Perhaps Miles could just walk through a field of the fiery flowers when he arrived at the coast. Like Forrest Gump as he walked away from Jenny’s grave. Miles could be saying goodbye to someone he loved, uniting the contentment and wildness inside him.
Her fingers twitching, Harper wanted to capture the scene on paper before it disappeared, but she’d already done enough damage with her mental wandering. She might not care much for Evan the Great, but he was her boss. In her free time, she’d start dreaming again.
She wheeled the flowers into the lanai and quickly filled the vases in an alcove. Hopefully, she hadn’t missed anything else while her mind strayed.
Seconds before Evan escorted his new girlfriend—a brunette about Kelsey’s age—to the head table, everything was in its proper place.
That was Harper’s last clear thought as thirty-two members of Evan’s team paraded in after their grand marshal. For the next two hours, Dirk and his staff executed a culinary production that no one seemed to notice until the final act—fudge cake drizzled with raspberry coulis. Then the team applauded their meal.
While they were still savoring dessert, Evan stood up to address the crowd. A gavel, Harper thought, or perhaps a gong, would have beenmuch more dramatic than the sharp clearing of his throat. Not that he needed more drama. The moment he stood, conversations dropped mid-sentence. No one in the rat pack would miss a word.
Evan swept the air as if he could magically clear the tables. “I hope you’ve eaten enough for the next three days.”
Crumbs of laughter scattered across the room, uncertain as to what Evan had planned. He glanced across the lanai, the silence ensuing for dramatic impact. “Because four of you will be spending your weekend here.”
Harper scanned the crowd. Did they have suitcases waiting in their cars? She was the only one who seemed surprised by his announcement.
“So you’re not feeding us if we stay?” a man asked.
“You’ll have plenty of brain food but nothing fancy.”
One of the producers raised his cup. “I’ll be good as long as you keep supplying the coffee.”
“And alcohol,” someone else quipped.
“No more alcohol,” Evan decreed, and several guests groaned.
Harper eyed the wine bottle in her hand. Did that mean she was supposed to stop filling their glasses? She scanned the lanai again, but Wendi had vacated the patio. Perhaps she was helping Dirk phone in another food order from town.
The guest rooms were in good shape, but Harper would need to add extra towels and toiletries and some sort of welcoming gift.
“Sissie Sloan will stay the weekend,” Evan announced.
That choice surprised no one. Sissie was a legend in Hollywood. The oldest member of the rat pack by at least a decade and lead producer on his last three blockbusters. Harper often admired the woman when she was on set, especially when Evan deferred to her opinions. While he’d never admit it, Sissie kick-started many of his ideas.
“Psst...”
Harper’s gaze fell to a mop of blondish hair. The guy tossed his mop back from his eyes and grinned before tapping his wine glass. She didn’trecognize him, but he was about her age, maybe twenty-five, and dripping with the confidence of a surfer who’d just caught a monster wave.
She nodded toward Evan, her voice barely a whisper. “He said no more alcohol.”
“I’ll tip you extra.”
She wanted to backhand him. “You won’t be tipping me at all.”
A glare from Evan silenced her, and she stepped away from Mop Man, hoping her refusal wouldn’t haunt her. In this industry, everyone seemed to know everyone. For all she knew, she’d need his dad or mom or girlfriend to get her toe in the industry door. He would remember the wine incident and tell them all about her incompetence and then—
“Sissie will stay,” Evan continued. “Along with Chet, Tony, and...”
When he paused again, scanning the room for effect, Sissie rolled her eyes. “This isn’t a game show, Evan.”
But it was, Harper thought. He was Bob Barker except instead of the price, he picked those whose talents were right for him.
Every guest on the lanai needed Evan the Great to succeed.
“Marlo is the last weekend guest.”
“That figures,” someone muttered as the new girlfriend rewarded Evan with a generous smile.
