“Get your mind out of the gutter. Friends! That’s what Jack and I are. Not that it’s any of your business, but Jack is falling for Gisele Nolan. But then, that’s understandable considering that she’s so beautiful.” Casey waved her hand. “Not that anything in Summer Hill interests a big movie star like you, but anyway, your friend is going to spend the summer here so he can play Bingley. And Gizzy will be Jane. Jack is going to live in your big, unused house, and I’m going to cook for him. It would have been perfect since I live close by, but now you’ve ruined everything. Can you drive?”
Tate’s eyebrows were high on his forehead as he gave a single nod.
She took the truck keys off the counter and tossed them to him. “Good. Get what’s left o
f the pies and put them in the truck, then drive us to the auditions. I don’t know why he’d want you, but Kit expects you to be there.”
Casey, still so angry she could hardly see, got into the passenger seat and slammed the door. When Tate got in beside her, she said, “I’d ride in the back but it’s illegal.” She looked out the windshield. “Please tell me that isn’t your shirt hanging from my roof!”
Tate bent forward to look up. His blue plaid shirt was still caught in the gutter, waving in the breeze. He got out, grabbed the tip of it, pulled it down, and got back into the truck.
Casey’s teeth were clamped together. “Were you in my bedroom?”
Tate was looking at his shirt. There was a big hole in the front. “Do you know how to sew on a button?”
That made Casey so angry her hands went into fists. She started to go after his throat, but what sounded like a child’s laughter stopped her. “What was that?”
“Emmie. She’s my six-year-old niece.” Tate put his arm across the seat, backed the truck up, and headed toward the big gate. “Emmie truly loves it when someone yells at me. Her mother—my sister—does it all the time.” He gave Casey the smile he used onscreen to make the heroine say she loved him. It was the one the fan mags said made women start removing their clothes.
But it did nothing for Casey. She glared at him. “You’re an egotistical jerk, and turn off your phone.”
She didn’t say another word all the way to the auditions.
When they got to the warehouse, Casey started to get out of the truck, but Tate pushed the button to lock her in. She didn’t look at him, just crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the front window.
“I want to say I’m sorry,” Tate said. “I never meant to invade your privacy. I was wrong to get angry at you this morning, and you are right. Even though I own the place, I should not run around in my birthday suit.”
Casey didn’t meet his eyes. His apology didn’t sound real. It was as though it had been scripted and rehearsed—and he was saying it all with a touch of humor. But worse was that his tone seemed smugly certain that she would immediately forgive him for whatever he’d done.
“I’m going to leave tomorrow.” He sounded sad. “I’m going back to L.A., where…well, I’m going home. Please remain in the house. If Jack stays here—”
She glared at him. “What do you mean? If Jack stays?”
Tate gave her a little smile. “I don’t want to disparage anyone. I’m sure the girl he’s attracted to is beautiful, but Jack has many obligations and people who depend on him.”
“Ooooooh,” Casey said. “Important people, who no doubt have barrels full of money. Jack can’t possibly stay in little Summer Hill, Virginia, and be in a tiny local production and—”
“That isn’t what I meant!” Tate said. “I just think that Jack won’t stay. His agent will call and he’ll—”
“Fly out on the next jet? For what? So he can spend more time with people like you? If you don’t unlock this door and let me out of here, I’m going to start screaming.”
Right then Josh came out of the building and Casey started pounding on the window.
Frowning, he came over, and as Josh touched the handle, Tate unlocked the door. “Everything all right here?”
“It is now.” Casey slid to the ground.
Josh was glaring at Tate as though trying to figure out what was going on.
“Hi, I’m—” Tate began.
“I know who you are,” Josh said. “Why was Casey hitting on the glass to get my attention? Did you lock her in the truck?”
“Josh!” Casey said. “The door stuck, just let it go. Besides, he’s leaving our town tomorrow. Help me with the pies, will you?”
It took Josh a moment, but he turned back to Casey. “Kit and I saved room for your berry custard.”
Casey gave a sound that was like a growl. “It’s gone. Every bit of it was eaten!” She took a breath. “What happened while I was away?”