by ML Hamilton
A cup of coffee was what she needed, she decided as she left her room and headed for the stairs. She rarely drank coffee, but this morning was an exception. With only three hours of sleep under her belt, and that troubled at best with thoughts of Joshua Ravensong...
Elena halted on the stairs and sucked in her breath. In her sleepy confusion, she’d forgotten all about the man who now slept on her couch - and what a man to forget.
He was naked to the waist, his bronze skin highlighting every taut muscle in his chest and arms. He’d unbound the front of his hair from the braid he usually wore and it lay about his broad shoulders in a shimmering curtain of black ebony. A ray of sun had fallen across his high cheekbones causing the two earrings in his left ear to sparkle incandescently. He’d pushed the blanket down around his waist during sleep and Savanna had made herself a warm nest in it, lying half across his flat, muscled abdomen.
Slowly Elena exhaled. How had she forgotten him when she’d done nothing but dream of his lips brushing against hers all night?
With a firm shake of her head, she averted her eyes and hurried into the kitchen. When Savanna heard her moving about, she left her warm bed and ran in search of food.
As Elena filled the coffee pot with water, the cat purred and mewed about her legs. Elena was so lost in thought she didn’t notice her at first, but as she turned to move toward the coffee maker, she tripped over Savanna and caught herself on the stove. She didn’t catch the coffee pot however and it shattered on the kitchen floor, sending the cat scuttling under the table.
“Damn it, Savanna,” she said, surprised at how quickly the tears came to her eyes. “Are you all right?” She went to the table and grabbed the cat, checking her to make sure she wasn’t hurt; then dropping her on the table, she retrieved the broom and dust pan.
* * *
Joshua came awake at the sound of the coffee pot striking the floor. He sat bolt upright and listened, then slowly relaxed as he heard Elena curse the cat. Obviously no one was hurt. No reason to go charging in there like a hero when she’d just broken a glass or something. Yet as he lay there listening to her moving in the other room, he decided she might appreciate a little help, and he wanted to prove himself useful to Elena.
He stopped in the doorway and surveyed the scene. She had her back to him and was crouching on the floor, trying to sweep the broken glass into a dust pan. Her hair was loose, curling in damp ringlets.
“Can I help?” he said, surprised by how husky his voice sounded in his own ears.
She turned abruptly, her eyes dilating in surprise. The throat of her robe fell open, offering him a beguiling glimpse of bare thigh. He couldn’t stop his eyes from traveling over her.
“Hell,” he whispered, “I knew your hair would be gorgeous loose.”
She rose to her feet, her eyes fixed on his, seemingly unaware of her disarray. Again his gaze lowered.
“I was trying to make coffee,” she said, looking down at the mess. She caught sight of her open robe and her cheeks colored. Pulling it closed, she tied the belt tighter, unwillingly accentuating her waist.
Joshua’s breath escaped in a rush as her hair spilled over her shoulder and blocked her features for a moment. “Can I help you?”
She glanced down on the mess again. “Could you hold the dust pan?”
He nodded, unable to speak. He crossed to her side and knelt, picking up the dust pan, his eyes still riveted on her. She retrieved the broom and brushed it across the floor, then stopped. Her eyes shifted to his face and she knelt, wrapping her fingers around his wrist and directing the dust pan into place.
He shook himself at her touch and realized he wasn’t being much help staring at her. “Sorry,” he murmured gruffly and frowned, trying hard to concentrate on the task at hand.
It wasn’t easy with Elena so close, the smell of her damp hair filling his nostrils. As she bent to take the dust pan from him, her hair brushed against his bare chest. Joshua closed his eyes.
Aware of his response, Elena quickly turned away and emptied the dust pan in the garbage. “I’m afraid there won’t be any coffee this morn...”
She stopped abruptly. Joshua had moved up behind her and as she turned to speak with him, she found herself nearly in his arms.
“Joshua...” she began, but he interrupted her.
“When I told you last night that I was infatuated with a woman, I was afraid to tell you who it was, but I can’t pretend anymore. Since the moment I saw you, Elena...”
“Stop,” she said. “Please, I don’t want to hear this.”
“Why? Are you afraid you won’t be able to hide in your safe little cocoon of marriage?”
“That’s not it. I made a commitment...”
“...to a man you don’t love. What are you afraid of?”
“This isn’t any of your business.”
Joshua licked his lips slowly. Elena couldn’t help but follow the move with her eyes. “It wasn’t my business, until last night, until...” He paused and frowned. “Until it became obvious that we both are feeling the same attraction...”
“Stop, please!”
His jaw hardened. “You’re right.”
Elena started to ask him what he meant, but he moved too quickly, catching her in his arms and pulling her against him. He lowered his head and captured her lips.
Sliding her hands up either side of his neck, she sank her fingers in his thick black hair. He crushed her tighter against him.
“Joshua,” she breathed, but he swallowed her words with his mouth.
At first the pressure was gentle, probing, but then he captured her lower lip with his teeth and she gasped in surprise. His tongue traced around her lips, forcing her to part them, his hands sliding down her back to her hips, crushing them against his own.
“Joshua,” she whispered again. “Please...stop...”
He stopped abruptly, his eyes flashing up to hers. “Why, Elena?”
“If we don’t stop, we both know where this will lead us.”
“And that would be bad?”
She smiled. “I’m engaged to be married and you’re...”
“No longer in a relationship.” He shook his head. “You don’t love the man.”
Elena looked away. “I don’t want this. Can’t you understand?”
“Not really.”
“I don’t want to be just another conquest.”
Joshua released her and stepped back.
“That’s right, Joshua, isn’t it? You only want me because you know you can’t have me, because I’m committed to someone else. But should I give in to you, you’d be on to the next woman as soon as it was over.” She jabbed him in the chest with her finger. “Admit it. You couldn’t have a relationship and make it work if your life depended on it.”
“You’ve got no right...” he began, but she cut him off.
“Really? Let’s look at your track history, Mr. Ravensong. One failed marriage, more one-night stands than I can count or even want to try, and a relationship you ran away from as soon as another woman caught your eye. So before you accuse me of being too calculating about my life, look at your own. At least I’m not being ruled by what I have in my pants.”
Joshua moved so quickly Elena flinched and fear sprang into her eyes. He backed her up against the wall and placed his hands on either side of her head, trapping her. At the look of fear in her eyes, his expression softened.
“I wouldn’t hit you. That’s how my father solved all his problems and I swore I’d never lift my hand in anger.” He squared his jaw and drew a deep controlled breath. “Go upstairs and get dressed, then I’ll drive you to work.”
For a moment he didn’t move. Then slowly he backed up and dropped his arms to his side. Before he’d moved far enough away, Elena brushed past him and ran for the stairs.
* * *
It took a long time for her to make her trembling fingers button her clothing or pin up her hair, but finally she was dressed. She took a seat on the bed and pu
t her face in her hands. What was she doing? God, what a mess? She didn’t want to go downstairs, she didn’t want to face Joshua again, but she had no other way to get to work and she needed to make the presentation.
Drawing a deep breath and exhaling slowly, she forced herself to her feet and retrieved her purse and the manila envelope with the mock-up in it. Then she cautiously descended the stairs. Joshua was fully dressed and waiting for her on the landing, but he never looked up nor acknowledged her.
He pulled open the door and stomped out. Savanna ran after him, mewing as she went. Elena glanced around the townhouse one last time and then closed the door behind her. Outside the sun was shining warmly, but a chill went up her spine as she watched Joshua unlock her door, then round the car and slip inside without opening the door for her.
What a long day it had already been.
* * *
Joshua was on-time for the eight o’clock meeting for the first time since he’d been hired by Avalanche. He poured himself a cup of coffee and ran a hand through his loose hair. Elliot moved close to his side.
“Forgot to shave this morning?” he said, studying the stubble on Joshua’s chin. “And isn’t that what you wore yesterday?”
“Don’t start, El,” said Joshua, running his hand through his hair again. He hated wearing it loose, it was always in his face. “I’ve had a hell of a day already.”
“You’re on time at least.”
Joshua frowned at his friend. “I mean it, El, don’t bait me.” He picked up his coffee cup and took a seat at the table, avoiding all eye contact with Elena.
In truth, he didn’t know why he was so mad at her, but he was - furious to be exact. For a moment in her kitchen, he’d really thought of striking her and this thought disturbed him. Joshua hadn’t spent much time with his real father growing up, but when he did it was usually hell. Ray Ravensong drank heavily and when he was drunk, he was a mean son-of-a-bitch. He put his son in the hospital three times as a child with broken ribs and concussions, once a broken pelvic bone. How many hours had Joshua spent discussing his own violent tendencies with a psychologist?
He was so afraid of taking after his father that he rarely drank. Perhaps that’s why he’d turned to drugs instead. And he never struck his daughter, Tiffany, no matter what she did. Yet this morning, the woman sitting across the table from him had nearly made him strike her. Elena was right, if she evoked such intense emotion in him, it was best he stay away. Far away.
“Is it cold in here to you guys?” said Julian as he entered the conference room.
“No,” said Elliot. “Why?”
Julian smiled smugly. “I figured hell must be freezing over since Ravensong’s on time.”
“I didn’t know you were a comedian,” said Ralph, chewing noisily on his gum.
Joshua lifted his head and glared at the manager. “Why don’t you go check it out first hand?” he snarled.
“After you,” smiled Julian, moving to his seat.
“Let’s not start so early,” said David, coming in on the last part of the conversation. He also took his seat and looked around at the assembled group. “Well Elena, show us what you’ve got.”
Joshua looked down at the table again as Elena rose to her feet. He could almost feel her nervousness, but he refused to give her any encouragement at all. You’re on your own, baby, he thought bitterly. As she set her mock-up on the stand, Joshua began to scribble idly on a piece of paper.
Through the corner of his eyes, Joshua could see she had the cover veiled. She drew a deep breath and flashed a perfect smile at the men around the table. Elliot returned the smile two-fold and Joshua glared at him. Elliot shrugged his shoulders in question, but Joshua merely shook his head in disgust and returned to scribbling.
“The concept I wanted to portray for this album was simplicity...” she began.
“Just show it to us,” snapped Julian. “For Christ sake, we don’t have all day.”
Joshua studied Julian with contempt, then glanced at Elena. She was so nervous she didn’t respond for a moment, her eyes falling on Joshua’s scribbling.
“Take the cover off it,” drawled Julian.
“All right,” muttered David under his breath, but Elena quickly revealed her rendition with a shaken hand.
Immediately Julian’s eyes narrowed. “That’s it.”
“Well,” said Elena quickly, “I wanted to make it understated...”
“Understated, my ass. That’s a whole lot of nothing, sweetheart.”
Joshua could see Elena’s confidence crumbling. He looked at David, willing the man to say something - anything. David glanced between Joshua and the cover, his look obviously uncertain.
“It is a bit understated...”
Before Joshua could think better of it, he was on his feet and coming to Elena’s rescue. “That’s the idea,” he said, pointing to the cover and winking encouragement at Elena. “Some of the hottest albums sold had nearly bare covers. I think the white background, the black lettering, the slant to the title, along with the simplicity of the picture is provocative. It says that we’re confident in our ability. We don’t have to jump out at the public with a glaring cover, our music speaks for itself.”
David considered his words carefully, but Julian sat back in his chair and laughed. “Really, I don’t believe...”
“Wait a moment,” said David, rising to his feet and crossing around the table. He studied Elena’s brain-child more closely. “It does attract attention just by its simplicity.”
“I think we’ve been in the business long enough to do away with gimmicks,” said Robert, staring at the cover with a tilted head. “I like it.”
“So do I,” ventured Michael timidly.
Joshua smiled at the drummer, surprised he’d extended himself on Elena’s behalf. Usually Michael was so quiet and shy, no one knew he was in the room. Ralph continued to chew on his gum and nodded his head. Elliot’s eyes danced between Elena and Joshua.
“It’s unique, David,” he said. “How many covers do you see that don’t have some ridiculous gimmick? That cover is in your face. Here we are, take us or leave us.”
Elena’s eyes were huge, searching David’s face intently.
David looked up at her and smiled. “I like it too,” he said and Elena released her pent up breath in a sigh.
“All right,” said Elliot, giving Ralph a high five. Both Michael and Robert seemed pleased.
Elena’s eyes shifted to Joshua’s face. Joshua smiled despite his earlier anger toward her. “Thank you,” she mouthed and he nodded, returning to his chair and his idle scribbling.
* * *
Elena hurried down the hall, the bundle of loose papers and folders in her arms. Struggling to clasp them in one hand, she pushed open the door of Ravensong’s office and smiled at his secretary. The woman was middle aged with light brown hair cut short about her round face. She blinked questioningly at Elena with her brown eyes.
“Is he in?” Elena asked, nodding toward the inner door, which was also closed.
The secretary nodded. “I’ll buzz him.” She pushed the intercom button and spoke close to it. “You have a visitor, Chief.”
“Tell whoever it is to make it brief ‘cause I’m outta here in five. My daughter’s waiting on me,” he snarled.
The secretary flashed a patient smile at Elena. “He’s been in one hell of a mood today,” she said, releasing the button. Elena grimaced, knowing the reason for his mood. The secretary compressed the intercom again. “It’s the new Assistant Manager, Elena Harris, Josh. Try to be civilized, she looks like she’s had a bad day too.”
Elena blinked in surprise at the secretary’s words. There was silence on the other end of the intercom. She found that her heart was beating wildly in her chest. What if he refused to see her? Worse, what if he wanted to?
She didn’t have long to deliberate. The door swung open and Joshua stood in the threshold, his shoulders blocking the opening. His eyes swept over her, t
aking in the loose strands of hair slipping free of her bun and the heavy load of papers in her arms. His gaze shifted to his secretary.
“Alice, call Terry’s house and tell them I’ll be there as soon as possible.” The secretary nodded and gave him a winning smile, but his gaze had already returned to Elena. With an abrupt motion of his hand, he indicated she should enter his office.
Elena smiled her thanks at Alice and then slipped past him, her eyes quickly scanning the inner room. It wasn’t what she’d expected. It was simple and masculine. A mahogany desk dominated the center of the room, behind it a bank of windows, which overlooked the Golden Gate. On her left was a black leather couch and in front of the desk were two black leather chairs. Two end tables and a couple of plants made up the rest of the decor. Over the couch were photos of every album Joshua Ravensong had been a part of, even those before he’d joined with Avalanche.
He motioned to one of the chairs before the desk and Elena sat down, juggling her papers and her purse. A picture frame attracted her attention and she turned it so she could see it. A little girl with raven black hair and deep blue eyes stared back at her. Elena sucked in her breath and exhaled slowly. The child was beautiful, high cheekbones, strong jaw line. Joshua Ravensong couldn’t deny this child if he tried.
“Your daughter is beautiful,” she said, looking up.
He paused halfway around his desk and looked over his shoulder. The hard lines of his face softened as he stared at the photograph.
“She is,” he said simply as he slipped into the chair behind the desk.
“I know you have plans so I won’t take long, but...”
The intercom buzzed. Joshua exhaled in irritation and narrowed his eyes on Elena. “Hold on a minute,” he said, punching the button. “What?”
“Lord, you’re in a pisser of a mood,” said Alice.
Joshua shut his eyes and drew a deep breath. “Sorry, what is it now, Alice?” he said, forcing a phony sweetness into his voice.
“Your little girl wants to talk with you.”
Joshua glanced at Elena. “Sorry, this’ll only take a moment.”
Elena smiled with a nod as Joshua lifted the phone.