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I could tell Max was resisting the urge to roll her eyes, glaring at him instead.
Interesting.
“Audrey, Charity, we’ll also need you on set for a few hours.”
Audrey lifted her head from the notepad she’d been scribbling on with a glazed expression. “Um, sorry. I zoned out there for a mo.”
“Just checking you’re on set this afternoon for Kane and Scarlett’s scene,” I clarified. Audrey was amazing at her job, but tended to drift off with the fairies from time to time.
“Oh! Yes, of course. That’s why I’m here, to make Scarlett beautiful.” She paused and her eyes went wide and round. “Not that she needs much to make that happen because, you know, she’s already stunning.” Audrey snapped her mouth closed before she put the other foot in it.
“Charity?” I prompted. My gaze landed on the tall, blonde props manager fiddling with a fake lampshade on a side table.
She jumped at the sound of her name and almost dropped the lamp. Embarrassed color ran up her neck into her cheeks as everyone turned to look at her. “Sorry, yes. I’ll be here.”
“Grace, I’m assuming you’re all set up ready to go?” I queried our blonde-haired camera lady.
“Ready to make some magic,” she chirped with a bright smile, her blue eyes twinkling with excitement.
“Excellent. Ryder Thorne from Thorne Operations is providing security throughout filming,” I told them, gesturing to the tall, dark-haired man standing next to Jackson. Ryder and Jackson were both ex-military and best friends. It was on Jackson’s recommendation that I hired Ryder. “Oh, and we’ve hired a caterer for the duration, Landon Scott. Landon is a wonderful chef and owns a restaurant, so you should be in for a treat,” I added, aiming a smile at the tall, lean man at the back of the studio.
Landon jolted when he heard his name, dragging his gaze from Grace, who was fiddling with her camera setup. He lifted a hand in acknowledgement.
I scanned the people before me, who appeared to be split between those excited to get started, and those with a distinct “bah, humbug” vibe. I was aware of the electricity bouncingbetween certain people, and thought again that this would be an interesting ride.
“Well, I think that’s everything,” I announced, glancing at my clipboard. “Break a leg, everyone, and I expect to see you all at the wrap-up party at The Avalon Club on New Year’s Eve.”
I wondered if I’d see some festive love matches among those present by the time the party rolled around. I smiled inwardly. Something told me I would, and if so, I would happily tip my hat to Nick Saint. There was nothing like celebrating the magic of Christmas with a good old-fashioned love story.
Andrew & Maxine
KAT BAXTER
Copyright © 2022 Kat Baxter
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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One
MAXINE
The thing about romantic comedies is that anything seems possible for the hour and a half that you’re watching them. Then when the credits start to roll, the bubble bursts and you go back to the real world where there’s no such thing as love like that.
My family has been peddling the myth of happily ever after since long before I was born. It’s hard not to be cynical about love when you grow up in the movie industry.
That’s just one of the reasons I’d promised myself a long time ago that I would never work on a movie set.
When you come from a movie family, people expect it of you, but I had zero interest. Between my grandfather (movie producer and President of the company), my uncles (all producers), my dad (a director), my mom (movie starlet) and my cousins (also actors), I spent more than enough of my childhood on sets and various locations, thank you very much.
When people find out who my family is, the initial reaction varies. I’ve gotten everything from a startled laugh to a confused slow blink. But they always end up in the same place: Wait. Why don’t you want to work in the movie industry?
Believe it or not, some people don’t want to be surrounded by the vain and self-centered. Okay, maybe that’s not the entire industry. Maybe it’s just my family.
Thankfully I’m unattractive enough by Hollywood standards that I’ve been kept out of the press. I was able to go to medical school and do my thing and everything was peachy until I pissed off my grandfather enough. I finally crossed the line. He cut me off and now I’ve been forced to take a semester off.
