Page 89 of Hot to Trot

"L.A.?"

"I've got a read on Saturday."

"I thought the play was on Saturday."

"It is."

Rayne lifted her eyebrows. "Oh. Oh, I see."

No, she didn't see. This wasn't about the play. Well, it was. But it was more about Adam. She didn't want to leave in the middle of their beginning. Even though it wasn't really their beginning - they'd been circling each other for weeks. Itwasthe beginning of something really good for both of them.

And she knew what Rayne thought. That this was just another thing Scarlet has left unfinished. Unfortunately, it was true. And this time she would be leaving more than one thing unfinished.

She might be leaving her chance at love behind.

IF A DESIGNERWERE TO DESCRIBE Adam's small home on Hickory Street, they would use words likeblank slateorausterewhich was a nice way of saying undecorated. Everything was colorless and plain.

White siding. Black shutters. Black door. Beige carpet. Blue couch. No art, save what Scarlet thought might be an original Picasso, or a really good knockoff.

But there was nothing simple about the man pacing the carpet. "I don't understand why this guy can't wait. I thought movies took forever to get made."

From her perch on the couch, Scarlet spread her hands. "They do, but there are schedules and they’re already behind on production. They can't proceed without a complete cast. It's a huge budget with lots of moving parts and they’re jugglingthe primary actors' other commitments not to mention setting schedules at a multitude of locations. I could go on and on, but really, what it boils down to is I have to go."

He stopped, his green eyes flashing. "You couldn't if you were still serving your sentence."

"But I'm not."

He grimaced and resumed pacing. Several seconds ticked off on the clock hanging over the one armchair.

"Adam, I don't want to leave, but I have to do this.”

He stopped again. "Why? Why do youhaveto go to this audition? It's not a commitment you already have. It's one you want."

“Of course I do. A huge opportunity to elevate my career has landed in my lap. This is the opportunity I’ve been dreaming of."

He sank into the armchair. "But you already have a successful career. You're on a show that's generating tons of interest. Why do you need this other role?"

She sighed. "Look, I didn't pursue the feelings we had between us because of your career, because of your reputation. How can you ask me to toss aside the opportunity of a lifetime when you weren't willing to do the same for me? That's a double standard."

He looked at her flatly. ”Having a relationship with you would have been misconduct. Not a selfish need to elevate my career."

“Wait, you think I’m beingselfish?”

He looked alarmed, but didn’t seem to have the words needed.

She rose and took her turn at pacing. “Maybe I am being selfish. But I don’t think it’s selfish to reach for a dream. And I know this makes it tough on our potential relationship-"

“Potential?I thought we'd already embarked upon a relationship. Not just sex. Remember?” He inhaled and thenexhaled. “So what? You’re willing to toss all this away? For a job you don’t have yet?”

"I'm not tossing anything away. I simply have to take a shot.”

“How long will you be gone?”

"Not sure."

He leaned back. "I see. Well, that will be small comfort on cold, sleepless nights."

She wanted to feel his skin beneath her hand but didn't touch him. Had it been only last night she'd dozed in his arms, content as she'd ever been? She'd lay there, listening to the owl hoot and slapping at the occasional mosquito, fantasizing about a life she'd never known. A life with a man she could love, and who would love her back.

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