Tate sat where he was, his head back against the seat. He didn’t think he’d ever felt so unwelcome in his life. Ever since he’d started acting as a kid, people would stop and point excitedly when they saw him. “Aren’t you that boy on…” had been something he heard often.

From the time he was sixteen, he’d been greeted by squealing females.

When he’d been in the house with that peacock, in the back of his mind he’d thought how Miss Pajamas would forgive him for his earlier rudeness. But she hadn’t even given him a chance to explain. She certainly hadn’t acted like he’d thought she would!

He could almost hear his sister’s voice. “What did you expect, that she’d say, ‘Tate Landers ate my best pie! I am the luckiest person on earth!’ ”

Well, actually, maybe he had thought that. But then, maybe when he saw the peacock in her house he should have called animal protection. And he should have called Kit to come get him. He should have—

He ran his hand over his face. All in all, he did not want to go inside that old warehouse and face all those people. Was the entire town of Summer Hill made up of people like Miss Pajamas? When he got in there, would she have told them he’d eaten the pie everyone wanted?

He started the truck. Maybe he’d just drive directly to the airport and take the next flight out. Instead, he moved the truck to the far side of the parking lot and sat there with the motor running as his phone charged. When the passenger door was flung open, he wasn’t surprised.

“Why aren’t you answering your phone?” Jack got into the passenger side of the truck and closed the door.

“Dead battery.”

Jack was looking at his friend. “You’re scared, aren’t you? You’re so terrified of all those women that you’re afraid to go in there. But I don’t blame you. They’re an excitable lot. They made fools of themselves over the guy who’s playing Wickham. He’s good, but the last girl who read with him is better. She may be a young Meryl Streep.” Jack paused. “What’s really eating you?”

Tate gave a half smile. “ ‘Eating.’ Perfect word.” Turning, he leaned against the door. “What’s this about you and the girl playing Jane? From what I heard, it was love at first sight.”

“I bet Casey told you that.” Jack was grinning in a silly way.

“Casey?”

“Miss Pajamas? Remember her?”

“Oh, yeah,” Tate said. “I think maybe she carved a new spot in my brain just for her. But forget that. Who is this Jane?”

“She’s beautiful.” Jack’s eyes seemed to look far away.

“Of course she is. The town beauty queen. Won all the prizes. Best swimsuit. But is there anything else about her that you like—or have you noticed?”

“No beauty pageants. Her dad is the local Baptist minister. We haven’t stopped talking all morning. We tried out for the roles of Bingley and Jane and it was perfect. I really felt the lines!”

“I thought you were going home with me tomorrow.”

Jack gave a snort. “No, I’m staying here. Kit didn’t want to give me the role because he said I’d leave, but I swore I wouldn’t. I don’t have to be back until September.”

“What about your training? You can’t show up in the fall with a gut from eating entire berry pies for lunch.”

“Who does a stupid thing like that?” Jack said. “I’ve already talked to the producer and he’s sending a trainer here. He wasn’t happy about it, but I told him this was the way it was and that’s it. What about you?”

“I’m leaving at noon tomorrow and glad to go. Have you thought this through? You’re staying here because you’re hot for the preacher’s daughter, but what happens after you get her? These small-town girls aren’t usually happy with one-night stands or even summer affairs. They want to tie a man down with kids and complaints that you didn’t call them for a whole three days. They—”

“Maybe I want that!” Jack said. “Maybe I’m sick of going home to an empty house. Sick of girls who ask me if they can sign autographs because they’ve slept with me a couple of times. They want the man they see on the screen, not me.”

“What did this girl put in your drink?”

Anger flashed across Jack’s face, but then he laughed. “This town is like where I grew up, except that no one is singling me out for a parade. Anyway, my point is that I’m staying here for the summer. I’m going to be a regular person for as long as I can manage it. I guess I should ask if I can stay in your big empty house. Casey is going to cook for me.”

“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.”

“Nice 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.

“Yeah, military,” Tate whispered.

“Or dictator of a large country,” Jack said.

Tate nodded in agreement. It was possible.