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
