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

good-naturedly flexed his arm for Rita. Nicola rolled her eyes but her mouth went dry, watching those taut muscles move beneath his golden skin. Rita did have a point about the appeal of more 'manly' fairies.
    Tierney shuffled through more of her sketches. "So. Costumes . . . "
    Nicola could only be grateful as they turned to talk of fabrics, fit, and silhouettes. With Lachlan determined to flirt with her on one hand, and Max all up in her awareness just by standing in the same room, Nicola had more than a little trouble holding up her end of the conversation.
    She was disappointed, though, when the discussion turned to her character but Tierney had no sketch to show.  
    The costumer gave an apologetic shrug. "I decided to do something different with Titania after we cast you. Give me a few days. For now, same instructions as the others: don't cut your hair." Tierney narrowed her eyes, gazing with intent at Nicola's hair, her mind obviously clicking through ideas. "I have plans for that hair."
    Nicola wet her lips. "Um, Judith mentioned . . . she thought I should lose a little weight."
    Rita scoffed. "So you can blow over in the middle of performances? No , mija."
    "Judith's crazy," Lachlan muttered.  
    Max rumbled his assent too.
    Puffing out her breath, Nicola smiled. "OK." So she wasn't deluded about her own figure; Judith just had a mean streak. Good to know .
    Nicola shook her head, sliding off her stool as the meeting broke up, suddenly nervous again. Rehearsal was about to start. Her first rehearsal. With Max. Her foot caught on the bottom ring of the stool and she bobbled forward.  
    Max caught her arm and held her close. "Nic, we need to talk. Alone."
    She swallowed. Oh Lord . A talk. Max never talked. Why did they need to talk? What was there to talk about? Talking could only end badly. And alone -talking . . . that was a recipe for total disaster. She realized how sharply she was shaking her head as a heavy lock of her hair slipped free from her bun. Max's eyebrows climbed upward while he watched her.
    "No. We're fine, Max." She tugged free of his hold and skittered toward the door, shadowing Rita close, almost stepping on the back of the other woman's flats. No talking . Talking was bad. Talking was to be avoided at all costs.
    "Nicola," Tierney called.  
    Crap . A perfect escape foiled by the pink-haired girl.  
    With what dignity she could scrape together, Nicola did an about-face. "Yes, Tierney?"
    "I still need to do all the measuring for your costume."
    "Right. Of course. See you at rehearsal . . . everyone." Nicola stepped toward the door, bumping into Lachlan as he tried to get through at the same time. He shuffled back, motioning the way for her.  
    Max tried to linger, waiting Nicola out, but Rita hollered for him from the hallway. He made his exit, but the glance he sent Nicola on his way out promised he would make her talk later.  
    Oh joy .

Chapter Seven
    For some reason, Rita was determined to have Max walk her to the stage for rehearsal. She'd linked her arm with his and kept chattering away with all sorts of random thoughts about his character, about the play. Rita was clearly trying to distract him, to keep him from talking to Nicola.  
    Fantastic . Because he could always use someone meddling in his life. It was his fucking favorite thing ever. Now Rita had a death grip on his arm, and no way would she let him go if he said he wanted to try to catch Nicola alone.  
    So: subterfuge. He tugged his arm free and stepped back. "'Scuse me, Rita, I need to take a leak." With that, he jogged off toward the admin building.  
    "Maxim!" Rita called after him, her voice vibrating with frustration.  
    Free at last, he bounded back up the hill then bolted the stairs and whipped the door open to the office. He nearly collided with Judith O'Fallon as she stepped out.  
    "Oh, hi, Judith," he said, panting from his mini-jog. He craned to peer into the office suite, hoping to catch sight of Nicola, but