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Forty-Two
“I want you.”
Robin turned toward the gorgeous man next to her, precariously balancing Becky and Nova’s plats of cake and mints as she did so.
Wow. He looked very, very nice in his tux. She’d seen him online before, she thought, but couldn’t place him. And she’d missed half of what he’d said. “Excuse me?”
“I said, I am Rowland Bowles. The director. I’ll be making another movie here in Masterson soon. And I want you in it.” He shot her a charming look. “Actually, Nikki and Pandora pointed you out to me.”
“And why would you want me in your movie, Mr.…Bowles, is it?” There was no other solution for it. She plopped Becky’s plate into his hands. His shocked reaction was priceless, but he covered it. “Hold this for me a moment, please? I’ve got an extra kid to help with the buffet today.”
She readjusted the slipping cake on the side of Nova’s plate. The little girl was getting tired and overstimulated. That meant clingy in Nova’s world. And she wanted Robin. It made the buffet a bit difficult.
Mr. Bowles got an odd look on his far-too-handsome face. “Of course.”
He waited patiently. She easily sensed it was hard for him. “So, why me, Mr. Bowles?”
He turned serious. “Pandora suggested I ask you…as a way to honor her mother. Nikki informed me that there are a few scenes in the project she and Hunter are working on that feature Phil’s late wife. They said…I should ask you first. That the family wants it that way. She was your older sister, I understand?”
“Yes. Becky was my older sister.” Nikki and Hunter were writing a documentary about what had happened to Phil’s family over three years ago. But she had never expected this.
“Will you consider it?”
“I’m not exactly Hollywood movie material.”
“It’s a drama. A made-for-TV miniseries, actually. I’m going to focus on Phil’s family. His daughters and those irritating husbands of theirs that just constantly get in the way. May I help you carry these to the table?”
Oh, he was definitely a charming one. No doubt about that. “Of course. I’m over there with Phil’s brother, Nick.”
“So that’s who that is? I thought that was your husband?”
“I’m widowed, Mr. Bowles. And I have three children. Not exactly movie material.”
“There are very few speaking lines. Just a scene or two. Maybe four. To help set the story more appropriately. I’m just asking that you consider it. It’ll be a while down the road. I’m still trying to get everyone in place. I did get Charlotte Talley to commit to playing the part of Phoebe. And Slater Davis as Joel. I need someone to play Phil, though. Would his brother be interested? He’s the right age. Certainly resembles Phil as well. All that cowboy rugged the women just go crazy for.”
The man was overwhelming. Absolutely overwhelming. “You’ll have to speak to Nick. We are not together. I don’t speak for him.”
“Really now? Does he know you’re not together? He’s about ready to come over here and scratch out my eyeballs for looking at you. Now, you do look very nice in that dress, and I know quite a few of my cronies have noticed—but I’m offering a strictly professional relationship. Although…will you save me a dance later? I always like yanking the locals’ chains here in Masterson. Especially Tylers. They rise to the occasion so beautifully.”
She estimated he was about five years younger than she was. And the man knew how to play the game. Far more than she did, that was for sure. “I’m sure you do. And I’ll do that, Mr. Bowles. If nothing else…because Nick needs his chain yanked every once in a while. And I’m starting to enjoy it.”
He nodded at her. Robin led him across the tent toward where the tables were set up, Nova and Becky following along behind them—or rather, behind their plates of cake and treats—like two sweet-faced little ducklings.
Away from Nick Tyler and his diabolical plans. She’d just deal with what the big Hollywood director wanted from her later.
Now wasn’t the time.
