Read Once More With Feeling for Free Online

imagine.” Raven crossed her legs under her and leaned over to pour the tea. It was a move Brandon had seen many times. Almost savagely, he crushed out his cigarette.
    â€œBusy enough.” He understated the five albums he had released since she’d last seen him and the three grueling concert tours. There’d been more than twenty songs with his name on the copyright in the past year.
    â€œYou’ve been living in London?”
    â€œMostly.” His brow lifted, and she caught the gesture as she handed him his tea.
    â€œI read the trades,” she said mildly. “Don’t we all?”
    â€œI saw your television special last month.” He sipped his tea and relaxed against the back of the sofa. His eyes were on her, and she thought them a bit more green than blue now. “You were marvelous.”
    â€œLast month?” She frowned at him, puzzled. “It wasn’t aired in England, was it?”
    â€œI was in New York. Did you write all the songs for the album you finished up yesterday?”
    â€œAll but two.” Shrugging, she took up her own china cup. “Marc wrote ‘Right Now’ and ‘Coming Back.’ He’s got the touch.”
    â€œYes.” Brand eyed her steadily. “Does he have you, too?” Raven’s head whipped around. “I read the trades,” he said mildly.
    â€œThat comes under a more personal heading.” Her eyes were dark with anger.
    â€œMore bluntly stated, none of my business?” he asked, sipping again.
    â€œYou were always bright, Brandon.”
    â€œThanks, love.” He set down his cup. “But my question was professional. I need to know if you have any entanglements at the moment.”
    â€œEntanglements are usually personal. Ask me about my dancing lessons.”
    â€œLater, perhaps. Raven, I need your undivided devotion for the next three months.” His smile was engaging. Raven fought his charm.
    â€œWell,” she said and set her cup beside his. “That’s bluntly stated.”
    â€œNo indecent proposal at the moment,” he assured her. Settling back in the hook of the sofa’s arm, he sought her eyes. “I’m doing the score for
Fantasy.
I need a partner.”

Chapter 3
    T o say she was surprised would have been a ridiculous understatement. Brand watched her eyes widen. He thought they were the color of peat smoke. She didn’t move but simply stared at him, her hands resting lightly on her knees. Her thoughts had been flung in a thousand different directions, and she was trying to sit calmly and bring them back to order.
    Fantasy.
The book that had captured America’s heart. A novel that had been on the bestseller list for more than fifty weeks. The sale of its paperback rights had broken all records. The film rights had been purchased as well, and Carol Mason, the author, had written the screenplay herself. It was to be a musical;
the
musical of the nineties. Speculation had been buzzing for months on both coasts as to who would write the score. It would be the coup of the decade, the chance of a lifetime. The plot was a dream, and the reigning box-office queen had the lead. And the music . . . Raven already had half-formed songs in her head. Carefully she reached back and poured more tea. Things like this don’t just fall in your lap, she reminded herself. Perhaps he means something entirely different.
    â€œYou’re going to score
Fantasy,
” she said at length, cautiously. Her eyes met his again. His were clear, confident, a little puzzled. “I just heard that Lauren Chase had been signed. Everywhere I go, people are wondering who’s going to play Tessa, who’s going to play Joe.”
    â€œJack Ladd,” Brand supplied, and the puzzlement in Raven’s eyes changed to pure pleasure.
    â€œPerfect!” She reached over to take his hands. “You’re going to have a tremendous hit. I’m very