Page 75 of (Not So) Famous in Paradise

“Fine. There may be some truth in that.” I poke at my cake. My gut is swirling too much to take another bite.

Adam spoons a piece of cake with a dab of ice cream but stops before putting it in his mouth. “Wait! I think I’ve got it.”

I glance at my brother. The excited glow in his eyes brings the grinding in my stomach to a slow halt.

“Everything is scripted, right?”

I nod.

“But Georgia doesn’t know exactly what your script says?”

I nod again, trying—and failing—not to get as excited as Adam is.

“So you tell the writer to put in a kissing scene.” He sits back and crosses his arms, smirking like he’s just discovered how to create the world peace every beauty queen wishes for.

“A kissing scene?” To be honest, it’s not the stupidest idea he’s ever had.

“A kissing scene.” He nods then wags his eyebrows. “There’s no faking how you feel with a kiss.”

“A kissing scene.” I nod slowly, not quite agreeing, but definitely notnotagreeing.

“That’s how you show her youlooooooooveher.” Adam closes his eyes and kisses the air.

I grab a pillow from behind me and throw it at him, but he opens his eyes in time to duck. It bounces on the floor and lands at my sister’s feet just as she walks in.

“You’ve finally figured out you’re in love with Georgia?” The tight-lipped, know-it-all grin she sends me makes me want to throw something harder than a pillow at her.

But I reach for my phone instead and start typing. When I finish my message, I raise my face to Britta.

“If you’re going to be part of this conversation, you have to swear on your firstborn like Adam did that you won’t say anything to Georgia.” I use my sternest voice. Britta thinks she can get away with anything. Not this time. “If anyone is going to tell her how I feel, it’s me. Only me.”

Britta smiles, then nods.

And I send my message to Teri.

Write us a kissing scene, please.

Chapter 31

Georgia

I look at the painting Zach got for his granny’s house at least a thousand times after he leaves. Obviously, it’s for the house. But I can’t help feeling like it’s for me too. I’m not trying to read too much into what he said when he showed it to me, but he did say he knew I’d love it. And that he’d found it for me. And remembered I wanted something for over the mantle.

All night, I cover the picture with the packing paper and fold the flaps closed, only to open them a few minutes later. Then I stand over it and stare, seeing Zach’s face instead of the abstract sunrise.

Finally, I retape it and tuck it away in a closet. We won’t need it for another four weeks, once the inside renovations are done. Then Evie will step in and do the decorating. Until then, I won’t be able to have the artwork anywhere I might be tempted to look at it. Otherwise, that’s all I’ll do.

I go to bed early, determined to be well-rested and ready to act like I’m acting. But I toss and turn all night. Around seven a.m., I give up and roll out of bed. I get to the set early, thinking I’ll get everyone’s coffee order then run over to Britta’s.

Zach’s car is already parked in front of the house when I pull up. When I walk inside, he’s standing over Teri, who’s sitting in a folding chair bent over her laptop. They look like they’re working on something together, and I see he’s already beat me to the coffee run. The whole crew is sipping out of cups with Britta’s logo on them, and there’s one untouched cup on the folding table.

I set my purse down next to the table and pick up the one cup left. It’s got my name on it. One sip tells me Zach guessed exactly what I was in the mood for today. Britta’s original raspberry chocolate mocha topped with whipped cream. I need something sweet to wash away the resentment that creeps up every time I think about Zach not returning my feelings.

But when I lift my gaze to his, he’s smiling at me like he’s seeing someone besides his old friend Ham. I raise my cup, and mouth thank you while Teri continues to talk to him. He nods like he’s listening, but his eyes stay on me.

They simmer with the same energy they did yesterday when he came over. Except I don’t have any cleavage or shoulder showing today. But his eyes travel over me in the same way I’ve seen Adam devour a perfectly plated meal without touching it. Evie is the first woman I’ve ever seen Adam look at with the same hunger.

Is it possible Zach is looking at me in the same way?

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