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Raven’s arched eyebrows and stone-set chin made it clear that she was very serious indeed.
“Ouch, that hurt,” Dru said, pressing a palm to his chest directly over his heart. “No reason to be so skeptical, Ms. Walker.”
“I’m not skeptical. I just don’t like games.”
“And what exactly have I done to make you feel like I’m running a game on you?”
“Well for starters, how come you didn’t just tell me who you were the day we met? You tried to make it seem like you were just a stagehand or something,” she blurted.
There. She’d finally given voice to one of the concerns that had been plaguing her since their first encounter.
Dru smiled, obviously unperturbed by her query.
“I did tell you who I am. I said I’m Dru Davis, a regular guy who works behind the scenes. That’s who I am.”
“Oh yeah, that certainly covers what you do,” Raven replied sarcastically.
“It does, really, when you think about it. As producer my job is to balance and coordinate the business and financial aspects of the show. I take the playwright and the director’s visions and make sure they have what they need to make it happen. On opening night, it’s you guys who the public sees, for better or for worse, not me. Isn’t that right?”
“I suppose,” Raven agreed slowly.
“Besides, what I do is a very different question from who I am, wouldn’t you agree?”
Raven couldn’t respond because at that moment, Dru’s sugary sweet smile was causing the air around her to grow thin.
“Now, enough about me. What about you?” he asked at length.
“What about me? I’m exactly what you thought I was…a performer. I sing, act and, mostly, dance. On this particular production, I’m a member of the ensemble. Nothing glamorous, just part of the cast.”
“I’d have to disagree there, Ms. Walker, and I’m sure the audience will, too. You’re pretty glamorous, if you don’t mind my saying.”
Raven blushed. She was grateful at that moment for the waitress’s interruption as she placed tall glasses of sweetened iced tea in front of them.
“You certainly have a way with words, don’t you, Mr. Producer?” she asked after taking a long drag from her drink.
“I just call them like I see them,” he shot back. “Now, you were about to tell me about yourself.”
“I just did, unless there’s something specific you’re asking me?”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Dru asked.
Dru Davis had never been a man who minced words. He’d learned from his father early on that in both business and in play, there was no time to be wasted on innuendo and speculation. He’d wanted to ask that question from the moment he’d run into Raven the day before, as she had stayed on his mind ever since. Assessing her availability was a vital first step in answering the burning desire she’d lit in him when she’d first graced the Minskoff with her presence during auditions. If she answered in the affirmative, he doubted that he would be dissuaded. However, at least he’d know what he was up against.
“Okay, wasn’t quite prepared for that one, but no, I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Are you looking for one?” he countered.
Raven was not used to this type of blunt forwardness from a man. While she had not had very much experience in the dating realm, she had yet to encounter anyone like Dru Davis.
“What exactly constitutes looking for a boyfriend?” she replied.
“I don’t know…I’ve never looked for one myself,” Dru answered with a playful chuckle that caused the solitary crater in his cheek to deepen.
Raven laughed with him. In spite of herself, she was feeling spellbound by Dru’s humor and charisma.
“Did I tell you that I think you’re beautiful, Ms. Walker?”
“No, I don’t believe you did, but thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So what do you say? I’d like to take you out sometime, you know, like on a date or something.”
“You just did,” she answered coyly.
“Oh, you’re right. Well, let me rephrase. I’d like to take you out again, sometime.”
“Look, Dru, I’m not sure that’s a very good idea. I mean, aren’t you sort of my boss?”
Raven felt as though the brakes needed to be pumped on this whole thing, whether she wanted it to stop or not.
“Nope. I have absolutely nothing to do with casting. That’s Marvin’s job.”
“Yeah, but—”
“No buts. I’d like to see you again Raven, outside of the theater. Are you trying to make me beg?”
“Not at all, but can I ask you one question?”
“Sure, anything.”
“Why do you want to go out with me? You don’t even know me. Is it because you think I’m beautiful?”
Raven was not so naïve that she didn’t recognize that physical attractiveness was part of what made the world go around. People who operated solely under the shallowness of physical beauty, however, were a turn off to her, and she avoided guys like that with a vengeance.
Dru’s eyes settled on hers, a moment of silence passing between them that was both solemn and sweet.
“I’d like to take you out because watching you dance made me feel like I’d just received God’s favor. I want to get to know the woman who could move me so deeply,” he said softly.
The quickening of her heartbeat, pounding erratically in her chest, was the only thing Raven could feel for a few moments. She didn’t trust her voice, so she simply smiled, trying on his compliment for a while, wrapping it around her and allowing it to warm her soul.
Chapter 5
Dreams are for Dreamers
“You are absolutely not wearing that,” Carley snapped, snatching the sleeveless black cotton turtleneck from Raven’s hands, balling it up and chucking it back into the closet. Carley, who had about three solid inches on Raven, dared her to reach for it again.
“Carley!”
“Come on, Raven, stop acting like some middle-aged Mormon. You’ve got to have something sexy in this closet of yours.”
Carley gently pushed Raven aside and moved into the closet herself. She scanned the contents of the closet with apparent disapproval.
“Okay, I thought you wore sweats every day so that you could change quickly for dance classes. I had no idea that that was all you owned!”
“Well, Carley…everyone’s not a clothes whore like you!” Raven said defensively.
“That’s true, but this is ridiculous. All right, let’s see what magic I can create up in here.”
Raven moved away from the closet and plopped down onto the foot of her bed. For the past two days Raven had reconsidered her date with Dru countless times. Every time she convinced herself that dating someone so closely tied to her professional obligations was not a good idea, she’d pick up her cell phone and find his name in the contacts folder. However, before she could depress the send button, an image of his face, his disarming smile and sparkling eyes would assault her memory and a warm flush would course through her body. Logic lost the battle every time as the physical and emotional urge to get to know him outweighed all reason.
“I should just cancel. I mean, I don’t even have anything to wear and besides, I should be spending all of my time practicing for the show,” Raven said.
Carley shot her a searing look from over her shoulder. She snatched a peach-colored vest from the closet.
“This will work,” she said, ignoring Raven’s comment. “Don’t you have a white skirt? You know the one you wore to Jackie’s party last month?”
“Carley, did you hear what I just said?” Raven asked.
“Yeah, I heard you. Where’s the skirt?”
Raven retrieved the skirt from a shelf at the top of the closet and tossed it to Carley.
“Raven, please knock it off. I know exactly what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. There is not one good reason why you shouldn’t go out with this guy…not one.”
“Are you sure?” Raven asked, wanting desperately to cast her misgivings aside and believe in Carley’s optimism.
“I’m positive. He’s cute, he’s available, he’s successful and he’s totally hot for you. Everything else is trivial. Now, get dressed,” Carley said, thrusting various articles of clothing into Raven’s hands.
Raven gave up. Under Carley’s dogged determination to get her hooked up, she didn’t stand a chance. And in addition to that was the fact that Dru’s sexy singular dimple was permanently recorded on her brain.
“You look beautiful,” Dru said, momentarily forgetting himself. “Oops, I’m sorry. I forgot that I’m not supposed to tell you that.” He smiled.
Raven laughed.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t tell me that I’m beautiful. All I meant was that it shouldn’t be the motivating factor for everything one does in life,” she corrected.
Dru was wearing a crisp white cotton shirt, the top two buttons open to reveal a solid brown neck and a hint of jet-black hair on his chest. Raven’s eyes traveled down the length of his body. His shirt was tucked into black slacks. On his feet were black loafers, punctuating his overall sophisticated casual appearance. Dru took her hand in his, guiding her to a seat at the small table for two. As he leaned closer to her, she inhaled his signature scent and was immediately intoxicated.
“So how have rehearsals been going?” Dru asked.
“All right. I have to say, working with the ensemble is nothing like what I thought it would be. I mean, we’ve got a lot of onstage time and the numbers Meagan’s worked up for us are hot!” Raven exclaimed.
“That’s good. Everything is on schedule from the business end, but I’ve got to admit, it’s been back to back meetings and marathon telephone conferences getting things in order.”
“I’m sure you’re used to this…after all, your dad has been in the business for ages.”
“True. I was practically nursed on Broadway shows. However, and this is just between you and I,” Dru said, pausing to shift his eyes to the right and left and then leaning in conspiratorially. “This is the biggest production I’ve ever headed up on my own.”
Raven regarded him, uncertain as to whether he was being serious or not. In the short time she’d known him, she realized two things about the man. First, his was a sense of humor that was off-color and unpredictable. Second, he was very generous with it.
“Are you sure you can handle this?” she asked skeptically.
“I don’t know…between juggling the investors and negotiating with the unions, I’ve got my hands full.”
Dru’s expression was one of sheer panic, as if he had just now fully considered the weight of the task in front of him. Raven began to feel a deep sympathy for him, until the look of vulnerability in his eyes gave way to mischievous mocking.
“Oh, please!” she said, slapping at one of his hands which lay on the table between them.
She silently chided herself for being so foolishly taken in by his pretense. Dru’s laughter bubbled from his gut, tumbling from his full lips. He tipped his head backward as he laughed with his mouth opened wide.
“Here I am feeling sorry for you, and you’re making fun of me all the while.” Raven pouted.
“I’m sorry…I couldn’t help it.”
Dru reached across the table and closed his long fingers around her hand. He resisted the compelling urge to kiss her pretty little frown.
“It’s cute that you were worried about me,” he said.
“Puppies are cute,” she snapped.
Dru rubbed his forefinger lightly over the knuckles of Raven’s hand, his intense gaze resting on her eyes. There was a powerful concentration in his look that drew her in and held her captive. It was as if he had connected with someplace deep inside her soul and they were now locked together in a warm cocoon.
“So, Miss Raven, tell me something about yourself that I don’t already know.”
“Well, I really don’t know what to say, Mr. Davis. You seem to know everything.”
“No, not everything. Not the things I want to know about you.”
The deep timbre of his voice sent a shiver through Raven’s body. She looked away from his gaze, but only for a moment before her eyes were forcefully pulled back to his by a concentrated magnetism.
“What makes you smile?” he asked.
Raven didn’t have to think about that question. There was only one answer that came to mind.
“Dancing,” she said breathlessly.
“Is that all?” Dru asked, marveling at the glow that had descended on Raven’s face.
“Dancing is everything to me. Performing in general, I guess. It’s…I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s like, no matter what else is going on around me, when I’m dancing…when I’m up on stage, it just doesn’t matter. It’s like I’m removed from everything in the world and my body is sugary sweet and singing…notes that carry me away. It’s heavenly.”
Raven studied Dru’s face, trying to determine if he understood what she was trying to explain to him.
“That must be an amazing feeling. To have something in your life that can make you feel so close to yourself…so close to God.”
“I usually don’t tell people that. I don’t think most people understand what I mean. They think I’m blaspheming or something.” Raven chuckled.
“You make perfect sense to me,” Dru said.
They looked silently at one another for a moment and Raven knew that he was telling the truth. He did understand her.
