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“Tell me more about where you live,” I said. “I want to try to imagine it.”
She told me a little about her life in her apartment in Venice. The art and activity on the boardwalk, and all the bars andrestaurants she and her friends had frequented before fame had encompassed her life.
“I wanted an acting job so badly in those days,” Annie said. “But looking back, working in the restaurant with my friends was pretty fun. I enjoyed the journey, it seems, more than I have the destination.”
“Not the work, though?” I asked.
“Not the work, no.” She smiled and picked up her steaming mug of coffee. “The work is the best part. Even more than the money.”
“Do you know what kind of house you want?” I asked, even though I didn’t want to hear her answer. Unless it was that she was planning on buying land in Montana.
“I don’t want a house. My apartment’s fine. Ben called it the Roach Motel, which was not at all accurate. It’s just small and not the fanciest of buildings. I like it. I feel safe there. The neighbors all know me and look after me.”
“That’s nice.” When she left me to return home, I could take comfort in that.
For the rest of the morning we worked together to put the turkey in the oven and make the dough for the rolls. By noon, we were hungry, so I heated up some cans of soup before we went back to work.
It all felt so natural, her being here, cooking side by side. If only I could stop thinking about kissing her again.
I’d gotten a new tablecloth, napkins, and candles at one of the home stores in Bozeman to decorate the table.
Annie’s face lit up when I suggested she set the table. “Really? I’d love to.”
“It’s all in bags in the cupboard in the dining room. Impulse purchases, most of it, so just pick what you want. None of it’s sentimental.”
She frowned and wrapped her arms around her middle. “But are you sure? What if I don’t do what you want?”
I hesitated before answering. Do what I want? Why would she ask that? I knew the answer.Potter. Controlling bastard.He’d chipped away at her self-confidence about more than just her acting. Or had this all started after the rejection from her mother? Did she think she had to perform a certain way to be loved?
“Whatever you decide, it’ll look great,” I said. “And if it’s not quite like the magazines, then all the better. No one has to be perfect in this house.”
She grinned. “Well, that’s a relief.”
“With my family, plus Elliot and Finley, we’ll have ten at the table.”
She looked worried for a moment. “No photos, right?”
“Finley and Elliot work here,” I said. “Our code of conduct asks for their discretion when it comes to guests. But I’ll touch base with each of them, okay? If I get a bad feeling, they’re gone.”
Annie shook her head. “No, we can’t kick them out on Thanksgiving Day. Just please ask them not to use their phones while we’re here.”
“Done.” As much as I’d have liked to say I had full confidence in the employees my brothers had invited, I wasn’t sure. I’d have to be vigilant and keep a close watch on them.
Right at two,my family and our guests started to arrive. As they hung up their coats and handed me various dishes, I took a closer look at Finley and Elliot. Finley I knew better, even though she’d only been working for us for a few weeks. She seemed innocent enough. Although, her accent was so cute, perhaps it was hard to judge her fairly. I was a sucker for an English accent. Wasn’t everyone? I took Finley aside before she joined the others in the kitchen. “Hey, it’s a little delicate withAnnie here. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your phone in your purse. No photos.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She scrunched up her forehead. “That would be decidedly a terrible thing to do to someone. Anyway, I learned in school that discretion is the most important aspect of hospitality. No one wants their news spread all over, especially a famous actress. Isn’t she beautiful? I almost couldn’t speak the other day when she checked in. I mean, obviously you think so too, or you wouldn’t be kissing on her.”
I flushed. “You saw that?”
“It was hard not to. People are weirdly curious about her, aren’t they? We have stars like that in England too. The photographers have no mercy.”
“What are people saying? You know, like in the comments?”
“I haven’t read anything like that. Other than they’re calling you the Billionaire Cowboy.”
I groaned. “Great.”
“It’ll die down. You know how these things do. There will be another scandal or something to distract everyone any moment now.”
