Casey looked at Tate. “He showed up at dinner with his cousin and she liked the cousin better.”
“Ah,” Tate said. “The plot thickens. Maybe I can—”
He was cut off by the squeals of four girls who sprang out of the bushes. “You are here,” one said. “My mom auditioned to be Elizabeth.”
“And my sister did,” another said. “Is it true that you went to her dressing room and tried to French-kiss her but she told you no?”
“My cousin said you pushed her down on a sofa and tried to put your hand down her dress.”
Two men wearing tan uniforms came rushing forward. “Sorry, sir. They got past us. The fence will be up by tomorrow.”
The men took the arms of the girls and began to pull them away.
“Wait!” Tate got up and walked to them. “In the house, I have a whole box of DVDs of my last movie. Any of you want a copy?”
The girls started squealing and talking at the same time.
Tate looked over their heads, gave an apologetic shrug to Casey, then led the group toward the house.
Casey stood up, tried to gather her courage, and went down the path to the gazebo.
Kit was barking orders to Josh, who was on the roof of the gazebo, a hammer in his hand. “I want no leaks!” he yelled.
Josh was his usual smiling self. “Too bad, because I always leave holes in every roof I repair.”
“Smart-ass,” Kit said under his breath as he turned and saw Casey. “Did you finally get out of bed?”
“Wow! You’re in a bad mood.”
“That I am,” Kit said. “Rehearsals can’t be held in the theater because there are a dozen giggling girls waiting outside to get a glimpse of Tatton.”
Casey decided that now was not the time to tell him about Stacy. In fact, she was going to make her sister break the news to him. “Send Landers back to L.A. That’ll solve everything.”
“If he goes, then I’m stuck with your brother for Darcy, and he has the acting ability of that tool he’s holding.”
“I heard that!” Josh called.
“I meant for you to.” Kit was gazing at Casey with steely eyes. “You look like you have something you want to say to me.”
“No, not really.” She took a step backward. “I just wanted to say that we’ll all do our best to help out.” Kit’s eyes were boring into hers. “I’ll be around so, uh…” She turned on her heel and started to leave so quickly that she was almost running.
“Halt!”
“Damn,” she said quietly, then forced a smile as she looked back at Kit. “Need something?”
“Yes. When will Stacy be here?”
Casey could feel her entire back turning yellow—not just a cowardly stripe, but every inch going Technicolor. When—if—she lived through this, she was going to murder her sister. “S
he’s not, uh…” She gave Kit a little smile.
“Not what?” Kit bellowed so loud that all the workmen looked at them.
“Coming,” Casey said.
“Stacy isn’t going to show up?” Abruptly, Kit’s stormy face calmed, and he smiled. “She’s with Rowan, isn’t she?”
“I’ve been meaning to tell you what a great name I think that is. He sounds like a hero from the olden days. I think you should call her right this minute and let her tell you everything.” Casey was slowly walking backward. Yes, she was definitely going to annihilate her sister.