“The play is going well,” James Barrett said.
“I hear you’re getting rave reviews,” Sean said, remembering Marcus’s attempt to suck up to him yesterday.
“You’ve read them?” His father sounded surprised.
“No. One of my co-workers mentioned it.”
After an uncomfortable silence, James continued, “I’ll be here in New York until the end of the summer. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to go out to the house occasionally. The housekeeper will be there once a week but it would put my mind at ease if you kept an eye on the place.”
“I can do that,” Sean replied, running a hand through his hair. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Kayla had arrived on the set and immediately his pulse spiked.
“I assume you still have your key.”
“Somewhere,” Sean said absently, watching Kayla talk to their director, Bill. Her hair was pulled up into a loose ponytail and she wore a pair of sweats and a T-shirt that couldn’t disguise her curvy body. His gaze rested on her full breasts and he felt a pull in his groin.
“You sound distracted.”
“I’m at work.” He could hear the annoyance in his father’s tone and didn’t care. Sean braced himself for what was coming next. It was always the same.
“You’ve wasted ten years of your life on that dreadful show. Don’t you think it’s time you start taking your career seriously and admit that you’re staying there just to spite me?”
“I do take my career seriously.” Sean felt his temper rise but worked to keep it in check. “And I’m not on this show to spite you. Quit trying to control my life and my career.”
“I just think you can do better, Sean,” James said after several tense seconds.
Sean let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m tired of having this same conversation over and over. I’m not leaving the show. So get the hell over it.” He hung up, shoved the phone into the pocket of his jeans then let out a controlled breath before crossing the set. Forcing his father from his mind, he met Kayla’s dark eyes. She smiled at him as he halted next to Bill.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully.
“Morning.” Sean nodded, letting his gaze roam over her face. She wasn’t wearing a drop of make-up, yet she looked even more beautiful than she had at the photo shoot.
“Okay, guys,” Bill said, looking from Sean to Kayla. “The blocking for your scenes today is pretty simple. Kayla, you’ll be sitting on the bench. For the first part of the scene we’ll be replaying Shay’s break-up with Stefan. Later today, I’m going to have you do a short scene showing Shay taking a home pregnancy test. It will read positive. There won’t be any dialogue, just a reaction shot. It’ll run after we replay the break-up scene. Sean, Jared will come from around the gazebo. I want you to stop in front of it when you see her. Jared doesn’t know her. He’s seen her with Stefan but they’ve never spoken. But he’s concerned because she’s visibly upset. You’ll pause for several seconds and then go over to her. After your first two lines of dialogue I want you to sit next to her. We’ll do the rest of the scenes with the two of you sitting on the bench. Right now I don’t have any script changes.” Bill looked down at his clipboard. “Let’s do a run through before you go to hair and make-up.”
Sean pulled his script from the back pocket of his jeans. He’d memorized his lines and didn’t think he’d need it, but just in case he always kept it handy during the run through.
As Kayla moved to the bench Sean walked to a spot just beyond the gazebo. He watched as she sat down and set her coffee and her script next to her.
“Let’s do it,” Bill said, backing away from Kayla. “Sean, I’ll motion when I want you to enter the scene. Kayla, when we’re taping, the camera will be on you. Shay is upset. She’s just lost the man she loves and is pregnant with his baby. She has no one to turn to and nowhere to go. I want that pain and desperation evident on your face.”
Kayla grinned. “Not asking for much, are you?”
Bill laughed. “Just the moon and the stars, darlin’.”
Sean looked at Bill with astonishment. He didn’t remember Bill ever being so jovial before. What was up with that?
“Remember there’ll be clips playing for the viewers to see, but we’re going to edit you in. You’ll need to sustain what Shay’s feeling for about two minutes. On three, Kayla,” Bill said and then counted down.
The moment just before Bill counted to one the expression on Kayla’s face changed dramatically. Sean had never seen anything like it. One second she was smiling at Bill and the next her face was a mask of misery. Tears welled in her eyes and her body trembled. He watched—transfixed—as she became Shay and without a saying a single word was able to make him believe her heart was breaking.
After a minute or so had passed, Bill pointed at him. Sean moved forward slowly and then paused at his mark. Jared had just come from the cemetery visiting his wife’s grave. He was in pain. The moment Kayla noticed him she wiped her eyes and turned away quickly. She looked so distraught that Sean couldn’t help but do exactly what Jared was about to do. Try to help her.
“Are you okay?” he asked, moving toward the bench. “Is there anything I can do?”
“I’m fine.”
“Most people don’t cry when they’re fine.” He paused. “May I sit down?” She nodded and then looked away as if she were embarrassed to be caught crying. “I’ve seen you with Stefan Cabot. And you were at my wife’s funeral. Did you know her?”
She turned to him, her eyes still glistening with tears. “I met her at the hospital. I needed someone to talk to and she…she listened.” She wiped her cheeks. “I saw her a few times. The last time…” Her voice broke and a beat later she continued, “The last time she gave me some really good advice.”
“Rebecca was good at that.”
“I wish I’d taken that advice,” Kayla said. “You loved her a lot, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I did.” He turned away from her sympathetic eyes, feeling Jared’s pain.
“What you said…at her funeral.” She put her hand on his arm, her fingers warm and soft. An electric charge shot through his body. He swung his gaze back to hers as she said, “Your eulogy was so beautiful…so loving.”
“That was Rebecca. Beautiful and loving,” he said, blinking back the sudden moisture in his own eyes. “And that’s how I want her to be remembered.”
“She told me about you.” She gave him a tremulous smile.
“What did she say?”
“That you were the best man she’d ever known.” Kayla squeezed his arm. “Oh. And that she was the luckiest woman in the world.”
“I was the lucky one,” Sean whispered, so in the moment that his eyes were indeed welling up.
“There aren’t any words to make what you’re going through any easier, but I’m so very sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” he said, and reached up to wipe his eyes. He was tearing up in rehearsal. When was the last time that happened? “You were upset. Why?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She shook her head, sadness etched on her face.
“Maybe I can help.”
She withdrew her hand from his arm. “I don’t think so.”
“Try me. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”
“Yes, it can.” Her lower lip trembled. She bit it as fresh tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “I’m pregnant.”
“And cut.” Bill’s voice broke the silence. “Excellent work, you two.”
Still staring into Kayla’s eyes, Sean barely heard Bill’s words.
Son of a bitch.
She was good.
* * *
Still reeling from the emotional scenes she and Sean had just finished taping, Kayla stepped into her dressing room and closed the door behind her. She collapsed onto the cushions of the small sofa near the door and, leaning her head back, she closed her eyes and tried to shake off Shay McKade.
Until recently, she’d been able to comp
letely lose herself in whatever character she was playing. But somewhere during her two year relationship with Greg, she had lost that ability as well as great deal of confidence. Landing the role of Shay had given her hope that she wasn’t as untalented Greg believed she was.
Today with Sean she’d felt a connection. There was no denying it. The difference between Sean and Marcus Bertrand was astounding. Marcus was a lazy actor. He had a hard time remembering his lines and always seemed mentally absent from their scenes. The phrase “phoning it in” definitely applied to Marcus. The only time he was invested in their characters’ interaction was when they had a love scene.
Her eyes flew open when a light knock at her door startled her. “Kayla, it’s Sean. Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Kayla bolted upright, her heart pounding. “Come in,” she called out, brushing her hair away from her face. Sean opened the door and stepped inside. The room was small and his virile presence seemed to overwhelm it. He’d changed out of his character’s clothing into his own and had washed the stage make-up off his face. He closed the door behind him.
“Would you like to sit down?” she asked, then realized that would be a mistake.
The sofa was actually more of a love seat, and if he sat next to her he would practically be on top of her. Considering the effect his green eyes were having on her right now, being that close to him might cause her to do something extremely foolish.
“No. Thanks. I’m good.” Sean rested against the door and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Kayla couldn’t help but notice how the faded blue denim accentuated his muscular thighs. Idly, she wondered if he was a boxers or briefs kind of man. Probably briefs. In fact, she could almost picture his Calvins or BVD’s lovingly cupping his…
“Kayla.” The sound of her name cut through her wayward thoughts. She lifted her gaze to his and hoped he couldn’t read her mind.
“Sorry, I zoned out for a sec.” Her face was hot.
Good Lord, what the hell is going on? She was acting like she’d been without a man for years.
The corner of his mouth quirked in a half smile; Kayla could see why millions of women all over the country had voted him the sexiest male soap star in People magazine. That smile, along with his stunning eyes, would tempt any woman to drop her panties.
“I wanted to talk to you about Jared and Shay,” Sean said, seemingly unaware of the affect he was having on her.
“Jared and Shay? What about them?”
“The scenes we taped today make it pretty obvious that Ken has decided to put them together.”
“You think so?”
“Don’t you?”
Kayla leaned back against the sofa. “Truthfully, I thought my days on the show were numbered. But this morning Amanda told me she’s pretty sure I’m your new love interest.” Pausing at the flicker of amusement in his eyes, she corrected herself. “I mean Shay is Jared’s new love interest. Amanda mentioned something about a chem test.”
“It was,” Sean said, “and when I first read the scenes I wasn’t happy about it.”
That bothered her. “May I ask why?” Was there another actress on the show he’d rather work with? Did Sean, like Greg, think she was a mediocre actress?
“Because Jared has just lost the love of his life,” Sean said. “I’ve been playing this guy for almost ten years. I know him. He wouldn’t bury his wife and then hook up with another woman so quickly.”
“It would also anger the fans who watched Jared and Rebecca fall in love.”
“Exactly. But the fans wouldn’t have any trouble believing that Jared would help Shay. That’s the kind of character he is.” Sean paused. His gaze shifted above her head, to where she’d hung a portrait of her family taken during the Christmas holidays. “So the other day I talked to Ken,” he said, looking back at her.
“You did?” Kayla asked, amazed at his boldness. “I’m afraid to talk to him. I hear he gets really ticked off if the actors try to talk to him about their storylines.”
Sean gave her a lazy smile and shrugged. “He does. He definitely didn’t appreciate me putting in my two cents, but I think I got my point across.”
Kayla tilted her head, curious. “And that was?”
“I’ve noticed in the last year or so that the writers have gotten into the habit of rushing things.”
“I know what you mean. Shay wasn’t even in town a week before she and Stefan were hitting the sheets.” She hadn’t been happy about it, but she was new to the show and thrilled to get the part, so she’d kept her thoughts to herself.
“When I read the scenes, I had a pretty good idea where the writers were going. And when I talked to Ken he pretty much confirmed it.”
“Okay, I’m curious,” Kayla said, leaning forward. “Where are the writers going with Jared and Shay?”
“Jared and Shay are strangers. They’re both dealing with the loss of the people they love. Jared is grieving for Rebecca, and Shay has been dumped by Stefan only to find out she’s pregnant with his baby. Jared believes he’ll never fall in love again so he offers to help Shay. He takes her in and tells her he’s willing to be a father to her child.”
Kayla frowned. “Is that really believable?”
Sean let out a short laugh. “Kayla, it’s a soap.”
“Right.” Kayla chuckled. “I forgot for a minute. Okay, so even though Shay moves in with Jared she’s still in love with Stefan. But then Jared and Shay start to have feelings for each other, right?”
“Now you’re catching on,” Sean said with a grin. “What I told Ken was that it shouldn’t happen overnight.”
“I agree,” Kayla said. Sean’s eyes lowered briefly to her chest and suddenly she remembered she was still wearing her character’s wardrobe. Reaching up, she tugged at the neckline with her fingers so it wasn’t so revealing. “My mom is always complaining about how fast the characters hop into bed these days. She says the best part is watching a couple fall in love.” Kayla’s pulse sped up as Sean lifted his gaze to hers. “She loves soaps,” she added to fill the lengthy silence that fell between them.
“Your mom is right,” Sean said as he moved to the sofa. He sat down next to her, his knee brushing hers. The contact was casual but it caused goosebumps to rise on her skin.
Just as she’d thought, the sofa was far too small. He seemed to realize it too and shifted his body away from hers as he continued. “Not only have Jared and Shay been through a lot, but it would insult the audience’s intelligence if they fell madly in love in just a month or two. Plus, Shay is still a new character. The audience needs to connect with her. To get to know her as a character in her own right, and not just as the woman who had an affair with Stefan.”
Kayla was impressed with Sean’s ability to see the big picture. She certainly hadn’t seen it. But then Sean had been on the show for ten years. If anyone would know the intricacies of the storylines, he would.
“Kayla, I think this could be a story the audience could really buy into—” he paused, “—if it’s not rushed. And after today I have no doubt Ken will go ahead with it.”
“What do you mean, after today?”
Sean’s genial expression turned serious. “I’m going to be honest with you. Before you were cast on the show, I’d never heard of you. And since you’ve been here, we’ve only been in a couple of ensemble scenes together. I had no idea if you could act or if you were hired because of your looks.”
“So what’s the verdict?” Kayla asked. “Can I act, or am I just a bimbo who got hired because I look good in lingerie?”
“Is that a trick question?” Sean grinned. “Because I’m pretty sure you look good in lingerie.”
“Just answer the question,” she said, almost afraid to hear his answer.
Sean’s grin faded. “Are you telling me you didn’t feel it?”
“Feel what?”
“They don’t call it a chemistry test for nothing. Not all actors have it. But we do. You heard Bill. He couldn’t
stop raving about our scenes today.”
Kayla was speechless. And surprised. Until now she didn’t have a clue if Sean had felt the same connection she’d felt between them. Obviously, he did.
“Kayla, I’ve been doing this a long time. Ken’s going to look at those scenes and see the same thing Bill saw.”
Kayla swallowed the sudden lump that seemed to be lodged in her throat. “What did he see?”
“What all of America will see when those scenes air in a few weeks,” Sean said with a confident grin. “Magic.”
Chapter Four
Jared: I’ve been giving the situation a lot of thought. I think we should get married.
Shay: Are you delusional?
Sitting on his surfboard in the chilly water off of Huntington Beach, Sean watched his best friend paddle toward him. Lying flat on his board, Matt used his powerful arms to cleave into the gray water of the Pacific Ocean. After he’d glided past Sean and maneuvered around to face the shore, Matt pushed himself up and straddled his board.
“The waves are pretty mild today,” Matt commented. Sean stared at the beach front stores just across the Pacific Coast Highway. Huntington Beach, as always, bustled with people. Although the sun would be setting soon, the mid spring day had been warm. The ocean—not so much. “There’s not a lot of daylight left. I wish I’d been able to get here earlier,” Matt added when Sean didn’t reply.
“I’m surprised you’re here at all.” Sean looked at his friend. “I thought you weren’t supposed to participate in any dangerous sports during the season.”
“Surfing isn’t dangerous,” Matt grumbled. “Shit, we’ve been riding waves since we were kids. And besides, what the suits don’t know won’t hurt them.”
“I listened to the game on the way over this morning,” Sean said, not sure if he should bring up the free-for-all Matt had started by going after the Padres’ star pitcher after being hit by a wild pitch.
“So I guess you know I got tossed.” Matt grinned as if being ejected from the game was a good thing. Two years ago Matt wouldn’t have batted an eye over a getting hit by a pitch. He’d take his base and hope that the pitcher’s mistake would result in the Dodgers scoring a run. But now he seemed almost proud of his bad boy reputation. Sean was worried that his friend’s behavior was going to cost him his career.
Love in the Afternoon Page 4