They looked at each other blankly, then both burst out laughing.
“So neither of us knows anything about crafting,” Tina said, when she could finally catch her breath.
“Nope. Do you think we can pull this off?”
“Of course we can. You’re an actor, that’s all the craft you need. Besides, I’m going to do the talking, remember? You just need to look more…more like an actor. You look too normal. You need sunglasses or something. A ball cap. Like you’re trying to hide from the paparazzi.”
“There’s paparazzi in Woodstock, Vermont?”
“They’re everywhere,” she said darkly. “Anyone with an iPhone can be a paparazzi now.”
Giving into that obvious logic, he pulled on his Boston Red Sox cap and his aviator shades.
Meanwhile, Tina worked on removing every hint of “cop” from her appearance. She stashed her badge in Jack’s glove compartment and pulled her necklace from under her shirt. Her parents had given her the circular jade charm when she made detective; it was meant to bring good fortune and protection, since jade possessed protective energies, according to her mother.
Just in case, she always wore it when she was on the job, though she tucked it away under her clothes. It drew too many comments.
Like the one from the middle-aged woman at the counter, who perfectly matched Gabby’s description of Kate Mansfield. “Oh my, would you look at that,” she breathed, staring at Tina’s chest. “That’s real jade, I assume?”
“It is.” Tina gave her a bright smile. “Isn’t it darling? My boss gave it to me. Well…” She lowered her voice and looked over her shoulder at Jack, who was lingering by the door, as directed. “He said to pick something out for myself and I chose this. He never even asked the price, can you imagine? I have the best job in the world.”
She widened her eyes, every inch the starstruck assistant.
“That’s your boss?”
“Yes. We’re just passing through town on the way to his next shoot, but someone recognized him and started following us. We almost had a chase! Is it okay if he stays out of sight in here until the danger has passed? These stalkers can be so intrusive.”
“Of course.” Kate’s gaze shifted to Jack. Her lush graying red hair was in a loose knot, with strands framing her face. A graceful seventy-year-old still holding onto her beauty. “Who is he? Someone I know?”
“Jack Finnegan. Have you ever seen Dark of Night?”
“Oh no, that sounds too scary. I don’t watch any of that kind of thing.” She shuddered. “Real life has enough of that, you know.”
“I’m a romcom gal myself.” Tina pulled out that extra-perky smile again. “But Jack is an amazing actor. Jack, come here and meet…” She paused expectantly.
“I’m Kate.”
“And I’m Tina Chen, though all you really need to know is that I’m Jack’s assistant. I promise we won’t be here long.”
Jack ambled over and shook Kate’s hand, and even though she probably didn’t recognize him, his high-voltage smile worked its magic. “A real-life Hollywood star in my little shop,” she marveled.
“And a lovely shop it is.” He bowed his head over her hand, a gallant gesture that made Kate’s face flush. “If my mother saw this place, she might move in next door just so she could shop here whenever she wanted.”
“That’s so kind of you. Is she a crafter?”
“She always says her happy place is somewhere between a glue stick and a crochet needle.”
For the life of her, Tina couldn’t figure out whether any of that was true. Just how good of an actor was Jack?
“What’s her favorite kind of crafting?” Kate asked eagerly. “You could pick up a gift for her.”
She came around the counter, ready to show them around. She wore a hand-knitted colorful vest over a turtleneck, and a swingy wool skirt that brushed the tops of her suede boots. The look said, “ready for fall and peak crafting season.”
“I love that idea. The thing is, she has so many supplies already. I’d love to give her something really special.” He pulled a sad face. “I hardly see her anymore, not since I got the job on Dark of Night. Do you have kids? What kind of thing would make your day if they gifted it to you?”
Kate looked stricken for a quick moment.
“I’m so sorry if that’s too personal,” Jack said quickly.
