Bluegrass King (The Americana Series Book 17) Read online

  'Absolutely nowhere,' he replied, as he followed her into the apartment.

  Darting him a disbelieving look, Dani wondered if she was in for another session of current events and sincerely hoped not because she didn't feel up to it.

  'I stopped by to tell you that John was called out of town this morning and your session with him has been cancelled for this afternoon.' John Henning was the photographer, a man not easily impressed or as confident as Marshall that Dani could have a career as a model although he was willing enough giving her a trial and never sounded displeased with the results. 'And'—Marshall went on, the pause attaching importance to his next words—'to help you pick out what you're going to wear to your unveiling tonight.'

  'Unveiling?' Dani stopped in the centre of the living room and gave the tall dark man her complete attention.

  'Yes, I've taken the liberty of accepting an invitation on our behalf to attend a small party being given-tonight by the Whitney Blakes.'

  'This is it, then,' she murmured. 'The first real test.'

  He must have caught the slight note of apprehension in her voice because his smile was deliberately meant to instill confidence. 'Don't worry. You'll come through with flying colours.'

  As Dani finished dressing that evening and nervously adjusted the long folds of her skirt, she couldn't convince herself it would be as easy as Marshall had indicated. Once she had believed that people of Barrett King's type were no better than she, but that was before the full extent of her ignorance had been drummed into her head this last week.

  Fingering the large topaz pendant that matched the stones dangling from her ears, she meticulously scrutinized her appearance, needlessly straightening the waistband of the gold, brown, and white plaid skirt. The chocolate brown knit top with cutaway sleeves and a turtle neck artfully set off the topaz necklace. The sophisticated young woman in the mirror was still a stranger to Dani, but she had to admit she could find no fault with her, except that there might be too much apprehension in the hazel eyes.

  Marshall arrived promptly at seven and with his flair for idle conversation managed to push the upcoming party aside while they dined at a local restaurant. Not until they were nearly at their destination did he speak of the evening ahead.

  'Are you nervous?' he asked gently.

  'A little,' Dani admitted, breathing in deeply, grateful for the dimness of the car which concealed the tightness of her smile.

  'You'll do fine,' Marshall assured her. 'There are only a few things for you to remember. Don't try to show your knowledge. At best, it's only superficial right now. If you don't know what someone is talking about, admit it. However, if you are asked your opinion about something you do know, give it frankly and honestly. Don't worry if it contradicts the opinions of others. Attractive women can be found anywhere, but a woman with candour is rare.'

  'I hope I don't let you down,' she murmured, her eyes widening as Marshall turned into the long driveway leading to an elegant white mansion.

  'You won't let me down because you won't let yourself down. You're not that kind of girl,' he answered shrewdly, slowing the car to a stop near the entrance as a uniformed attendant sprang forward to open the doors.

  For over an hour they, as Marshall put it, circulated, eavesdropping on conversations that ranged from gossip to horse-racing to political policies. Sometimes they paused with a group, Marshall always instantly recognized and included while he carefully drew Dani into the conversation, bolstering her confidence until she finally relaxed.

  A lively debate was going on in the mixed group next to them and Marshall steered her towards them. They stood ignored on the fringe for a few minutes, during which Dani was able to grasp that they were discussing the merits of a certain book.

  'Marshall, you're just the man to settle this,' one of the more ardent spokesmen declared as he spied the dark-haired man to his right.

  'Settle what?' Marshall asked dryly, tucking his hand securely under Dani's elbows so that as he was drawn into the group, she came with him.

  'What's your opinion of Hugo Freeman's latest book The Power?' asked a woman in gaudy jewelled glasses, rapidly losing the fight to remain middle-age.

  'I'm afraid I haven't had time to read it,' he apologised with an uplifted gesture of his hand, then he glanced speculatively at Dani. 'But I believe I saw you reading it the other day, Danielle. What did you think of it?'

  She smothered a smile. He knew very well she had read it. It was one of the books he had insisted that she read.

  'Yes, I did try to read it,' she said calmly, addressing her reply to the woman, determined to heed Marshall's advice to answer honestly. 'I spent half the night with the dictionary on my lap trying to decipher what I was reading. I finally ended up reading the dictionary. It was much more interesting.'

  A stunned silence followed her words. A red stain began to mount in Dani's neck as she began to think she had said something unforgivably stupid. Then the man who had drawn Marshall into the conversation began to laugh until tears ran from his eyes.

  As he attempted to wipe them from his face, he turned to the woman who still retained a look of hauteur. 'When you ask for an opinion, Katherine, you'd better be prepared for it to be different from your own. Marshall, I insist that you introduce me to this attractive and witty young lady. She's truly a breath of fresh air in the stagnant atmosphere.'

  Marshall made the introductions around the small group, but in the wave of names, Dani only recalled those of Katherine Alberts, who grudgingly smiled after her reprimand from the man called Dru Carmichael.

  There was a brief but good-natured discussion concerning the verbosity of that particular author. Then Dru Carmichael turned to Dani, a bright twinkle in his blue eyes.

  'Have you read The Love God?' he asked

  There was no mistaking the rosy flush that coloured Dani's face as she remembered the graphically lewd novel 'The last time I saw such language written down, I was in the public rest-room at the race-track.' Her tone of voice was laced with disgust and distaste.

  'Hear! Hear!' Katherine Alberts applauded.

  But Dru Carmichael ignored the endorsement. 'The race-track? Is that where I've seen you before? There's something about you that's vaguely familiar.'

  'There was a write-up in the newspaper about Miss Williams recently,' Marshall replied with deliberate casualness. 'And her horse, The Rogue.'

  'With Barrett, of course!' The man snapped his fingers as if switching on a light in his mind. 'You're that young girl who collapsed in his arms. I stand corrected, young woman, although you certainly didn't look it in those newspaper photographs.'

  'Yes, Miss Williams is something of a dark horse.' The low, deep-timbred voice prickled the hairs on the back of Dani's neck. She turned with a start staring into the narrowed gaze of Barrett King, her heart leaping in surprise.

  'Barrett, this is a surprise,' Marshall stated. Yet Dani had the distinct impression he wasn't surprised at all. In fact she was convinced he expected Barrett. 'Sherry told me only yesterday that you were going to be spending the weekend at the farm.'

  'Really?' The dry tone of Barrett's voice openly doubted the statement. The crooked smile he gave Dani didn't hide the coldness in his green eyes. 'Although I must admit to being surprised to find you here, Dani.'

  'It isn't a pleasure for me either,' she retorted, tossing a resentful look at Marshall.

  'I never said it wasn't a pleasure to see you,' Barrett mocked. 'In fact I was beginning to become curious about where you'd disappeared to.'

  'I really don't know why you should be.' Dani stiffened instinctively, knowing how she had deliberately deceived him. 'It's none of your business where I go or what I do.'

  'Please,' Marshall raised his hands in false placation. 'This is a social gathering, hardly the place for a reenactment of one of your scenes.'

  'I won't be making a scene,' Barrett said blandly, turning his head slightly to survey indifferently the dark-haired man standing beside Dani,
not missing the slightly possessive hold Marshall had on her arm. 'In fact, I was about to ask Miss Williams to dance with me.'

  His statement caught not only Dani off guard, but Marshall as well. She glanced at him quickly, almost beseeching him not to give his permission as she watched the hesitation in the dark eyes.

  'Come now, Marshall,' Barrett chided sardonically at the continued silence. 'Surely you can see the headlines in tomorrow's paper—"Feuding pair seen dancing cheek to cheek" Or perhaps you're trying to protect Dani because you think she's afraid of me. You're not, are you, Dani?'

  'Of course not!' she answered sharply, and immediately knew he had backed her and Marshall into a corner.

  'Then shall we dance?' Barrett enquired with an arrogantly patronizing tilt of his auburn head.

  The look that Marshall gave her indicated that she had no choice but to agree. Reluctantly, Dani placed her fingers in the outstretched palm, fighting the desire to pull away from the firm hold.

  Chapter Five

  'I DON'T want to dance with you, you know,' Dani muttered unnecessarily as Barrett weaved her in and out of the groups.

  'I would never have guessed by your enthusiastic response.' Despite the dryness of his tone his steps never faltered as he drew her nearer to the room where the music was playing.

  'If you knew I didn't want to, then why did you ask?'

  'All the usual reasons a man asks an attractive woman to dance.' The crooked smile deepened the lines around his mouth as the devils in his green eyes mocked her.

  No suitably cutting retort sprang to her lips, so she clamped her mouth tightly shut.

  The impromptu dancing area consisted of a space cleared of chairs and tables with the music furnished by an elaborate stereo system. A heavy beat tune was coming from the speakers. Dani halted at the edge, forcing Barrett to do likewise as she stared at the gyrations of the dancers, a younger group than Marshall had introduced her to so far.

  'Something wrong?' Barrett queried lightly.

  'Yes,' she hissed, and his copper head had to bend nearer to her mutinous expression to catch her words. 'I don't know how to dance that way.'

  'That's a relief, because neither do I.' That silent laughter was back in his gaze, but Dani had to admit it was more at the situation than at her.

  She refused to be mollified by that. 'Since we aren't going to dance, you can take me back to Marshall.'

  'Oh, but we are going to dance,' he assured her with a glitter.

  Her hand was still firmly clasped in his as he led her away from the dance area. The house was large and guests seemed to be scattered all through it, clustered here and there in various groups. His long stride never slackened, maintaining the momentum that drew her along while he moved familiarly through the house.

  'Where are we going?' she demanded, but he didn't answer.

  As they turned down a corridor, the guests were left behind. Dani didn't have to be told that they had entered a private sector of the large home. Its, very emptiness was explanation enough.

  'We shouldn't be here,' she protested as Barrett opened a door and pulled her somewhat unwillingly into the room. 'I'm sure we aren't supposed to be in this part of the house.'

  'The Blakes are my godparents. They won't mind,' Barrett shrugged, closing the door behind them and releasing Dani's hand for the first time.

  Rich mahogany panelling gleamed on all sides except for one wall that was a series of shelves filled with books. The study appealed to Dani, with its homey atmosphere of leather-covered furniture and polished wood. She barely noticed Barrett walk to one polished wood table until soft music filled the room. Then her gaze spied the radio and shifted uncomfortably to the tall figure making his way across the room towards her.

  'I've changed my mind,' she said through the tight lump in her throat. 'I don't want to dance with you.'

  'You should have considered that possibility earlier when I first asked.' Already he was standing in front of her.

  'You can't make me,' Dani asserted, cocking her head in a defiant angle.

  'You think not?' Barrett replied quietly, too quietly, turning his words into an unspoken threat.

  If Dani had missed the warning, his level gaze was daring her to challenge him. She was instantly reminded of the newspaper photograph that had shown him carrying tier so effortlessly in his arms and knew the expensive material of his jacket sleeves concealed a muscular strength superior to hers. And she knew beyond a doubt that he wouldn't think twice about using it.

  With an exaggerated show of reluctance, she placed her hand in his and suffered the firmness of his arm around her waist, staring at the buttons on his shirt rather than at the triumphant gleam in his eyes.

  For several minutes she remained stiff and unyielding in his arms until the soothing music began to ease the tension and strain that had subtly become a part of her became of the strangeness of her surroundings and new life. Inches in front of her was the hard muscular wall she had tried to batter down, but it wasn't the anger driving her fists against it that she remembered. It was the comfort and warm support that had closed around her when a pair of arms had drawn her against that chest. Gradually, without conscious direction, Dani allowed herself to become pliant in his arm.

  As the last notes of the song faded away, a reluctant sigh slipped from her throat while she drew her arm down to press a hand against his chest and push herself away. As her head raised, a tender, probing kiss caressed her lips, like summer lightning, white-hot and fleeting with its warmth.

  Her eyes widened accusingly, 'What did you do that for?'

  'To say thank you for the dance, of course,' he replied smoothly, 'Does a kiss have to have some special meaning?'

  'No,' Dani said hesitatingly, trying to guess what was going on behind that complacent exterior and failing.

  'You did tell me you'd been kissed before,' Barrett reminded her. 'I didn't think that little peck would offend you.'

  'It didn't offend me.' Which was strangely the truth. She wouldn't admit that she had found it disturbingly pleasant. 'It surprised me, that's all.'

  'The next time I kiss you, I'll be sure to warn you,' stated, crooking his mouth into a half-smile as his arm fell away from her waist. Before she had a chance to step in and say there wouldn't be a next time, Barrett walked away, adding almost indifferently over his shoulder, 'Are you particularly anxious to rejoin the party fight now?'

  'Why?' parrying his question until she discovered why he was asking.

  'I don't care for parties myself. I prefer the peace. and quiet of a room such as this,' he commented, setting himself into a leather chair and stretching his long legs on to the accompanying footstool. 'Do you like parties?'

  'I haven't been to very many,' Dani hedged, still not totally trusting his motives.

  'One isn't much different from the next.'

  'If you feel that way, why did you come?' she asked curiously.

  'As I said, the Blakes are my godparents. They expected me to attend and, since I didn't have any conflicting business appointments, I couldn't deliberately disappoint them,' Barrett replied evenly. 'Unless you feel you have to return to Marshall, I'd like to stay here for a little while and relax.'

  Dani had no idea what Marshall expected, but the prospect of nestling in the thick cushions of the empty leather chair next to Barrett's was inviting. It had seemed a very long time since she had sat and relaxed. Always she had used any idle time to read the books Marshall had given her or listen to his records.

  'I can stay for a few minutes,' she agreed, missing the amused light that gleamed momentarily in Barrett's eyes at the qualification in her tone as she leaned back in the chair beside him.

  A gentle silence rested companionably between them for a few minutes before Barrett spoke.

  'When are you planning to rejoin your father?'

  'Actually, I'm not,' Dani answered, turning her head in the cushion to look at him.

  She had expected to see a piercing sharpness
in his expression, but the lazy contentment written in the carved teak profile convinced her he was only making idle conversation.

  'You knew that the day you were released from the hospital, didn't you?'

  The slightly smiling look he gave her indicated that he wasn't the least bit offended that she had succeeded in fooling him. 'Yes.' Her mouth curved into a smile at her admission. 'Lew and I had talked the night before and decided to go our separate ways.'

  'Your father was in favour of it?'

  'Of course.' Dani stiffened, not liking the hint of reproval in his tone.

  'Sorry.' There was a slight movement of his shoulders, shrugging an indifferent apology that added silently that it was none of his business. 'The few times I've seen you and your father together, you always seemed to be so close. I always admired the warm relationship the two of you had.'

  His compliment washed away her momentary resentment. 'I never thought you noticed us as any more than the owners of The Rogue,' she murmured.

  'Are you serious?' he chuckled softly, a pleasant sound that ran over her shoulders and down her spine. 'Do you honestly think I could forget that cheeky little brat who kept sassing me every time I came anywhere near her?'

  'I do let my tongue carry me away sometimes,' Dani admitted ruefully.

  'Is Marshall helping you to change all that? By the way, how did you meet him? He's not your run-of-the-mill newspaper reporter.'

  She suspected something more behind his questions than simple curiosity, but in view of their previous idle conversation, she couldn't be sure.

  'He saw the article in the paper and came to see me at the hospital,' she answered. The truth was always the best. 'It was after Lew and I had our talk and Marshall offered to help me find a job.'

  'So he's the one I have to thank for your transformation from a child to a woman.' His gaze slid over her in silent appraisal. 'I suppose he's responsible for the clothes and the hairdo, isn't he?'

  Dani didn't miss the underlying note of disapproval. 'I'm going to pay him back. I already have a job.' She didn't add that it was temporary or that John Henning had taken her on as a model with the proviso that if she didn't work out she was out of a job, and with little chance of getting another one.