скачать книгу бесплатно
Chas leaned forward. “Krystal Kohl is at a rehab facility in Tucson. Her role is being recast.”
No one gasped. No one said a word, but an uncomfortable silence fell over the table.
Eva stared at the costume designs with a blank face.
The two wardrobe people looked at each other, but their expressions didn’t change.
Megan stood at the bar arranging glasses and pitchers, trying to appear disinterested. She might be a “newbie,” as Adam had called her, but this couldn’t be good news with filming scheduled to start next week.
She looked at Adam to see his reaction.
His posture hadn’t changed. He sipped from his glass of water, as if the news of his leading lady being replaced at the last minute wasn’t a big deal. It didn’t seem to be except …
A muscle pulsed at his jaw.
Not as immune as the others appeared to be. He wasn’t happy about the role being recast.
“A lot of work went into casting Krystal as Calliope,” Adam said. “This isn’t some summer blockbuster flick, but a serious drama.”
Chas nodded. “We know the caliber of talent needed for the role.”
Adam leaned back in his chair. “Who are you thinking about as a replacement?”
“Lane Gregory,” Damon said. The award-winning actress was the only child of two movie stars and America’s sweetheart. “We’ve worked together before. Very professional. She can step in at the last minute without a lot of prep.”
“She’s older than Krystal,” Adam said.
“Yes,” Damon admitted. “Lane brings a different level of maturity to Calliope.”
Adam straightened. “She’s accepted the role.”
It wasn’t a question. The tension lacing each of his words surprised Megan. She loved Lane Gregory, way more than Krystal Kohl. Lane had the reputation of being nice and down-to-earth. Maybe those qualities weren’t what Adam wanted in his next movie-set fling.
The thought of him with the talented actress left a bitter taste in Megan’s mouth. Lane was too sweet for a man like Adam. But what happened between the two actors was none of Megan’s business. Neither was the discussion they were having now. She wiped the bar where condensation had dripped off the pitchers.
Damon nodded.
Tight lines bracketed Eva’s mouth. “Krystal is tall and thin. Lane is short and curvy. We’re going to have to rethink everything, including the dinner gown.”
“You have until Tuesday,” Damon said.
Eva’s startled gaze darted from the director to Chas. “What?”
“We have no leeway in the schedule,” the producer admitted. “Adam is committed to another project after this.”
Adam nodded.
“The other talent has commitments, too.” Damon flashed the designer a big smile. “No worries. You’ve done this before, Eva. And won awards.”
“I have.” Eva shot a pointed look at the two wardrobe people, who pulled out their cell phones and started texting furiously. “I will again. But it’s either going to kill the costume department or they’ll want to kill me.”
“Don’t they already?” Adam teased.
Chas and Damon smiled. The two wardrobe people pressed their lips together as if not to agree with the actor. Megan felt herself nodding and ducked behind the bar to grab some napkins before Eva saw her.
“Tell us what you need,” Chas said to the designer. “It’s yours.”
“You don’t have the budget for what I need,” Eva said.
Megan stood.
Adam waved his empty glass at her. “Refill, please.”
She grabbed the water pitcher with lemon slices floating on top. As she stood next to Adam refilling his glass, awareness hummed through her. All that bare skin and muscle was hard to ignore. She wanted to touch him and see if he was as strong as he looked.
No, she didn’t.
The guy needed to put on a shirt. And pants. Long ones.
She tightened her grip on the pitcher’s handle.
“There goes your weekend,” Adam said to her. “Mine, too.”
Megan stared at him, confused. His clear, warm green eyes weren’t helping matters. He had to be wearing contacts. She realized he was still talking to her. “What?”
“There will be a mad dash to get costumes for Lane. That means extra fittings and alterations,” he explained. “Some of my clothes will change, too, since they were designed to go with Krystal’s.”
“Oh.” Not the most intelligent response, but that was the only thing that came to mind as she looked at him. Darn the man with his hard, hot body, killer smile and amazing eyes. “I didn’t think I’d have a lot of free time until after filming ended.”
If she was still here then …
That burst of reality helped her regain her focus. She checked everyone’s glasses so Eva wouldn’t think she was slacking off. Or worse, swooning. No one else needed more to drink.
“You won’t have much time,” Adam said. “But the experience you gain during the shoot will be worth it.”
Megan didn’t know why he was talking to her. He must be bored because the others were busy. Unless he’d taken a fall out on the water and whacked his head on his surfboard. That was the only other logical explanation for the attention he was giving her. “Do you want me to get you anything else?”
Wicked laughter lit his eyes. “I can think of a few things …”
Megan inhaled sharply. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“Be careful with what you offer around here, Texas.” Adam spoke with a low voice so others wouldn’t overhear.
The nickname bristled again. She was happy to have escaped Larkville, but she didn’t hate the town. Okay, maybe a part of her did. But she missed a few things—her nephew, Brady, the yummy chocolate milkshakes and greasy fries at Gracie May’s Diner, her dad’s horse Storm and, of course, Rob. Megan missed him the most.
“Someone will take you up on it,” Adam continued.
What was going on? He’d made fun of her on the walk to the house. Now he was cautioning her. That made zero sense. Then again, maybe things in Hollywood weren’t supposed to add up the way they did back home. “I’ll be more careful.”
And she would be. Especially around him.
Megan wasn’t a flirt or fan girl. She didn’t dream of being swept off her feet by the gorgeous movie star or some other good-looking guy for that matter. Her heart belonged to her best friend. Or would once Rob realized they belonged together. He hadn’t expressed any romantic interest in her and hadn’t appreciated when she’d expressed hers in him. But that was okay … for now.
Her dad always said good things came to those who waited. She’d learned patience at a young age. This would be no different.
Parlaying this temporary, unpaid position into a permanent, salaried one was her priority. Rob was in Austin trying to get his own career going. But true love knew no bounds. The distance would make him realize how much she meant to him. Once she gained experience, she would be more employable, could live in Austin and work on location. She had it all planned out.
“I was talking about refreshments,” she clarified.
“I know, but not everybody is me.”
He sounded genuine, as if he cared what happened to her. That was odd, but she had to admit nice. Maybe there was more to Adam Noble than a pretty face and great body. “I’ll remember that.”
A cell phone, lying on the table, rang. He picked it up, looked at the number on the display screen, then stood. “Excuse me.”
As he walked down the stairs to the beach to take his call, Megan carried the pitcher back to the bar. She didn’t look back at Adam, though she was tempted. He was the first person who seemed to care about her beyond what errand or task she could do for them. Unless he was being nice as a ploy to get her in the sack.
No. She didn’t think that was Adam’s angle. He wouldn’t waste his time on her. Not with so many beautiful women wanting to hop into his bed.
That was why his friendliness surprised and unnerved her.
Megan preferred honesty to flash. That was how she’d been raised back at the ranch. She wished her dad could have known he had two other children. She had no doubt he would do the right thing by them, whether they wanted it or not.
But Hollywood wasn’t like that. It was full of flashy people. Total strangers whose strange world she’d step into. And that begged a question. Of all the people she’d met since arriving in Los Angeles, why was Adam Noble the one being so nice to her?
Adam stood on the sand in front of Chas’s villa with his back to the water. He was far enough from the patio so no one would overhear his conversation with his agent, Sam Tomlinson, who once again showed impeccable timing with his phone call. “Lane Gregory is the new Calliope.”
“She must have sweet-talked her fiancé into getting her the role,” Sam said.
Lane’s fiancé was Hugh Wilstead, the wealthy and powerful studio head backing the film. This movie was supposed to be a game changer for Adam. Instead of his typical action-adventure film, this new film was a serious drama piece. Not quite an indie production, which would have increased his award chances, but close enough to get him recognized for his acting ability. “Damon thinks she’ll be good in the part.”
“Definitely. But I’m more concerned what’s going to happen when the cameras aren’t rolling.”
Lane’s acting talent would help Adam in his pursuit of an award nomination. But she was also a costar man-eater, who would aggressively try to sleep with him in spite of her fiancé. “I’m not going to be her next boy toy.”
“If Hugh finds out anything went on between the two of you outside of shooting …”
“I know.” Rhys Rogers, Lane’s costar in The Island’s Eye, saw his burgeoning career come to a screeching halt after a fling with the lovely actress. She hadn’t been engaged to Hugh then, only dating. “Rhys can’t get hired for a reality TV gig now.”
“Stay away from her,” Sam cautioned.
“Hard to do when she’ll be playing my wife.” Some actors had no trouble figuring out where a role ended and reality began during shooting, but Adam sometimes did, especially if he felt a spark or connection with a costar. “Unless the script has a major rewrite this weekend, there are love scenes.”
“Love scenes are fine as long as you’re not rehearsing in private,” Sam said. “Might be a good time to give celibacy a try.”
“No reason to go crazy. I’ll tell Lane the truth. I don’t go out with engaged or married women.”
“She may not be swayed so easily.”
“She won’t have a choice when I find someone else to help me relax during shooting.”
“Please not another actress on the set,” Sam said. “Catfights will be counterproductive.”
Adam remembered the last time two actresses had gotten into it over him outside the Château Marmont. It had been flattering, but a mistake on his part. The publicity and negative vibe on the set easily could have been avoided if he hadn’t been on such an ego trip back then. He enjoyed female companionship and seduction, but he had to be smart about it or he became nothing more than tabloid fodder. No one would take him seriously then. “I’ll find a woman not on the cast list.”
He noticed movement on the patio. He caught a glimpse of a pile of curly dark hair. Megan, the intern from Texas. That explained her slight twang.
A smile tugged on his lips. At least one good thing would come out of the casting change. Her internship would continue for at least another week. Eva would be too busy getting new costumes ready to fire Megan.
The thought of her sticking around longer made him happy. That was a little bizarre given she was a total stranger. But something about her appealed to him. Her eyes, yes, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what else it might be. Maybe her apparent dislike of him.
He looked up on the patio again, but didn’t see her. No doubt she’d been ordered to do something else for someone.
Megan should make the most of her internship and time in Hollywood. She might have received a reprieve from being sent home in the next day or two, but she wouldn’t last. Her quiet personality and self-conscious demeanor weren’t cut out for Hollywood, but Adam hoped she would be here long enough to figure that out herself.
It was better for a person to change their dreams than have them stripped away. That had happened to his mother. His father had broken her heart when he took off. Since then, Adam had watched her chase pipe dreams and men. Nothing mattered to her except grabbing the golden ring—another wedding band. She would give up everything, including him, to find her one true love. Adam didn’t want a broken dream to have that same kind of effect on anyone else, especially someone so quiet and shy, like Megan Calhoun.
CHAPTER THREE
THREE days later, Megan opened the hatchback of her car. Shoes and shoeboxes were strewn everywhere. She swallowed the sigh threatening to escape. She’d been sighing too much the past few days.
Besides, she had only herself to blame for this latest mess. She’d put down the backseats to give her more room to transport items. That hadn’t worked out so well with the shoeboxes.
Megan tucked the car keys in the front pocket of her jeans.
She must have taken a few curves too fast. Not surprising, she’d been running late. Again. Driving was where she could make up time, if, and it was a big if, there wasn’t any traffic on the road.
But standing here staring at all the sandals, pumps, flats and boots wasn’t getting it done. She needed to put the shoes back into their boxes and carry them inside before Lane Gregory’s fitting. That was the reason Megan had been given strict instructions with an impossible time frame.
Eva must want her to fail. Megan matched up boxes with lids. That was the only explanation for being stuck in interning purgatory. A headache threatened to erupt.
She rubbed her temples. It didn’t help. More caffeine might. That stuff had been keeping her going the past two days. What she needed was a sit-down meal with fresh vegetables and a decent night’s sleep. Neither looked likely in the near future.
Megan arranged the boxes so she could see what was missing what. Gathering the pieces for today’s costume fittings had meant killer hours, irregular meal times and little, if any, sleep. Not just for her, but everyone working wardrobe and costumes on the film.
Talk about an insane schedule.
But she couldn’t give up. That wasn’t the Calhoun way. Her dad might not physically be here any longer, but his spirit and memory lived on. She wanted him to be proud of her.
She picked up a shoebox with a single silver slingback sandal inside. The matching shoe had to be here somewhere.
As she sorted through the shoes, putting them into the correct boxes, she imagined what awful task they—okay, Eva—would assign next. A long list of horrible, degrading tasks ran through Megan’s mind. She half laughed.
Hard to believe she was working so hard for free.
Not only working, but driving.
She’d put a couple hundred miles on her car running errands around town for Eva and company. Granted Megan would be reimbursed for mileage and gas, but hazard pay for being forced to drive on the L.A. freeways should be included.
