Free Angel Dares by Joss Stirling Page B

‘Yes?’
    ‘You left your bag.’
    I turned to find him holding out my blue sparkly shoulder bag with the silk fringe. ‘Oh thanks.’ Feeling so happy, I even managed a smile for him. ‘Not sure how I could forget it, seeing how obvious it is.’
    He handed it over. ‘Cut the cute act—you don’t have to pretend with me. I know you did it on purpose, like everything else. Needed an excuse to come back, didn’t you?’
    ‘What?’ My skin went cold.
    He put his hands on his hips, thumbs in belt loops. ‘Look, I’ve been working with Kurt now for a few months. I see how these things work. Girls like you are all over the world, trying to attract his attention, and you’ve decided I’m your way in. He’s not careful enough if he likes someone—he’s far too generous. Just be warned: his people will brush you off like a tick if they catch you taking advantage.’
    I felt like I’d been sucker punched. The fact that I did have an agenda made my situation not entirely innocent but I was not guilty of anything more than genuine admiration as far as Kurt was concerned. And the secret agenda: I was looking for a girl, not a guy. I took the bag from his clutch without a word and turned away.
    Marcus gave a sigh of annoyance. ‘I won’t apologize for being harsh. I get that you’re not a bad person, Angel. You’re just star struck. But I won’t be used to hurt the man who has helped me so much.’
    I stopped and whirled around, anger finally swamping humiliation. ‘Just listen to yourself! Can’t you hear how full of it you are? You assume you know me and my motivation but so far everything you’ve said about me is one hundred per cent wrong.’
    A deep scowl furrowed his brow. ‘Now see here a moment—’
    ‘No, you listen. I’ve got something to say and it will be very short and pithy so it won’t strain your attention span away from yourself for too long. Here it is. Eff off, Marcus. I’m at the festival because I am an artist.’ I folded my arms around myself, protection against further blows. ‘I might not be uber-talented like you, but I deserve my place here and any interest that Kurt might want to show me. I have no intention of using him. Can you say the same thing about yourself? Would you be here if it wasn’t for him?’ I tilted my chin, daring him to justify his own career skiing the wake created by Gifted.
    Marcus got right up in my grid, finger jabbing at my chest, not quite making contact. ‘Are you suggesting I’m exploiting him?’
    I looked down at the finger in disgust. ‘If the cap fits.’
    His mouth dropped open. I had rendered him speechless.
    ‘Now, I really must be off. I have a performance to prepare for—and don’t you have a tech?’
    Pleased to have the last word, I stalked away, leaving Marcus to get a grip on his rage.

 
     

     
     
    ‘Bow before me, mortal!’ I crowed to Misty as she answered her phone.
    ‘You’ve news?’
    Taking a seat in the corner of the decking area outside the yurt, I checked no one was close enough to overhear. ‘Am I not the best secret agent ever?’
    She snorted. ‘I don’t think James Bond, or even Johnny English, have anything to worry about quite yet. What’s happened?’
    ‘I’ve only just come from talking to all the members of Black Belt and—wait for it—Kurt Voss!’
    Her squeal would probably not have needed a telephone to reach me. ‘You’re joking?’
    ‘Nope. I came, I saw, and I conquered. And it gets better: Kurt invited my group to have pizza with his people after our show. I’ve just been handed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the whole gang that travels with Gifted.’
    ‘Kudos, Angel. You’ve far exceeded our expectations.’
    ‘Thanks, Professor McGonagall. I know: don’t you just love me at the moment? I almost like myself right now. Oh and Misty, Kurt’s so sweet: so funny and interested in people he really needn’t spare a thought for.’
    ‘I’m really pleased to hear it. You