“Yes and no.” She handed him the bowl then dipped the ladle into the pot again. “The movie will bring a tremendous boost to the town’s economy, but with it, chaos as well.”
“It might not be as bad as you think.” His statement fell flat to his own ears. He’d heard little else the last few days since the rumors had started to fly.
“The media frenzy has already started.” Carrying her bowl to the table, she grimaced. “I had three calls from the press while I was in my office for three short hours this morning. Paula at the front desk said she’d been fielding calls for two days.”
“To be honest, I’m surprised the secret lasted this long.” He sat catty-corner from her and reached for the spoon before realizing it was missing.
“Oops. I knew I forgot something. The crackers, too.” Phoebe jumped, pulled two spoons from a drawer, and reached into a cabinet. “I think the non-disclosure agreements helped keep the silence. Few businesses would risk the income over spilling the beans.”
He took a tall stack of saltines and crumbled them over his soup bowl. “Do you find it odd they’re pairing a debut actor with the likes of Deena Frasier?”
Tilting her head forward, she blew on a spoonful of soup. “A little, but what do I know.”
“I wonder if Deena’s at all like the press has made her out to be?”
Phoebe’s eyes clouded, and she scowled. “Are you going gaga for her too?”
“No, I was just curious.” He didn’t understand her negative reaction, but he wouldn’t pretend to know the mind of a woman.
“The truth probably lies in the middle. No one can be as perfect as the media once made her out to be, but I doubt she flipped a switch one night and became the monster they currently make her out to be.”
“True.” Sensing a sore subject, he immersed himself in eating his lunch.
Every time he glanced up, he caught Phoebe starting at him with an unreadable expression on her face. Something didn’t sit right in his gut, but he couldn’t place what it was.
Chapter Three
Phoebe took a deep breath and watched her breath vaporize as she exhaled. At thirty-nine degrees, late October had confused itself with winter. She’d even seen a few stray flurries this morning before the sun rose all the way.
Searching for warmth, she rubbed her hands together. She’d wait inside, but she didn’t want to track any debris into the pristine cabin. Two cleaning crews had attended to the cabin this week, ensuring not a square millimeter was left undusted. Deena’s agency paid quadruple the normal rates, and although that included the catering and specified new bedding, Phoebe was determined to meet their every need.
Not because Deena was a celebrity, but because she took pride in her job. From the poorest client to the richest, Phoebe wanted each guest to enjoy their accommodations to the fullest. Jasper Properties had a long-standing reputation for quality rentals and outstanding service. She wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that perception.
Her stomach knotted. Maybe she wasn’t as immune to celebrities as she liked to believe. If only she had someone to wait here with her, but Ted had met the crew at the airport as a gesture of goodwill, and the remaining staff had their own roles to fill today.
She glanced at her watch for the fiftieth time. There must have been a delay somewhere along the route. She checked for an update from Ted, but the last message was to tell that her the plane was on time and about to land. Rubbing her hands together, she craned her neck to search for any sign of approaching vehicles, but she no distant rumble of an engine could be heard.
Nerves continued to turn her stomach into a jungle gym with anxiety bouncing and climbing all over. She walked twenty paces forward then turned around to view the front of the cabin and appraise the curb appeal. The new topiary to the right of the door sat at an odd angle. Had she bumped the landscaping decoration and not realized it? She returned to the front door and straightened the plant.
Another ten minutes passed until she heard the faint sound of a car. Soon Ted’s car appeared, followed by a sleek charcoal-colored limousine. Ted parked to the side, allowing the limousine to have the prime spot in the driveway.
Her gaze fixated on the limousine. The chauffeur stepped out and opened the passenger door. A muscular man in a black suit got out and stood at attention, his eyes shifting back and forth and quietly observing the surroundings. All business, he didn’t crack a smile, only offered a subtle tip of his chin in greeting.
Next, a petite redhead dressed in a tailored navy suit exited the vehicle. She had a phone to her ear and stared at the iPad in her hand. Phoebe stood back, gauging if she should interrupt or wait for instructions. She assumed the slim woman was Lynz, Deena’s personal assistant. They’d spoken several times in the preceding week, and she’d given off the same haughty vibe then as Phoebe received from her now.
Finally, Deena left the limousine. Blonde hair splayed in perfect waves to the middle of her back. Her vivid blue eyes sparkled, and Phoebe decided they had to be colored contacts—no one had eyes that spectacular. Distressed jeans and a wine-hued cotton shirt clung to Deena’s trim figure. A pair of suede cognac-colored ankle boots and matching jacket completed the outfit. The look came off casual and effortless, but the entire outfit probably cost more than Phoebe’s rent for a year.
Deena strolled over. “You must be Phoebe. What an interesting name.”
She ignored the underhanded jab at her name and held out a hand. “Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Frasier.”
“Please, call me Deena.” Ignoring her hand, Deena walked toward the door and entered like she owned the place.
Uneasiness rooted in the pit of Phoebe’s stomach. “This is Jasper Properties’ top cabin. You have all the modern amenities of a five-star hotel, but with privacy and a picturesque view of the lake and summits.”
“This is… adorable. So quaint and rustic.”
If a five-bedroom, six-bath cabin with its own gym, library, and enclosed heated pool could be considered quaint. “It’s not Beverly Hills, but that’s its charm.”
