It was clear Hilliard was observing him closely too.
Monty was filming his fifth take of a closeup in which he yelled, “You have got to be kidding me!” He finally delivered it with the right emphasis and was relieved that Director Chen apparently agreed when she didn’t demand another take.
Hilliard leaned close and said, “You’re so cute when you’re pleased with yourself.”
“I didn’t even smile,” Monty protested. But since he was pleased with himself, he added, “How did you know?”
Hilliard simply looked smug.
The next day, they were doing closeups and transitions for the first scene he and Hilliard had done together. They had spent nearly an hour setting up and filming a shot of a stack of papers being passed from one person to another. And then another hour walking in and out of the same office door.
After lunch, they filmed Monty opening a window and sticking his head out to see that it was snowing. The camera was on the other side of the window, showing Monty’s face as he peered upward. Light soapy snowflakes drifted down on cue as he said his line: “Well, would you look at that!”
“Let’s try it again,” Director Chen said. “A little more of a smile there, Kincaid. But just a little one. Don’t overdo it.”
“Right.” Monty ducked his head back in and wiped the soapy taste from his lips before closing the window again.
Hilliard was standing nearby, out of view of the camera. “Don’t be so worried,” he said quietly. “Multiple takes doesn’t mean she doesn’t like your performance. It just means that she knows you can do better.”
“I know, I know,” Monty said, shaking out his hands as he waited. “I don’t mind retakes. King does a million of them.”
“Tell that to your left foot.”
“Huh?” Monty looked down at his feet and then back up at Hilliard.
“You keep going on tiptoe on your left foot every time you’re annoyed with yourself.”
“Oh.”
“Action!”
Monty slid the window open, looked up at the sound stage ceiling. Realizing that Hilliard was right, he carefully eased his foot down and then gave a small smile. “Well, would you look at that,” he said quietly.
“Cut! Print! Let’s do the next setup.”
Monty closed the window with relief.
Hilliard leaned forward and tapped one eyebrow. “There it is.”
“What?”
“The quirk of your brow when you’re pleased with yourself.”
Monty grinned and lowered his voice. “Well, if you play your cards right, you might get to see that later tonight too.”
Hilliard rolled his eyes and smacked Monty’s arm with the back of his hand. “Don’t I know it.”
When they weren’t at the studio, Monty felt more at home in Hilliard’s house than he had since moving out to California. Evenings after dinner were spent on the sofa, with Monty’s head on Hilliard’s shoulder as he read or played crossword puzzles. Although Monty would often derail this leisure time by distracting Hilliard, and the book or paper would often wind up forgotten on the floor.
Monty found that he slept better in Hilliard’s arms. He woke up more easily when he knew there was a kiss and a cup of coffee waiting for him in the kitchen. As the days ticked by, he found himself settling into an unusual sense of satisfaction and peace. Hilliard had his back, not to mention his heart, and he had Hilliard, which made him the luckiest guy in the world.
On Wednesday morning, Cal and Jesse showed up for the aforepromised trip to the beach. Monty took great delight in catching Hilliard’s sneaking glances at his swim trunks. He made an effort to bend down to pick things up or put things away while packing the Cadillac as much as possible, just to see if he could attract Hilliard’s gaze.
They drove to the beach with the top down. Monty hooked his elbow over the sill and felt the breeze ruffling his hair and the sun kissing his skin. Months ago, Cal Campbell joining the party would have definitely upset Monty’s calm. But now he reveled in the fact that Hilliard was happy having people around to take care of, and that he actually kind of liked Cal’s company, as well as Jesse’s.
He peeked in the rearview mirror. Cal and Jesse were sitting on opposite sides of the picnic basket between them on the seat, but it was easy to catch them both stealing furtive glimpses of one another when they thought no one was looking. He smiled to himself. Perhaps he wasn’t the only one hoping the trip to the beach would turn romantic.
Hilliard read in the shade while Monty, Cal, and Jesse enjoyed the water. Monty made sure Henrietta got to swim and run, keeping a tight hand on her leash. After lunch, they wandered to the pier for ice cream.
