Read Online A Midsummer Night's Fling (Stage Kiss Series Book 1) by Beth Matthews - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Beth Matthews
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is one of the largest non-profit theaters in the nation. And we're regarded as one of the best, if not the best, classical theater company on the west coast. Audiences come here and expect a certain level of talent. Professionalism." Judith raised her eyebrow at Nicola, a haughty challenge. "You were a little unpolished yesterday, dear. Amateurish. You'll want to work on that with Rita. Shakespeare isn't a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical."
"I know that – "
"We need a little bit more depth from our actors."
Nicola's cheeks burned, and she squeezed her hands into fists to keep from slapping the artistic director. Let's see you dance and sing for three hours straight while living out of a suitcase and eating nothing but bad hotel food day in and day out .
Having a cat fight with Judith O'Fallon probably wouldn't be the best way to start here, but – Professional my ass . Nicola took a slow breath then released it.
Judith continued, "What I'm saying is: we expect a lot from our actors. There isn't any hand-holding. Or coddling. It's sink or swim around here." Judith tsk ed, running her gaze over Nicola. "And, dear, you might want to lose just a few pounds. I understand the fairies won't be wearing very much, and we don't want to horrify our audience with a chunky Titania, do we?" Judith gave a sharp little titter.
As her body vibrated with suppressed anger, Nicola managed a small nod. You evil, presumptuous, arrogant –
"Oh, I just remembered I need to speak to Isabelle. Can you find your own way out, dear?" Judith's eyes were slitted with pleasure like a cat's.
"Of course." Get away from me . Nicola waved goodbye, her mind popping with disquiet, and she turned into one of the empty hallways, wanting as much space between her and Judith O'Fallon as possible.
What is with that lady? Like most women, Nicola had some issues with her body, but her weight wasn't one of them.She stopped, realizing she'd wandered and managed to get herself lost in the office suite. It was paranoid, but she wondered if maybe Judith had abandoned her on purpose, hoping she'd get lost. She shook her head at herself and started backtracking. Next moment she caught a glimpse of a blurred human figure walking past in the hallway. "Excuse me?" she called, hustling in the direction the person had disappeared.
Footsteps shuffled in the hall and a man poked his head around the corner, his hair a shock of red against the soft color of the walls. "Well, hullo." He grinned and the effect of his smile nearly floored Nicola – all gleaming teeth and impish dimples and laughing blue, blue eyes. It was a smile of charm and mischief, the sort of smile a siren might use to tempt a sailor to his doom.
"I'm sorry," she said. "Cou – could you point me toward the costume shop?"
He stepped forward, and she found herself startled again, blinking as he towered over her. She'd never met anyone as tall as the Fiesengerke brothers before, but this man had to be as tall, maybe even a half inch taller than Max. This guy was more wiry, though, lean muscle instead of ripped bulk like Max.
The stranger ran a thumb down the line of his chiseled cheekbone, scratching against the red hair of his goatee. "Searching for Tierney, were you?"
Oh swoo-oon . He had a clipped, beautiful upper class British accent, which matched the rich baritone of his voice. Nicola wondered if the accent was real or if he were putting it on to be more Shakespearean, but then he spoke again and, yup, the accent was real. Score . "I was about to make my own way to the costume shop," he said. "You can follow me."
"Great."
"You must be our new Titania," he said, his long, long legs eating up the ground. "Max's . . . friend."
Nicola grimaced to herself. That minor hesitation said all kinds of things about what information was already circulating through the company grapevine about her and Max. What if anyone from the company had seen them kissing yesterday? For a moment, she
"I know that – "
"We need a little bit more depth from our actors."
Nicola's cheeks burned, and she squeezed her hands into fists to keep from slapping the artistic director. Let's see you dance and sing for three hours straight while living out of a suitcase and eating nothing but bad hotel food day in and day out .
Having a cat fight with Judith O'Fallon probably wouldn't be the best way to start here, but – Professional my ass . Nicola took a slow breath then released it.
Judith continued, "What I'm saying is: we expect a lot from our actors. There isn't any hand-holding. Or coddling. It's sink or swim around here." Judith tsk ed, running her gaze over Nicola. "And, dear, you might want to lose just a few pounds. I understand the fairies won't be wearing very much, and we don't want to horrify our audience with a chunky Titania, do we?" Judith gave a sharp little titter.
As her body vibrated with suppressed anger, Nicola managed a small nod. You evil, presumptuous, arrogant –
"Oh, I just remembered I need to speak to Isabelle. Can you find your own way out, dear?" Judith's eyes were slitted with pleasure like a cat's.
"Of course." Get away from me . Nicola waved goodbye, her mind popping with disquiet, and she turned into one of the empty hallways, wanting as much space between her and Judith O'Fallon as possible.
What is with that lady? Like most women, Nicola had some issues with her body, but her weight wasn't one of them.She stopped, realizing she'd wandered and managed to get herself lost in the office suite. It was paranoid, but she wondered if maybe Judith had abandoned her on purpose, hoping she'd get lost. She shook her head at herself and started backtracking. Next moment she caught a glimpse of a blurred human figure walking past in the hallway. "Excuse me?" she called, hustling in the direction the person had disappeared.
Footsteps shuffled in the hall and a man poked his head around the corner, his hair a shock of red against the soft color of the walls. "Well, hullo." He grinned and the effect of his smile nearly floored Nicola – all gleaming teeth and impish dimples and laughing blue, blue eyes. It was a smile of charm and mischief, the sort of smile a siren might use to tempt a sailor to his doom.
"I'm sorry," she said. "Cou – could you point me toward the costume shop?"
He stepped forward, and she found herself startled again, blinking as he towered over her. She'd never met anyone as tall as the Fiesengerke brothers before, but this man had to be as tall, maybe even a half inch taller than Max. This guy was more wiry, though, lean muscle instead of ripped bulk like Max.
The stranger ran a thumb down the line of his chiseled cheekbone, scratching against the red hair of his goatee. "Searching for Tierney, were you?"
Oh swoo-oon . He had a clipped, beautiful upper class British accent, which matched the rich baritone of his voice. Nicola wondered if the accent was real or if he were putting it on to be more Shakespearean, but then he spoke again and, yup, the accent was real. Score . "I was about to make my own way to the costume shop," he said. "You can follow me."
"Great."
"You must be our new Titania," he said, his long, long legs eating up the ground. "Max's . . . friend."
Nicola grimaced to herself. That minor hesitation said all kinds of things about what information was already circulating through the company grapevine about her and Max. What if anyone from the company had seen them kissing yesterday? For a moment, she
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