Page 146 of Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance

I love this woman. Her eyes are like stars as she steals my pie, then pulls out the songs from the audition packet, telling me which ones best fit the impression I should give.

And when Kelsey Whitaker tells you that you’re the star she pictures in a role—whether it’s a movie, a play, or the one who shares her bed and her dreams—there’s only one thing to do.

Exactly what she says.

Epilogue

ZACHERY INMOONLIGHT

Six months later

The tiny bar is packed from wall to wall. I move through the crowd, accepting handshakes and thumps on the back.

“Zachery!” Jester cries. He’s sitting on the bar. Not at it. On it. His pale-yellow suit against all the dark wood makes him look like a baby chick in a nest. He presses a hand to his chest and sings the first line of my opening number.“The moon in the night has been shining down right on my heart!”

He’s drunk. Totally drunk.

I give him a little salute, not sure I can make it all the way to the counter, which is three deep with people trying to shout their orders.

I look for Kelsey. I finally spot her talking to Mike McKenzie, the producer ofMonday by Moonlight, no doubt already working on our next casting contract. She bowed out of this one when I got cast to avoid a conflict of interest.

She plays by the rules, that’s for sure.

We’ve developed one of the deepest, most thorough rosters in the business. The new agency moved into the black right after the end of its first year, and it’s all due to her.

She’s a marvel.

We even broke in my dressing room earlier today, a few hours before the opening-night events began. It was a killer way to start my comeback—Kelsey bent over the makeup counter, facing the mirror. I got to take in every inch of her as I slid inside. I love watching the rosy blush spread across her chest.

It will never get old.

She notices me and waves me over. When I’m closer, I realize my mother is with them, all five feet of her almost disappearing in the crowd despite her stilettos.

“Mom!” I pick her up with a hug.

My dad and sister approach from the bar side, trying not to spill drinks as they make their way toward us.

“My beautiful Zachery,” Mom says, pressing her hands to my face as I set her down. “I was talking to your producer. They’re thrilled to have you in their musical.”

Mike grins at Mom. “What I wouldn’t give to see the two of you in a mother-son role. We just have to find the right story!”

Mom can’t fight back her smile. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

“It sure would.” Dad hands a drink to her. “You were terrific, son. Just amazing.”

Anya shrugs in her usual sisterly way. “You were decent.”

Mom elbows her. “Coming from the woman who more than decently took over a Fortune 500 company at age thirty-seven, while pregnant!”

“And popped out the cutest nephew I could have imagined four hours after staving off a media storm,” I add, accepting a glass of champagne from Kelsey, half-empty of course. She’s been sipping from both of them.

I don’t mind.

“She’s brilliant!” Mom says. “My beautiful, perfect children!”

“I’ll let your family celebrate,” Mike says, lifting his empty glass. “Epic opening night, Zachery. Everyone is pleased.” He heads into the fray near the bar.

Kelsey wraps an arm around my waist. “Best match of role to actor I’ve ever done.”

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