Ravensong by ML Hamilton

Ravensong, is
there anything you can’t play?”
    “ Plenty, but thanks for the
compliment.”
    “ You play almost every
instrument in a band, sing like an angel, write lyrics and music,
act...not to mention your way with women...”
    “ Angel, no one’s ever
accused me of that before.”
    “ What?”
    “ You said I sing like an
angel.”
    She blushed and dropped her
eyes. “Did I?”
    He laughed at her
embarrassment. “You did.”
    She glanced at him from the
corner of her eyes. “Well, it’s late. I’d better go.”
    He looked toward the clock
on the wall. “Wow, you ain’t kiddin’.” Then his gaze dropped to her
again. “Listen, Elena. I know we started off kinda rough, but I do
appreciate you listening to me ramble on about my sorry
life.”
    “ I like to listen to you.
That’s what friends do.”
    He seemed surprised for a
moment, then quickly blustered through it. “Yeah, of course.
Anyway, friend, let me walk you to your car, seeing how late it is
and all.”
    “ Oh, I forgot, the ever
chivalrous Joshua Ravensong.”
    He laughed again, a deep
rumbling that thrilled Elena. “If that’s what you think, hell, I’ll
keep up the pretense,” he said.
    She nodded at the piano. “Don’t let me
keep you from this. It isn’t far from the elevator to my car,
besides the security booth is right there. I don’t want to disrupt
the genius.”
    “ Are you sure?” His fingers
touched the keys again and she knew he hadn’t finished
creating.
    “ Absolutely, but I
appreciate the offer.”
    He shrugged. “It’ll always be
there.”
    She smiled and rose to her feet. As
she walked toward the door, he immediately picked up the previous
strain of music. She halted in the doorway and glanced back. A
wistful ache pulsed inside of her.
    Shoving the door open, she stepped
out.
    “ He’s not the only one who
can play, you know?” came a voice.
    Elena gasped and glanced up. A man
with lanky blond hair stood before her. He wore a t-shirt and jeans
with holes at the knees. She didn’t recognize him. “I’m sorry. You
startled me.”
    “ I’m Alec, one of the
roadies.”
    “ Hi, Alec,” she said,
forcing a smile. Her heart was pounding. “I’m Elena.”
    “ I know who you are. I know
everyone here.”
    Elena’s smile grew brittle. “Well,
nice to meet you,” she said, walking past him for the
elevator.
    “ If you want to hear me
play sometime, I’d be happy to show you.”
    “ Thanks,” said Elena. She
pushed the button on the elevator and clutched her purse
closer.
    “ Everyone thinks he’s so
great, but I can play that well too.”
    “ I’m sure you can,” she
said, glancing over her shoulder. She didn’t like that he’d come up
behind her like this. She pressed the elevator button
again.
    “ It’s his looks, you know?
That’s why he’s famous. He isn’t that talented.”
    She nodded. “Okay.” The elevator
opened and she stepped quickly inside. “Again, nice to meet you,
Alec.”
    “ Yeah.” He put a hand on
the door and stopped it from closing. “Not that I don’t think he’s
a good guy, but he’s not a god.”
    She shook her head. “I didn’t think he
was.”
    “ Okay, well, good night,
Elena.”
    “ Good night, Alec,” she
said stiffly as he released the door. When it finally closed and
she felt the elevator descend, she released her held breath.
Brushing her fingers over her lips, she was surprised she was
shaking so.
    * * *
    Joshua bounded down the
hall, feeling alive and full of energy. He peeked in at Elena’s
secretary and gave her a smile that could send the most hard core
woman swooning. She returned his smile and batted her lashes
provocatively. As he stepped through the doorway, his eyes went to
the inner door. He couldn’t believe how much he wanted to see her.
He was behaving just like a boy with his first crush. There were
many years and many women between that time and now, Joshua
reminded himself.
    But something about last
night, talking with Elena,