‘Yes, I’ll meet you at Nico’s and yes, I’ll wait here for you,’ she said breathlessly, sinking down on a chair. ‘Whichever you prefer.’
‘You’re a nice, obliging sort, Padgett. Has anybody ever told you that before?’
‘Not lately,’ she said, thinking of Claire and the argument they’d just had. ‘How was your day?’
Cade sighed. ‘Long and dull. And yours?’
‘Short and dull,’ she laughed. ‘The weather put Jerry into a panic—I think he’s driving to Connecticut for the weekend—so he called things to a close a couple of hours ahead of time, which was just as well, because it took me forever to get home. I didn’t really do much after you left the studio this morning, anyway. Jerry spent a lot of time doing camera angles on Rima. She was purring like a cat with a dish of cream.’
‘Good old Rima. Well, at least you had an easy day.’
Shannon settled back against the pillows and smiled. ‘Am I supposed to gather from your tone that posing for People was difficult?’
Cade chuckled softly. ‘It was hell, Padgett. I’ll expect you to treat this old man very kindly tonight.’
‘Oh, I will, Mr. Morgan, sir. Milk toast, and tea.’
‘That’s not quite what I had in mind. I was thinking more of something soothing to the body and spirit. Dinner, then back to your apartment for some much needed rest.’
‘That’s what I’m doing right now,’ Shannon said primly. ‘Resting after a hard day’s work.’
Cade’s voice dropped to a husky whisper. ‘What are you wearing, Padgett? That blue teddy with the lace straps?’
Shannon looked down at her sweater-topped sweatsuit and her Mickey Mouse feet and grinned.
‘Nope. Try again.’
‘A black satin negligée?’
‘Uh-uh. Something even sexier.’
‘Don’t tell me—you’ve got your mouse feet on.’
‘Ah yes, Mr. Morgan. The feet that drive men wild.’
‘I can’t take much more of this,’ he growled. ‘I’ll be right over.’
‘Better bring your thermals,’ she said. ‘This place is as cold as Alana Dunbar’s heart. The heating system’s dead.’
Cade’s chuckle was soft and wicked. ‘I can be there in twenty minutes with a sure cure for chilblains.’
‘I thought you had to work late.’
‘There’s no sacrifice too great. Your health is my first concern.’
‘How noble,’ she laughed. ‘Well, how did it feel to be photographed by People? Even Rima was impressed.’
‘I don’t want to sound immodest, babe, but you forget, I was a People cover before. I won three Grammys two years ago.’
Shannon sighed. ‘That’s disgusting! Two covers in two years? For shame, Cade Morgan. How can you live with yourself?’
‘It’s not easy,’ he chuckled. ‘Listen, I’m going to have to go in a couple of minutes. Tell you what—meet me at Nico’s at eight. We’ll have an early dinner and then take in that Japanese movie in the Village.’
Shannon curled the telephone cord around her wrist. ‘I thought you wanted to do that tomorrow night.’
There was a brief pause and then Cade cleared his throat. ‘Bad news, sweetheart. I was going to tell you during dinner... I won’t be here tomorrow night.’
‘Won’t be here?’ she asked, swinging her feet to the floor. ‘What do you mean?’