Backstage (The Barter System Book 4) (14 page)

This Johannson girl was a
long
way from Oklahoma.

The currently running show ended just about the time Linn wanted to start rehearsals.  Over the past two months, she’d been seeing shows in one theater after another, looking for the location she wanted, the one she
needed
for her first production. 

Straightening her jacket and smoothing her hair, she gave herself a pep talk, a firm mental shake, and walked to the front doors. 

The huge panels of artistically etched glass looked original.  It was the second feature she’d noticed when she came for a show here.  The retro marquee was the first. 

Instantly she’d known…
it was the perfect place
. 

Not one to take unnecessary risks, she checked out the building for city violations and liens.  Not only was it clear, the brothers who owned it had recently done a multi-million dollar renovation without taking loans against the property. 

They owned it outright.

It was beautiful and bright outside but the interior of the theatre was dim without artificial lights to counteract the dark woods, aged brass, and deep green of the walls. 

Allowing her eyes to adjust, she jumped when she saw an incredibly tall and attractive man standing at the base of the staircase to one side of the lobby.  Even across the space, she could tell he was at least six-five or better with dark hair and eyes.

He had a body she wanted to spend a week licking…before getting down to the good stuff. 

She watched him wait for her to register his presence before he walked forward with his hand out.  “I didn’t mean to startle you.  You must be Madeline Johannson.”

Nodding, more than a little dazed, she held out her hand.  His consumed hers and she wanted it…everywhere. 

“Yes, I apologize.  I don’t tend to startle.  The theater is even lovelier than I remember.”  She prayed he didn’t feel her trembling.

“Ezra Zelder, we spoke on the phone.  I’m the audio/lighting technician and manage the front-of-the-house business.  You weren’t sure it was the right space.  Have you decided?” 

“Yes, I knew when we talked Monday.  I just wanted to ensure the backers would go for the adjusted budget.  I appreciate you throwing in the lighting and sound with the overall monthly rate.”

“Excellent.”

“Is a cashier’s check alright for the first ten months?” 

His eyes went wide and there was a long pause before he said quietly, “You want to give me ten months in advance?” 

“Yes.  I don’t want to lose the theater.”  She withdrew an envelope that represented her mom and dad’s belief in her dream.  “This should cover rehearsals as well as the first season.” 

Ezra took it as if it might burst into flames.  “This is a first…ever.”  Meeting her eyes, he said carefully, “Listen, not to put too fine a point on it but…what if you open in September and the play flops?”

“It won’t.”  She smiled.  “My investors understand the risks, they’ve seen the initial outlines, and they gave the green light.” 

She pulled the contract he’d emailed her out of her portfolio.  “Do y’all have local people who can do set design, costumes, and catering for the cast and crew?” 

He nodded slowly and she could tell he was floored and uncertain.

“Please don’t worry.”  Handing him the signed contract, he tucked the cashier’s check for almost one million dollars under the paperclip before staring at her silently.  She swallowed hard and had an unusual urge to fill the quiet.  “Rent, utilities, and your personal crew of five men.” 

Madeline paused and cleared her throat.  “If you can get me that list of recommendations for these services,” she held out a neatly typed page and he took it, “I would really appreciate it, Mr. Zelder.” 

He glanced at her requests, scanned them, and gave her a single incline of his head.  She exhaled in relief.  “I’m already worried about you, Miss Johannson.  No one at this level in the business hands over so much operating capital up front.  Your financial risk is substantial.” 

“Call me Linn.  Everyone does.”  Stepping closer, she laid her hand on his arm.  “You’ll see, Mr. Zelder.  Everything is gonna be just fine.”  Even
she
heard the ‘country’ slip into her voice.

“Ezra.  Call me Ezra.  I like the way you talk.  Where are you from?”

That made her laugh.  “Just north of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  My sister and I had breakfast this morning and the server told us we sounded like the cast from some reality show.  I’ve never seen it but I wouldn’t be sticking my hand in the mouth of a catfish, I can assure you.”

He grinned and dimples appeared in both his cheeks.  His teeth were bright white and even.  “Reality television is not what comes to mind.”  The way he said it made her pulse pick up.  Ezra gestured to the staircase.  “My office is upstairs.  We have service being done on the roof and they had to shut down the air.  I apologize for how warm it is up there.” 

Madeline noticed that the top three buttons of his dress shirt were open and his sleeves rolled up.  He might have been talking about air conditioning but seeing the barest glimpse of a sculpted chest and muscular forearms made her positively overheated regardless of temperature. 

She felt a tingle low in her stomach and it was something she’d gone without for longer than she cared to admit.  Following him up a steep flight of steps, his claims about the heat were not exaggerated.  It was stifling on the second floor. 

Fanning her face, she told him, “Excuse my complete lack of professionalism.  I have to take this jacket off.”  She shrugged it from her shoulders and set it on the back of a chair in front of his battered desk.  The form-fitting bronze sleeveless tank top clung to her torso. 

It wasn’t a top she wore without the jacket and the way his eyes widened was the reason why.  At least her wide-leg retro slacks were comfortable and appropriate.   

Setting her portfolio beside her chair, she removed color copies of several sketches from the pocket and leaned over the desk to set them in front of him. 

“Act One, Act Two, and Act Three.  Very simple if you have a reasonably talented artist we can hire.  I need the writing and acting to take center stage.  Lighting will be very important, sound even more so since there are several musical numbers throughout.”  Removing a list of cast complete with headshots, she held it out to him. 

“Here’s the cast I’ve hired.”  She sat, crossing her legs as her mother had taught her.

“You cast the show already?  Mikayla Johannson…your sister?”  She watched him glance between the head shot and her face.  “Twins.” 

For years, she and her sister had dissuaded advances from men thinking they were a two-for-one deal. 

Ezra immediately put her mind at ease.  “It’s nice that you’re going to have family to rely on.”

“Kayla has the lead female role.”  At his raised brow, she laughed and pulled out a thick manuscript that contained music and the script.  There was also a CD labeled with the name of the play. 

“She’s the best, I assure you.  I’ve done all the blocking but feel free to offer suggestions.  With the lighting and sound as well.  Prior to this, I’ve only directed college productions so your expertise is welcome.”

“May I ask what made you pick this theater?”

“It’s almost the same size as our community center back home.  I directed several plays there in high school and on breaks from college.  Also, I love the history of the place.”

They ended up talking for more than an hour and Madeline was impressed with the fact that he remained engaged. 

Still, she knew she’d taken up enough of his time.  “I’d like to bring my sister by later today so she gets a feel for the place.  She’s already learning her lines but I know she’ll want an image of the theater in her head.  Kayla tends to be more visually stimulated.”

“That’s not a problem.  We can do a sound and light check when you get back.” 

“That would be great.  Thank you.” 

“You’re organized and I think you’re going to do well.  If the script is good and the actors capable, we’ll take care of the rest.”  He flipped through the paperwork.  “Isaiah Zelder is my stage manager.”  At her chuckle, he smiled, “I assure you, he’s the best.” 

“I understand.  I can’t imagine anyone but my sister in the lead role.”

“Isaiah is incredibly private so I’ll communicate your instructions to him and his crew.  They’re highly trained and capable of handling anything you need.”

“I hope I’ll get to meet him at some point.”  She stood and he walked around the desk to shake her hand.  Grabbing her things, she headed for the door with a smile.  “I’ll pick up your recommendations when I stop by with Kayla.  See you soon, Ezra.” 

“It’s been a pleasure.”

* * * * *

It had been a long time since a woman affected Ezra Zelder on a gut level.  The lovely Madeline Johannson was going to be hell on his peace of mind.  He could tell already.

With hair the color of rich mink, green eyes, and a figure that made him consider very bad things, her voice was the icing on the cake. 

Around five-seven, she carried herself beautifully and it was easy to see that she loved to laugh almost as much as she loved making a complete stranger laugh.

The delicate scent of her perfume lingered in her wake and he couldn’t get the image of her bending over his desk out of his mind.  It had taken everything in him to school his features and steady his breathing while internally screaming at his cock to
settle the fuck down
before he made an ass of himself.

Reaching behind him, he picked up her manuscript.  The first page sucked him in and made him laugh.  Walking downstairs where it was cooler, he sat in the back row of seats to flip through the spiral-bound document.

Two hours later, he heard the front door buzz to announce visitors.  He’d zoned out on writing that was sharp and clever.  Nothing like what he would have expected from a young woman out of Oklahoma. 

It had potential and he couldn’t wait to see what they did with it.

In the lobby, he paused to take in the sight of the Johannson sisters standing side-by-side.  It was a taste of what he’d be dealing with for months.

Holy shit.

One of them – he couldn’t tell them apart physically but knew it must be her sister – wore running shoes, black form-fitting jogging shorts, and a black tank top.  Her long hair was in a ponytail and she shimmered with a light sheen of sweat.  There was an MP3 player strapped to her arm.  Her bubbly attitude was apparent even standing still and quiet.

He identified Linn by her air of calm.  She wore jeans and a black tank top with matching heels, her hair clipped on top of her head. 

The jogger stepped forward with her hand out and a bright smile on her face.  “You must be Ezra.  I’m Mikayla.  Call me Kayla.  Please excuse my appearance.  I was in the middle of my run so I met Linn here.” 

They shook hands.  “It’s good to meet you.  Give me a few minutes to queue lights and audio.”

Upstairs, he inserted their playlist and called his brother on the radio to come to the sound booth.

“I’ll be up in less than a minute. Go schmooze our new clients.”

“On my way.”

Ezra opened the doors to main seating and gestured for the sisters to go first.  Mikayla was almost vibrating with excitement.  They stopped halfway down the center aisle and he shouted, “Lights up!”

The house and basic stage lights lit the space. 

“Linn…oh my god…it is exactly what you wanted!”  Then Mikayla ran for the stage and vaulted up.  “You have
outdone
yourself.  I mean it.  Of all the places you’ve dragged me to over the last couple of months, this one feels
right
on so many levels.” 

With that, she moved to one side of the stage and bounced into five cartwheels across the wood.  Ezra stared at her in stunned confusion. 

“We can fit the trailer you want and still have room for the dance scenes.”  She gave him a small shrug.  “I didn’t bring a measuring tape.” 

Ezra looked up toward the sound booth and called, “Cue track six.”  Turning to the sisters, he told them.  “Acoustic test.”

“That’s our favorite,” Mikayla said with a wink. 

He thought they’d simply listen and was surprised as Madeline sedately walked onstage and took off her shoes.  Kayla slipped off her sneakers and socks to step into her sister’s heels. 

Linn laughed.  “Bear in mind that I’ll be wearing a positively
huge
dress with enormous fake boobs and more curves than I currently possess.” 

Ezra thought the curves she possessed were more than sufficient. 

The music started and they launched into a scene from Act Two.  Linn danced in her bare feet as Kayla danced in heels and the two of them sang a raunchy number that made him grin. 

He watched them from the auditorium with his arms crossed over his chest.  Their performance was ready for opening night and Ezra glanced up at the sound booth window, knowing his brother stood in the shadows. 

Isaiah was probably as impressed as his younger brother but he wouldn’t come downstairs.  Not until the Johannson sisters left. 

They reached the last note and Ezra clapped. 

The rest of his brother’s crew stood at the side of the stage and joined him in applauding a spur of the moment performance that was damn good.  The twins bowed shyly then introduced themselves to the workers.  They repeated each of the men’s names as if committing them to memory. 

A few minutes later, they put on their own shoes and Mikayla laced up her sneakers.  She bounced up to Linn, gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek, and shook her comically.  “I’ll see you back at the apartment.  Ezra, it was awesome to meet you!”

With that, she dropped from the stage, waved, and jogged up the aisle. 

“She’s very…exuberant.”  He watched the quieter of the twins descend the stage steps gracefully.

“Mikayla’s in her own category.  She
loves
life and wants everyone around her to love it, too.  She keeps me from being too serious.”  Madeline extended her hand.  “I love the theater.  I’ll see you when rehearsals begin, Ezra.  Please call if you need anything before then.  Thanks for everything.”