Page 68 of One Kind Hand

“Not if it keeps him from his work,” Cody said.

“Work, work, work.” Cassandra shook her head. “Life is about more than that, Cody. Sometimes it’s about eating Styx Cake on your birthday with friends.” She shot Austin a small smile. “After you’ve apologized for slapping them of course.”

“Slapping? What slapping?” Cody asked.

Austin filled him in on Chad’s little prank, happy to be talking about something besides being late this morning. As expected, Cody was ready to investigate.

He lifted his phone. “I’m calling Chad’s agent right now. Vicki better not have been a part of this or she’s off my Christmas card list.” Cody stalked away, grumbling and barking at people he passed.

“Why is he around so much?” Cassandra asked as she and Austin watched Cody leave. “My agent doesn’t hang with me on movie sets. She gets me roles then disappears to work with her other clients.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a nice, normal agent-actor relationship.” Austin puffed out a breath as he adjusted the knife belted to his thigh. “Cody likes to work on the go. He says he doesn’t need an actual office because the world is his office. He does have other clients, but he can manage them remotely and chooses to hang out with me because we’re friends. It’s nice having someone to travel with.”

“Accept when he’s ragging on you for being late.”

“Accept that. Yeah.” Austin took the gun holster from the props guy and slipped it on. “I can’t blame him for getting bent out of shape though. I’m never late. I don’t know what happened this morning.”

“Sure you do.” Cassandra jostled him by the shoulder. “You had a gorgeous woman in your bed.”

Austin’s cheeks heated and Cassandra laughed.

“It’s okay to make time for a relationship, Austin. We all deserve that.” Her brows pinched together. “It’s not always easy to have one, but it’s worth the trouble.”

Austin knew Cassandra had been with her husband for many years. The Hollywood gossip mill had delivered the couple some tough blows over the years, but they’d remained together. Maybe her advice was solid.

“I’ll see you in a few.” She motioned to the set behind him then rubbed her hands together. “I get to call you a bastard in this scene. That’s always fun.”

She walked away, but Austin felt better about being late and pissing off Cody. Cassandra was right. A relationship with Charlie was possible. He just needed to stay balanced.

And keep Cody from blowing up.

In the interest of appeasing Cody, Austin threw himself totally into today’s scenes. He and Cassandra had only had to reshoot one scene when her heel broke as they climbed a set of stairs together. Fortunately, Austin’s reflexes had been quick and he’d grabbed Cassandra before she’d tumbled down the stairs. Cody had been happy to chew out the wardrobe person who’d outfitted Cassandra with the faulty heels and his wrath toward Austin fizzled.

Right up until the end of the filming session when Cody overheard Austin telling Cassandra he was heading to Maplehaven to see Charlie.

“What?” Cody stepped right between them, facing Austin. “You can’t go to Maplehaven tonight.”

“I promise not to be late tomorrow, Cody.” Austin held up his hand. “You have my word, buddy.”

“I’m not thinking about tomorrow,” Cody shot back. “You have that interview with Katie Shaw tonight at six o’clock.”

Shit. Austin had let that podcast crap slip right out of his brain. Mainly because he didn’t want to do it, but partially because he’d been thinking about being with Charlie again all damn day.

“Can’t we reschedule that?”

Cassandra peeked around Cody, her expression telling him to tread carefully around his agent. “I’ll see you boys tomorrow.” She slipped away, leaving Cody glaring at Austin.

“One doesn’t reschedule with Katie Shaw, Austin.” Cody’s jaw clenched. “It’s a small miracle she had an opening tonight as it is. I’ve been trying to get you on her podcast for months. We can’t give up this opportunity.”

“I’m not telling you to give up the opportunity,” Austin said. “I’m asking if we can change the time of the opportunity.” He pulled out his own phone. “Give me her contact info. I’ll call her.”

Cody stumbled back a few steps. “Oh, you’ll call her? You’ll do my job?”

“Cody, Jesus. Ease up, will you?” Austin didn’t get mad often, but Cody’s general bitchiness today was grating on him. “I think maybe Vermont is getting to you. I know this isn’t the habitat you prefer. Why don’t you take a few days to check on some of your other clients?”

Austin could tell the moment those words left his mouth they were absolutely the wrong words. Cody turned a shade of red Austin had never seen in any crayon box. A purplish-crimson that packed its own heat.

“You’re trying to get rid of me.” Cody’s hands curled and uncurled by his sides.