Page 28 of Love on the Byline

Her entire face lit up, her eyes sparkling with surprise anddelight, and he felt like he’d won the fucking lottery.

“This is amazing!”

Ollie closed the door behind them, blocking out the invadingsunlight. On either side of the main stage stood towering trees and othernatural elements, carefully crafted out of wood and bark. At the far end of theroom, a row of cameras was lined up for filming from different angles.

There was no one there but the two of them, and Olliefollowed helplessly as Blake carefully explored the space.

“It’s so much bigger than I realized,” she said, looking upat the ceiling. At seventy-five feet, this was one of the tallest structures onthe lot.

She was still staring up at the rafters as she walked, andhe was too busy watching her. Neither of them noticed the enormous black cableon the floor until Blake tripped over it.

Lightning fast, Ollie grabbed her waist and pulled her intohim.

“Shit!” Her bag tumbled to the ground, its contents spillingeverywhere.

Ollie’s heart beat fast and hard in his chest. She was sofucking soft—everywhere—her curls against his cheek, her curves against thehard planes of his own body. He could feel the warmth of her skin through hisshirt, and it made him ache for more.

He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent and feeling hertremble in response to his embrace, or maybe to the near-fall. He wanted tostay like this forever, never letting go, but he did let go.

“You okay?” He met her gaze as she turned.

“Yeah, thanks. God, I’m a klutz.” She stepped back, reachingdown to collect the scattered items. “Those are some reflexes you’ve got there.Thanks for not letting me faceplant.”

“Couldn’t allow that,” he replied, chuckling as he helpedher gather her things.

“I can’t believe this place” she said with a smile,gesturing around them when she stood upright. “It just...sits here, empty,waiting for the next scene or whatever?”

He handed her several of the green notebooks that had spilledfrom her bag. Ollie loved that she still used them. That this little piece ofher had remained unchanged.

“They spend a lot of time and money building sets, so theytry to get as much use out of things as they can.”

“I imagine it’s more eco-friendly.”

“That’s probably a fortunate by-product, rather than bydesign.”

“Probably,” she agreed. “Still, it’s absolutely incredible,”she said in awe, turning back to face him with admiration shining in her eyes.“You have no idea how lucky you are.”

“I thought you hated this stuff.”

“No, not at all. Movies are great. Well, goodmovies are great. I hate the whole fame and celebrity thing.” She blinked,probably realizing what she’d said and to whom. “I mean, it’s cool if you’reknown and admired for your work. Recognized, or whatever, but theworship...it’s ridiculous. And the sheer privilege...”

Ollie grinned, remembering a similar rant from years ago.“And yet, you’re here. Writing a story on a celebrity. Working for a paper thatthrives on gossip and scandal.”

“I’m the ultimate hypocrite, I know. But this is a means toan end.”

“I figured.”

Looking around, she sighed. “Trent would love this.”

“Do you see him often?”

The light in her eyes dimmed a little, and Ollie took aninvoluntary step closer.

“Not as often as I should. He’s back East, but he... We hadto place him in a home.”

“Oh...Blake...”

“Alzheimer’s.”

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