Page 6 of Secrets in the Deep

The guy’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I’m asking now. Who are you?”

“Ryan. Who areyou?”

The guy’s nose wrinkled. “That tells me nothing. And there’s no way you don’t know who I am.”

“Afraid I don’t.” A damn lie. The actor’s name was plastered everywhere.

“I’m Preston Painter.” He straightened. Maybe even puffed out his chest a bit. “I’m the lead in this movie and a three-time Golden Globe nominee.”

Andaccording to media, boyfriend to Emily Prior.

But the longer he was in the guy’s presence, the less he believed it. There was no way she’d date this self-absorbed airhead. Yeah, Ryan was making a snap judgment after two minutes in his presence. He was good at reading people.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Ryan cast one last glance at Emily’s trailer before turning and heading through the trees toward the parking lot.

“Hey! I wasn’t done talking to you,” Preston called. “Why are you on set?”

Ryan ignored him. Every step away from Emily felt heavy and wrong.

One look. One glance. One sound of her voice…changed everything. Made him remember her laugh. Her smile.

The fact that she was the only woman he’d ever loved.

He should have known. He should have fucking expected it. But knowing something and experiencing it were two different things.

Emily was the woman he’d thought he’d marry. Yeah, they’d only dated for five months. But he’d only needed a day to know she was the one for him. She was the kind of woman you fell in love with at first glance and just assumed there was no hope of resisting. Becauselookat her. Fucking look. She was everything. Warm. Kind. Beautiful. And talented…so damn talented.

Footsteps sounded to his right. Light footsteps. Barely distinguishable.

Ryan heard them.

His hand hovered over his concealed weapon. Most wouldn’t expect trouble in a small town like Deep River. But if the last six months had taught him anything, it was that trouble could show up anywhere, anytime, and it didn’t need an invitation.

Zac appeared at his side. “Hey.”

Ryan dropped his hand.

Zac matched him step for step. “Did you speak to her?”

“I tried.” A pulse throbbed at his temple.

“She didn’t want to talk to you?”

“No.” He rounded a tree. “She didn’t even want to look at me.”

“She was surprised to see you. Give her time.”

“That director say anything else?” Yeah, he was changing the subject. He didn’t feel like talking about Emily. Even thinking about the way she’d basically run from him hurt like a bastard.

“Other than repeating that he didn’t actually want us anywhere near his film?”

“Yeah.”

“Nope. That was about it. We have to stay out of their way, and if he suspects we’re disturbing cast or crew, he’s allowed to tell us to leave.”

He scoffed. “Tell that to the studio.”

The studio had contacted Mayor Joe Ferris about hiring the local SAR team to protect the film production from people wandering onto set.