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‘Terrific,’ she muttered. ‘Meaning what—or don’t I want to know?’
‘It means you look like the kind of woman a man can relax with. It means what you really want is to take your shoes off and walk along the sand with me. It means... ’
‘It means I really want that brownie, too,’ she laughed. ‘Especially if it’s got fudge icing.’
‘That is truly decadent,’ Cade declared solemnly, handing the cake to her.
She was groaning by the time they’d finished eating.
‘I’ll never be able to fit into any of my costumes tomorrow,’ she said as they padded barefoot through the sand. ‘Actually, I may not have anything to worry about. I could be out of a job by then.’
Cade took her hand and laced his fingers through hers.
‘Don’t be silly. Jerry was just pissed at how the day went. Tomorrow will be fine. You’ll see.’
‘I want it to be fine, Cade. That’s why I’ve got to get home and get to work. I admit, this was fun, but...’
‘Fun? Fun? Is that what you think this is, Miss Padgett?’ Cade swung to face her. ‘ This is a workshop exercise. Eli would approve.’
‘Sure,’ she said, smiling at him.
‘Do I detect a note of doubt in your voice? Eli encourages his students to get inside their characters, doesn’t he? Identify with them?’
‘Well, yes, but...’
‘So we’re identifying. I'm the old-fashioned sort, you see. I thought it would be a good idea if we got to know each other a little better before I take you to bed tomorrow. I tell you, this acting business is rough.’
Shannon laughed softly. ‘I see. So this is strictly a working day, hmm?’
‘No, not strictly,’ he said with a quick grin. ‘It’s also therapeutic. And it’s working—you just laughed for the first time all week.’
‘Well, why wouldn’t I? This is a nice place.’
‘Nice? White bread is nice, Padgett. Scrambled eggs are nice. A record that can’t quite make it to the top of the charts is nice.’
‘All right, it’s beautiful,’ she laughed. ‘Is that better?’
He grinned and squeezed her hand. ‘Damned right it’s beautiful. You had me worried there for a minute. Here I bring you all the way out to one of my favorite places in the world and... Hey, I’ve got a great idea! Did you ever build sand-castles when you were a kid?’
‘Sand-castles? Cade, we’ve got to get back.’
‘God, the woman is impossible! Just answer the question, Padgett. Did you ever build sand-castles?’
Shannon sighed and shook her head. ‘No,’ she said slowly. ‘I never did.’
Dropping to his knees, he pulled her down beside him. ‘I thought I had a disadvantaged childhood. Yours must have been worse.’
‘I grew up in Kansas,’ she said patiently, sitting back on her heels and watching him. ‘It’s a bit far from the beach.’
‘That’s right, I remember. With all those blushing female relatives. Well, where I come from, you learned to build sand-castles.’
‘It figures. What else would you do in California?’
He threw back his head and laughed. ‘California? I grew up in Newark, New Jersey. Right in the shadow of the Jersey Turnpike.’
‘But I read somewhere... Not true, huh?’
‘Not even close. But one summer my mother got me into a program for city kids and I spent a week at the New Jersey shore. The family that I stayed with had a house right on the beach. God, it was a terrific seven days! I learned to roast hot dogs over an open fire and swim... ’
