Read Online Playing with Passion Theta Series Book 1 by Gayle Parness - Free Book Online Page B

hoped for, but she wasn't giving
up yet. At the rehearsal, she'd show them more. Ingrid put her hand
on Alan’s shoulder. “Thank you, for breakfast. It was perfect.”
Even though Alan replied with a “You’re welcome,” the rest of the
room remained quiet.
    She showered and changed into her
rehearsal clothes, throwing a coat over the outfit. There was a
knock on her door.
    "Ready, sugar?"
    "Why do you only pull out the southern
accent around me? Do you have a dual personality?” she
teased.
    "'Cause you like it." Gene
winked as he swept his hand in an after
you gesture. Still playing the gentleman
when they got to the car, he held the front passenger door open for
her, despite Diane's dark-eyed scowl. "I'm driving. My choice," he
smirked in Diane's direction.
    Sam and Alan had left early to pick up
some food and set up the rehearsal space. Mack had his own small
shuttle, and would leave from his own house. That left five of them
to follow in the one remaining vehicle.
    "I don't mind sitting in the back
seat," Ingrid offered.
    "We have orders to get to know each
other." Giving up, Ingrid obeyed, settling into the passenger seat
while Gene closed the door and walked around to the driver's side.
Diane nudged Staci into the back, while Dave got in on the driver's
side, leaving the two divas on opposite ends with Staci wedged
between them.
    Dave spoke angrily to his partner,
Diane, apparently picking up an argument where they'd left off
earlier. “You can’t tell me you weren’t checking out that blonde
waiter at the restaurant the other night.” Dave, the male diva, was
a great looking guy, with light blue eyes and wavy dark brown
hair—probably one of those men who improved with age. He had an
enormous fan base who had remained loyal even after he and Diane
had moved to diva and turned the ingénue positions over to Gene and
the former Ingrid.
    “Did you see his ass?” Diane teased
with a snarky grin, her darker blue eyes glittering with humor. She
brushed a stray strand of auburn hair behind her ear and sighed,
pretending to fantasize about the so-called hunk.
    Dave scowled at her. “No, I didn’t
notice. I was busy eating the delicious meal I‘d spent a damn
fortune on, while you sat there drooling like an idiot over the
fucking waiter.”
    “Are you referring to
the dive you took
me to? I wouldn’t even call it a restaurant. It was more of a truck
stop.”
    “I thought you enjoyed slumming. I
remember the homeless man you screwed last year.”
    “He wasn’t homeless," she snapped.
"Karl was a tug boat captain and actually very
distinguished."
    "Yeah, if you're attracted to the
biblical look. Unwashed and hairy."
    "He took me to Peter Luger. The steak
melted in my mouth.” Her voice was a sexy purr.
    He gave her a scrutinizing
glare. “Maybe you should think about eating a little less steak and
a little more salad, honey." Diane leaned forward ready to spew out
a harsh comment, but Dave continued, unconcerned by her fury. "The
restaurant I took
you to that night got three stars in Zagat’s.”
    "They must have bribed someone," she
growled. After a few more seconds of glaring, Diane leaned back and
looked out the window, shifting gears. “I heard that the restaurant
around the corner from that dive attracts all kinds of celebrities.
That cute weatherman from Channel 3 is seen there every other
night.”
    Gene whispered to Ingrid, “Typhoon
warning.”
    “He’s too young for you, Diane.” Dave
laughed.
    She scowled back at him across Staci’s
lap. “He is not. He’s at least twenty-eight. We’re only five years
apart.”
    “Tsunami alert.”
    Ingrid buried her face in her sweater,
doing her best to hold in a giggle.
    “Honey, you haven’t seen thirty-three
in six years.” Dave replied with a smirk.
    “I wouldn’t talk, darling . You’re going to
skip right over the swing position and hit retirement
soon.”
    “I think you both look marvelous for
your ages.” Staci was trying to help,