Page 86 of Love On and Off Set

Donovan snagged his arm, even as Cole was trying to beat a path to the door. He rolled his eyes. “She’s fine. I’m just wondering why you’re not booting it home.”

Part of the reason we were shooting in the week between Christmas and New Year was because Cole was about to become a father, and the studio wanted him to have time off to be home with Caressa and Michael after the baby was born.

Cole rubbed his forehead. “Are you trying to kill me with a heart attack?”

Donovan squeezed Cole’s neck. “Never. But that call will come, and you need to be calm. She’s having twins…that usually means an early delivery. Now, tell Brody how much you appreciate him and then go home.”

“Yeah.” Cole offered me a sheepish grin. “Thank you, Brody. You’re awesome.” He yanked me in for a hug.

From day one, he’d asked everyone if we were okay with physical affection. Since I didn’t tend to get much of it off set—because did random hookups really count—I was happy for the touchy-feely nature of those around me. I gripped him tight. “You’re going to make a great dad.”

“God, I hope so.” He pulled back. His eyes were a little damp.

The man was so damn handsome that he took my breath away. Bright-blue eyes, roguish black hair that went down to his shoulders, my height, and a killer smile. And he’d wound up with his two best friends. How perfect an ending for the nicest guy I knew.

He took off, and Donovan chuckled.

I eyed the man.

Who rolled his eyes. “Cole has got to learn to calm down.”

“I think if my partner was pregnant with twins, I’d never be calm. Just saying.” And since that was never going to happen, I didn’t have to worry about it. “Are you coming to Jack’s?”

He shook his head. “I also have to get home. Oh well, another time, I promise. But I think Julie will be dropping in. Oh, and so will Myles and Hallstein.” Our flamboyant set director and his head-of-studio-security husband.

“Well, that’ll be fun.”

Myles was always a hoot and Hallstein…was slowly warming up to our brand of chaos. I still remembered the fuss that had brought him to us—bodyguard to a Ming vase. That job ended, and he’d simply stayed—hired by Val to run security for the studio and the various shoots in and around Vancouver. Polite to a fault, Hallstein was…very Canadian. And a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to boot.

I glanced around. Most of the cast had already vanished. “I need to be doing some work before I can get over there, but I definitely plan to be there.”

“I’ll tell Julie to buy you a beer. That catch you made earlier…” He blinked.

What...? Oh…that… I’d spotted a potential hazard. Cole could’ve been hurt. Since safety was part of my job, and since everyone on the set was empowered, and in fact expected to speak up about safety issues, I’d said something. “No biggie.”

He clapped me on the back. “Yeah, you tell yourself that. Keep up the good work.”

With that, he was gone.

Teardown didn’t take as long as I anticipated—my crew really wanted to scatter as soon as possible. Teri thought she might make it to Jack’s tonight while Martin and Emil had definite plans that didn’t involve hanging with people from work. No offense, they said. None taken, I assured them.

That was how I found myself driving across the Lion’s Gate Bridge from the studio in North Vancouver to my home in the west end just as the sun crested the western sky and cast a pink shadow over the trees in Stanley Park. One of North America’s largest urban parks—bigger even than Central Park in New York. Definitely Vancouver’s gem. My apartment was super close to the park, which I appreciated.

Night was encroaching, which I didn’t like. So close to the winter solstice, daylight was at a premium, and unless we were shooting outside—in the freezing cold this week—then my days started and ended in darkness. I’d try to sneak out for a bit of daylight over lunch if I wasn’t working. This week, however, had been overcast skies and even a few flurries.

God, Stefan, I miss you. You always loved the snow.

Fortunately, my Minnie didn’t mind the cold or the snow. In fact, she kind of got a kick out of the booties I’d bought her. As I thought of my wonderful dog, I pushed thoughts of Stefan from my mind.

Damn, I hadn’t texted Jenn to let her know I’d be home early. My neighbor and I shared a weird custody arrangement with our dog. When I wasn’t working, Minnie lived with me. When I was doing my fourteen- and fifteen-hour days, Jenn took over. I’d worried Minnie might get confused, but the big lug just loved everyone—especially the humans she had wrapped around her massive paw.

I’d be able to take her for a long walk before going to Jack’s tonight. She was then spending the night with Jenn. I’d scoop her up in the morning and have her for three full days before I headed back to the studio for another run of shooting.

This arrangement had worked for nearly three years. The problem? Jenn’s work was pressuring her to take a huge promotion—and to move to Toronto. With the salary they were offering, and with a glut of condos for sale in the city, she could get a place of her own that was bigger than what she had now. Room to stretch her wings—metaphorically and physically.

Unfortunately, telecommuting wasn’t an option.

She had to make up her mind shortly.