His monotone delivery didn’t exactly reveal his feelings. “Well,uh...disapproveis kind of a loaded word. I don’t really, um...”Change the subject!She cleared her throat. “Well, listen, what I wanted to explain is that the character you’re playing is the most crucial role in the whole story. So congratulations on that!” More nervous laughter. Hers, apparently. “See, Ledgeristhe whole story. He’s the reason the book developed such a large following, and I think it might help you, uh, get into his skin if you read the actual book—I don’t suppose you’ve read it?”
“Are you unhappy with the script then too?”
He was not making this easy! Her cheeks flared with heat. “The script is wonderfully written, but screenplays are just dialogue and dry directives. A novel allows you inside the heads of the characters. You get to know their thoughts and feelings, and only then do their actions make full sense, you know?” And even if he wouldn’t say so now, he hadn’t read the darn book. He’d admitted as much inVanity Fair.
“Sounds like you’re trying to tell me how to do my job.”
She resisted the urge to stamp her foot. “You’re deliberately being obtuse. This is not about your acting skills—”
“You’re the one who mentionedJilted.”
“My concern is about this particularcharacter, and since I created him, I know him better than anyone else. And since you’re playing him in the film, perhaps you could read the book and learn everything there is to know about him, all the reasons a million readers have fallen in love with him.”
He shifted his weight but his expression remained an enigma.Oh, take off those stupid sunglasses!
“And you?” he asked.
“And me, what?”
“Have you fallen in love with Ledger too?”
She opened her mouth. Closed it again.Getting a little personal, aren’t you, Mr.Big Shot?And somehow this seemed like a trickquestion. “He—he was lovingly created in my mind and poured out onto the page with my blood, sweat, and tears. I realize he may be just another fictional character to you, but to many women he’s the best book boyfriend ever written, and it’s important that you—”
“Book boyfriend?”
She huffed. “It’s a literary term used to describe—”
“I can infer the meaning, thanks. And I appreciate that the film has a ready-made audience in your fans. I’ll try not to disappoint them. Now, I should let you get back to your, ah...”—he glanced at the bikini bottom—“shopping excursion. See you on set.”
Chapter3
“Ugh! He was just so smug with his little half grin and haughty looks and those stupid sunglasses. I’m telling you, he’s not taking this role seriously enough.” Chloe brought the knife down with more force than necessary.
“Hey, easy on my innocent tomatoes.” Sean tugged the brim of his ball cap lower, calling attention to his deep-set blue eyes. A black apron worn over his black tee and pants completed his uniform.
“Liam Hamilton is the antithesis of my entire list.” Because, yes, after her heart-stomping breakup with Evan, she’d made a list of the top five qualities she desired in a potential mate. She wanted a man who was loyal, steadfast, protective, self-sacrificing, and sentimental. All the things Evan—not to mention her father—had never been. And when writing the book she’d made Ledger the embodiment of all those traits. Because even if such a man didn’t exist in real life, he could certainly exist on the page.
“Well, it’s not like you have to marry him.”
She glared at him.
He tossed a white hand towel over his shoulder where it would sit the rest of the night. “Sorry. I know how much this movie means to you. But he is an actor—a pretty sought-after one too. Maybe he can pull it off.”
“I don’t even think a guy like him could understand a man like Ledger.”
“Maybe you could make him understand.”
“How am I supposed to do that? I’m just a consulting producer. He won’t take my direction.”
“You could start by making peace with the guy.”
“I tried! He’s impossible. He—he hardly said a dozen words, but they were all the wrong ones.”
“He really pushed your buttons.”
“You don’t have to sound so pleased about that. There’s just so much on the line with this movie, and he holds all the cards. Plus, it’s hard to respect a notorious womanizer.”
“Would now be a good time to remind you that you’ve called me the very same?”
