Page 41 of A Hard Sell

“How are we doing with the heat?”

“He said he needs a new part. He’s calling around.”

“Speaking of calling around, did the agency contact you at all about being short extras today?”

“What? No. How many are we missing?”

“Two. I’ll call, you keep doing what you’re doing.”

It was a short phone call. “They said they can’t get anyone,” he told Hanna after he hung up.

Thomas walked up to join them and grunted in annoyance. “I’m working on the chairs. I got a hold of Aleandro, and he knows a few restaurant owners in the area. We might be able to borrow some chairs from one of them.”

Luka nodded, his anxiety spiking. Current score—three problems, zero fixed.

Hanna eyed them, chewing her lip. “How about you two?”

“How about us for what?” Luka asked.

Hanna sighed. “As extras!”

“Us?” Luka and Thomas looked at each other, before turning back to Hanna, wide-eyed.

“Yeah. You’re both gorgeous, and all you have to do is sit at the table and pretend to enjoy the shit out of your meal. Maybe a fake laugh or two.”

“Uh…” Luka looked at Thomas again.

“I don’t—” Thomas started, confused.

“Great, let’s get you into costume.” Hanna hauled them down the hallway and into the hands of their wardrobe and makeup team.

“Don’t you need us to help with setup?” Thomas tried.

“Nah, I’ve got your designs. You can still approve before we begin shooting. Here you go, Darlene! Two more diners for you!” She patted their shoulders and darted out again.

That room was a little warmer, due to being smaller and packed with bodies. Someone had found an ancient space heater that was grinding away in the corner. They hung up their overcoats and turned to face Darlene.

“Hmm…” She had a solid frame and two measuring tapes around her neck. She eyed Thomas skeptically and tugged at the seam on his shoulder. “I don’t think we have a suit jacket that fits you, honey. Are you okay wearing yours?”

“Sure.” He still looked uncertain. A little corner of Luka’s heart melted. He was used to seeing Thomas so sure-footed and confident at work.

“And you.” She turned to appraise Luka. “I have just the thing for you. Forty-four long?”

Without even waiting for his response, she left to dig through a rack and came back carrying a gorgeous light gray suit and cerulean tie. “This’ll bring out those baby blues.”

He nodded and took the clothes from her, still a little bewildered. Darlene waved him over to a changing curtain and shooed Thomas into a makeup chair.

The suit clung to him like silk and felt amazing. He inched out and caught Thomas’ gaze in the mirror through all the hustle and bustle of the room. Thomas’ jaw dropped a hair. Darlene swooped down on Luka and guided him to a chair a few seats away, so he didn’t get a chance to talk to Thomas again until the extras were herded into the hall on their way to a holding room.

Luka tugged at the tie. “I don’t normally wear these things,” he said when Thomas approached him.

“Mmm. Too bad, it looks good on you.”

“Thanks,” Luka mumbled, staring down as he pretended to fuss with his cuffs.

Then Hanna appeared. “The heat’s back on!” she crowed. “And…come with me.” She beckoned them down the hall to the set. “Ta da!” All the folding white chairs were gone, replaced with brown leather. “Aleandro came through!”

Luka sagged with relief. “Looks great.”

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