Sandra's Classics - The Bad Boys of Romance - Boxed Set

by Sandra Marton

  ‘Whatever you choose, Elena. I put myself in your hands.’

  ‘I can see why you like it here,’ Shannon murmured as they settled into the farthest booth. ‘They act as if the prodigal son’s returned!’

  ‘Nico and Elena bought this place about the same time I put the Marauders together. Elena’s half-convinced I’m their good-luck charm, although I keep telling her it’s the other way around. Thank you, Nico,’ he said as the old man brought them a bottle of retsina. ‘This is just what we need on such a cold, wet night.’

  ‘I think I’ll pass,’ Shannon said, watching as Cade poured the yellowish liquid.

  ‘It tastes better than it looks,’ he said. ‘Try some of mine.’

  She leaned forward obediently, sniffing at the glass he held out to her, and then she took a sip.

  ‘Paint thinner,’ she said, wrinkling her nose. ‘With a touch of licorice added so you can get it down.’

  Cade laughed. ‘It’s easy to tell you’ve led a sheltered life, Padgett. I’ll order some white wine.’

  ‘No, don’t, please. I have to confess—I’m starving, and anything I drink will go right to my head.’

  ‘That’s a tempting prospect. A foggy night and a beautiful woman, her head reeling from a bit too much to drink.’

  Shannon grinned.

  ‘I hate to ruin that little scene, Morgan, but when this woman has too much to drink, she tends to fall on her face. At least, that’s what they tell me.’

  ‘You mean you don’t remember? It’s bad enough to be drunk, but to be drunk and not remember is posi­tively sinful.’

  ‘I remember just enough to think it’s a miracle I lived,’ she said, smiling at him. ‘I was in my third year at college.’

  ‘Where?’

  Her smile broadened. ‘Kansas State,’ she said. ‘Where else?’

  ‘So, tell me the rest. You were in your junior year... ’

  ‘... and I hadn’t eaten anything for three days... ’

  ‘Three days without eating? What were you doing- trying out for a part in The Invisible Man?’

  ‘I was cramming for final exams,’ she said with dignity. ‘Do you really think I’d starve myself just for a part?’ Cade’s eyebrows arched and she smiled. ‘OK, so I would.’ She paused as Nico placed a platter on the table. ‘Umm, that smells wonderful. What is it?’

  ‘A little of this, a little of that,’ the old man said with a shrug. ‘Eat—but save room for the rest.’

  ‘You mean, there’s going to be more?’ Shannon asked Cade in disbelief.

  ‘I should have warned you. Elena never forgot the early days when I’d pack in a meal here in hopes it would hold me for a while. Try those little round things—the cheese pastries. And have some of the stuffed grape leaves, too.’ He watched while she took her first bite. ‘Good?’

  ‘Delicious.’

  ‘I’m glad. Now, tell me about Kansas. Do you miss it?’

  Shannon swallowed a mouthful and smiled wistfully. ‘Sometimes. But I get home for holidays—well, usually. I couldn’t make it last year—I was in an off-Broadway play—so my Dad packed up what looked like half the dinner my mother had cooked and shipped it to me Air Express. The cast and I feasted for days!’

  ‘Your folks sound like nice people.’

  She nodded. ‘They are.’ She looked down at the table and then back at him. ‘Do you want to know something funny?’ she asked softly. ‘I was a little concerned about... well, about this new part. I didn’t know how they’d feel, seeing me—I mean, seeing you and me…’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And,’ she said smiling, ‘my mother called to tell me they were proud of me. She said I was giving a great performance.’

  ‘Your mother and I agree completely.’.

  ‘She said it was an improvement over seeing me play a toadstool in first grade.’ Shannon laughed. ‘So much for the sheltered folks back in Kansas, hmm?’

  ‘Would you believe that the Marauders have never given a concert in Kansas? We gave one in Kansas City when we first started, but for some stupid reason, that’s in Missouri.’

  ‘You guys have been together a long time.’

  ‘An eternity. But we’ve been lucky. We like each other.’

  ‘What are the other Marauders doing while you’re on our soap? I can’t imagine the music business is any different from acting—you’ve got to keep busy or they forget your face.’

  ‘That’s the truth. But we’d been talking about dis­solving the band.’

  Shannon stared at him. ‘Dissolving it?’

  ‘You sound like our manager. And maybe “dissolving” is a bit strong. It isn’t as if we’d vanish. But we’re all ready to try our hands at other things. Jack and Phil have been talking about opening a club and Tommy’s into painting.’

  ‘And you decided to take a shot at acting?’

  Cade pushed his plate aside. ‘It wasn’t quite that simple, but I’d been thinking about it and thinking about it… So, when Jerry gave me a spot, I figured if I were ever going to try, the time to do it was while they still know my name out there.’ He smiled disarmingly. ‘It’s called capitalizing your assets.’

  She smiled in return. ‘Take the money and run, huh?’

  ‘Everything moves fast in this business. If something feels right, you’ve got to go for it. If I’ve learned nothing else in all these years, I’ve learned that much.’

  Shannon sat back as Nico set down fresh platters of food.

  ‘Elena says to please notice she’s sent over your favorite beer, Cade, although she thinks only a barbarian would drink Mexican beer with Greek food. Still, she says you are to enjoy your meal.’

  Shannon smiled as the old man shuffled off. ‘Elena and Nico really care about you. Thank you for bringing me here.’

  Suddenly, Cade reached across the table and put his hand over hers. ‘Does that mean you’re glad you let me talk you into having dinner with me?’

  Her eyes met his. How could she not tell him the truth?

  ‘Yes,’ she said softly. ‘I’m very glad. This has been one of the nicest days 1 can remember.’

  ‘Baklava, ’ Elena interrupted proudly, ‘brandy, and coffee. Have you ever had Greek coffee, young lady? No? Well, you will love it, I am sure.’

  Half an hour later, Shannon eased herself from the back of the Harley.

  ‘I may never eat again,’ she said solemnly. ‘I’ll bet I have trouble fitting into my sexy black Alana Dunbar funeral dress Monday.’

  ‘I wish you hadn’t reminded me,’ Cade groaned. ‘I’d almost forgotten that damned scene. We were going to run through it one last time.’

  ‘We still can. Would you like to come up for a cup of coffee? Plain, black American coffee, that is. No sugar, no brandy, no calories. How does that sound?’

  Surprise registered on Cade’s face. ‘It sounds wonderful.’

  Why had she done that? Shannon wondered. The in­vitation had surprised her as much as it had surprised him. For a second, she thought of rescinding it, but Cade had already chained the motorcycle and started towards her doorway.

  ‘Shannon?’ he called, and she smiled at him.

  ‘Coming,’ she said. ‘Just getting my breath for the long climb up.’

  And it was a long climb, seemingly longer than ever before, but then, she’d never made it with Cade behind her, watching as she trotted up the stairs, brushing against her on the narrow landings, even once reaching out and grasping her waist when she stumbled on a loose step.

  ‘I’m okay,’ she said, but she wasn’t. Her heart was tripping crazily, and she knew it had nothing to do with the effort of climbing the stairs.

  Once in the apartment, she hurried from lamp to lamp, turning on the lights as if to exorcise the darkness. Cade sat quietly in the living-room, watching her. She glanced at him and smiled nervously.

  ‘Coffee coming up,’ she said brightly. ‘I was only joking about the no sugar part. You can have it any way you like.’

/>   Those amazing eyes of his darkened.

  She swung away from him and headed towards the kitchen.

  ‘Coffee,’ she said brightly. ‘Not instant, like last time. ‘This is going to be the real thing.’

  ‘Yes, I hope so,’ he said, and she froze in her tracks.

  ‘Cade, look,’ she said tentatively, turning to face him, ‘maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.’

  ‘You promised me a rehearsal and a cup of coffee,’ he said easily. ‘Give me both and I’ll leave quietly.’

  A hesitant smile tilted at the corners of her mouth. ‘Promise?’

  ‘Scout’s honor,’ he said solemnly. ‘Trust me.’

  Hours later, Shannon tossed the script aside and put her hand to her throat.

  “Yes, Johnny, yes’ she said melodramatically. “Make me fly away, make me forget this awful place... Aaagh! I can’t. I can’t do it! I’d rather kill myself than say those lines.’

  ‘I know what you mean,’ Cade groaned. ‘I think I have brain rot.’

  ‘Do you think Jerry would accept that as an excuse Monday morning? “Look, Jerry,” we could say, “we spent Friday trying to breathe some life into this stupid thing, and guess what hap­pened? Our brains rotted out...” No, huh? How about we kidnap the writers and hold them for ransom?’

  ‘They’d just go to the asylum and hire new ones.’

  She sighed and lay her head back against the couch. ‘Isn’t that the truth?’ There was a companionable si­lence, and then she gave him a quiz­zical look. ‘Promise not to laugh?’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘I know it sounds crazy, but I'm hungry. Hey. You promised you wouldn’t laugh!’

  He wasn’t just laughing, he was guffawing.

  ‘I didn’t promise anything. What happened to you, swearing off food forever?’

  ‘Maybe brain rot affects the stomach. Tell the truth— wouldn’t you like something?’

  Cade grinned. ‘It’s a miracle you don’t weigh two hundred pounds.’

  ‘You can’t make me feel guilty, Morgan. It’s two a.m. and we’ve been at this for hours. That’s hard work, and hard work burns up lots of calories.’ Shannon got to her feet and stretched. ‘I can make us some sandwiches.’

  ‘There must be a Chinese take-out in the neighborhood. Or a fried chicken place.’

  ‘They’re all closed at this hour. How about some eggs? Do you like yours scrambled or fried?’

  ‘A Morgan Special sounds better,’ Cade said as he followed her into the kitchen. ‘Have you got any cheese? Mushrooms would be good, too.’

  ‘I’ve got something that used to be cheese,’ she said, peering into the depths of her almost empty refrigerator. ‘What’s a Morgan Special?’

  She turned as she asked the question.

  A quick flutter of panic caught in her throat.

  Cade had come up sound­lessly behind her; he was so close that she stumbled against him as she turned.

  His wool shirt still carried the pleasant scent of the sea, even though the ferry ride was hours past. There was a dark stubble on his jaw; she wondered suddenly what the rasp of his beard would feel like against her skin.

  Would it be like the touch of his guitar-roughened fingers that had almost driven her insane as they played over her skin during their love scene today?

  ‘On second thought,’ she said quickly, ‘maybe you’re right. I do eat too much. I had to lose weight before Jerry would sign me on.’

  His eyes flickered over her. ‘You look just about perfect to me.’

  Not to the camera,’ she said carefully, moving past him. ‘It makes everybody look heavier. Besides, I promised you coffee and a rehearsal, and we’ve had both.’

  ‘I wasn’t the one who mentioned something to eat. What’s the matter? Are you afraid to try a Morgan Special? ‘Trust me, Padgett. In the old day, I smuggled my electric skillet into more hotel rooms than you can shake a stick at. I’ll whip the eggs while you grate that cheese. I could use some bacon, if you’ve got it.’

  Trust him? She wasn’t even sure she trusted herself any more.

  Well, at least he hadn’t been joking about his cooking ability. His movements were deft as he worked in her tiny kitchen, frying the bacon and whipping the eggs to a froth.

  Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea at that. Cooking was hardly a romantic pastime; by the time they sat down to eat, surely the sudden tension she felt would have eased.

  ‘I don’t suppose you have any wine?’ Cade said as he crisped the bacon.

  ‘Just what’s left from that bottle you brought.’.

  He nodded his approval and took the proffered bottle from her, splashing some into two jelly glasses and then, with a disarming grin, pouring what remained into the beaten eggs.

  It was impossible not to return his smile. ‘That smells good,’ she said, after the eggs had set.

  ‘It is good,* he said, spooning up a bit and offering it to her. ‘Taste.’

  Shannon opened her mouth and Cade slipped the spoon between her lips.

  ‘Delicious,’ she said.

  ‘Thank you, ma’am. Careful there—don’t waste any.’ She laughed as he reached out and touched his finger to her lip. ‘You missed a bit of bacon…’

  And sud­denly the space between them became charged with elec­tricity.

  She saw the sudden darkening of his eyes, heard her own uneven breath, felt the rapid thud of her heart. Move away from him, she told herself, but her legs wouldn’t obey

  He touched his hand to her cheek. ‘Shannon...’

  ‘The toast,’ she said thickly.

  ‘Shannon, please...’

  ‘Don’t,’ she whispered.

  ‘I can read the truth in your eyes,’ he said, running his knuckles lightly along her jaw. ‘Why do you keep pretending?’

  ‘The toast is burning, Cade. Let me...’

  She thought that he wasn’t going to let her past him. His eyes were dark slits and a muscle tensed in his cheek. Then he nodded and dropped his hand to his side.

  She walked to the table and busied herself with buttering the toast and pouring the coffee, until at last she heard him begin to move around the room again.

  How was she going to get through this? The thought of food made her throat close. But she would eat, at least a little, just enough so Cade would ask her no questions, and they’d have a friendly cup of coffee and then he’d leave and she’d be safe.

  ‘The eggs look great,’ she said politely, sitting down opposite him.

  His smile was equally polite. ‘The coffee’s terrific.’

  Her hand trembled as she lifted a forkful of omelet. ‘This is... is very good,’ she said, amazed she’d been able to chew and swallow at all. ‘Would you like some toast?’.

  She lifted the plate and held it out to him. As he reached for it, their fingers touched and the plate slipped free and fell to the table.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said quickly. ‘That was clumsy of me.’

  ‘Shannon...’

  ‘I’ll wipe up those crumbs.’

  ‘Dammit,’ he said roughly. ‘You can’t keep running away—you’re going to have to deal with this sooner or later.’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she said, shoving back her chair and getting quickly to her feet.

  His hand shot out and caught hers as she tried to move past him.

  ‘Yes, you do,’ he growled. ‘You damned well do.’

  ‘Let go,’ she said stiffly.

  ‘You can’t keep pretending nothing’s happening,’ he said, his fingers wrapping tightly around her wrist. ‘You’ve got to face it sometime.’

  ‘You’d better leave, Cade,’ she said in a breathy voice. ‘We had such a nice day together—don’t ruin it.’

  ‘Do you feel safer in the make-believe world where emotions are always under control? Is that it?’

  ‘Just listen to you! I hate to spoil your dime-store psy­chology, but I also refuse to let what we do at work spill into real life.’
r />   His chair squealed in protest as he kicked it back. ‘What we feel for each other is real life,’ he said gruffly, pulling her towards him.

  ‘You’re confusing Johnny and Alana with us. I told you, it happens all the time—you just haven’t been around the theatre long enough to understand.’

  ‘Then kiss me,’ said Cade quickly. ‘Kiss me, and then tell me you feel nothing.’

  ‘That’s insane.’

  ‘What are you worried about, Padgett? You’ve been pretty smug about the way you’ve handled our love scenes.’

  ‘Cade, damn it...’

  The fingers encircling her wrist tightened as she tried to pull away from him, and the shadow of a smile touched his lips.

  ‘You’re right. I’m an amateur when it comes to the theater. Maybe what happened between us the first time I took you in my arms was a fluke. Maybe you were acting, even then. Hell, you accused me of auditioning for this part by kissing you. Maybe it’s the other way around. Maybe you used me to get Crawford to notice you and give you a bigger role.’

  ‘That’s the craziest thing I ever heard!’

  ‘The more I think about it, the more sense it makes. You were afraid Jerry was going to hand you your walking papers because you weren’t carrying your weight with Tony, and then I came along...’

  ‘I didn’t even know you were going to be on the show, ’ she sputtered. ‘Damn you, Cade, let go of me!’

  Cade cocked his head to the side. ‘Come on, Padgett. I may be new to the theater, but I’m not new to show business. Sure, you knew. There must have been a million rumors floating around. Yeah,’ he said, ‘yeah, it makes sense. You goaded me into kissing you and then you pretended that sudden burst of passion.’

  God, she thought, the audacity of the man! He was exactly what she’d thought he was the first time she’d laid eyes on him: six feet two inches of over-inflated celebrity.

  ‘Mr. Morgan,’ she said with icy precision, ‘I did not goad you into anything.’

  ‘You can admit the truth now, Padgett. You baited me, and then you pretended you felt something when I kissed you.’