An Unexpected Song Read Online Free PDF Page A

run over his body. His muscles were so knotted with tension, they were impervious to the soothing flow. Maybe he should have tried a cold shower. At least the chill might have rid him of the arousal he had been experiencing since seeing Daisy. And lust was only part of it. What the hell was she doing to him?
    He closed his eyes, tenderness moving through him in an aching tide as he remembered the way she had looked standing in the sunlight, gazing at him with that wondering expression, so luminous she had seemed part of the sunlight itself. He had wanted to hold her and protect her and—
    He reached out with an abrupt hand and turned off the water. It wasn’t tenderness, it was a mere sexual obsession. She was a different type and her resistance had sparked his libido. It wasn’t tenderness.
    He couldn’t let it be tenderness.
    Jason was waiting in the alley at the stage door when Daisy came down the concrete steps thatevening. Her heart gave a leap, and she tried not to let him see the sudden happiness she felt at the mere sight of him. “I told you this wasn’t necessary. I have my own car and I’ll need it to get to the theater tomorrow.”
    “No, you won’t.” He took her arm and propelled her down the alley toward the street. “No problem. From now on I’ll drive you back and forth every day.” He opened the passenger door of the dark blue Mercedes parked at the curb. “I’ll have someone from the hotel pick up your car and drive it to your home tomorrow.”
    She cast him an exasperated glance as she got into the car.
    He grimaced. “I’ve irritated you again.”
    “I’m used to doing things for myself.”
    He went around the car and slid into the driver’s seat. “I … like doing things for you.”
    Again she sensed that uncharacteristic awkwardness in him and again she found herself melting. “I believe we may have to have a few discussions on the principles of women’s lib.”
    “I’m not usually a chauvinist.” He looked straight ahead as he put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb. “This is different. I want to protect you. I
need
to protect you.”
    She looked at him, puzzled.
    He didn’t elaborate but changed the subject. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you were even better tonight than you were last night.”
    “You were in the audience?”
    He nodded. “But I don’t think I’ll go again.”
    She smiled understandingly. “I suppose you’ve seen the play so many times it must bore you to tears.”
    “Music never bores me.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “It’s you.”
    “What?”
    He laughed harshly. “I’m jealous. I thought I was only caught off balance the other night but it happened again tonight.” He shook his head. “Crazy.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    He glanced sidewise at her, his pale eyes shimmering in the light of the dashboard. “I didn’t want to share you. I wanted the experience to be all
mine.
”
    Shock went through her and the breath left her body.
    “I’ve scared you.” He muttered a curse. “Now you think I’m some kind of nut. Hell, maybe I am.
    She said carefully, “I suppose I should be flattered.”
    “But you still think I’m a nut.” He made a face. “It’s all right, I’ve been thinking the same thing about myself. This has never happened to me before. I’ve been trying to tell myself that it’s just your voice.”
    Her gaze flew to his face. “Of course it’s my voice.”
    He shook his head, his gaze returning to the street. “Only partly.” He paused. “It’s sexual.” He heard her sharp intake of breath and the glance he shot her was like a blue-green lance. “You can’t be surprised. You knew it was there.”
    Yes, she knew. The sexual chemistry had been present from the first moment she had seen him. “There’s an … attraction.”
    “It’s more than an attraction. It’s damn near kinetic.”
    She swallowed. “I don’t want an affair with