“I’m so excited—and a little nervous.”
“It’s gonna be great, you’ll see.”
Chloe could only hope he was right.
Chapter15
With the arrival of the movie crowd, the town was already abuzz with excitement. The studio had rented a production office in town, and Chloe had stopped in to say hello and chat with Simone and some of the others.
But she hardly saw Liam over the next week as he was swamped with meetings, costume fittings, screen tests, and rehearsals.
The movie was all the talk around town, and there was some mention of it in the newspaper each day. The excitement was contagious. Chloe could hardly sleep for anticipating the first day of filming.
Now, after a week of prep, day one was finally about to get underway. Chloe’s entire property was a frenzy of activity. Nine huge trucks were parked in her sizable front yard. A team erected a big tent for craft services, otherwise known ascrafty, to feed the cast and crew. She’d been nicely compensated for the use of her property, but her imagination hadn’t quite conjured up the reality of using her home as one of the filming locations.
Her back patio had become thevideo village, which was set up with monitors and chairs from which the powers that be would view the scenes being filmed on the property with an eye to how they would look in their finished format.
All in all forty or fifty people were running around, setting up lights and cameras and making decisions about the scenes to be shot.
“Let’s head to hair and makeup, Chloe.” Simone took her elbow.Her black hair, fashioned in tight braids, would withstand today’s heat and humidity, which was more than Chloe could say for her own hair. “I want to introduce you to Daisy. She just arrived.” The actress hadn’t been around when Chloe stopped by the production office.
Hair and makeupwas set up in a trailer. Simone led the way across the lawn, up the stairs, and into the trailer. She’d already introduced Chloe to more people than she would ever remember by name. Her head was spinning and she found herself wishing someone she knew would arrive soon. Someone like Liam. She’d missed him this week.
Before the realization could settle, Simone called to the stunning blonde in the makeup chair. “Daisy, I brought someone to meet you.”
“Do not dare open your eyes,” Sophía, the makeup artist, said. “You will mess up my handiwork.”
“Hi, Simone,” Daisy said. “I’d say it’s great to see you again, but...”
Simone laughed. “Wouldn’t want to mess up the eyeliner. I brought Chloe Anderson over to meet you.”
“The author! How wonderful to meet you in person. I loved the novel—I read it before I even knew there would be a movie. And when I was offered the part of Cate, I jumped at it.” Somehow she’d said all that without so much as twitching.
Chloe instantly warmed to the woman. “You’re too kind. I was so thrilled when Simone suggested you for the part.”
“The same, however, cannot be said of me.” Liam had somehow slipped into the trailer. He put his arm around Chloe and kissed her temple.
“I’m never gonna live that down,” Chloe said.
The others laughed.
Liam winked at Chloe. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t.”
His teasing nature was growing on her. It had been such a turnoff at first. She’d taken it personally, had misread him because she wasin such a panic about the role. Chloe tried not to savor the delicious weight of his arm draped over her shoulder. It wasn’t because she’d missed him this past week. He was just familiar and comfortable, that was all. Also hot.
Simone—who was well aware of the PR relationship—eyed the two of them. “I have to say, you two look good together.” She nudged Chloe. “I have a feeling you’ll keep his ego in check.”
Chloe patted his chest. “Oh, it’s my first priority.” That and, well, patting his chest. So solid.
Daisy laughed. “I like this girl. Just what Liam needs to keep him in line.”
“Hey, I’m feeling a little ganged up on over here.”
“Poor baby,” Daisy teased, eyes still closed.
Simone turned to Chloe, a ready smile on her face. “Ready to say hello to our director? He should be freed up now.”
“Let’s do it.”
