“Vanilla.”
“Vanilla?”
“Boring. Plain. The view is okay. The furniture will do. It’s not cozy, warm or homey,” Harlow said. “But I’ll be close to work which is what’s most important.”
“The countdown has begun.” Meg made a tick-tock sound. “We can’t wait to hang out with you on the set.”
“It was cool to see.” Eryn filled them in, sharing a few details. The film, a rom-com chick flick, would be filmed downtown. “Steel City Wishes will be epic.”
While the women munched, they chatted about spring, the return of the tourists, Wynn Harbor Inn’s renovation project and island life in general.
Harlow gazed around the room at her close-knit group of friends. It seemed like only yesterday she’d returned to Mackinac Island, while there were other days when it felt as if she’d never left.
The more time she spent on the island, the more she realized the past few years had been spent living a superficial life in a make-believe world. It was all about fortune and fame, money, hammering out the next big deal, living an ultra-luxurious lifestyle to impress people who wouldn’t think twice about stabbing you in the back.
Other than Janice, her publicist and Vic, her bodyguard, Harlow couldn’t think of a single person she considered a true ally. Maybe Steven.
Harlow had so many friends on the island she couldn’t keep track. Lottie, the Mackies, Marty, even Arlen from the bike shop. Salt of the earth people who would drop what they were doing to lend a hand to a friend in need.
“…at Lighthouse Lane?” Abby gazed at Harlow expectantly.
“Huh?”
“Did you hear a word I said?”
“No. I was thinking about how happy I am to be back and my mind started wandering.”
“We were wondering how the reno was going.”
“Marty took me by on my way home from the airport. He offered to stop but I didn’t want to distract the workers.”
“Tomorrow is Sunday. Maybe we can go check it out in the afternoon,” Peyton hinted.
“Morgan and Brett Easton are coming by to see Dad. How does early afternoon sound?” Harlow threw out a tentative time. “We can meet there.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The gathering ended. Harlow, who had ridden her pedal bike into town, left the leftover dip and chips and headed out. During the ride, she thought about her confrontation with Cheyenne, still disappointed in herself for letting the woman get under her skin.
She wondered what Robert had promised her. Multi-million dollar deals? Her name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Invitations to the Oscars or Emmys?
Back home, she parked her bike alongside the house and slipped inside. Although she couldn’t see them, she heard the tinkle of Lottie’s laughter followed by David’s deep voice.
Tiptoeing through the house, she sneaked into her room, quietly closing the door behind her so she wouldn’t disturb them.
Harlow started to plug her cell phone into the charger when she noticed she’d missed a call from Robert. There were also two texts. The first read,call me.The second, sent seconds later, sounded a little more urgent:call me ASAP.
A sinking feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Harlow had no doubt what the call and texts were about—Cheyenne.
Chapter 5
“Hello, Robert.”
“Hello, Harlow.” Robert’s tone echoed over the line. Crisp, clipped, and to the point. “I trust your meeting with Steven Treb went well.”
“It did. Everything is running on schedule.”
“And the recce?”
