Mac had found it fascinating watching Sydney direct Beau’s last film. He wondered what she was like off the set.
“You know her pretty well?”
“Yes. She hired me for my first film. I’d done some theater. A few commercials. Lots of voiceovers but I’d struck out in film. Sydney took a big chance on me but she’s a dream to work with. Dash was a great co-star. Very generous. He really shepherded me along. Through them, I met Cassie and Rhett. Rhett’s sister, Scarlett, is my best friend.” She stopped. “Turn right at the next light.”
She gave him a few more directions and they arrived at the DeLaurias’ Santa Monica residence. He parked behind a midnight blue SUV, which Keely said belonged to the Corrigans. Mac wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, not wanting mustard hiding in the corner of his mouth when he met what might be his future boss. Keely gathered up their trash and pushed it into the sack, rolling and stashing it on the floorboard.
“Ready?” she asked.
Excitement rippled through Mac. He hadn’t felt this alive—or frightened—since the last time bullets had sprayed around him in the desert.
“Walking into this house will be like heading into battle. At least, I think it will,” he admitted.
“Be you. That’s all they’ll want to see. Sydney won’t hire you if she and the others don’t think this can work. She’s all about the art but understands the business side of things, too.”
They went to the door. Mac rang the bell. A minute later, it opened. Instead of a housekeeper or some personal assistant, Dash DeLauria stood there.
Wearing a pink necklace. Green earrings. And a yellow, plastic bracelet.
“Thank God you finally showed up,” he whispered, ushering them in. “The girls corralled Rhett and me. We’re on our third game of Pretty Pretty Princess.” He held out his wrist. “I just picked up this bracelet. It puts me in the lead.”
“It looks divine on you,” Keely said teasingly.
“Come say hi and let me strip off my winnings.”
Dash led them into the den, where a board game was opened on a table. Two little girls and Rhett Corrigan, Hollywood’s highest paid actor, sat next to it. Each of them sported various jewelry. Both girls squealed when they saw Keely and ran to hug her.
Dash ruffled one of the girls’ hair. “This is Harper. She’s mine.”
“And Cadence is mine,” Rhett added. “Okay, girls, it’s time for the dads to go to work. The moms have done the heavy lifting and we need to do our part. This is Mr. Mac. He’s going to help us with the new movie.”
“Mommy works a lot,” Harper told Mac very matter-of-factly. “She’s good at her job.”
“My mommy writes stories,” Cadence said proudly. “Are you going to be in her story, Mr. Mac? Keely’s in it.”
“I hope so,” he said, an unexpected warmth rolling through him.
By now, Dash and Rhett had stripped off their plastic game pieces. Each man kissed the top of his daughter’s head and Dash led them down a long hallway into what was definitely a work area.
Sydney Revere greeted him. “I’m so glad you could stop by, Mac.” She turned to the copper-haired woman next to her. “This is Cassie Corrigan, one of the best screenwriters in the business.”
Rhett kissed his wife. “The best,” he corrected and took a seat beside her.
Dash slipped into the chair next to Sydney. “I think playing Pretty Pretty Princess is infinitely harder than what you two have been up to.” He also kissed his wife.
Mac understood immediately that these two power couples were the real deal. He’d been around enough couples in Hollywood, both on the set and at parties, to recognize genuine affection. No wonder Keely enjoyed being around these people.
Sydney began. “First, I need to ask if you are even up for auditioning, Mac. Keely told me you’re the one who found Beau. I know the two of you were close. Reading for a part is hard enough on anyone’s best day. This is probably your worst. If you would rather take a few days before you read for the role, I totally understand.”
Sydney turned to Keely. “Same for you. You know I think the world of you but today has been traumatic enough. I know I push too hard sometimes but I’m also smart enough to know when to back off. If you need time, I’m here to make that happen.”
Keely looked at Mac and held his gaze for a long moment. She gave an imperceptible nod and he returned it.
“We want to do this, Sydney,” he said, thinking how much was on the line. “I think we both appreciate the offer to hold off but we’re ready.”
Sydney nodded. “I appreciate your candor, Mac. I know your work ethic. You wouldn’t be here otherwise. I observed you on set during the last film I directed Beau in, though I know my second director handled your action scenes. You move well. You’re definitely a man’s man, someone guys want to be and be around, but women find you extremely attractive. What RCDS needs to see is if you can act.”
“I left the army as a Sergeant First Class, with a good number of men under my command. I had to sell whatever the mission was, whether I believed in it or not. Sometimes, the higher ups made odd decisions but I had to back those decisions and make sure my men believed I did. I also led troops into battle and had to make those troops see that I had no fear. That I projected confidence.” Mac paused. “I didn’t always support the ideas behind the mission, much less the mission itself. I never set foot on a battlefield without a healthy amount of fear quaking through me. My soldiers never guessed that. I suppose that’s my acting resume, Sydney.”
Her green eyes assessed him in a new light. “Impressive.” She turned to Cassie. “Anything to add?”
The screenwriter nodded. “Your voice is strong. You have enough passion to deliver the lines I’ve written. Thorne Mayfield’s lost his wife and child to a killer. I don’t know if you’re married or have kids but I think you could tap into the soldiers who must’ve been family to you. Those you lost. Bring that feeling to the first scene we’d like you to read.”
Cassie handed him a script. “I’ve marked the lines.” She looked to Keely. “I know you’re already off-book.”
Keely nodded. “You know me. I’ve learned my lines and everyone else’s.” She took Mac’s arm and had him step back a few paces from the long table where the other four sat. “Capture that feeling Cassie just spoke of. Let’s go.”
Mac composed himself and then glanced at the page. He found the spot to start and delivered his first line, looking at Keely as it ended. What surprised him was she didn’t look like Keely at all. She wore determination as if girded in steel. She replied to his line and they began the conversation on the page. Dialogue flew back and forth between them, crackling and crisp. Mac could feel himself becoming someone entirely different from himself as they delved deeper. Finally, he uttered his last line, drained, and stared at Keely, who all of a sudden resembled the woman he’d met this morning.
She flung herself at him, hugging him tightly, and turned to the others. Mac had forgotten anyone else was in the room.
“See? I told you. What do you think?” she asked.
He turned and skimmed the faces of the famous foursome—and liked what he saw.