Page 119 of Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance

“Does Jason want serious films? A lot of men would rather be Thor than a sensitive sculptor.”

“He’ll want it. I know it. He got pigeonholed after that tire commercial. The beefy tough guy. But he’s not. He’s got soulful eyes. Mark my words, one well-lit close-up from when he sees that jaded graffiti artist, and he’s America’s next heartthrob. Like Leo afterTitanic.”

“I trust you, Kelsey, but Desdemona won’t go for it. That agent tweaked her ego, so he’s dead to her.”

“I could put it in. She doesn’t even have to know.” Her eyes scan the email as if she still can’t believe it.

“What makes you think the agent will change his mind?”

She walks to the kitchen and sets her laptop on the table. “This.” She switches tabs. A headline reads,New superhero limited series announces leading cast.

I skim through it. This is the one we were pretty sure was taking Jason away from us.

“He’s not on the list,” Kelsey says, almost bouncing with excitement. “They passed him over. He and his agent are going to be reeling from that, especially since Jacobs was all over him at that party, promising him the moon. The agent’s going to throw him at something to keep him out there.”

“Especially if there’s Oscar buzz.” I sit beside her. “But Desdemona will have told Jester not to take his call.”

“I’m handling it myself.AndI already sent a message directly to Jason.”

“Sounds like you have it under control. But how will you handle Desdemona if he takes it?”

She closes her laptop with a snap. “I may simply blow up that bridge when I come to it. Is she confirmed for LA in a week?”

“No. Jester’s monitoring her airline bookings. Looks like she trusts us to handle the extras at the soccer match.”

Kelsey lets out a long exhale. “This is so perfect. Everything this summer has been so perfect.”

But something crosses her mind, making a line appear between her eyebrows.

I’m guessing that’s me. Probably if her husband material found out about how recently she and I hooked up, it wouldn’t go over so well.

Something in me snaps, ever so gently, like a twig in the woods. But it makes me say, “I did a little digging.”

“On what? Jason?”

I unlock my phone and show her the lien on the tree farm.

She sits straight up. “Why would you do that? Why would you spy on the Hanovers?”

“I’m worried. You love your job. It’s working out. Are you really going to give it up on a doomed farm? You know this fundraiser doesn’t even make a dent in that.”

She shoves my phone at me. “I can’t believe you! Why can’t you be happy for me? Grandmama knows about my job. She thinks it’s fabulous! Maybe I can have it all! Just because you failed at everything you ever tried doesn’t mean I will.”

Well, damn.

She snatches up her laptop and races out of the kitchen.

Kelsey doesn’t usually come out swinging. I’ve touched a nerve.

I put away the sandwiches, giving her some time to cool down. Then I quietly climb the stairs and stand outside her door, forming the words that will smooth this over.

I knock. “Kelsey?”

Her voice is tight. “What?”

“Can I come in?”

I hear her footsteps, then the door swings open. She instantly turns and returns to her spot on the bed, the laptop open.

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