“This is something I’d need to take to the production team, to be honest. And only one of them is here in Toronto, while the others are in Los Angeles. I’m not sure when they’re meeting next, so hang on to that idea and I’ll get back to you, okay?”
It wasn’t a no. It wasn’t,thanks but no thanks, waitress girl. She’d take it. “I put together a proposal, it’s in the shared drive now.”
“Great. Now tell me more about these cottages. It looks like the dock is really nice, maybe we could use that for some of the lakeside scenes.” He was talking mostly to Ashley, and Olivia realized that she still didn’t know much about the movie. There were lakeside scenes? Well, that made sense, given that they chose Pine Harbour. While Greg talked, she flipped to another browser window and did a search for “Hope Creswell and Joshua Pearce new movie”. The Internet knew more about this project, tentatively calledUnexpected, than she did.
She jerked her attention back to the conversation in time to explain that there were photos of the wide, easy path down to the dock, and actually there were two docks, about forty feet apart. Greg asked a few more questions, then he signed off after confirming her availability the following week for other location scouting.
From the couch, Dani cleared her throat. Olivia glanced over just in time to catch her friend waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“You sound and look like your brother when you do that, you know?”
Her friend laughed. “Uh huh. Is that your way of avoiding the subject of your super hot boss?”
Olivia shook her head. “I have no idea what you’re getting at.”
“Are you sure your excitement about this job has nothing to do with Mr. Smooth In a Suit?” Dani leaned forward, her eyes bright with mischief. “Maybe underneath that suave exterior lies the perfect rebound.”
She stiffened. Ew. No. Greg was good-looking, sure, but he wasn’t Rafe.
Rafe.She rolled her eyes at her friend and made an excuse about needing another cup of tea. On the way to the kitchen she grabbed the white note she’d stuffed under the notepad. With shaking hands, she ripped the flap open. The first two had been short, and this one was the same, but unlike the others, it included an invitation of sorts.
Liv,
I should have written you love letters when we were married. You deserve a mountain of notes telling you how beautiful you are. You’re simply gorgeous, from the inside out.
This Christmas might be our last in the same town. The last two have been pretty lonely, I have to be honest. I’d like you to consider spending part of this holiday with me. As friends, if that’s all you want.
Yours,
Rafe
How could he think she didn’t ache for him? She didn’t have time to think about that, though, because from the other room, Dani started carrying on again about how yummy suits were. Olivia tucked the note carefully between two cookbooks to retrieve later, shook off her nerves, and poured herself a new cup of tea. “That sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself of something,” she called out.
Dani blew a loud raspberry.
“That’s mature.”
“That’s me. The kid sister, forever and ever.”
Olivia flopped onto the couch and put her feet up on the ottoman. “You’re not a kid.”
Real, heavy pain sliced across Dani’s face. “You’re the only one who knows that.”
Oh no. A sinking feeling came over Olivia and she winced in anticipation. “What happened?”
“Jake came over to give my mom a quote on new windows. He had to take measurements in every room. And in my room, he made a dumb-ass comment about me doing my homework at my desk.”
She should get out the tequila. Why had Jake been so stupid? “That really sucks, Dani.”
Her friend pinked up, from her nose to the tips of her ears. “I wish it was just that.”
“Oh no, what did you say?” Olivia’s eyes got really wide as her mind raced through the worst responses she could imagine Dani giving.
“I told him the only homework I needed to do these days was researching new and exciting ways to use my vibrator.” She wailed and flung her head back against the cushions. “I don’t evenhavea vibrator!”
“You don’t?”
Dani gave her a wide-eyed stare. “You do?”
