His Fair Lady Read Online Free Page A

ears, as was Josie’s reply. Mark scrubbed a hand over his face as if just waking from a vivid dream. He felt hot all over and tugged at the zipper on his sweatshirt. It wasn’t hot in the theater; if anything, it was chilly. He must be getting sick.
    The outside door opened.
    Mark turned in time to see Vi’s smile of pleasure when she spotted him.
    Uh-oh.
    “Hey, Mark!” She bounced over to where he stood by the inner doors. “You came. That was so sweet. I didn’t expect you.”
    Yeah, right.
    “I needed to see Kierra about the audition spot.” It was only a small lie, since he had indeed seen Kierra albeit from a distance. He had also signed up on the fly and had an audition that very afternoon.
    Vi smiled, flashing dimples. “I’m so glad you decided to audition. It’ll be so much fun doing Henry and Eliza.”
    “If we get the parts.”
    “Who else would she give them to? You and I are the best singers they’ve got.”
    From what he’d just heard, Mark thought Vi had some competition for that title. Probably best not to say so.
    From the corner of his eye Mark spied Josie coming up the center aisle.
    “I think you’re up,” he said.
    She glanced into the theater, saw Josie, and her smile dimmed. She turned back to him. “Okay, well…”
    What was she waiting for? Then he knew. Their tradition.
    “Break a leg, Violet.” Mark leaned in and dropped a brief kiss at the corner of her mouth.
    In happier days, it would have been a lengthy and heated lip-lock. But these were not happier days, and besides, the girl he was hoping to get with stood only feet away watching the drama play out.
    That little peck was going to require some ‘splaining. As Vi entered the theater, Mark turned to Josie and smiled.
    “That was totally awesome. You have an incredible voice.”
    “Thanks. What are you doing here? I didn’t see your name on the list.”
    “I just signed up and had my audition this afternoon.”
    “Oh, I thought all the slots were filled.”
    “I missed the original sign-up, but Kierra’s doing me a favor.” Silently Mark congratulated himself on skillfully sidestepping the what-are-you-doing-here question. “So, how about that double espresso?”
    “Don’t you think it’s sort of, oh, I don’t know, wrong to kiss one girl, then turn around and ask another out for espresso?”
    “That was just a kiss for luck. Didn’t anybody ever kiss you for luck before an audition?”
    Josie shook her head.
    “So how about it?”
    She gaped at him, her eyes wide. “How about what?”
    “Coffee. What did you think I meant?”
    “Nothing. Never mind.” But she was blushing.
    Suddenly he knew exactly what she thought he meant, and he laughed. “You thought I meant how about a kiss.”
    “I did not.”
    “Did too.”
    “Did not.” The blush was spreading down her neck and into her hair.
    “Whatever you say. But you really should know that I wouldn’t mind kissing you.”
    “For luck.”
    “For luck,” he agreed.
    “But I already had my audition, so it’s too late.”
    “It’s never too late for a kiss.” Mark reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He was dying to get his hands on that hair, to plunge his fingers in and hold her still while he plundered that sexy, slightly sulky mouth.
    She must have seen something of his desire in his eyes, because she stepped back. “I have to go home.”
    “What about our coffee date?” Mark followed her to the door. But when she reached for it, he stepped in front of her and opened it.
    Outside, the clear night had turned ill-tempered and rainy. A chilly wind blew the fat drops sideways. They struck the brick path, the sound like frying bacon.
    “Holy crap, it’s pouring.” Mark let the door swing shut. He turned to Josie. “You’re going to get drenched. What dorm do you live in? Let me drive you home.”
    “I don’t live in a dorm. I have an apartment off campus. And you totally don’t have to drive me home. I can just