White Satin Read Free Page B

leashed and waiting beneath the cool stillness? That charged stillness was evenmore obvious than usual today, Dany thought uneasily. “Look, why don’t I just bring it out in the open? I blew the competition. I don’t know what was wrong, but I’ll find out and work myself to a frazzle to correct it.” She drew a deep breath and forced herself to look into those cool green eyes. They caught and held her, and she had a panicky feeling of something ebbing away deep inside her. “I won’t let you down, Anthony. I’ll be ready for Calgary.”
    “You’re damn right you will be,” he said, a touch of grimness in his voice. “I’m going to see to that personally. There wasn’t any reason for you to not win yesterday. You’re a hell of a lot better technically and artistically than Margie Brandon. You were skating like a puppet on a string. You had more fire when you won the Juniors six years ago.”
    “I said I’d work on it,” she answered defensively. “You don’t have to waste your time overseeing my training yourself. I know how busy you are.”
    “So you told that ass of a sports commentator yesterday,” he said, a dark frown creasing hisforehead. “I’ll be the one to judge how busy I am, Dany.”
    “Whatever you say,” she said with an effort at lightness. “You’ve become such a high-powered tycoon lately that I just thought it would be too much bother.” She paused. “You haven’t coached me personally since you hired Beau and Marta and sent me away from Briarcliff.”
    “Do you think I’m not capable of the job?” he asked, an amused smile on his lips. “I believe I still have sufficient expertise to give you what you need.”
    “No, I didn’t mean …” She stammered to a halt, cursing his effect on her. She was always such a quivering bundle of nerves around Anthony. “You know I meant no such thing,” she said with careful composure. “I’ve been told you’re still considered by most authorities to be the greatest figure skater who ever lived. When you retired from the Ice Revue to take over the Dynathe Corporation, you threw the whole sports world into shock.”
    “Then you’ll accept my humble tutelage?” Therewas a glimmer in his eyes that might have been laughter.
    “When have I ever had a choice?” she asked lightly. “You know you’ll do exactly as you please both with me and my career, just as you’ve always done.”
    “Not always.” His voice had deepened, and there was a sudden electric tenseness waiting beyond the stillness. “But I intend to do just that from now on. It’s only fair to warn you, Dany. I find I’m growing very impatient of late.”
    “For the gold?” she asked, puzzled. “I told you I’d work myself to a frazzle. I realize it’s going to be more your medal than mine after all you’ve done for me. You’ll have your gold, Anthony.”
    “No!” The word was spoken with such explosiveness, it startled her. “I have my own gold medal. I don’t want or need yours. When you win at Calgary, it’s got to be the crown of
your
achievements,
your
work. It’s got to be
your
victory, not mine or Beau’s.”
    “Of course. I know that,” she faltered. Why was he so intense about it? His eyes were almostblazing. “I just meant that I realize how much I owe you—”
    “For God’s sake, shut up!” Then, as her eyes widened in surprise, he drew a deep breath, and the cool mask was once more in place. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    She felt a deep, throbbing hurt. “I’m not a child anymore, you know. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t speak to me like that.”
    “I know you’re not a child. Sometimes I think you never were, that you were born old.” His lips twisted. “Some of us are, you know.” He picked up the pen he’d tossed down as she’d entered and toyed with it absently. “That’s why it’s been so damn difficult for me at times. You may possess the inner maturity, but you don’t have the