“The actress?”
“Former actress, now director.”
“Ah.” Mike fell silent for a moment. “Tamlyn told me that you two broke things off.”
“All amicably, I assure you.”
“That’s what she said, too. I can’t help but think it’s my fault, though. After all, it’s the work she’s doing for me that’s tying her up.”
Stone held up a hand. “There’s no one to blame. Life happens. And I wouldn’t have ever met her if you hadn’t hired her. For that, I’m thankful.”
“Then you’re welcome, I guess.”
A hand touched Stone’s shoulder.
“Good evening,” Josie Hale said.
“Hello,” Stone said. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” She was dressed in a gorgeous green-and-black-patterned sleeveless dress.
Stone motioned to Mike. “This is my friend Mike Freeman.”
“Nice to meet you,” Josie said, taking Mike’s proffered hand.
“Not half as nice as it is for me to meet you. I’m a big fan.”
“Is that so?”
“I can safely say I’ve seen every episode ofTobin Countryat least twice.”
She gave him a look of mock concern. “A big fan? Or acrazedone?”
“The former.”
“That’s good. I would hate to take out a restraining order on you right after we’ve met.”
“Mike is actually in the business of protecting people from the overzealous,” Stone said.
“You’re a bodyguard?”
“In a way,” Mike said.
“He’s the CEO of Strategic Services,” Stone said. “The number two security firm in the world.”
“I know Strategic Services. You do a lot of work in the entertainment industry.”
“We do,” Mike said. “And we have Stone to thank for a lot of that. He introduced us to Centurion Pictures several years ago, and the rest is history.”
Maddie rejoined them.
“This is my friend Josie Hale,” Stone said.
As Josie extended a hand, Maddie said, “The movie director?”
“One and the same,” Josie said.
“Josie, this is Madeline Santiago,” Stone said.
