blonde secretary as she breezed out of the office.
    An hour later, Sabina went onto the stage at the exclusive Bourbon Street nightclub feeling wildly reckless. Consequently, she gave the best performance of her short career. The band beat out the thick rhythm, and Sabina, in her satin and sequins, sang in her piercingly clear voice, every word discernible, her body throbbing with the drums. She could feel the music, actually feel it, and the overflowing audience seemed to feel it with her, clapping and keeping time with her, smiling appreciatively as she took them with her to the heady finale. She moved across the stage, bathed in colored lights, and held her audience spellbound as the last notes died. In the audience, Al watched her with a worried frown.
    After the final set, she walked off the stage and sat down with him. Anger still glittering in her eyes.
    "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
    "Read me pretty well, don't you, my friend?" she asked. She ordered a cup of coffee from the waiter and smiled at Al. "Your brother and I went two more rounds."
    "Again? For God's sake! I should have known better," he growled, running a hand through his hair. "I never learn, never!"
    She pulled the check out of her pocketbook and showed it to him. "This is how much he thinks you're worth to me. I'd be insulted if I were you. You're worth a hundred thousand, at least!"
    Al's face went blood red and he started shaking. "I'll break his head," he hissed.
    "I'll get you a hammer."
    "You didn't turn around and throw it at him?" he asked, watching her fiddle with it.
    She burst out laughing. "Of course I did." She grinned, neglecting to mention what had happened next. "Then he dared me to come to the ranch, and I told him hell itself wouldn't keep me away. How's that for friendship?"
    He let out a breath. "My gosh! You got away with it?" He laughed. "Sabina, you're the greatest!" he said enthusiastically. "Are you coming with me, really?"
    "Sure."
    He seemed to grow an inch. "Fantastic." He eyed her. "Now, if I can just sell you on the rest of the plan. By the way, what are you going to do with that check?"
    She unfolded the $20,000 check. "I'm giving this to you for your new project. In your awful brother's name, of course. She smiled at Al's expression as she endorsed it and handed it to him.
    He took it, but his eyebrows arched. "But he'll think you took the bribe!"
    "Let him," she said, leaning back.
    He started to laugh. "He'll be out for blood. You haven't ever seen Thorn in action."
    Want to bet? she thought amusedly. "I've lived dangerously all my life."
    He reached across and caught her hand in his thin one. "Prodding Thorn isn't any way to get even. He could hurt you."
    "Because he's rich?" she asked with a laugh.
    "No. Because he's Thorn. Money doesn't make any difference whatsoever."
    "I hate being made a fool of," she muttered. "I hate being humiliated. He's not getting away with that. I'd dearly love to pay him off."
    His eyes wandered over her face. "Do you really want to get even with him and help me out at the same time?
    "Of course!" she said without hesitation.
    "Then let me buy you an engagement ring."
    Sabina all but fainted. The look on her face spoke volumes, and Al couldn't help laughing.
    "No, you've got it all wrong. I'm very fond of you. I'm sure you're fond of me. But I don't have marriage in mind!'
    "A bogus engagement, then?
    "Exactly." He chuckled softly. "I'm so damned tired of having Thorn scare away girlfriends because he doesn't think I can manage my own love life. I'd purely enjoy setting him