Page 40 of Highlands Summer Wedding

“You didn’t, though. You were helping out a friend, and in exchange, you secured my dream wedding venue!”

I sighed and downed my iced tea like it was a shot of vodka. “I’m glad you see it that way, but I feel like I keep making things worse and worse.”

“Listen, you got the venue,” Caitlin said. “The producer should be back on her feet in no time. You thank Max for the opportunity, you remind him you’re an event planner, not a film producer?—”

I swirled the ice around my empty glass, watching it clink against the sides.

“You don’t actually miss working in film, do you?” Caitlin leaned forward, trying to catch my gaze.

“I mean, I always loved it. What I hated was the time apart.”

Caitlin’s jaw dropped. “You miss Max!”

I suddenly found myself fascinated by the white gulls flying over the sparkling water.

“You and Max were never together when you were in the film industry—now you’re working together in it.”

Yep, can’t put much past my sister.

“He has a three-picture deal, all three to be filmed in Scotland,” I said, leaving out the offer to write the selkie film.

Caitlin went still for a moment. “But Angus and I will be back in the States! What will I do with you in Scotland with Max?”

“I haven’t said… I’m just saying… I don’t know what I’m saying. Forget it.” I refilled my glass with iced tea.

“See what happens,” Angus said, finally speaking up. “It sounds like you know what you’re doing.”

I flopped back into my chair. “I just didn’t want to start a relationship by finding myself the subject of tabloid fodder.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry.” Angus pushed his long dark hair away from his face. “I totally get it.”

Caitlin grinned. “Yeah, the paparazzi are always after us, asking for more acoustic folk tunes when people get snowed in and can’t get a real band.”

Angus grinned, but something in his eyes made me reconsider all those older women taking his picture. Maybe it wasn’t because he was wearing a kilt. Maybe there was more to this.

I opened my mouth to ask. Angus shook his head ever so slightly, as if he could read my thoughts. So I took a sip of my tea instead.

Just then, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, so I let it ring through to voicemail. We all stared at it until a notification popped up with a transcript of their message:

Ava, please call me back at your earliest convenience.

“Wrong number?” asked Caitlin.

“I dunno. I’m filling in for Ava, but I don’t think anyone would’ve mixed our numbers up.” I couldn’t make sense of it.

A new notification came through—a text from Max:

Bond guy calling. BEAVA.

“Beava? Be Ava. Oh shit.” My phone nearly tumbled from my hands as I jumped from my seat.

Caitlin stood and grabbed my arm. “How? Why? What’s going on?”

“He means ‘Be Ava.’ They want to talk to the producer. Max doesn’t want them to know Ava’s not there. So I need to call them, be Ava, and then get to the set ASAP.”

“I’ll drive,” said Angus, pulling keys from his pocket.

We dashed to the car and drove to base camp as fast as we could.