last few words and then chuckled. For the first time in his life, he finally understood what it was like to not be able to live without a woman. The words to “If Ever I Would Leave You” flitted through his mind, bringing a smile.
The door to the ladies’ room swung wide and Eula Mae stepped through. Then Lucy Cramden, wearing a lime-green T-shirt about three sizes too small. Then Annabelle, eating a kolache that she pulled from her oversize purse. Then Blossom, fussing with her hair. Then Caroline, offering him a motherly smile. Then, finally, the woman he’d been waiting for.
Amy.
She looked his way and sighed.
“Our star is ready for her close-up, Mr. DeMille.” Eula Mae pushed Amy his way. Then she took Annabelle and Blossom by the arm and led them in the opposite direction. The crowd cleared and Steve found himself alone with the fair maiden. Well, the fair maiden with the look of terror on her face.
“So…” He stifled a grin. “Anything I need to know?”
“Just one thing.” She reached over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “If anyone ever accuses me of being faint of heart, defend me, okay?”
“Of course.”
“Honestly, this is the bravest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Braver than owning up to the fact that we’re more than friends?” He glanced around to make sure no one was looking and then kissed the tip of her nose.
Amy paled. “It’s just so terrifying to think that I’ll have to stand up on a stage and sing my heart out in front of hundreds—no, thousands—of people.”
“Let me understand this.” Steve crossed his arms and looked into her eyes. “You’re perfectly willing for me to stand up in front of thousands.”
“Well, that’s different. You’ve sung in church before.”
“But these will be total strangers who are paying to see the show.”
“Oh, Steve.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “What have I done? Seriously? This is going to turn out to be the dumbest idea I ever had.”
“Doubtful.”
When he grinned, she slugged him. “Thanks a lot.”
“Hey, now. I’m not saying it’s a dumb idea. Just the opposite, in fact. And you’ll do fine, Amy.”
“As actor or director?”
“Both.” His gaze narrowed. “Only one problem I can see.”
“What’s that?”
“When I kiss you, am I kissing Amy the director, Amy the actress, or Guinevere—the woman who’s going to eventually break Arthur’s heart?”
“Ugh.” She shook her head. “Let’s just say you’re kissing Amy, the girl who’s been nuts about you since the seventh grade.”
“Seventh grade, eh?” He chuckled. “That’s really saying something. I had acne and skinny legs in seventh grade.”
“You still have skinny legs,” she said. “But who’s looking?”
“Obviously you are.” He kissed her soundly then wrapped her in a loving embrace. As she lingered in his arms, his heart swelled with joy. Steve suddenly felt like the king of the world. And with Lady Guinevere in his arms, he felt sure he could conquer any foe.
Chapter Eight
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
W ILLIAM S HAKESPEARE
Less than one week after auditions for the play, Steve rode to Knoxville with Amy’s father. He prayed they would make it to the building supply store by noon to make their purchases so that they could load up the truck and be back in Camelot in time for their first rehearsal at the Civic Center. The afternoon was sure to be chaotic.
From the passenger seat in Charlie Hart’s truck, Steve observed the cloudless sky. “It’s supposed to storm this afternoon, so I hope we make it back without any trouble.”
“We will.” Charlie quirked a brow and picked up the pace.
“Praying it passes over quickly,” Steve added. “With all the men coming on Saturday to start working on the new theater, we’ll need clear skies.”
“Yep.” Charlie nodded but kept his gaze on the road. “I’ve already checked the weather report for
The door to the ladies’ room swung wide and Eula Mae stepped through. Then Lucy Cramden, wearing a lime-green T-shirt about three sizes too small. Then Annabelle, eating a kolache that she pulled from her oversize purse. Then Blossom, fussing with her hair. Then Caroline, offering him a motherly smile. Then, finally, the woman he’d been waiting for.
Amy.
She looked his way and sighed.
“Our star is ready for her close-up, Mr. DeMille.” Eula Mae pushed Amy his way. Then she took Annabelle and Blossom by the arm and led them in the opposite direction. The crowd cleared and Steve found himself alone with the fair maiden. Well, the fair maiden with the look of terror on her face.
“So…” He stifled a grin. “Anything I need to know?”
“Just one thing.” She reached over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “If anyone ever accuses me of being faint of heart, defend me, okay?”
“Of course.”
“Honestly, this is the bravest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Braver than owning up to the fact that we’re more than friends?” He glanced around to make sure no one was looking and then kissed the tip of her nose.
Amy paled. “It’s just so terrifying to think that I’ll have to stand up on a stage and sing my heart out in front of hundreds—no, thousands—of people.”
“Let me understand this.” Steve crossed his arms and looked into her eyes. “You’re perfectly willing for me to stand up in front of thousands.”
“Well, that’s different. You’ve sung in church before.”
“But these will be total strangers who are paying to see the show.”
“Oh, Steve.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “What have I done? Seriously? This is going to turn out to be the dumbest idea I ever had.”
“Doubtful.”
When he grinned, she slugged him. “Thanks a lot.”
“Hey, now. I’m not saying it’s a dumb idea. Just the opposite, in fact. And you’ll do fine, Amy.”
“As actor or director?”
“Both.” His gaze narrowed. “Only one problem I can see.”
“What’s that?”
“When I kiss you, am I kissing Amy the director, Amy the actress, or Guinevere—the woman who’s going to eventually break Arthur’s heart?”
“Ugh.” She shook her head. “Let’s just say you’re kissing Amy, the girl who’s been nuts about you since the seventh grade.”
“Seventh grade, eh?” He chuckled. “That’s really saying something. I had acne and skinny legs in seventh grade.”
“You still have skinny legs,” she said. “But who’s looking?”
“Obviously you are.” He kissed her soundly then wrapped her in a loving embrace. As she lingered in his arms, his heart swelled with joy. Steve suddenly felt like the king of the world. And with Lady Guinevere in his arms, he felt sure he could conquer any foe.
Chapter Eight
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
W ILLIAM S HAKESPEARE
Less than one week after auditions for the play, Steve rode to Knoxville with Amy’s father. He prayed they would make it to the building supply store by noon to make their purchases so that they could load up the truck and be back in Camelot in time for their first rehearsal at the Civic Center. The afternoon was sure to be chaotic.
From the passenger seat in Charlie Hart’s truck, Steve observed the cloudless sky. “It’s supposed to storm this afternoon, so I hope we make it back without any trouble.”
“We will.” Charlie quirked a brow and picked up the pace.
“Praying it passes over quickly,” Steve added. “With all the men coming on Saturday to start working on the new theater, we’ll need clear skies.”
“Yep.” Charlie nodded but kept his gaze on the road. “I’ve already checked the weather report for
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