Page 26 of One Kind Hand

“I’m not sick. I . . .” He poked his head out the doorway and glanced down the hallway in both directions. Empty.

Cody looked over his shoulder. “You what? What are you looking for out here?”

“I . . . I invited Charlie to see the filming today and to breakfast.” He closed the suite door after Cody entered and gestured to the full dining room table.

Cody’s eyebrows rose. “You did what now? I thought we didn’t mix business and pleasure.”

“We don’t. This is business mixed with business. Charlie should get a preview of what to expect when it’s time for helicopter scenes and we both need to eat breakfast.” He shrugged as if he were being perfectly logical.

Cody’s eyes narrowed at his bullshit. “You thinking with the right head, man?”

“Always.” Austin folded his arms across his chest and stared at Cody until his agent looked away.

“Okay.” Cody held up his hands. “Just making sure.” He wandered over to the table and stole several grapes from the colorful platter of fruit. He popped them into his mouth then turned back to face Austin. “I came by to check that you were all set for today.”

“I am.” Austin tapped his temple. “Got the lines all downloaded and everything.”

“Of course you do. I don’t know why I worry about you on every movie.” Cody shot him a smile. “You always kill it every time. You’ve got a gift, my friend.”

“Good thing you noticed me all those years ago. I’ve made you a boatload of money.”

“A frigging cargo carrier load and I love you for it.” Cody swiped more grapes then headed for the door. “I’ve got to check in with some of my lesser-known clients. Enjoy your breakfast, but don’t be late.”

“Got it.”

The door opened and closed quickly and Cody was gone, leaving Austin to think about how many people depended on him and his money. Every successful film brought funds to Cody, producers, directors, writers, and every single person who worked to bring the movie to the big screen. His paycheck also supported his sisters.

His sisters. Who he hadn’t called since landing in Vermont. Totally not like him. He usually checked in when he was on location, but yesterday had brought distractions in the form of chopper pilots in sexy cargo pants.

He picked up his phone from the kitchen island and hit Morgan’s contact. As the first triplet to come screaming into the world, she was two minutes older than Claire and three minutes older than Brooke.

“Hey, big brother,” Morgan said when she answered. “How’s Nowhere, Vermont?”

“It’s not Nowhere, Morgan. It’s Montpelier. The state’s capital.”

“Whatever. See any bears yet?”

He hadn’t, but perhaps he’d met a woman with the bravery of a bear. “Haven’t been hiking through the wilderness yet.”

“Well, what have you been doing then?”

Austin had no problem picturing Morgan’s eye roll. “Getting acclimated. Learning lines.” Flirting with gorgeous pilots. “The usual.”

“Just being the world famous big brother that you are.” Morgan chuckled.

“What trouble have you and Numbers Two and Three gotten into since I’ve been gone?”

“No trouble,” Morgan said. “We went to a party last night at Swell, that new bar in Manhattan. It was cool. Great DJ. The beats kept coming. And before you ask, the bouncer game was strong. Those guys were big and absolutely not letting any slime in to harass anyone.”

“Good.” He always worried about his sisters out at night, especially because they loved to dance. Being in his line of work, he’d heard one too many stories about beautiful women being harmed by lunatics. He’d lost one sister too soon. He didn’t plan to lose any others until they were white-haired and wrinkly.

Which, knowing his sisters, they would never allow to happen so it was a great plan.

“Probably no fun clubs in Montpelier,” Morgan said.

“Maybe not clubs, but I get the sense there is still fun to be had here.”

“Oh, really?” Interest sparked in Morgan’s voice now. “Do tell.”