Read Once More With Feeling for Free Online Page B

say anything I’ll have to get mad about.” Raven tilted her head and studied his face. “First, why do you want a collaborator on this? Why share the glory?”
    â€œIt’s also a matter of sharing the work, love. Fifteen songs.”
    She nodded. “All right, number two, then. Why me, Brandon? Why not someone who’s scored a musical before?”
    He answered her by walking around her and slipping down on the piano bench beside her. Without speaking, he began to play. The notes flooded the room like ghosts. “Remember this?” he murmured, glancing over and into her eyes.
    Raven didn’t have to answer. She rose and walked away. It was too difficult to sit beside him at the same piano where they had composed the song he now played. She remembered how they had laughed, how warm his eyes had been, how safe she had felt in his arms. It was the first and only song they had written and recorded together.
    Even after he had stopped playing, she continued to prowl the room. “What does ‘Clouds and Rain’ have to do with anything?” she demanded. He had touched a chord in her; he heard it in the tone of her voice. He felt a pang of guilt at having intentionally peeled away a layer of her defense.
    â€œThere’s a Grammy over there and a gold record, thanks to that two minutes and forty-three seconds, Raven. We work well together.”
    She turned back to look at him. “We did once.”
    â€œWe will again.” Brand stood and came to her but this time made no move to touch her. “Raven, you know how important this could be to your career. And you must realize what you’d be bringing to the project.
Fantasy
needs your special talents.”
    She wanted it. She could hardly believe that something she wanted so badly was being offered to her. But how would it be to work with him again, to be in constant close contact? Would she be able to deal with it? Would she be sacrificing her personal sanity for professional gain? But I don’t love him anymore, she reminded herself. Raven caught her bottom lip between her teeth in a gesture of indecision. Brand saw it.
    â€œRaven, think of the music.”
    â€œI am,” she admitted. “I’m also thinking of you—of us.” She gave him a clear, candid look. “I’m not sure it would be healthy for me.”
    â€œI can’t promise not to touch you.” He was annoyed, and his voice reflected it in its crisp, concise tone. “But I can promise not to push myself on you. Is that good enough?”
    Raven evaded the question. “If I agreed, when would we start? I’ve a tour coming up.”
    â€œI know, in two weeks. You’ll be finished in six, so we could start the first week in May.”
    â€œI see.” Her mouth turned up a bit as she combed her fingers through her hair. “You’ve looked into this thoroughly.”
    â€œI told you, its business.”
    â€œAll right, Brandon,” she said, conceding his point. “Where would we work? Not here,” she said quickly. There was a sudden pressure in her chest. “I won’t work with you here.”
    â€œNo, I thought not. I have a place,” he continued when Raven remained silent. “It’s in Cornwall.”
    â€œCornwall?” Raven repeated. “Why Cornwall?”
    â€œBecause it’s quiet and isolated, and no one, especially the press, knows I have it. They’ll be all over us when they hear we’re working together, especially on this project. It’s too hot an item.”
    â€œCouldn’t we just rent a small cave on the coast somewhere?”
    He laughed and caught her hair in his hand. “You know how poor the acoustics are in a cave. Cornwall’s incredible in the spring, Raven. Come with me.”
    She lifted a hand to his chest to push back, not certain if she was about to agree or decline. He could still draw too much from her too