Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
We went to the studio and were escorted to a large room. The table was equipped with papers, pens, pencils, sticky notes. On the sideboard were coffee, water, juice, sodas, and an array of breakfast foods. I wasn’t hungry, but I took a cup of coffee and some water.
Amber breezed in, looking effortlessly beautiful. Her long blonde hair was in a ponytail. She wore leggings and a tunic, the sleeves rolled up. A baseball hat was backward on her head, glasses on top of it, and her feet were encased in steel-toed boots. She looked casual, stylish, and ready for work. She was smiling and friendly, kissing me on the cheek and helping herself to pastries and coffee, chatting the whole time.
“So excited to get this going,” she enthused. “I have some ideas to bounce off you, Mila. I spoke with your uncle. Three of them, in fact. So charming. You Canadians and your accent. I love it.”
I shook my head. “We don’t have accents.”
She sat down, talking around a mouthful of pastry. “You do! The way you say your r’s and about. Never mind the eh bit. I love it. Anyway, Aiden and I spoke at length, along with a Halton?”
I nodded. “He’s a lawyer.”
“Yes. They agreed to let us do some filming. Aiden walked me around the town via Zoom. It is perfect and will cut down on the filming needed elsewhere. I’m sending a crew to meet with the town officials and get the permits. Aiden and Bentley are going to help.” She grinned. “I am assuming they carry a lot of weight there.”
“They do,” I agreed, sipping my coffee. “Our family owns a lot of the businesses and housing in the area. They turned it into a project to make the town prosper.”
“And your complex! My God, what was it like to grow up there?”
“We lived in Toronto while I grew up. We moved in my teens. I love it there. I do much better in small towns than big cities.” I dropped my voice. “Or new places and crowds.”
She patted my hand. “You’re among friends here. Lacey and Nicholas are eager to meet you. I know they have questions. As do some of the secondary cast. And the pictures of the town have inspired me for some scenes.”
“I’m glad. It’s a magical place.”
The door opened, and Lacey Dunbar walked in. Petite, pretty, with blonde hair that was cut to her chin, she had a smile that lit up the camera. She was effervescent, her dark-brown eyes lit with humor. She was the perfect foil against the dark intensity of Nicholas’s character.
She dropped her script on the table, hugged Amber, shook Andi’s hand, then flung her arms around me. “Oh my God. I am so happy to meet you. Your book—all your books. I love them, and I am thrilled to be doing this movie.” She stepped back, meeting my eyes. “I have so many questions.”
“I hope I can answer them.”
“I’m sure you can.” Then she grinned. “And I won the pool.”
“The pool?”
“I bet A.M. Archer would be a woman in the prime of her life, simply wanting her privacy. I also said you’d be as cute as your characters.” She winked drolly. “Nick won’t be as happy.”
“What was his guess?”
“An older woman living vicariously through her characters. Maybe writing from memory. He said the author was too sensitive to be a male.”
“Well, I hope he isn’t disappointed.”
“I’m shocked he isn’t here yet. I heard him earlier, bellowing on set. Looking for someone named Shortcake or something.” She rolled her eyes. “He bellows a lot, but it’s all show. He’s a great guy.”
“That’s right. You’ve worked with him before.”
She nodded. “Brilliant actor.” A dark look crossed her face. “Misunderstood by a lot of people, and sometimes…” She trailed off.
“Sometimes?” I prompted.
She shook her head. “Nothing. My own musings. I need coffee then we can get this started!”
She moved away, and I tamped down my frustration. I had a feeling she was about to divulge something about Nicholas. Something important. I would have to try to find a way to wheedle it out of her later.
I went to the sideboard, pouring myself another cup of coffee. The actor playing against Nicholas as his best friend came in and introduced himself, shaking my hand with a wide smile. With his shock of red hair and dimpled chin, he was the ideal sidekick for the main character.
“Bradley Holmes. Good to meet you. You are quite the mystery, Ms. Archer. Or do you prefer Mrs.? Miss? A.M.?” he asked in a teasing tone.
I smiled at his query, waving my hand. “Mila is fine,” I assured him.
Behind me, the door opened, and without looking, I knew it was him. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. My entire body began to hum with him being in the same room. I swore I felt his intensity. Sensed his penetrating stare on the back of my head. For a moment, I was frozen, then I blinked to clear my head and took a sip of my coffee, striving for calm. With a fast breath for courage, I turned around and met his eyes.