Encore! (Tudor Saga Book 1) (15 page)

"I think I've had enough for today, sweet. Why don't we go home? It looks as though it's going to rain, anyway."

"Yes, let’s. You don't need to overdo it. Do you want to stop and get lunch or do you want me to fix something for us?"

"Would you mind? I rather enjoy you cooking for me. The kitchen has had more use in the time you've been living with me than it ever has."

"Flattery will get you every time, Daniel Kennedy."

"But I mean every word I say."

"I know you do. That's one of the things I love about you. You're honest."

We hit the lobby and proceeded on to the rest of our afternoon.

By the time we got home, Daniel was truly worn out. After making grilled cheese and soup for lunch, he headed to the sofa to watch a new movie he'd found. While waiting for it to start, I decided to clean up the kitchen. I always hated the clean-up part and wanted to get it out of the way.

"Holler when it starts, okay? I'll try and be as fast as I can."

"I'll hold your place," he teased, patting the cushion next to him.

Finished, I sauntered back into the living room only to find Mister I-have-to-see-this-movie sound asleep, stretched out on the sofa. I picked up a blanket from the back and unfolded it before covering him. I debated whether to kiss him, but decided I might wake him and he, indeed, needed to sleep.

Looking around trying to figure out how to pass the time, my eyes came to rest on the door to his studio. I could go in and work on finishing up some of the clips I had been attempting to put together—the ones Daniel and I had worked on together.

Walking through the metal door, I turned on a few lights. I started to sit down in front of the monitor, when my eyes caught my violin case sitting off to one side of the room. Without thinking, I walked over to the case and opened it. Holding the instrument in my hands, I stood, silently contemplating what to play. A piece I used to play in the clubs began to guide my fingers and bow. The more I played, the more enthralled I became. Then, for a second, I thought I heard something. I quickly dismissed it as being nothing but my over active imagination. After finishing, I wandered over to the small black baby grand Daniel kept and began to run my fingers over the keyboard. Haunting melodies came to mind, taking me away to another world-- back to when Amadeus and I used to practice together. Lord, what brought that on? I kept on playing until once again something made me pause and look around.

Just as I did, Daniel came into full view, his hair having come free from the binding he usually kept it up in. "I woke up and you weren't near. I heard the sounds of the piano, and here you are. Very nice, by the way."

"Thanks. I wanted to let you sleep so I came in here with the intention of finishing those clips, but the keyboard beckoned."

"Haunting. Is it something you composed?"

I nodded my head. "Something Amadeus and I used to play. So I suppose yeah, we composed it together. Back in the day." I snorted at the vision.

"I thought you didn't snort." He teased, sitting beside me on the bench.

"I don't. That was a stifled laugh."

His eyes were gleaming with all sorts of things– mischief and perhaps something naughty. "Is it? I must remember that in the future. You really should play more often, you know that? You need to play the violin more, as well. You really are very talented, regardless of what those brothers of yours might think."

Chapter Eleven

The end of June was fast approaching and time for not only my three brothers and the American invasion of their Tudor Reunion Tour, but time for Daniel's cast to come off at long last. His two months had turned into almost three due, in part, to an overly cautious surgeon who had the foresight to hobble Daniel an extra couple of weeks. The good surgeon figured his famous patient would not take things slow once he was freed of his restraint.

The final cast wasn't really a cast. Daniel could take it off to shower and dress himself, and he was free of the dreaded sling.

Still, we erred on the side of caution when it came to our intimate moments.

Imagine my disbelief when I found him, late one evening, sitting on a stool in the bathroom, his arm out of the cast and attempting to move his wrist and hand. I watched in utter amazement and immediately wondered how long he'd been doing it.

I stood, leaning against the door casing, surprising him. "My, my, my, could it be Daniel Kennedy has his own secrets?" I whispered.

His eyes pierced mine from the mirror as he turned to face me. "I didn't see what harm it would do if I tried to exercise, just to build the strength and stamina I'll need to play. I'm being very careful, sweet."

I approached him, putting my hand on his shoulder then taking his left hand. "How long, Daniel? How long have you been doing this? Since the cast was changed?" I nodded my head not giving him an opportunity to answer. "I suspect so."

"Don't be angry. I told you once, I know my weaknesses better than any surgeon and I'll stop immediately if it feels wrong or if I feel I've overdone it."

"Overdone being the key word, Danny. For the love of God, please be careful. You've come too far to have a setback, now." I drew his arm back, setting it on the counter.

"I know, and I promise I will be."

Men!

"While we're discussing your hand, enlighten me, Daniel, have you picked up your violin, yet? Have you attempted to play?" I glared at him for a moment then retracted my statement. "Forget it. Your face just gave you away."

The sound of a cell phone interrupted our chat before he could say a word one way or another. This was the closest I'd come to being angry with Daniel over anything. I had good cause, no matter how well-intentioned his actions were.

He answered and spoke for a minute. I turned around and walked back into the bedroom trying to regain my composure. He followed.

"Who was that?" I asked, flouncing down on the bed.

"Neil. He wants me to pose for some pictures once the doctor officially releases me. You know, without my cast, violin in hand, that sort of thing."

I sighed. "He certainly has gotten pushy lately. Did you tell him I intended to do just that? That I've been documenting your progress each step of the way?"

"I have. He insists he wants Penny to…"

"What is with him cramming her down your throat? Did you remind him that I was your photographer of choice?" I inquired sarcastically. He wasn't smiling.

"Of course I did. And he mumbled something back about Penny working for the label and that there were some things she was going to have exclusive access to. Before you say a word, I told him there would be absolutely no one at the doctor except you and me. I told him perhaps later, when I felt up to it, I might sit for her, but not until then."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Boy, has she got his number."

Daniel lay down next to me. "I think she has more than that. I believe she has his…" He gazed up at the ceiling, a huge grin coming across his face as he waited for me to finish his sentence.

"I believe the phrase you're searching for is balls. She's got him by the balls. There's no mistaking that. Poor Neil. Did he mention anything about that photo op with my brothers?"

"No. At least not yet."

"Just as well. Daniel, I didn't mean to come across as over-bearing in there, I just don't want anything else to happen to your hand. I know you're careful…" I so loved this man, unlike any other to grace my life.

"I know, angel mine. I know."

****

Rather than field the media circus that would likely follow him on the day he was to officially have his left hand deemed healed, Daniel quietly arranged for the surgeon to come to him.

The good doctor had stopped by our apartment the evening before. Daniel greeted him and invited him in, while I poured us each a glass of white wine. The surgeon took a last look at Daniel's hand, merely a formality since final x-rays had been taken the day before. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Posing for a couple of photographs with Daniel before he left, I promised the older gentleman I would personally send one to him.

As soon as he was gone I sprung into action. Daniel followed me to my laptop and I carefully chose the best shot. After cleaning it up, I attached it to a pre-written press release Daniel and I had conjured up. He nodded and grinned as he hit the send button. The email, announcing Daniel's clean bill of health and photographic evidence, was now on its way to not only his management firm, but his label, as well, in addition to a dozen or so other media outlets Daniel decided it should be sent to. One day ahead of schedule.

"Now, angel mine, the love of my life, the one who worries enough for both of us, now do I have your blessing to start practicing?"

He had both arms around me holding me tight. He began kissing my face, as though he perhaps needed to further convince me.

"Please, by all means. I've really missed hearing you play, Daniel. I'm going to sit over here and listen for as long as you play," I said. "Just promise me you'll quit if your hand tires and not overdo it."

"I promise. Now sit. You will be the first to hear me."

He leaned in and kissed me passionately. For a second, I wondered if he would release or if we would find ourselves making love in his private rehearsal hall. Instead, he led me to one of the overstuffed upholstered chairs. Picking up my cell phone, I made sure it was on vibrate. Daniel handed me his as he turned and strolled back toward his violin.

"Do you want me to time you? You know you'll lose all track of time once you start."

He lifted three fingers. "Thirty minutes. Let me see how I am after just thirty minutes."

I picked up my phone and started to set the timer. Texts and missed calls were already pouring in. They couldn't reach Daniel, so they were bombarding me. I smiled, a little anxious at what a feeding frenzy the next day seemed doomed to bring. No, he's not going to talk to any of you right now or anytime tonight. The Maestro is back!

I sat back and waited for him to begin. When he placed his bow to strings, it was pure magic. He eased into the piece-something simple that wouldn't tax his wrist in its weakened state. Regardless of all the exercises Daniel had done, I knew he wasn't one hundred percent. He continued, walking through the room, lost in his own little world.

Glancing across the room to the wall clock above the bank of computers I noticed it was about nine thirty. Mentally adding an hour for the time difference in France, just to be sure, I picked up my phone and proceeded to place a call to his parents. I figured Diane and Thomas would appreciate the gesture and breathe easier knowing their son was going to be just fine.

Diane picked up. "Diane," I whispered. "I thought you and Thomas would like to hear, first hand, just how well Daniel has come through his accident." I knew she could hear him in the background.

"He sounds amazing, like nothing ever happened to his hand. Thank you for thinking of us, Mary."

"You're welcome. I'll leave the phone open while he plays this piece so you two can enjoy it with me."

Yeah, Diane and I had bonded over our mutual love for her son during our trip to France
. I smiled and continued to watch and listen to him in utter amazement. When the piece was done, he immediately went into another. I picked up the phone.

"Diane?"

"Yes dear, we're still here. Thomas is grinning from ear to ear. He was so afraid for Daniel."

"I will have him call you. I need to get him to take a break. He agreed to time limits at the beginning, and you know him—if I don't set an alarm, he'll play for hours."

"Go, make him rest his hand," I heard Thomas shout. "Thank you, Mary."

"Yes, go make him behave. Not that that's an easy task. Good night, Mary. Give our love to my son."

"I will. Good night."

Ending the call, I saw he had five minutes left. I sat back and listened, my eye on the clock. I gave him extra time to complete the piece he was playing. I knew it well enough to know how much leeway to give him.

He knew, because he turned and walked toward me, that he was coming close to the end. The grin on his face said it all.

He bowed as I clapped furiously. "Bravo! That was magnificent, babe. How does your wrist feel?"

Taking his instrument from the left hand and placing it with the bow, he shook and moved it around. "Not bad. I can tell it's not perfect, but it's not as bad as I was afraid it might be."

"Take a break. I'm sure your wrist will tell you in the morning how it felt from this first time," I replied. "Oh, and I hope you don't mind that I called your parents and let them listen. They were thrilled."

Another grin lit his face. "Thank you, sweet, for remembering them. I will take your advice and take a break, but I'd like to play some more in a little while."

"Daniel!" I scolded.

"I'll wait and see how it feels after I’ve let it rest. I don't know about you, but I think we deserve another glass of wine, don't you?"

"Absolutely," I agreed, rising from my chair. I gathered both phones and put them in my pocket. "Go ahead and put your violin up while I go pour us a glass." I walked up to him and kissed him on the lips. He was still grinning. I wondered if he would sleep at all tonight, now that he knew he could still play as well as ever.

Chapter Twelve

The time finally arrived for my brothers to begin their invasion of the U.K. I knew from the itinerary Zara sent that they were all due to arrive a few days ahead of time, giving them time to rest. Nothing had been said to me about any family time, so I tried not to give it a second thought.
Heaven knows I have enough to keep up with.

Since they shared the same record label, all I had to do was scan Daniel's email to see if the suits wanted him included when the Tudor boys arrived on British soil. Amadeus had kept in brief contact during Daniel’s healing and expressed an interest in some sort of collaborative project with him—though I questioned my brother's motive.