A Midsummer Night's Fling (Stage Kiss Series Book 1) by Beth Matthews Read Free Book Online Page B

glancing at Nicola, said, "I'm sorry, but I need to cut this short. Ms. Charles, can you come in tomorrow to read for me again?"
    Max gaped. What is wrong with this lady? Sure, artistic directors were allowed to be prickly divas, they ran the show, after all. All the shows. Nicola had nailed the audition, the director wanted her, so making Nicola audition again just felt like some weird power play.
    Nicola worked her jaw, clearly offended, but fighting to stay professional. "Of course. What time?"
    "No. Nonono no nono no ." Rita sliced her arm through the air. "No, Judith. That is not acceptable. We need to settle this today."
    "We need a Titania," Max put in, not glancing at Nicola as he said it. "Ms. O'Fallon, do you honestly think you'll find someone better for our production than Nic – than Ms. Charles?"
    Judith's nostrils flared, her cool gray eyes narrowing to slits. Finally, she flung her hands up. "All right. You, Nicola, come in tomorrow to sign your equity contract." With a dramatic flair not quite on par with Isabelle's, Judith whirled around and pretty much stormed out of the theater.  
    Rita let out a shrill victory cry and threw herself on Nicola for a hug. Max grinned, big and goofy. He had a Titania again. He had Nicola again.
    Her gaze met his over Rita's back, and Nicola stilled, her face blanking out.  
    What the –  
    Nicola had the part, she should be thrilled. So why did she look like she had to barf again?
    She eased away from Rita and murmured something. Rita pointed to the backstage area. Giving the group at large a reassuring wave, Nicola hurried off stage left toward the dressing rooms.  
    "Maxim, I need you to – "
    He waved Rita to silence. "Give me a second?" Gut churning with unease, Max jogged backstage, following – OK maybe chasing – Nicola.  
    He found her in the green room leaning in the doorway, half-in, half-out, with a faraway expression in her eyes. In his younger days, Max had learned to recognize that look, and put as much distance between himself and The Look as possible. Avoidance had always been his favorite way to solve conflicts. But not now. Five years hadn't only made him older.  
    When she saw him, she held a hand out to stop him walking closer. "I'm fine."
    "Bullshit."
    She flashed him an irritated glance but didn't say anything.  
    "Nic, what's wrong?"
    She looked up, her eyes soft, her mouth half-parted. Awareness of her body flamed over him. Memories of the taste of her skin and the softness at the base of her throat had his lower self springing to attention.
    Real professional there, Max . He shifted, uncomfortably aware of what a schmuck he was. Still, he wasn't going to walk away. "Nicola. Tell me."
    She sucked in a deep breath and, when her gaze flicked to his mouth, he thought he might explode. "This, Fiesengerke." She cupped the back of his head, yanking his face down to her. "This is what's wrong."  
    Then she kissed him.  
    As her mouth touched his, he thought, This is a bad idea .  
    But still Max grinned against her lips. After all, he'd sort of been hoping this was the problem all along.

Chapter Six
    As soon as her lips touched his, Nicola knew she'd made a terrible mistake.  
    But, wow, did she not give a shit.  
    This kiss was an inevitability, the climax of the sexual tension that had been kindling inside her since they began the scene. Since I opened the door this afternoon and saw him . She sighed into his mouth, her eyes prickling.  
    Five years . Five years and it might as well have been a second. Or a lifetime. I don't know him anymore . Didn't know what he'd done for the last few years, didn't know how he'd changed, who he was.  
    And yet.
    Skin remembered skin. And her mouth opened against his with the ease of tender familiarity. She didn't really know him anymore, but her body remembered every inch of his, every touch, every breath they breathed together, every feeling.
    His mouth was soft and warm as his tongue swept into her