Page 87 of Mistaken Impression

“Yes, he’s here.”

Mac puts the cups on the table and looks down at me, frowning, like he’s confused.

“Who is he?” Hunter says in my ear, and I chuckle.

“Watch the show this evening, and you’ll find out.”

I hang up before he can ask anything else and twist my phone around in my hand.

“You told your brother about us?” Mac says, sitting down beside me.

“In a manner of speaking.”

“So we’re not keeping our relationship a secret anymore?”

“We are here, but…” He grabs me, his hands clasped around my face, and silences me with the deepest of kisses.

I guess that means he approves.

Kennedy is sitting at the head of the table, with Ruby to her left and Mac to her right. Luckily, because he and I came into the meeting room together, I was able to grab the seat beside him, although Vivian tried her best to get there before me. As it is, she’s had to settle for sitting on the other side of Ruby and gazing across the table at Mac. At the opposite end of the room, the chairs have been turned around to face the TV screen, and because there isn’t enough seating in here, people are standing around the edges of the room, waiting in anticipation.

I can feel the tension pouring off of Mac and I shift my chair just a little closer to his, then reach beneath the table, taking his hand in mine. He looks over and gives me a smile, and I squeeze his hand.

“Told you I’d find a way,” I whisper under my breath and he chuckles, just quietly.

There’s a general hum of excitement in the room, and Kennedy is looking very pleased with herself. Ruby told Mac and me this afternoon, that Kennedy and a few other people in here have already seen the show, and I guess the smile on Kennedy’s face ought to give us confidence.

As the time ticks away to the top of the hour, a silence descends over the room, and you could hear a pin drop when the titles roll. To be honest, I don’t like them. They’re a little tacky for my tastes, focusing mostly on the ‘Master’ element of the ‘Meal Master’ name. But that’s not my department, and now for the first time, I’m a little nervous myself… about the food.

We’re all glued to the screen as the lights come up and the camera zooms in on Mac’s perfect face. My God… he reallyis gorgeous, and there’s a collective sigh from most of the women in the room as they all focus on him, and the words he’s saying, in his impeccable American accent. I suppose I ought to have realized it before now, but seeing the way he’s dressed on the screen, and the way his muscles are shown off to great prominence in that super tight t-shirt, it’s very clear the studio aren’t even remotely interested in the dishes, or how they’re cooked. The purpose of the show is to promote Mac as a sex symbol. Not that he needs any help; he looks incredible.

When the camera occasionally focuses on the food, rather than Mac’s face or body, I take the time to check it looks okay… which it does. I also smile to myself when he’s shown cutting up the vegetables to be roasted. He looks very proficient, and I can’t help remembering the work that went into that first episode, and how annoyed I was at the time by Mac and his lack of culinary talents. Of course, what I hadn’t realized at the time was that his talents lay elsewhere… and some of them are evident on the screen, not just in his looks, but also in his acting…

As the show draws to a close and Mac delivers his final lines, while the ‘guest’, who I remember was called Lyla, raises a forkful of roasted lamb to her lips, everyone in the room bursts into spontaneous applause.

The people around and behind us draw closer and I let go of Mac’s hand, even though he tries to grab it back. Within moments, though, I’m shoved aside as someone steps between us.

“That was great, man… really great.”

I don’t even know who the man is, but he’s clapping Mac on his shoulder, and once he steps back, his place is taken by someone else… and then another, and another, all heaping praise on Mac’s performance.

After a moment or two, I get to my feet and step out of the way, moving to the edge of the room, and leaning against the wall, watching while Mac is swamped by well-wishers. I can’t even see him properly anymore, but I don’t take my eyes from the crowd, which is why I jump with surprise when a voice beside me says, “Well done.”

I turn to see Ruby standing next to me. “I don’t think I can take very much credit,” I say, nodding toward Mac, and she smiles.

“We wouldn’t have a show if it wasn’t for you. Kennedy knows that… and so does Blain, I’m sure.”

I wonder if she thinks I’m jealous of the attention he’s receiving. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only am I thrilled by the response – for him, not me – but I’d hate to be where he is. I’d hate to be the center of attention. I’d much rather hide in the corner… like I am now.

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to throw her off the scent a little, so I just shrug my shoulders and she gives me a sympathetic smile and wanders back to the table, into the throng.

It takes a good fifteen or twenty minutes for the fuss to die down, and Kennedy eventually takes control of the room, raising her voice above the chatter.

“I think we can all agree how great the show looks… especially Blain.” She turns, smiling at him, her eyes sparkling. “Obviously, we’ve still got to see how well it goes over with the public, but I’ll let you all know the viewing figures as soon as I have them. In the meantime, tomorrow is another day – as they say – and in our case, we’re recording the next show, so I think it’s time we all headed home and got a good night’s sleep.”

I push myself off of the wall, making my way back to Mac. Unfortunately, before I can get there, Vivian slides into the seat beside him… the one I was occupying. She leans in close, and as I come up behind her, I can just about hear her say, “My placeis only around the corner. I’ve got some wine chilling and we could…”

I feel my blood boil, but before I can say anything, Mac turns to her. “I’m sorry, but you heard what Kennedy said. We’re recording tomorrow, and I’m tired. It’s been a crazy day.”

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