Playing for Keeps (4 page)

“Really, now? Somebody’s got a chip on her shoulder.”

“And somebody has a big head.” Oh, she really needed to shut her mouth!

“Ah . . . Miss Lawson, trite again.”

She ground her teeth. “But oh so true.”

“If you say so.” He gave her a lazy grin that somehow infuriated her. She’d never poked or shoved anyone in her life, but suddenly she wanted to give Noah Falcon a hard push, stomp away, and slam the door, leaving him standing there staring after her. She shot him a glare that always quelled her rowdy students, but he had the nerve to chuckle. Okay, now she really wanted to kiss him . . . No, wait—
shove
him. Hard. Kiss him and then shove him . . . Yeah, that would be the ticket.

And so she did. Well, shove him, anyway.

To her delight his eyes widened a fraction, but it was like shoving a brick wall—he barely budged, making her want to try again, and she was considering it when Madison suddenly applauded, capturing the attention of both of them.

“See, now,
that’s
what I’m talking about,” Madison announced with a smile.

“What?” Noah and Olivia asked simultaneously, turning to face the happy little playwright.

Madison stood there beaming and then raised her hands into the air. “You two have explosive chemistry. You
are
Ben and Amy in
Just One Thing
. Amazing! I don’t have to look any further.” She wiggled her shoulders and did a little jig. “Olivia, I’ve never seen you lose your cool!”

“You’ve never seen me pushed over the limit.” Olivia narrowed her eyes at Noah.

“It was fairly easy,” he replied in a bored tone, but his eyes were full of humor.

“I know! And it’s awesome!” Madison gushed. “Olivia, I was wondering if you would be able to bring the emotion needed to Amy’s character.”

“You were?” Olivia asked with a little frown and tried not to feel offended. But then again, like her mother and aunt Myra, Madison wasn’t one to pull any punches. “Seriously? I studied theater at Cooper College and I was a barnie for years.”

“A Barney?” Noah asked. “You look more like a Fred.”

“Very funny. I was referring to performing in regional summer stock while school was out,” she explained and was proud that she kept from rolling her eyes. “The plays were originally performed in barns, so the actors were called barnies,” she continued in her best schoolteacher tone.

“Is there going to be a quiz at the end of this conversation?” Noah asked. “Because I haven’t been taking notes.”

“Wow, that’s a shocker,” Olivia shot back, but when he laughed she had a difficult time not laughing with him. She pressed her lips together and arched an eyebrow for good measure. “Lucky for you, no.”

“Phew.” When Noah swiped his hand across his forehead, Olivia could barely suppress her grin. Like all great athletes, he had a touch of arrogance, but she somehow got the impression that despite his success Noah Falcon didn’t take himself too seriously. She had to admire him for going after what he wanted in life instead of running scared like she always seemed to do.

Olivia suddenly thought of the box beneath her bed full of playbills, rave reviews, and acting offers left unaccepted for reasons she had recently begun not to regret exactly but at least to question. Chasing her dream would have meant leaving her father all alone, and she couldn’t stand the thought. But sometimes she wondered what it would have been like to give it a shot. She sighed and looked down at her feet.

“Hey, Olivia,” Madison said, “Cooper College has a well-respected fine arts curriculum. I’ve seen you in several local productions, so I know you’re a great actress, but still . . . you’re always so put together that I wondered if you had the fight in you to play Amy.” She fisted her upturned hands and shook them. “You do! Oh, this is fantastic! Thanks, Noah!”

“I guess all I needed was someone who could bring out the worst in me,” Olivia commented when Noah stood there looking so darned smug. She was glad neither of them knew what she was really thinking.

He tossed his head and laughed. “I’m more than happy to do my part.”

Olivia leaned one hip against the edge of the table and gave him a stern look. “I certainly hope so, because like we said, there’s a lot riding on this production. Its success means so much to this community, not to mention that Madison has written a gem of a play. You really do need to take this seriously, Noah.”

Olivia was expecting a flippant response but was surprised when his grin slipped and a shadow crossed his features. He looked at her for a long, silent moment, and she caught a glimpse of vulnerability that he was quick to mask. “I will,” he answered simply. “You have my word.”

Olivia felt a guilty pang wash over her. Had she really hurt his feelings? The thought disturbed her. “Noah . . .” she began, “I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t worry about it,” he interrupted. The cocky grin returned, but this time she wasn’t really buying his attitude. “Madison, it was a pleasure and an honor. I need to go and get settled in at the place I’m renting and then head to Myra’s for a cheeseburger. Call me when rehearsals begin.”

“I will,” Madison replied with a smile.

“Olivia.” Noah gave her a polite but somewhat distant nod that bothered her as well, but before she could think of anything more to say, he turned and walked out of the room.

“You can quit staring at the door. He’s gone,” Madison said.

Olivia abruptly turned to face her. “Okay, what just happened there? Do you have a clue?”

Madison nodded slowly. “Maybe . . .”

Olivia’s heart was pounding hard, but she inhaled a deep breath and attempted to appear calm. “So, are you going to enlighten me?”

Madison pressed her lips together and said, “No. This is something between you and Noah Falcon.”

“There isn’t anything between me and Noah Falcon but friction,” Olivia insisted. “Explosive chemistry?” She rolled her eyes. “Give me a break.”

“Explosive chemistry. Sexual tension,” Madison said with a slow shake of her curly head. “Call it what you want.” Her eyes danced with delight. “But you two have it in spades.”

“We do not! We are like . . . like oil and water, for goodness’ sakes.”

“Right . . . Wow, for someone who has always been a notorious matchmaker you sure are clueless when it comes to yourself, Olivia. Oh, and are you going to tell me about your past with Noah?”

“We don’t have a past,” Olivia sputtered but felt her cheeks grow warm.

“Really?” Madison untied the ribbon on the white box and opened the lid. “Coulda fooled me.” Unable not to, Olivia peeked over Madison’s shoulder. “Oh, cinnamon cake. One of your favorites, if I’m not mistaken?” She plucked a hunk of cinnamon crumble off the cake and popped it into her mouth. “So there’s no past? That’s not the vibe I was getting.”

Olivia plopped down on a folding chair and tossed back a swig of her chocolate milk as if it was something stronger. “Well, unless you consider nerdy-tutor-hot-athlete unrequited love a past.” She shook her head. “Classic.”

Madison sat up straighter. “So you were in love with Noah Falcon?”

She snorted. “Every girl at Cricket Creek High School was in love with Noah Falcon. It was a silly high school crush and . . .”

“And what?”

“Nothing! Can we change the subject?”

Madison laughed.

“What?”

“Girl, you need to loosen up and let your hair down.”

Olivia looked at her young friend for a long, thoughtful moment.

“I know . . . trite. Must be in the water tonight.”

Olivia narrowed her eyes and then tilted her head at Madison. Her heart pounded when she had a sudden lightbulb moment. “Yes, but you know what?”

“No, but judging by the look of wonder on your face, I’m about to find out. I don’t know if you could surprise me more than you already did today, but give it a go.”

“Madison, I’m sorry. I was rude.”

“A little. But you know me. I think it’s better to speak your mind, and you did get a lot of things out in the open.”

“You’re right.”

“I know. Look, I’m thrilled that Noah Falcon is here, but the last thing we need is a prima donna who thinks he simply needs to show up. You were right to call him out.”

“No, I mean about me.” Olivia reached back and started tugging the band from her bun. “Ouch,” she mumbled and pulled harder.

“Olivia, what in the world are you doing?”

“You are absolutely right,” she repeated firmly. “In fact, I couldn’t agree with you more and it’s about doggone time.” She tossed the band over her shoulder. “There!”

“Um, I meant letting your hair down figuratively?”

“I realize that.” Olivia raked her fingers through her hair and shook the long tresses free. “But this is a symbolic start to a new . . . me.” She smiled bravely, but her lips trembled slightly, ruining the effect.

“Oh, Olivia . . .” Madison stood up when Olivia’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “What’s going on with you?”

“I’m not sure,” Olivia answered more to herself than to Madison. “Hormones?” She gazed down at the floor for a moment, then back up at Madison.

Madison put her hands on Olivia’s shoulders. “Hey, I was only teasing about letting your hair down. I should learn to keep my big mouth shut. We could all learn from the exemplary manner in which you conduct yourself.”

“Yes, but pretty stuffy and boring.” Olivia sniffed, but then arched an eyebrow. “Except perhaps tonight,” she added in a small voice.

Madison grinned. “Well, yeah, no argument there,” she admitted and squeezed Olivia’s shoulders.

Olivia put her cool palms to her warm cheeks. “I poked the man in the chest! What was I thinking?”

“You weren’t thinking, Olivia. You were feeling.”

Olivia groaned. Was she ever!

“But, hey, for the record, I love this new spunk you’re suddenly showing!” Madison rose up on tiptoe and gave Olivia a hard hug. “And you know how much I value your friendship.”

“Thank you, Madison. I am so glad that you and your mother have moved back from Chicago,” she told her as she returned the hug.

Madison grinned. “I am too . . . but don’t tell my mother. It would take the fun out of complaining about missing the city all the time.”

Olivia laughed, but when she pulled back she glanced at the wall clock and suddenly remembered who was due to arrive any minute.

“Oh, no . . .” Madison commented. “I know that look. What’s going on, Olivia?”

“Promise me you’re not going to be angry about this thing I might have done.” Olivia held her thumb and index finger an inch apart and then mouthed, “Little thing.”

“Might have?” Madison took a step back and looked up at Olivia.

“Well, okay,
did.
But before you say anything just hear me out, okay?”

“You know me—but I’ll try.” Madison took a deep breath and blew it out. “Okay, lay it on me.”

“W
ell,” Olivia began, and when she paused Madison suddenly had an inkling of what she was going to tell her and she didn’t like it one bit.

“Oh, Olivia, please tell me that you didn’t hire Jason Craig to build the sets!”

“You said you’d listen,” Olivia accused in her patient teacher voice. She fisted her hands on her hips, but with her hair down, she looked younger, softer, and more appealing. Normally an observation such as this would make Madison smile, but she was pretty sure what was coming and so she narrowed her eyes instead.

“Well, did you?” Madison persisted.

“Now hear me out,” Olivia requested and tilted her head, causing her long brown hair to tumble forward, obscuring her eyes. For a second she seemed startled, as if she didn’t know what it was, and then she flipped it over her shoulder.

“You did!” Madison smacked her hands on her jeans so hard that it hurt. “How could you?”

“He was the low bidder, by far.”

“I don’t care! Jason Craig is
im-poss-i-ble
. I can’t work with that man and you know it. All we ever do at Aunt Myra’s diner is argue with one another.”

“The remodeling job he’s doing at the diner is topnotch, Madison.”

“There are other contractors.”

Olivia leaned forward. “He was low bidder and he does wonderful work. What was I supposed to do?”

“What I told you to do—and that was not to hire him.” Madison put her palms in the air and took a moment to wrestle with her emotions. “No, wait. Okay . . . you’re right. I’m being unprofessional. But you will have to deal with him, not me.”

“Agreed,” Olivia responded quickly.

“And this better not be one of your matchmaking schemes.”

Olivia pressed her lips together and tried to look totally innocent. “Why would you think that?”

“Because,” Madison replied, moving closer to the table, “you have that gleam in your eye.”

“I do not have a gleam in my eye. That’s absurd.”

“I have been observing people all my life and I know a gleam when I see one, Olivia. But you can simply forget it. Jason Craig and I are total opposites and can’t even be in the same room with each other without going toe to toe. You already tried this once. Whatever matchmaking radar you possess was and still is out of kilter with us.”

“My track record happens to be excellent, I’ll have you know.”

“Olivia! Give it up, okay?”

“Oh, all right,” she glumly conceded.

“Thank God for small favors!” Madison said, borrowing one of her aunt’s favorite lines. She took a deep breath and blew it out. “That being said, you are right. Jason does do excellent work. So if you just handle him, it will all be good.” She started picking up the paperwork and putting it in her shoulder bag. “I’ll just check in now and then and give my approval.” She zipped the bag shut and arched an eyebrow. “Or disapproval. Something he doesn’t like very much. The man had the nerve to call me bossy. Um, hello, I
am
his boss.” She lifted one shoulder. “Well, granted, the diner isn’t mine, but I am his boss in a roundabout way,” Madison admitted and then tried not to remember how the rough-around-the-edges Jason Craig could make her fume and yet melt at the same time. “Okay, I guess we’re out of here for now.”