The Accidental Movie Star (9 page)

“Me either.” Powder made a ticked sound when she found a cotton swab in with the lip liner brushes. For a wild person, she was crazy organized.

Powder put her hands on her hips. “I’m missing a frosted cream pencil in aquamarine and a ruby slush lip liner. That’s the last time Olive helps me.” She stomped toward the back exit. “Olive. Where are you?”

“Give me a hand here?” Boomer called. Ashley joined him. He shoved a coffee table in front of one of the chairs and frowned more. “It’s supposed to look cozy for the star’s interviews. What’s cozy?”

Cutter, walking by, frowned. “Not that.”

Ashley ignored Cutter and tugged one of the chairs around so that they faced the other.

Boomer centered the small coffee table between the two chairs.

Cutter returned carrying blankets. He tucked the throw over the back of the chair. “Lorene goes first.” He handed Ashley a blue and red blanket. “Then Caspian, and then Petra. Switch out the backdrops for each.” Cutter smoothed the fabric into place. “Green will complement Lorene’s peaches-and-cream coloring.”

Olive pounded over and plopped a tea tray on the coffee table. “When’s Lorene getting here?”

Cutter shrugged, and his gaze swiveled around the set. “She should be here. I need to fit her dress.” His left eye twitched and he snagged a sugar cube from the bowl.

Olive slapped at his hand. “Those are for Caspian.” She adjusted a tiny teapot and arched an eyebrow at Ashley.

“Ash.” The AD walked up, waving a roll of colored tape her way.

“I got the blocking done earlier,” Ashley said. The actors were blocking today, so she had come in early to stick tape on the floor, marking the actors’ spots, one color for Lorene, one color for Caz.

Olive ran to the AD. She snagged the tape from his hand and stomped over to the stage. She scoured the floor, putting slightly larger pieces of tape over the already marked spots.

Today was going to be a sixteen-hour day for sure. Ashley had typed up a text message warning Dad she’d be late, though he usually worked even later than she did. “Hey, Boomer,” Ashley said.

“Yeah?” Boomer sat on a crate threading the wire for a hidden microphone through a vase.

“The interviews are going to be over there, in a second.” Ashley gestured with her free hand toward the cozy nook he’d set up.

“You need mics?”

“No, but you should move your crate against that wall or hang that cable back there. Get seen on camera, maybe. You’re too out of the way over here.”

Color flooded his face and his buzzed head ducked. “Maybe.”

Ashley’s mouth dropped. She thought he’d love to invite a million viewers to the gun show. Who knew?

A new woman walked on set. Movie sets were a crazy rush of people all the time but since they worked such long hours, Ashley knew most of the crew. She recognized the new woman from her online interview with Garrett; and if she hadn’t, she’d have guessed she was a reporter by her shellacked hair, toothy grin, and navy suit.

Ashley frowned. Caz was expecting a professional newscast.
Tween In
was a show for teens and younger, one step up from a tabloid wanting to discuss his alien baby. What was his agent thinking? He was going to hate this interview. She peeked at the clock on her cell phone. Lorene was due, but no Lorene. She’d better get Caz ready to go early.

Caz stood by the tea tray. His hand reached for a teacup, an unsuspecting look on his face.

Stilling his hand, Ashley said, “Let me.” She gestured for him to take a seat and poured him a cup with milk and sugar.

Before handing the porcelain to him, she whispered, “You know about the interview, right?”

“Yes, an entertainment segment for a news program.” Caz took a sip and smiled at the cup. “I’m going to talk about my character’s descent from happiness to emptiness.”

Ashley nodded. “Powder said the director’s going to contrast the memories of your lost love’s sweetness against the vixen’s manipulations.”

Caz slumped and rested the cup on the arm of the chair. “It’s a change to have a good script to discuss. One that’s complete before we start shooting.”

She smiled. Dad had told her horror stories of unfinished scripts and impossible deadlines.

The reporter, her cameraman, and the AD joined them. Caz rose, and Ashley stepped out of the way while they exchanged greetings.

“I’m Karla Quintos from
Tween In,
online and on the air,” the reporter said without smudging her shiny pink lipstick.

Caz’s smile faltered for a second then returned.

The two sat down and Caz offered the reporter tea. She declined and got straight down to it. Facing her camera, she said, “We’re here on the set of
Eternal Loss, Eternal Revenge
with the hottest star on the planet, Caspian Thaymore. Caspian. Your fans are dying to know—boxers or briefs?”

Chapter 8

Oh. That was not going to go over well. Ashley sucked in a breath and bit her lip.

Caz stared at the reporter a long moment then ignored her question. “I’m really enjoying my stay in California. The weather is lovely.” Caz sat a little straighter.

Ashley thought, good save, a British fallback to the weather.

“Brunettes or redheads?” the reporter asked, undeterred. She was clearly hinting for him to say which costar he liked best: the brunette Petra or the redheaded Lorene. Tabloid rumors were running rampant about his dating each of them.

Putting his teacup down, Caz said, “Blondes.”

“That’s so cute, but a reputable source says you’ve been smooching on set with the redheaded Lorene. So spill the juicy details.”

Caz glanced at his watch, the door, and the AD. “Lorene Dailer hasn’t arrived on set, so that makes that rumor highly improbable.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

Caz maintained his smile. “The director is doing amazing things with this script and the juxtaposition of the characters.”

The reporter stiffened and spoke slowly, “This is very important. Do you tweet?”

“No.”

“You don’t mind if I touch that famous jaw, do you?” The reporter lifted a hand toward Caz’s face. Caz stiffened and lost his smile, but stayed still while the reporter ran her manicured fingers over his square chin and along his jaws.

Ashley winced.

Eyeing Caz uneasily, the AD pointed at his watch and spun his index finger, a signal to the reporter to wrap up the interview.

“One last question, Caspian. We know who your character loves. But who would Caspian himself most like to marry—sweet and true or the sultry vixen?” The reporter drew out the last two words and wiggled her eyebrows.

Caz pursed his lips. He shot a quick glance over at Ashley then back to the reporter. “My PA. She’s a great cook.”

Ashley rolled her eyes in the background. Way to set the women’s movement back fifty years, Caz.

“There you have it, tweens. Caspian wants a blonde who can cook. I know I’ll be going out to buy peroxide and sign up for cooking lessons. See you in class. Signing off from the set of
Eternal Loss, Eternal Revenge
, I’m Karla Quintos and you’re in the know.” The reporter shook Caz’s hand, and he smiled a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Putting her hand on his arm, the reporter stepped closer. “That was great, Caspian, thank you.”

Caz murmured something she couldn’t hear.

“Lots of fans are going through what you’re going through. With the divorce. It would really help them if you’d open up and share your story. I’d be honored to give you that platform. So you can give back.”

Caz didn’t respond, just stared at the reporter, his arms crossed over his chest.

The reporter never lost her cool. “Let me know.” She turned to the AD. “How about Lorene next?”

The AD’s face tensed. “Unfortunately, Lorene’s not here, so we’ll have to schedule that one later in the week. Petra’s here, though. I’ve sent for her. You can finish up with Caz.”

Caz said, “We’re done.”

The AD clapped his hands together. “I know. Garrett can be your third interview. Garrett.”

In response to his name, Garrett trotted over. “You need me?”

“Yeah, can you fill in for Lorene for a brief interview? While we get Petra ready?”

“Sure.” A look of dislike crossed Garrett’s face as he recognized the reporter.

Caz leaned near him and said in a low tone, “Watch your mouth.”

Garrett shoved his big frame into one of the cozy nook chairs. “Or what? You’ll kick me off my land and refuse to let me speak Gaelic?”

Caz’s lips twitched, but he didn’t respond.

Ashley handed Caz a script. “Want to run lines?” She’d never offered before, but it seemed prudent to put a lid on this situation.

Caz took the script, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at the nook. “Later.”

Garrett poured himself a cup of tea and pushed the sugar cubes aside. His expression fell. “No shortbread? No biscuits?”

Karla ignored him and did her intro. “We’re here with Garrett Campbell on set of his latest film. Tell us, what’s it really like to work with your best friend?”

“Great fun.” Garrett dug around the tray and popped a sugar cube in his mouth. The dish was emptying fast.

“Now you can tell us, who’s he really seeing? Lorene or Petra?”

Caz stayed focused on the interview.

Garrett relaxed back in the chair and his accent got heavier than normal. “I’m as free as the rain in Scotland.”

“All these beautiful actresses on set, and there’s no romance going on?”

“’Tis a sad, sad state, and difficult to believe, I know.”

The reporter leaned forward and rubbed Garrett’s kilt between her fingers. “So, you know me, I have to touch that famous kilt.” She growled. “Rough, what’s it made of?”

If you looked close enough, you could see the distaste in his mint-green eyes. Garrett said, “Highland heather soaked in the waters of Loch Ness, stolen from the hooves of a Kelpie by a Cailleach Bheur.” He settled back further into his chair, forcing the reporter’s hand to fall away.

Caz leaned toward Ashley’s ear and whispered, “This is a long story. I’ve heard it before.” He nodded his head toward the back exit.

Taking the hint, Ashley followed him out of the warehouse and down the crunchy path to his trailer. Caz unlocked the door and stepped inside. His trailer smelled like the clean, ocean fragrance of his soap. Ashley closed the door behind her.

Red pages of the script flew through the air as Caz flung himself on his couch and put one arm over his eyes. “Ergh, what rubbish.”

Ashley perched on the sofa’s armrest, silent.

Caz frowned. “Going to spin this? Going to tell me some nice, homespun tale about the Fry Hut? To make that crap interview seem better?”

“No. No. I’m here to console you. How awful was that? You poor thing. Why, I didn’t know how you’d bear the interview a moment longer.” Ashley let the full force of her talent for sarcasm fly.

Quickly sitting up, Caz snagged her arm and yanked her down on top of him.

“Oomph.” His hard chest didn’t provide a soft landing.

“I suffered.”

Ashley laughed. “I suffered too. I had to hear her.” She put her hands against the couch cushion and pushed up.

“Your pain wasn’t as deep as mine.”

Ashley laughed harder. “But I have to live without knowing.”

Caz raised his eyebrows.

“Your favorite color or, more importantly, boxers or briefs, you man beast.” Her laughter caused her to collapse against him.

Caz smiled wickedly and put his hands on the top button of his jeans, and unbuttoned them.

Laughing harder, Ashley grabbed his wrist to stop him.

There was a quick knock on the door. Caz didn’t have time to respond as it was immediately flung open.

The AD stood there, his mouth ajar to the point that his goatee touched his chest. Olive hung out next to him with shiny eyes and a prissy grin. “We’re looking for Petra.” She crooked her head inside and looked around.

The AD yanked her elbow backwards. “Oh, uh, excuse us.” The trailer door slammed shut.

Ashley was suddenly amused. She slid off Caz’s lap and onto the floor beside the couch, laughing. “That is so not going to play well,” Ashley said. “
Unidentified blonde saves Caz from overdose while putting out a fire in his trailer.”

“
During the birth of their half human baby,”
Caz said, offering her a hand up.

***

The AD paced, glaring at his tablet. Ashley knew why he was mad. Lorene hadn’t shown all week. Today, he’d scheduled her to shoot a minor stunt. Because the stunt used special effects, Lorene was supposed to perform it without a stunt double. However, Lorene was not here.

The AD said, “PA.”

“Yes?” Olive shoved in front of her. Because Olive stood a half foot shorter, Ashley still had a clear view of the AD’s annoyed eyes. He looked from Ashley to Olive with a dismissive gaze, and his eyes landed back on Ashley. “You’re about Lorene’s height. Get dressed and help.” The AD turned to the costume area and yelled with an annoyed edge in his voice, “Cutter, Powder, dress Ashley in Lorene’s costume so she can perform the stunt.”

“Uh, okay,” Ashley said, as if her agreement mattered. She went to makeup first, and Powder did the works: base, lip stain, false eyelashes. Next came the red wig, and last a trip to the costume area, where Cutter handed her a feminine, dreamy sundress with a tight bodice. Over the sundress, he clipped on a suspension harness. The green straps circled her waist and hung over her shoulders like suspenders. At each shoulder and the front and back of her waist hung metal clamps that would attach to wires once she got to the set.

This was Ashley’s first visit to the green screen studio. The AD, who’d walked her over, said, “Once you’re in place, you’ll pull backwards, lift two feet off the ground, then lower to the floor. We’ll do the action slowly and make the cut look fast on film.” The AD eyed her sundress. “Cutter wants to go with a dress, but we may have to switch to pants if you need a full body harness.”

Ashley wasn’t worried about the harness; she just hoped the dress didn’t fly up. She moved onto the center stage and a stunt coordinator’s assistant joined her.