Behind the Film Star's Smile

Was he still acting? Jess wondered.

Then again, Ayesha had said that Luke used to be a total sweetheart, but he’d had a hard time over the last year and it seemed to have changed him.

Maybe this man was the real Luke McKenzie, rather than the arrogant, grumpy man she’d met this morning.

And everyone deserved a second chance.

Well, nearly everyone. There were a couple of people that Jess hoped would stay in prison for the rest of their lives. Though now wasn’t the time to think about that.

‘Thank you, Mr McKenzie.’

‘Luke,’ he reminded her.

This was surreal. Since when would an A-list movie star ask you to call him by his first name? She pinched herself surreptitiously, just in case this was some weirdly realistic dream. It hurt. Not a dream, then. ‘Luke,’ she repeated. ‘I like my tea very weak and milky.’

‘So the tea bag says hello to the water and disappears again? That’s utterly gross,’ Luke said, ‘but OK, if that’s how you want it. Sugar?’

‘No, thanks. Tell me about Baloo.’

‘My aunt volunteers at a home for abandoned dogs,’ he said. ‘Baloo was—um—oh, just cover her ears for a second, will you?’

Cover the dog’s ears? Jess didn’t get it, but she did as he asked.

‘She was on death row. Monica—my aunt—smuggled her out. The problem was, Monica had to be at the airport six hours after that, and all the kennels were full.’

Jess smelt a rat. A very, very big one. ‘All the kennels were full?’

‘According to Monica, yes. She didn’t actually tell me why Baloo was on death row, but I’m guessing it’s to do with the stealing and chewing.’

‘Normally it’s because they’re an older dog who’s been abandoned, or because the owners can’t look after them any more—’ Jess forced herself not to think because they’d died ‘—and none of their friends or family has room for a pet. She’s young and healthy.’ She shrugged and stopped covering Baloo’s ears. ‘You’re probably right about the chewing. I’d guess it’s separation anxiety, especially as she wanted to be with you and she doesn’t cope with being left alone. But your aunt must’ve realised you know nothing about dogs.’

‘Yeah. Half the time, I’m not even in London; having a pet wouldn’t be fair because it would spend half its time in kennels.’

‘But you still agreed to look after Baloo.’

‘Temporarily. We’re rehearsing this week, and Monica’s back the day we start shooting.’ He raked a hand through his hair. ‘I had no idea that looking after a dog would be this hard.’

‘A dog who’s been kicked out of at least one home, to be on dea—well, in the position she was,’ Jess amended. ‘A dog with special needs. Not the easiest starter dog for a rookie owner.’

‘You know about dogs.’ It was a statement, not a question.

A lie would be too obvious. ‘Yes.’

‘Can you help me?’ he asked. ‘Please? I know you’re a virtual stranger and I have no right to ask you for help, but apart from my aunt you’re about the only person I’ve met who knows anything at all about dogs.’

Which wasn’t her problem. She could just walk away. This wasn’t part of her job description. She didn’t have to deal with the dog.

But Jess had never been the sort to walk away and refuse help when someone needed it. Saying no would be denying who she was.

‘Please, Jess?’ he asked again.

‘You’re the star of a movie, where I happen to be the production assistant and I’m supposed to do whatever I’m told. All you have to do is tell Ayesha you want me to jump, and she’ll ask you how high,’ Jess pointed out.

He winced. ‘God. I always swore I’d never be like that. And I was horrible, this morning. Worse than Mi–’ He stopped abruptly.

Jess could guess whose name he’d just cut off. Mimi, his co-star. Owner of expensive designer shoes, and clearly also hater of dogs.

‘I’m sorry,’ he finished.

She was pretty sure now that he wasn’t acting. His eyes were almost silver in this light. And they were utterly sincere. ‘Maybe you were having a bad day,’ she suggested.

‘A lot of bad days all in a row,’ he said, wrinkling his nose. ‘But that’s still no excuse for treating people badly.’

Did he have any idea how cute it made him look when he wrinkled his nose like that?

Yes, of course he did. He must do, she thought. It was his job, after all. Hunky movie star. The job description no doubt included the line: must look gorgeous and appealing to all women at all times.

‘Jess, can you help me? Please?’ he asked again.

More charm. He’d made her a cup of tea, just the way she liked it. And she noticed how often he’d used her name—a trick she’d been taught at work, too. It made people have confidence in you if you used their name. It made them feel that you were on their side. It made whatever you said feel personal.

No.

She ought to say no.

She didn’t want to get involved with another dog. Not after losing Comet. The whole point of working as a freelancer was that she wouldn’t get time to bond with any of her colleagues—not like her days with the police, when she knew every single dog in her team and every single handler she trained. When they were friends as well as colleagues. When she’d known most of the dogs from the moment they were born.

Being that close to everyone had left her life in tatters, and she just couldn’t let that happen all over again.

‘Please, Jess?’ he asked softly. ‘I can’t hold up rehearsals until my aunt gets back. We’re on a tight schedule and a tight budget as it is. And I definitely can’t take Baloo back to the dogs’ home. You know what will happen if I do.’

The dog would be put down.

And Jess had had enough death in her life, this last year or so. She couldn’t bear the idea of a young, healthy dog being put down just because she hadn’t been trained and was a bit boisterous.

‘She needs training. Which means a lot of time and hard work and patience,’ Jess warned.

‘I guess that’ll be Monica’s job. Or maybe when she gets back she’ll find the right home for her, with someone who can do the training. But for now Baloo’s with me. And I haven’t got the time to train her or give her the attention she needs.’ He stooped to scratch the back of the dog’s head, and the dog rubbed her face against his knee.

Not his dog, hmm? From Jess’s point of view, that looked like some serious bonding going on. He’d made a fuss of the dog without even realising he was doing it. And the dog was looking adoringly back at him. As far as Baloo was concerned, she’d found the person she wanted to live with for the rest of her days; Jess had a feeling that Luke might not have quite as much say in the matter as he thought he did.

‘So can you help us, Jess? Please?’

Say yes, and open herself up to the risk of getting involved and being hurt.

Or do the sensible thing and say no, sorry, she couldn’t.

Except that would mean refusing to help a dog who was already in trouble and had nobody to speak up for her. How could Jess possibly do that?