Behind the Film Star's Smile

Pity.

He was definitely attracted to her. He thought it might even be mutual. But to act on that attraction would be the most stupid thing either of them could do. They were from different worlds. It would never work. And if it turned out that she, like Fleur, wanted something he most definitely couldn’t provide...

Better not to start anything he couldn’t finish. ‘See you tomorrow,’ he said. And watched her walk away.

CHAPTER THREE

JESS’S ENTRY-PHONE rang at precisely seven-thirty. She buzzed her sister and best friend up, and met them at her front door with a hug.

‘Pizza,’ Shannon said, waving the box at her.

‘Wine, strawberries and ice cream,’ Carly added, handing over the pudding. ‘And we want to know everything.’

‘Food first.’ Jess shepherded them into the kitchen, where the table was already set, and put the strawberries in the fridge and the ice cream in the freezer.

Carly poured the wine. ‘So how was it?’

‘Fine.’

‘Brave face fine, or really fine?’ Carly persisted.

‘Really fine,’ Jess reassured her with a smile.

‘So tell us all about it. What’s it like, working on a film set? Did you see anyone famous?’ Carly asked.

‘Set rules—everything’s confidential. So I can’t tell you that much about it,’ Jess warned.

‘Confidential. Just like your old job,’ Shannon said wryly.

No. Because this time Jess wasn’t getting involved. And nobody was going to get hurt. Working on a film set was nothing like being a police officer, apart from her work having to be confidential. There were no thugs with loaded guns to face, for starters. It wasn’t life or death. ‘Not quite. Everyone I worked with was nice.’

She couldn’t tell Carly and Shannon everything about Luke McKenzie—if she told them about Baloo, she knew they’d both suggest immediately that she should move to a flat that allowed animals and give the Labrador a home. But she was looking forward to their reaction to her little surprise. ‘As for anyone famous... You have to keep this totally confidential, OK?’

‘Promise. Cross our hearts,’ they chorused, following up with the actions.

‘Good.’ She fetched the cardboard envelopes and handed them over. ‘These are for you.’

She watched the expressions on their faces as they opened the envelopes and took out the signed photographs. Surprise turned to disbelief and then delight—and then the pair of them hugged her half to death.

‘Oh, my God. You met Luke McKenzie! I can’t believe it. My little sister just met the most gorgeous man in the world. What’s he like?’ Carly asked.

‘Complicated,’ Jess said. ‘When I first met him—well, he was being Mr Big Shot Actor.’

‘But he’s always so nice in interviews,’ Shannon said, looking disappointed.

‘He got a bit nicer as the day went on,’ Jess said.

‘Maybe he’s just not a morning person and needs a ton of coffee before he’s even halfway human,’ Carly suggested. ‘I still can’t believe you actually met him.’

‘Is he as beautiful in real life as he is on the screen?’ Shannon asked.

More so. But Jess couldn’t quite admit to that. It would be totally inappropriate to have a crush on Luke McKenzie. She was the most junior member of the film crew, and he was the headline actor. ‘You wouldn’t be disappointed,’ she said.

‘So you’re actually working with him?’ Shannon shook her head. ‘Wow. I can’t take this in.’

‘He’s not the only actor in the movie,’ Jess said with a smile.

Carly laughed. ‘You’re talking to us. Of course he’s the only actor in the movie!’

Jess laughed back. ‘Come on—let’s eat before the pizza gets cold, and I’ll tell you as much as I can about today.’

At the end of the evening, Carly held her close. ‘It’s good to see you smile again, Jessie,’ she said. ‘I know you’ve had a really tough time of it, this last year, and it’s been hell watching you go through it and knowing that I couldn’t do anything to make things better for you. I would’ve given anything for a magic wand to fix things. I still wish I could bring Matt and Comet back. Well, not even have them in danger in the first place.’

‘You were there for me, and just knowing that I could call you at stupid o’clock in the morning if I needed to helped a lot,’ Jess reassured her.

‘You never actually called me, though,’ Carly pointed out. ‘Because you’re too stubborn.’

Jess gave her a rueful smile. ‘I guess I just needed time to come to terms with things in my own way. I’m never going to stop missing Matt and Comet, but I’m finally learning to see the sunshine again.’

‘I just wish you’d go back to working with dogs,’ Shannon said. ‘You loved your job so much. And working as a temp doesn’t make you anywhere near as happy—even if you did get to meet the most gorgeous man in the world today.’

‘I’m fine,’ Jess said. She’d heard this argument countless times before. And she had the same answer: she wasn’t ready to go back to working with dogs. She might not ever be ready. As a temp, she kept her days too full to think, and that suited her right now. ‘See you both later. Text me to let me know you’re home safely.’

‘Of course,’ they said, rolling their eyes.

She couldn’t even use the excuse that she was a policewoman any more. She just wanted to know that they were safe. Needed to know.

‘Stop worrying, sweetie,’ Shannon said and hugged her. ‘Everything’s going to be just fine.’

* * *

On Wednesday morning, Jess spent an hour working through Ayesha’s list, then had an hour of training with Luke and Baloo before his rehearsals. She was guiltily aware that her best friend was absolutely right about Jess being happiest when working with animals: despite her initial reservations, Jess was really enjoying training the dog. She loved seeing the Labrador blossom and become more confident as her training progressed. And she’d missed this.

Maybe she should consider going back to it. Not with the police—she knew she couldn’t handle the idea of training people and their dogs to face the kind of situation Matt and Comet had faced—but maybe she could set up classes doing something like this. Or even working with the animal handling department of a film company.

‘She’s doing really well,’ Luke said. ‘I can’t believe how quickly she’s picking things up.’

‘She’s very trainable. And this will make her life easier.’ Jess paused. ‘And yours.’

‘Baloo’s not mine,’ Luke reminded her.

Oh, yes, she most certainly is, Jess thought, but kept her counsel.

As the runner came up to tell Luke that the director was ready for him, Jess said, ‘See you later. Break a leg—or is that only said for stage performances?’

He laughed. ‘It’s pretty much the same thing. Thanks, Jess. See you later.’

* * *