page9 (1/2)
Logan glowered at Madeline “Give her the bloody line, Miss Ridley”
The displeasure of the coan Sardonically he reflected that everyone was protective of the girl and regarded him as a bully To hell with them all He had built this place, and he would treat his eh the afternoon's work, ending the rehearsal nearly an hour earlier than usual
Julia approached him in his office afterward, her brow knitted with consternation “I heard about what happened between you and Maddy thisrather hard on her?”
“You're right,” he said sarcastically “The next tier, I won't interfere”
“It's not that,” Julia said “For heaven's sake, Logan, I kno protective you are of your employees I understand why you were cross with her earlier in the day What I don't understand is your constant harshness with her She's always at your beck and call—in fact, she'sfar hted with Madeline, and yet you act like a surly child whenever she's near”
Logan glared at her, infuriated “That's enough, Julia”
“I' her tone “It's just that you haven't been yourself lately I'm concerned about you”
“There would be no need for concern if you hadn't hired the girl in the first place”
Julia looked at hi to think you don't dislike her at all I wonder if the problem isn't quite the opposite Nearly every ines himself in love with her Is it possible that you're afraid of falling for her yourself?”
Logan concealed a sudden flare of outrage behind a lance “Of all the cracked notions you've ever had—”
“I' an attraction to her Why not admit it?”
“I don't have tian , I have work to do”
Julia didn't move “I'm aware of your belief that you can turn your emotions on and off at will You're always the master of your heart, and never the other way around But ean…they don't always behave as one would wish”
“Go to hell,” Logan said, and strode from the office
After the rehearsal had concluded and everyone had left the stage, Madeline swept the floor vigorously, stirring up a cloud of dust that billowed I around her knees “Arrogant…ungrateful…tyrant…” she er with each stroke of the brooht, she stopped near a loosely wrapped canvas package filled with foils used earlier in the day
Reaching down, Madeline extracted one of the swords and grasped the handle It was light and well balanced, whistling as she swished it through the air Enjoying herself, she tried to iing and thrusting with the foil in her hand “Take that…and that…” she said, stabbing at an iinary Mr Scott
“You look as though you're swatting flies,” came a sardonic voice from nearby
Startled, Madeline saw Mr Scott eh the floor Why did he have to be the one to witness hera fool of herself? She expected him to make some remark that would cause her eternal huleamed with amusement
“Who in a way that revealed he ell aware of her invisible opponent's identity When she didn't reply, he surprised her by taking her wrist in a gentle grip His hand was very war properly Loosen your grip” He adjusted her hand, his fingers pressing over hers Madeline tried to relax, but it wasn't easy He was standing so close, and her pulse was racing ,” he continued, “and keep your knees slightly flexed”
Madeline risked a glance at hi it distractedly, and she longed to s, aren't you?”
“You're not the first woed the sword to the proper angle “Now lunge forith your right foot, bend your knee and extend the sword…yes, exactly like that A stageworthy move if I've ever seen one”
He was so close that Madeline could see the fine texture of his skin, the dark stubble that roughened his jaw, the glea lashes With his face relaxed and his lips curved in a ser than usual, a little more approachable
“I understand why you were so harsh with me before, Mr Scott,” she said
“Oh?” His brow arched sardonically
“You orried about ive you” Before he could react, she pressed herfrom the scrape of close-shaven bristle
His entire body stiffened Drawing back, Madeline waited apprehensively for his reaction His face was a blank mask
Aardly Madeline bent to set the sword on the floor and straightened to look at hieworthy?” she asked
Scott wore a strange expression It took a long time for him to reply “Not quite,” he finally said
“Why not?”
“Your back is to the audience If ere in a play…you would have to turn this way” He began to reach for her, paused, then finally caught her arers skimmed her shoulder and slid to her throat and jaw
“You would show your ele of your head…” Carefully he adjusted her chin a notch doard His voice turned hoarse “If you were ambivalent about the kiss, you would hold your head like this And youof pushing me away”
Madeline obeyed, her hands treainst the hard surface of his upper body He was so h above her, his chin nearly brushing the top of her head
“If you wanted the kiss,” he continued, “you would lift your chin higher…you would stand closer…” He fell silent as her ar his nape
He smelled of starched linen and sweat and sandalwood soap Madeline had never known such an appetizing scent—it filled her with the iainst his throat, and breathe
A mist of sweat had broken out on his forehead “Maddy…” he said with obvious difficulty, “you don't knohat you're asking for”