Backstage (The Barter System Book 4) (24 page)

Laughing, Linn stood and walked around the table.  Placing her hand along the side of his face, she answered, “Excellent.  She’s at your brother’s house.  She sounds
blissful
and I bet you a hundred dollars she doesn’t leave.”

“I’m not taking that bet.  Isaiah’s been alone too long.”

“Once Kayla sets her mind to something, there’s no stopping her.  She loves him.”  She shrugged.  “I know the feeling.”

He rested his hand over hers on his cheek.  “You need to be at the theater by five.  That gives us a couple of hours before check out to show you how happy you’ve made me.”  He grinned. I’d like to use orgasms to demonstrate my point.”

“Not nearly enough time.  Let’s get started.” 

It was all the encouragement he needed. 

Epilogue

Entering the theater in a full out run ten minutes after rehearsals were due to begin, the Johannson sisters skidded to a halt in front of Theodora’s table.  They always made her laugh. 

“
Starving…
” was all Kayla managed.

“Food and a beverage of some sort that I can take with me,” Linn added.  “I beg of you.  I am
begging
.” 

She grinned.  “The two of you look like you’re glowing.  Any chance Isaiah and Ezra are responsible?” 
Please let them be the reason…

“They get
all the blame
.  We need to go to lunch this week and pump you for information.”  Mikayla wiggled her brows.  “We’re late or the interrogation would start right now.” 

“Go do your thing.”  She made a quick tray with snacks on it.  “Take this and when you take ten, stop by again for more.” 

Removing bottles of water from her mini-fridge, she winked.  “I’ll tell you every dirty detail you want to know.  Those boys have no secrets from me.”

Madeline mimed cheering and Mikayla knocked out a quick “cabbage patch” before they both dashed toward the stage. 

A few minutes later, Ezra appeared and started piling a plate with food.  “Don’t look at me.  Don’t judge me.  I need fuel.”

She held up her hands.  “No judgment here.  I imagine you need to keep your strength up.” 

Turning his head slowly, his face lit up in a grin.  “You saw Linn?” 

“I saw both of them.  May I say,
well done
?”  His laughter echoed around the backstage area and Theodora joined him.  “You look so happy.”

“This morning, I realized that I was as lonely as Isaiah and hadn’t realized it.  She changes everything.” 

“Eat, refuel, and let’s talk about your plans for the theater.”

“What do you mean?”

Folding her hands in front of her, Theodora smiled.  “We come from very small family units that consist of only children or one other sibling.  The twins’ immediate family consists of their parents and
six
kids.  From what I’ve heard, they’re all very close.”  Tilting her head, she asked, “Do you really think they plan to wait until opening night to see their daughters?  I can’t imagine it will be long before they show up…”

“Oh my
god
!  I hadn’t thought about their family!”  He moved to set his plate down and she stopped him.  “I don’t have time to
eat
at a time like this!  I have to talk to Isaiah!”

“Eat.  Isaiah will be here soon and you can panic together.  Keep me in the loop so I can make adjustments to the catering schedule.” 

A few minutes later, the older Zelder brother filled a plate in silence, a frown between his eyes, and she settled his mind. 

“Their family is going to love both of you.  I don’t think the fruit fell far from the tree with those girls.  Relax.” 

Inhaling carefully, he nodded.  “Thanks.” 

When there was a break in rehearsals, Madeline and Mikayla grabbed food and joined the brothers at a small table.  Huddled together, their conversation was fast and inaudible. 

Theodora knew that things around the theater were about to get interesting.  She welcomed
anything
to shake up her daily life.

* * * * *

Two days later…

When the brothers posed the question to their ladies about the possibility of their family visiting, they looked confused. 

Mikayla cheerfully replied, “Naturally, they’ll be here for our official opening night.  We’ve known that from the beginning.” 

“Mama can’t wait to hear every detail about our time in New York.  I bet they show up unannounced.”

Stunned, the brothers had stared at them in silence.  Isaiah turned to him and said, “That gives us very little time to get everything done.” 

“Get what done?  The theater is gorgeous!”  Linn nibbled on the flatbread pizza Theodora prepared. 

Pressing his fingers into his eyes, Ezra murmured, “We finished the public-facing remodel before you started rehearsals.  It didn’t include the areas of the building that patrons don’t usually see.” 

“We were taking our time with that part, doing a project here, a project there.  Now, we need to ramp things up.”  Isaiah took a long swig of water.  “I need to hire more guys for the grunt work.  I’ll look into that today.  They can do tear-downs and paint.” 

“Wait,” Mikayla interjected in confusion, “you’re planning to remodel the entire backstage area of the theater…because of our parents?  Why would you do that?”

The brothers said together, “First impressions are important.” 

They kissed their fiancées and got to work. 

Isaiah pushed his crew of men and the temporary construction guys to organize all the backrooms of the theater.  Every space was freshly painted, the bathrooms updated, and he installed new lighting fixtures four days in and felt as though he’d accomplished nothing. 

Ezra ordered new furniture for his office and sadly watched his battered and bruised desk as it was hauled away.  He knew he’d have to break in the
new
one with Madeline the first chance they found.

They had ten days left to finish the work before opening night and the sisters tortured them for fun.  The end of the charity shows gave them extra hours in the evenings to work.

The women sat where they could see the changes taking place.  Every time one of them passed, one or the other would reach out to touch their man. 

Finally, Isaiah couldn’t take it anymore.  Setting down the roll of carpet padding he carried, he straightened and stepped between Kayla’s legs. 

“You are, without a doubt, going to kill me.  I’m begging for mercy.  You can love on me when we get home, I’ll do anything you want, but right now, I have to focus.  Every time you grab my ass, my focus is on nothing but you.” 

“Do you feel objectified?” she asked him innocently. 

“Hardly.  My dick is like a homing pigeon and
you are home
.  Let me finish and I’ll thank you later.”  Isaiah punctuated his words with a kiss. 

Pulling back to look at him, Kayla ran her fingertips along his jaw.  “It’s just that I want to touch you all the time.  If you weren’t so tempting, I wouldn’t grope you.”  Then she stuck a Tootsie Pop in her mouth and sucked meaningfully.  “I’ll be good.  Cross my heart.”

Madeline stroked her hands over Ezra’s face.  “I’m not sure if you can accomplish a remodel in so little time…but I’m rooting for you.”  She winked.  “I got that thing I ordered in the mail this morning.”

“You’re a wicked woman, Miss Johannson.” 

She held up her left hand and winked.  “There will come a day you won’t be able to call me that unless I’m in trouble.  Then you can punish me.” 

“I’m crying uncle.  Keep it up and I’ll take you to my office.”

He stared at the symbol of what she would soon be to him on her hand.  It was a simple white gold ring sporting three small diamonds.  He’d tried to talk her into something bigger without success.  His fiancée didn’t know the ring she wore was a placeholder because she’d kill him when she saw the upgrades to the wedding set he ordered.

Mikayla’s ring was even simpler.  It was a plain white gold band with vines engraved on it.  No stone at all.  Isaiah planned to give her a family heirloom set the day they were married that would look stunning on her.  He knew once it was placed there, she’d never consider taking it off.

The sisters’ tastes were understated but the Zelders planned to spoil them rotten anyway.  They’d have to get used to it. 

“Behave.  Let me work and we’ll play later.”  With that, he kissed her on her lips and stepped away.

* * * * *

The brothers lifted their supplies and joined their crews in the backstage area.  Moments later, the twins heard banging and sawing.

“We just got our men all worked up and sent them to work with
power tools
.  They’re so nervous.  No matter what I say, Ezra doesn’t believe Mama and Dad aren’t going to expect perfection.” 

It was Wednesday, the only day they didn’t do rehearsals.   

Kayla asked, “Did you get settled in your new office?” 

Sighing happily, Madeline thought about the bright and beautiful space Ezra had given her to work.  “I love it more than I can tell you.” 

The brothers lived in brownstones that backed up to one another with a shared garden and privacy fence in between.  The property had been in their family for almost a hundred years. 

Within days of the first show, the brothers packed up their apartment and moved them into homes they’d only seen in movies.  The sisters raced back and forth between the homes a dozen times a day. 

The moment they felt confident Madeline and Mikayla were settled in and needed nothing, they went to work on the theater.  Quickies in the office, the back loading bay, the dressing rooms, and even the catwalk had been the only way either of the Johannson girls had to get naughty with their new fiancés. 

Mikayla started to ask her sister a question when a familiar voice yelled from the lobby, “Where are the two
prettiest
girls I know?” 

Mikayla and Madeline jumped off the stage and charged up the aisle.  At the same time, they yelled, “Mama!” 

“Y’all better hurry!  These hugs expire in ten, nine, eight…”

They cleared the double doors and ran straight into their mother’s arms, hugging her fiercely.  The woman who had always been their ideal example of femininity stroked their hair and kissed their foreheads. 

“How pretty you are.”

“We look just like you so we must be beautiful.”  Madeline blinked back the tears in her eyes as she repeated the phrase she and Kayla had uttered in answer to such compliments all their life. 

Roughly pulled away from their mom, they were spun back to back and crushed between three brothers talking at once. 

“Damn, where’re your cowboy boots?”

“Where are these fellas we’ve heard so much about?”

“Can’t wait to shake the hands of the men willin’ to take y’all on!”

Their father leaned against the ticket booth with a grin.  They walked to him and he pulled them in a strong hug, hard enough to hurt. 

“Hey, Daddy,” the sisters said together.

“My little matched set.  Y’all look prettier than I remember.  How’s that possible?”  He shook them roughly and loudly kissed their cheeks.

Kayla laughed.  “Love makes it possible, Dad.”

He smiled and nodded. “That sounds about right.  For more’n thirty years, my Becky gets more beautiful every day.  I’d like to meet the men y’all keep calling to gab about with your mama.”

The Zelder brothers appeared in the doorway leading to the main auditorium and the sisters each moved to stand by her man’s side.  The twins knew they’d probably gotten word of their family’s arrival from one of the workers. 

Isaiah wrapped his arm around Kayla’s shoulders.  “I’m Isaiah Zelder and this is my brother Ezra.  It’s our pleasure to meet you.”

The older woman fanned her face.  “Lord above, aren’t y’all gorgeous?  I’m Rebeccah but you can call me Becky.  This is my husband Ivan and our sons Reynold, Kiefer, and Vince.  Vince’s twin, William, couldn’t leave his wife.  She’s due to deliver any day now and not allowed to fly.” 

She stepped forward and took a hand from each man in her own small ones.  “They sure did you justice.  I’ve never heard so many adjectives used in one conversation.”  Madeline handed her a Kleenex. “Thank you, honey.  I’m just so happy.”  Then she blotted her eyes.

Kayla grinned.  “Mama gets emotional during happy occasions.”

Their dad took the measure of the men in front of him.  It was something he’d done with every boy they dated as teenagers.  The Zelders were the first men ever introduced to a man with high standards for his daughters.

“You got the look of men who ain’t afraid of hard work.”

“We intended to shower and put on clean clothes before you got here, sir.  We thought you were coming in this weekend.” Ezra’s voice was careful and both brothers were uncertain of their reception.

“Ha!  We like to sneak up on the kids now and then.  It keeps ‘em honest.”  He winked.  “That’s a parentin’ trick y’all might use one day.  As for how you’re dressed, I respect men who know how to break a sweat.  Call me Ivan.”  He rolled up his sleeves.  “We’ll chip in and help with whatever you’re workin’ on.  I’ve always wanted to get a look at the inner workin’s of a place like this.  I got questions.” 

Isaiah and Ezra nodded with huge grins.

Kiefer shook hands and stripped off his shirt, ready to get to work.  “I hope y’all got pretty girls around here.  I’d like to show a city woman why cowboys are the way to go.”  He winked and everyone laughed.

Madeline rolled her eyes. “Kiefer is our confirmed bachelor.  Fast cars, fast women, blah blah blah.  I can’t wait until a love bug jumps up and bites him on the ass.  I’ll have popcorn, ready for the show.”  Her sister nodded in agreement.

Reynold walked closer, jerking his chin at Isaiah’s scar. “Wire?”  Isaiah nodded.  “Hurt like a motherfucker, didn’t it?” 

Isaiah gave him a grim smile. “Like nothing I’ve ever felt in my life.”

Reynold pulled off his shirt and lifted his undershirt.  Isaiah groaned.  “This one’s mine.”  He shrugged.  “It might not be pretty but the chicks seem to like it.”