“I’m not at liberty to discuss private matters,” Darren replied. “If you could just please sign. You’ll be mailed a copy for your records.”
I forced myself to focus and turned back to the first page. A nondisclosure agreement. This was an NDA from Dorian Masters.
“What is it that he doesn’t want me to run my mouth about?” I asked Darren, some venom in my words.
The big man looked pained. His dark eyes glanced briefly to Mercer at my side. “I’m sorry, I’m not at liberty?—”
“To discuss private matters,” I finished for him. “Yeah, alright.”
“I’m not supposed to leave until you sign it.”
My thoughts raced, and for some reason, I could feel my heart pounding out an angry beat in my bloodstream. I’d been right yesterday. Ianhadn’ttrusted me. And the result was clenched in my fist, big words and phrases crinkled around my fingers.
Ian had been the one to insert himself into my life, my home, my routine. He’d misrepresented himself and withheld all sorts of information, apparently. But nowIwas the one who couldn’t be trusted, while having my morals and honor questioned? By some stranger from Hollywood, on my own damn farm? When I hadn’t done anything but give this man the benefit of the doubt—multiple times.
I glanced up at Darren, who looked ridiculously uncomfortable.
And then I started to read. I read the paperwork front to back. It took ten minutes of mind-numbing legalese and a headache at the base of my skull. After understanding less than a third of what I’d just consumed, I decided I’d gotten the gist and accepted a pen from Darren.
He took the packet with a quiet nod before climbing back in the side-by-side and returning the way he’d come.
“What was that all about?” Mercer asked as we both stood staring after Darren.
“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”
six
JOAN
After sifting through my rarely used email inbox, I found the shooting schedule for the week from the film liaison and made my way clear across the farm.
It was just after 4:00 p.m. when I approached the forest bordering the lavender field. I nearly did a double take at the sight. They’d transformed the land into something unrecognizable. A place I’d lived and explored and managed my whole life was suddenly foreign amid tents and lights and equipment I couldn’t name. It was as if I’d stepped into an alternate reality.
It was unsettling how easily they’d taken something foundational to me and rewritten it for their purposes.
There were more people than I ever would have imagined on a movie set. What did all these people do? Tables of food were set up near a trailer. Beneath a white tent, folks in puffy jackets gathered around a woman with a headset as they reviewed something on a tiny screen. There were monitors and cameras and even a person operatingsomethingon a track system, like a little train car.
I spotted Ian right away. He wasn’t hard to find. He was big and imposing, drew attention like a lighthouse.
As I stomped my way in his direction, I shook off the unease of what I was walking into. Was it unfamiliar? Yes. Was I intimidated? Fuck, no.
I didn’t care who these people were or the fact that I was about to cause a scene. I wanted answers from the man who’d been too cowardly to confront me himself. He’d sent someone else to do his dirty work.
A young man in an absurdly furry trapper hat was the first to see me as I approached the set. He seemed vaguely familiar, but I wasn’t in the mood for chitchat.
The man squeaked and nearly fumbled his clipboard before hustling out of my way.
“I’d like a word,” I said to Ian when I reached the people gathered in a semicircle around the tiny screen.
They all turned, startled, and the woman seated in the middle of them pulled her headset off and eyed me curiously. If she was mad that I’d interrupted, she didn’t show it; she merely gave me her attention and a surprised smile.
I knew she was the director—Della ... something. She’d come to the house and introduced herself to my family. I knew this whole project was her idea. I’d known it even before I’d met her because she’d called and talked to my parents prior to them signing on with the production company and allowing the film to use our land. Her enthusiasm and love for the area were what convinced my family to say yes.
I ignored the fact that I actually liked this woman. She was different from what I’d expected. I’d assumed a Hollywood director would be more businesslike and professional. Della wore rings on every finger and flowy skirts. She talked about the spirit of the land and was obsessed with my mother’s zucchini bread. I didn’t know her well, obviously, but there was no artifice I could detect in her dealings with us.
But I wasn’t here for a social call.
Ian frowned for maybe the first time in his entire life and looked around the set. I followed his gaze to where Darren sat near the trailer. The large man’s eyes widened when they landed on me, and he stood.
