Her Leading Man by Alice Duncan Read Free Book Online Page B

it
as a desert oasis. They’re publicizing it back East, as a restorative
resort for
lung patients.”
    “ Ah,” said she. “Clever of them.” Her
glance turned to the retreating camels. “You know, Martin, they might make even
more money if they could advertise camel rides.”
    Martin looked at her sharply, his eyes narrowing. By God, she wasn’t
kidding. He cleared his throat. “Um, yes, the resort’s owner and I had
long discussions along those very lines, Christina. We’re both hoping to make a
tidy profit from this picture.” He smiled to show her that, while he meant every
word, he
didn’t mean the comment to be in any way ironic or disparaging of either
endeavor.
    Grandmother Mayhew snorted. Christina eyed her slantways. “I think
they’re both very smart, Gran. After all, why should only one side of a deal
make money
from it?”
    “ Heh.”
    The sound of approaching footsteps made all three of them turn. George
Peters, a jaunty young man and the most talented set designer Martin had ever
met, was nearing . George had changed a good
deal the few
years since he’d come West. In 1909, when Martin had first met him, George had
just dropped out of college without telling his parents, hopped a train, and headed to
Los Angeles in search of a career in pictures. His family
had been disgusted with him . Martin had been
elated to discover so ingenious and artistic a sensibility in the young
ma n.
    George had gained confidence in the few years since he’d started
working for Peerless. He now looked the picture of a bright young man,
fashionably dressed in plain summer knickerbockers, a sleeveless vest over a sporty
white shirt with a casual polka-dot cravat tied loosely at his neck, and a
soft tweed cap on his dark head. Martin couldn’t help but grin
whenever he
saw George .
    He waved, and the younger man waved back. “ What’s up, George?”
    Gran squinted at George, scowled hideously, and snarled. “Who’s
that?”
    “ Someone called George,” Christina
answered her gentlest voice.
    Glancing between the two women, Martin couldn’t tell which
one , if either, was acting a role. Grandmother Mayhew looked as
though she were acting the part of crotchety old woman Christina
appeared be
acting a role requiring faux sweetness and light, with a vast underlay
of irony. He shook his head, wondering if it was a good thing that he’d
begun viewing everything and everyone in the world
in terms of
roles and parts.
    “ George
Peters,” he said “He’s the chief set designer.”
    “ Ah, so
that’s George Peters,” murmured Christina.
    “ Heh,”
said Gran.
    “ Hey there, Martin.” George gave Martin a
crisp but casual salute and turned his attention to the
two ladies.
    His smile was boyish and charming. Martin generally had nothing but good
feelings toward George. Today, when he saw George’s gaze get stuck
on Christina,
he felt a sudden and inexplicable urge to hit him in the teeth.
    Good Lord, whatever was the matter with him? He shook off the mood
instantly, knowing it did him no credit. “Mrs. Mayhew, Miss Christina
Mayhew, p lease allow me to introduce you to the
best set designer in the industry, George Peters.”
    George executed a spiffy bow. “Good morning, ladies. I’m very pleased to
meet you both.”
    “ How do
you do, George? Please call me Christina.”
    Martin thought he wouldn’t mind greeting every day with one of
Christina Mayhew’s smiles . A single one of them could
perk up a man for hours, if not the whole day.
    “ Young man,” growled Grandmother Mayhew.
She held out a bony hand for George to take.
    He did it without even a pause, lifted it to his lips, and brushed a
kiss on it. He did all that without even flinching, which made Martin wonder
about George’s family. He knew George’s brother, Colin, who had married
Brenda Fitzpatrick a few years back, could be a fussbudget without half trying.
Perhaps George was accustomed to dealing with prickly people.
    He shook off his