“You have Maxwell’s ring?” Kenna asked.
Megan nodded. “Eva said there are extra cuff links if you need them.”
Kenna glanced at the clipboard. “We’re using the silver ones with the diamond chips.”
Adam noticed Megan seemed more comfortable here than at the beach house and less agitated than at her car earlier. Not only her demeanor, but her posture and voice. Except for the way she was dressed, she fit right in.
“Show Adam the ring,” Kenna instructed.
Megan shuffled forward, her feet encased in white canvas sneakers. She looked a little pale, more tired than when he’d seen her earlier. No doubt hungry, too.
“Our paths cross again, Texas,” Adam said.
Lines creased Rosie’s forehead. Her gaze bounced between them. “You two know each other?”
“We met at Chas’s house a few days ago,” Adam explained.
Gossip spread like wildfire on sets. He watched what he said around the crew. Not that anything was going on with the intern. Or any other woman at the moment. Unfortunately.
“I had to take Eva the right portfolio,” Megan explained.
Rosie sighed. “The day our lives ended.”
Kenna nodded.
Megan removed a platinum-and-diamond ring from the box. Light reflected off the row of diamonds, sending colorful prisms dancing on the walls and ceiling.
Whoa. Adam wouldn’t wear that kind of ring in real life, but he could see his character Maxwell wanting something flashy like that. “That’s fancier than the original gold band I was going to wear.”
“Lane picked it out,” Kenna explained. “She felt since she’s playing the role of your wife, she should decide what kind of wedding band Maxwell wears.”
“So Maxwell is into bling now,” Adam teased.
“He will be once you’re wearing it,” Kenna said. “Put it on his left ring finger, Texas.”
Megan’s eyes widened at the nickname, and not in a good way. Oops.
He expected her to say something to Kenna, but Megan didn’t. Damn. She couldn’t. Not as an intern. She didn’t dare risk stepping on toes around here.
One more strike against him. More to make up to her. Adam would force her to order dessert. Something chocolate. Most women, even chronic dieters, loved chocolate.
Megan held the ring between her index and thumb. “Left hand, please.”
Her serious expression, coupled with her slight Texas twang, made Adam bite back a laugh. She was trying so hard to be professional when it looked like what she really needed was a decent meal, a big hug and a comfy pillow to rest her head. He’d offered the first. He wouldn’t mind providing all three.
Adam extended his arm and flexed his fingers to make it easier on her.
As she reached toward him with the ring, her hand trembled ever so slightly.
Her nervousness tugged at Adam’s heart. So sweet, the quintessential girl-next-door. He’d bet she wasn’t from a big town in Texas. She had small town written all over her both in her dress and mannerisms. Hollywood and Firebreather could eat her alive. He hoped that didn’t happen.
The cool metal of the ring touched his fingertip. A slight shock jolted him. Must be static from the carpet.
Megan slid the ring the rest of the way onto his finger. Her skin, soft and warm, brushed his. She tensed, pressing her lips together.
He wanted to lighten the mood and see her smile again. Having her breathe wouldn’t be a bad idea, either. She wasn’t the type to be easily charmed. He’d tried only to crash and burn. Humor might work. “Do you know how many women would love to trade places with you right now?”
Those beautiful brown eyes of hers mesmerized him with their intensity. Something flickered in them, flashed. “Oh, I don’t know. A star of your caliber? I suppose...millions.”
Her lighthearted tone matched the mischievous smile gracing her lips.
Objective achieved. He liked her sense of humor. Adam grinned. “At least that many.”
Kenna laughed. “But none of us.”
Rosie nodded. “Not unless we want to face Firebreather’s wrath.”
That familiar V formed above the bridge of Megan’s nose. “We’re not allowed to be fans?”
“Oh, we can be fans. Just not a certain kind of fan,” Kenna explained with a pointed look.
“That’s a big no-no,” Rosie added.
Megan looked genuinely confused. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
As far as Adam knew, there weren’t any firm rules about relationships on film sets as long as they didn’t interfere with the production schedule. He’d had his fair share of them. His only requirement was when the shoot ended so did the fling. “What’s a big no-no?”
“Set romances happen all the time, but Eva won’t allow us to get involved with the lead actors,” Kenna said.
Adam flinched. He was a lead actor. “Seriously?”
Kenna nodded. “Eva thinks the entire crew should keep their distance from the talent, but she has no say over what they do.”
“Nothing personal, Adam.” Kenna stuck her pencil behind her ear. “But some actors wouldn’t hesitate to have a crew member fired if they didn’t want a person around any longer. That’s why Eva tells us to stay away from the leads. It isn’t worth losing our jobs over, and it’s too big a pain for her to replace us.”
Megan exhaled on a sigh. “That makes sense.”
Maybe to her, but not to him. Adam was offended lead actors had such a bad rep with crew members. Not that he’d ever gotten involved with one, but there was always a first time.
His gaze rested on Megan, who wasn’t his type and likely had a boyfriend, the person she’d been texting.
But, on second thought, when had he ever let minor details like that stop him?
Never.
* * *
In the costume workroom, Megan sorted through the scarves that hadn’t made the final cut during Lane Gregory’s fitting. Megan tried to focus on the task at hand, but all she could think about was Adam.
What was he doing? His costume fitting had ended twenty minutes ago, but he hadn’t texted her about lunch.
Thinking about him sent her pulse skittering. He had looked so gorgeous in that tux. Suave and debonair. A perfect leading man, yes. But he’d also reminded her of a...
Groom.
Megan swallowed.
When she’d approached him with the ring, she’d thought he looked a lot like a husband-to-be waiting for his bride at the altar.
A silly thought. No doubt due to sleep deprivation and lack of healthy food.
But when she’d slid the wedding ring onto his finger she’d felt a slight shock, a prick of static electricity. Thank goodness the ring had been over his finger or she would have dropped it.
But she hadn’t. She’d held on to the ring and done her job. End of story.
No reason to turn this into something it wasn’t. She was tired. Nothing else would explain why, for a moment in the dressing room, she’d forgotten everything and everyone.
Kenna, Rosie, even Rob.
Rob.
Megan’s stomach dropped to her feet. How could she forget her best friend? Her future boyfriend and husband? She’d never checked his text message after bringing in the shoeboxes with Adam.
Guilt coated her mouth. She’d been distracted. That was all. As soon as she finished with the scarves, she would not only reply but also give Rob a quick call, if only to leave a voice mail.
That was if Adam didn’t text her in the meanwhile.
She reached for a lime-green scarf. Her fingertips brushed across the soft fabric. Cashmere. But not even the luxurious fabric made her feel better.
Agreeing to have lunch with Adam had been a big mistake. Especially after hearing Kenna and Rosie’s warning about Eva wanting them to stay away from lead actors.
Okay, eating lunch with Adam wasn’t a date. He was simply paying her back, righting a wrong, evening the score. But after seein
g how hot he looked in that tux and how she kept thinking about him, spending any time with him seemed like a really bad idea. She couldn’t afford to mess up this internship. Nor was there room in her life—her heart—for a crush on a movie star.
Megan glanced at her watch. Two o’clock.
Maybe he’d changed his mind or forgotten about lunch.
She ignored a prick of disappointment. Not getting together with him would be for the best.
Footsteps sounded in the hall.
Adam.
Anticipation made her glance toward the doorway.
A short woman with spiky bleached-blond hair and a tight black miniskirt and purple blouse hurried past.
Megan exhaled the breath she’d been holding. She put away the scarves.
Whether Adam blew her off or not, she needed to focus on the positive—the costume fitting. She was still running errands and delivering items to people here at the lot, but she hadn’t been asked to get anyone food to eat or a beverage to drink. This was the longest time she’d spent in the department since arriving on Monday. Maybe things were changing. A satisfied smile settled on her lips.
“Ready for lunch?”
Megan dropped two scarves onto the floor. She glanced over her shoulder.
Adam leaned casually against the door frame, making her wonder how long he’d been standing there. His shoulders looked wider than normal, even though he no longer wore the tux, but the same T-shirt and shorts she’d seen him wearing earlier.
Darn the man. He looked just as hot dressed casually. She cleared her dry throat. “I thought you were going to text me.”
“I decided to come by instead.”
“I need to put the scarves away.”
“I’m in no rush, Tex.”
She sighed. “Please don’t call me that.”
He grinned. “It’s cute.”
Her heart did a little two-step. “It’s not my name.”
“No, but it’s memorable.”
That was the problem. The name reminded her of Larkville, the place she wanted to forget. Sure, she loved her family, the way you were supposed to love your brothers and sister, but they were so wrapped up in their own lives they didn’t need her. They never had.
A weight pressed down on the center of Megan’s chest. “This might take a while. Go to lunch without me.”
“I can’t imagine seven scarves taking that long to put away.”
Were there only seven? She made a quick count. Seven. Guess it was too late to hope Eva would appear and demand Megan run another errand or do some other task. “I’ve been thinking...”
“That can be dangerous.”
Especially when it came to him. She mustered her courage. “I thought about what Kenna and Rosie said during your fitting.”
“About lead actors and the crew.”
Megan nodded. “Us having lunch probably isn’t a good idea.”
“I invited you out to eat, not to have sex in my trailer.” Desire flared in his eyes and made her mouth go dry. “Though if you’d rather pay a visit there...”
Heat burned her cheeks. She tried to think of a witty response. Tried and failed. All she could think about was his trailer and what might happen during a visit. Her entire face must be as red as the cherry preserves her mom and sister. Jess, used to can.
Laughter danced in Adam’s eyes. “No trailer today. Just the cafeteria for an innocent lunch.”
He emphasized the last two words, but Megan doubted he knew the definition of innocent. The guy was wickedly charming. Regular guys—the kind who didn’t star in movies and ooze sex appeal 24/7—rarely gave her the time of day. Granted, she never encouraged male attention because the only man she spent time with was Rob, who didn’t notice any of her encouragements. But she couldn’t understand why Adam was acting this way. He could do much better than her.
“You have to be hungry,” he added.
Her shrug gave way to a nod. She was starving. As if on cue, her stomach growled.
He stepped closer and held her hand.
Warmth seeped through her fingers and hand and up her arm. His skin felt rough, calloused like her father’s and brothers’ hands. But there was nothing familiar about the heat rushing up her arm and the way her pulse accelerated like a thoroughbred out of the starting gate. The urge to bolt for the nearest exit was strong.
Adam gave a gentle tug. “It’s just lunch. No big deal.”
Maybe not to him. Megan wasn’t so sure. She liked Adam holding her hand. Liked it a lot. And that was oh-so-wrong. On many levels. A funny tingling sensation settled in the pit of her stomach.
Pulling her hand away and giving him some excuse why she couldn’t have lunch today was the smart thing to do. That was what she should do.
He squeezed her hand. “Come on. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER FOUR
SO MUCH for doing the smart thing.
Sitting across from Adam at a table in the studio’s cafeteria, Megan’s nerves threatened to get the best of her. Her foot tapped uncontrollably. She pressed her toe against the tile floor. It didn’t ease her jitters.
Megan knew better. She should have never agreed to lunch. But when he squeezed her hand in the workroom, she’d caved like a house of cards built on a wobbly teeter-totter. Resolve and common sense had disappeared faster than the hush puppies served at Nan’s Bunk’n’Grill out on I-38.
Done in by a pretty face, warm skin and tingles.
Pathetic.
Except the tingles were out of this world. She’d never felt anything like them.
The din of customers’ conversations rose above the instrumental music playing from hidden speakers. Using her fork, she pushed around the baby greens, Gorgonzola, pears and candied walnuts. She didn’t know why she’d ordered a salad in addition to a sandwich, fries and dessert.
Adam’s plate contained a roast beef sandwich and steamed veggies. “So what do you think of the place?” he asked.
As she ate a forkful of baby greens, she surveyed the cafeteria. It was more like a café with modern decor and not one pastel-colored tray in sight. People filled the tables, whether for a late lunch or midafternoon snack she couldn’t tell. Coffee mugs and water glasses seemed to be in a race for the drink of choice. No doubt the low calories appealed to the masses.
“This is nothing like we have back home where greasy fries and hash browns reign supreme. Gracie May calls them Texas Taters. Not to be confused with the ever popular Texas Toast.” The knot in Megan’s stomach tightened. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
Adam wiped his mouth with a napkin. “No, I like hearing you talk.”
He would be the first. Well, next to Rob and her dad.
“Thanks. But being at a film studio is a little surreal.” Megan lowered her voice. “I recognize a few people. Actors I’ve seen on TV and in the movies.”
Adam smiled at her. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t know about that.” She pushed her salad plate to the side and scooted the plate with a Reuben sandwich and French fries in front of her. “I keep wanting to pinch myself to make sure I’m really here, in Hollywood, and not dreaming. Though they’re not always good dreams. I sometimes feel like I’m sitting on a chair covered with thumbtacks pointy side up.”
“Ouch.” He raised his water glass. “You need to relax. Loosen up.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.” At least not when he was with her. Something about Adam Noble put Megan on edge, made her nerve endings stand at attention and her senses shift into overdrive. She toyed with the napkin on her lap. It ripped in half. She needed to calm down. “Was today a typical fitting?”
“Fairly typical. More rushed due to Lane joining the cast so late. But last-minute changes are nothing new. Cast. Crew. Costumes. Script.” Adam took a sip of water. “How did you like the fitting?”
She leaned forward with excitement. “It was so awesome.”
“That’s a strong adjective.”
With a s
hrug, she sat back. “You wouldn’t understand.”
He raised a piece of broccoli with his fork. “Try me.”
Rob supported her interest in fashion, but he had zero interest in talking about clothing. Adam sounded interested. But for all she knew he was being polite. “Really?”
“Yes.”
Not saying anything would be rude. He had invited her to lunch. What’s the worst that could happen? She’d been teased and taunted her entire life. Adam might tease, but his ribbing could never cut her down like the people back home.
Truth was, she was bursting at the seams to talk to someone about her internship. She’d been going over things in her head, but that wasn’t much fun or helpful. If Adam wanted to listen she was more than willing to spill. “Well, up until today’s fitting I’ve spent my time driving all over Los Angeles and doing the jobs no one else wants to do.”
“The life of an intern.”
“I get that’s what I’m supposed to be doing,” she admitted. “But during the fitting I finally saw what working with costumes was like. I was allowed to help, too.”
He set his fork on this plate. “That would be pretty awesome.”
She nodded. “It was eye-opening and showed me how much I have to learn.”
“What do you mean?”
“I dressed characters in theater throughout college. I thought I had a good eye when it came to clothes, but today when the costumers and dressers pointed out things that need to be fixed or changed I realized how much I’d missed.”
“They pay attention to minute details.”
“I know,” she said. “I felt like I was watching an episode of What Not to Wear, except the show was on steroids with a warehouse-size closet of clothing and accessories to choose from. Then each piece was put under a fashion microscope. A little overwhelming, but I learned a lot listening to Lane talk about how Calliope would dress.”
“Some actors like to involve themselves in the costume process.”
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