“Casey again,” Tate mumbled. “You sure seem to have hit it off with all the women in this town.”
Jack looked at his friend. “Okay, so what’s the truth of why you’re hiding out here in your truck? There are half a dozen women inside waiting to audition for Elizabeth.”
“Did Kit tell them I’d be reading Darcy?”
“Of course not. If he did, you’d have to deal with every female in town. You should have seen the lineup to play Lydia, and all because the Wickham guy was okay-looking.”
“What about whoever is playing Darcy?”
“Rumor is that it will be a guy named Josh Hartman. He’s been building the sets, he’s six two, and he looks good in a bland sort of way. But the girls seem to like him. By the way, Kit told me your costume for the auditions arrived and it’s backstage in your dressing room.”
“What about Miss Over the Moon Pajamas? What’s she trying out for?”
Jack grinned. “She’s not auditioning, but then, in my opinion, she’s a contender for the world’s best cook. She used to run Christie’s in D.C.”
“Ni
ce place,” Tate said, “but she hates me.”
“Females don’t hate you.”
“She does. I, uh, well, I ate one of the pies she made to bring here.”
“Some berry custard thing? With a top crust like a flower? Everybody’s been saying it was missing. You didn’t steal a pie, did you? I mean, really?”
Tate rolled his eyes. “Not you too! Yeah, I stole that pie. And, yes, I ate the whole thing. With a spoon. A big spoon. But after what I did for her, I deserved it. But she didn’t even ask why I’d done it. She just assumed that I was doing something bad in her bedroom. It’s a wonder she didn’t call the sheriff.”
Tate stopped talking and glared out the window.
“Casey was only gone for a few minutes. What the hell did you do to her?”
“Me?!” Tate said. “She was the one who—” He broke off because he realized Jack was laughing at him. This was one of the reasons they were friends. Jack could laugh at anything, while Tate could always see past the surface.
“What are you going to do?” Jack asked. “Stay out here and watch your phone charge? From what I’ve seen of that man Kit, he’ll come out and drag you inside. Do you know what he did before he retired?”
“I have no idea. In the time we spent together, he didn’t reveal much about himself. He said we’re related through his mother’s family, but I’m not sure how. I know he visited Tattwell when he was a kid because he helped Nina. Why?”
“Just curious. From the way he walks, I think he’s ex-military.” He picked up Tate’s phone. “This is charged enough. You had a call from your sister, and Emmie sent you a photo of a peacock with its tail spread. What’s that about?”
Tate took his phone from Jack. “I had to wrestle one of the beasts this morning at Casey’s house and it almost won. Stay out of my messages. You ready to go in?”
“Think you can stand it? Want me to run inside and get you a piece of pie for energy?”
Groaning, Tate got out of the truck and they walked together to the front of the warehouse.
Jack halted. “Maybe Casey could make you a peacock stew. Are those things edible? Hey! How about some peacock PJs?”
Tate put his fists up like a boxer. “Maybe I should stay and be your trainer.” He made a double left jab at Jack’s face.
Jack easily ducked and sent a right cross to Tate’s stomach.
But Tate twisted to avoid it and hit out with a left uppercut, which also missed its mark. Jack countered, and they went back and forth.
“Halt!” came a powerful voice.
Both men dropped their hands and came to attention.
Kit was standing in front of the warehouse doors with a scowl on his face. “Inside. Now.” Turning, he went back into the building.