He wanted to kiss her so bad that it hurt.
Mac pushed that thought aside. If they worked together—and the emphasis was on if—he didn’t need to be involved with her off-screen. A romantic relationship with a co-worker never worked out. He wouldn’t admit this to anyone but Mac wanted to land this role. To try something new. Something that frightened him and excited him and could open new avenues. He’d done stunts for four years now and had the aches and pains to prove it. Moving into acting would keep him in the business in a very different capacity. Still, he shouldn’t get his hopes up. Murder at Magic Hour was a big-budget production. The chance of him stepping into the very famous shoes of Beau Braxton were small.
Detective Briggs finished scribbling something on her notepad and closed it. “That should do it, Mr. Randall. I’ll be in touch if I have any more questions.” She handed him her card. “If you think of anything to add, there’s my contact info.”
Mac shook her hand and wandered to the foyer. He found Keely waiting for him. He glanced at his watch, seeing it had been over three hours since he had discovered Beau’s body. He supposed by now the coroner had transported Beau in order to perform an autopsy and that news of Beau’s death would be hitting the airwaves. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling physically worn out.
“I guess they had more questions for you since you discovered Beau,” she said. “Are you ready to head over to Sydney’s?”
“I don’t know. Why did you suggest me? I’ve never done any acting, not even in a school play.”
“You’re right for the part. It’s a gut feeling. I think Sydney and Cassie will agree with me. They’re the ones you’ll need to convince. Cassie’s written the vision. Sydney will put it into play.”
“What about Josh Middleton?”
Keely shrugged. “I don’t know a director that wouldn’t go along with those two women. They have great instincts when it comes to casting.”
“Sydney mentioned another actor Beau beat out. Why not him? Seems he’d be the logical choice if he came close to being cast.”
“Finn Jarvis? I read with him.” Keely frowned. “There was something off. I didn’t think we had any chemistry.”
“And we do?”
She gave him a long look. “You already know we do, Mac. We need to see if it shows up on screen. Come on. I’m starving. In-N-Out is calling my name. We can drive through on the way over.”
He frowned, thinking a burger was the last thing he needed at the moment.
Keely must have picked up on his feelings. “I know. I sound callous, considering what we both saw in that bathroom. I do know we’re both exhausted and could use something in us. I’m not saying we can instantly go back to normal. That wouldn’t be possible. But I’ve learned through other things I’ve experienced that it’s important to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Beau’s death is a tragedy. I’m sure I’ll have to talk about it at some point, probably with a therapist.
“For now, though? There is so much riding on this movie, Mac. So many jobs at stake. Reputations that can be made or broken. I owe a good deal to Sydney and Cassie. Despite what’s happened, I need to push through.”
Mac knew she was right because he’d done the same thing on the battlefield. You got through the next few seconds. Then a minute. Then five minutes. You did what had to be done, sometimes because you were the only one who could do it—or was left alive to do it. He’d learned to let things go, especially the deaths he’d witnessed, because a soldier couldn’t afford to have his head up his ass. He needed to be present in every moment on duty because if he wasn’t, it could be his last.
He also understood her loyalty to the team surrounding this film. He had felt the same loyalty to his fellow soldiers. They had all been in it together. If one fell, the mission had to continue. Any lapse could mean more deaths. Letting your guard down could mean your death and the deaths of those all around you. Beau’s sudden demise could lead to a ripple effect, hurting hundreds of workers. Mac had to mentally and physically suck it up.
“A burger sounds good,” he agreed, hoping he could get—and keep—it down.
Keely headed out the door and Mac followed her. He saw Maria sitting in her car and went to speak to her.
“Are you going to be all right?” he asked the housekeeper, whose tears had caused her mascara to run in rivers down her cheeks.”
The housekeeper wiped away tears. “I’ll be fine, Mr. Mac. I gonna sit here for now. I got nowhere to go. Mondays and Thursdays were for Mr. Beau.”
He studied her a moment. “Are you worried about money?”
She nodded. “If you hear anybody need me, let me know, okay?”
Mac opened his wallet and handed over all the cash he had. When Maria tried to refuse, he gruffly told her to take it. He walked away before she could change her mind and got into his truck.
As they pulled out of the driveway, Keely said, “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.”
“You’re a big old softie,” she teased.
“Where does Sydney live?”
Keely gave him directions and told him where to stop for lunch, which wasn’t that far away. She sent a few texts while he drove and put her cell away as he pulled into the drive-thru line.
“Animal-style burger. Fries. Coke,” she told him as he reached the speaker.
Mac placed their order, making it two of everything, and pulled up to the window. Keely handed him a twenty and he accepted it.
“I guess I owe you now,” he said sheepishly.
“Nope. Lunch is on me. If you get the part, I’m sure you can pay me back. Maybe over that coffee we talked about.”
He handed over the paper bag and rested their drinks in the cup holders. Keely removed his burger and unwrapped a portion of the paper from it. Mac took it and sank his teeth into it.
“A burger always hits the spot. I used to dream about these in the desert.”
She removed her burger and fries and gave the sack back so he had access to his fries.
“You said you were in the military in your twenties.”
“Actually, straight out of high school. I’m named for Jeff MacKenzie, my dad’s best friend and a marine. He’s never forgiven me for going army over marines but the military helped me grow up. I was smart, lazy, and charming in high school. The army helped make a man of me.”
“Why did you leave?”
He shrugged. “It was family but that family kept dying around me. I’d worked my way up to a leadership position. I got tired of seeing my men killed on increasingly pointless missions. Every day seemed the same after a dozen years in. The higher up the chain of command I went, the less control I wound up having. I wanted to do something else with my life.”
“I’ll bet your family was glad to have you back home, out of war zones.”
Mac chewed and swallowed. He finally said, “My folks and sister died in a car wreck while I was still in high school.” He fell silent.
Her hand touched his arm briefly. “I’m sorry, Mac.”
“It happens. You got family?”
“Jax. My friends. My parents divorced when I was in grade school. We never saw my father after that. Mom passed away when I was in college. I’ve found friends can be your family. And Jax and I are inseparable. I got him as a puppy. He’s just over a year old now. We do everything together. In fact, I texted Josh to go to my trailer and pick him up when he heads over to Sydney’s.”