Page 44 of Hot to Trot

“It’s August and that’s insulting. I wore what I always wear to teach acting classes. Every inch of me was covered. In black."

He unclasped his hands and spread them apart. “Maybe something baggy.”

“A woman is not responsible for the male response. What I wear shouldn’t matter.” She rolled her eyes. “And no one was verbally out of line. It was just …their eyes. And even outside of the whole misogynist crap, they were uncooperative. They snorted every time I demonstrated what I wanted them to do."

"I know you might not want to hear this, but not very many people are open to acting classes, especially gang members who've spent their whole lives putting on a tough face for the world. I don't know much about acting, but I do know you have to strip away who you are to create who the director wants you to become."

"True. I like to think I'm a blank slate awaiting direction, waiting to be swept up in the moment."

"That may be easy for you, but not for these guys. They're not very tuned in to their inner, emotional selves."

A niggling of an idea seized Scarlet. "You."

"Me?" Alarm appeared in his eyes. "What about me?"

"Will you come to my next class? All I have to do is show them a rugged, manly man going through the technique. Who is more macho than a guy with a gun strapped to his waist?" It would be perfect. She and Adam could start with a repetition exercise. If she could show her students how easy it was to bond and respond to a partner in the moment, they would be more apt to see acting as a serious discipline.

But Adam looked horrified.

"First of all, I don't wear my gun at my waist. It's not a fashion accessory. It's on my hip. And second, I'm not taking part in your class. I'm supervising you, making sure you don't violate the terms of probation-"

"I'm not." Scarlet stood, shoving her hands in her pockets. She paced as she worked through the idea. The students at Phoenix needed a role model, needed to see another man abandon his inhibitions and immerse himself in portraying afeeling. Not Rick. He was too close. But having Adam there would be perfect. He was as buttoned-up and conservative as a guy could get. Not nerdy. No, with that body and his sense of humor, he was way beyond geek chic. But his reserved demeanor held him apart. If a guy like Adam could stand up in front of everyone and engage in acting exercises, then anyone could. She stopped pacing and whirled around. "Say you'll do it. Not for me, but for those guys."

"'No. Use Rick. He's-what did you call it? macho. He's their leader. Much better to use him than-"

"I want you."

"You can't have me."

"Please."

"No."

What was wrong with him? "Are you chicken?"

He bristled. Men. Always the same. Double dog dare them and they jumped right into your hand, every time. She closed her hand to seal the deal. "I think you are. I think you're scared they will think you're soft if you do a simple acting exercise. You're afraid of getting in touch with your inner self. Typical man."

"I'm not afraid. I simply don't want to be there. Doing that." He stood and crossed his arms over his chest, concealing his badge. But Scarlet knew body language. He was defensive. Protecting himself. His tough guy image.

She smiled and tilted her head. "I see."

"What do you see?" He made a face.

"I see a man who has a chance to make a much-needed impression on guys who are scared and angry. Who hate police officers and see them in only one light. This is a chance for you to let them see the man beneath the uniform. To see you are more than the law. But you're afraid it will make you look weak. Vulnerable.”

His eyes narrowed.

"Don't worry," she said, shifting her gaze to the ceiling and sliding her tongue over her top lip in an “I’m thinking” gesture. "Maybe I can get Drake to come. He seems fully in sync with his emotions."

"Fine. I'll do it." The way he almost growled the words revealed more than he was probably comfortable with.

Yes.Scarlet clapped her hands. "Perfect."

"Anything else going on I should know about?"

Other than dreaming about sliding her hands over his chest and licking his neck? "Nothing else. I'm in bed by ten o'clock every night and I'm eating my veggies."

He smiled. Finally. Something about it warmed her to her recently polished toes.

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