Page 23 of Wildest Dreams

“Kendall, I didn’t know you were friends with a movie star,” she says, eyeing Pierre like she’s hungry.

“He’s just renting my house,” I answer. “I’m showing him around town.”

“Is it true the movie is looking for extras?” she asks, directing her question to Pierre. “I was in all the plays in high school. I’d love to?—”

“I don’t really get involved in that,” he says. “If they start looking, I’m sure they’ll put out a call in the paper or on social media.”

She leans over the counter, obviously trying to show her cleavage to Pierre, only to be disappointed when he pulls out his phone and begins scrolling instead. She stands up and glares at me as we hear “order up!” called from the kitchen.

“Thank you, Curran,” I say as she hands us our bagged lunch.

“Mmhm.” She smirks.

“Do you want to go back to your office?” Pierre asks when we’re back out on the sidewalk.

“No. Patsy won’t leave us alone.”

He laughs. “Yeah, she was something else.”

“I apologize for her earlier. She was a little too excited to meet you.”

Pierre stops in his tracks and takes my hand, sending shivers through my whole body. “Kendall,” he begins. I swear my heart stops when he says my name. “Stop apologizing for everything.”

I grin. “You’re right. I know you’re right. Bad habit. I’ll work on it.”

“Where do you want to eat?”

“There’s a little park by the river with picnic tables. It’s close to Cattywampus.”

“Perfect.”

We walk in silence and he doesn’t try to put his hand on my lower back again, though I find myself wanting him to. I’m so wishy-washy I’m annoying myself. If there were a title for sending mixed signals, I’d be the queen.

We get to the park and find a table under the shade of an oak tree. Spanish moss hangs low and sways in the warm, gentle breeze coming off the river.

“God, it’s beautiful here,” Pierre comments.

“It is,” I say, looking out across the horizon. “Though sometimes I forget.”

“Thank you for coming to lunch with me,” he says as he unwraps his sandwich. “I hope it’s okay that I surprised you.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I wasn’t sure if you’d really reach out again after the way I ended things the other night…which I am not going to apologize for.”

“Good,” he says with a mouth full of food. Then he chuckles and wipes his mouth. “This sandwich is amazing! I’ve never had fried green tomatoes, and now I don’t know how I lived without them. What is that sauce?”

“Remoulade. You’ll have to get your fill of Southern food while you’re here.”

“I definitely will. I keep smelling barbeque.”

“Yep! Patsy’s brother-in-law owns the barbeque joint. It’s good. There’s also an amazing soul food joint. We have one nice-ish dine-in with Cajun food and a seafood place on the river south of town. Oh, and a catfish food truck.”

“I’m in trouble! If I gain thirty pounds in the next few weeks, the wardrobe people will kill me.” He wipes his mouth and takes a huge gulp of water.

“When do you start filming?”

“We have table reads tomorrow, then shooting begins next week.”

“Are the other actors in town yet?”

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