Page 137 of Let’s Make a Scene

It takes a moment for me to process the words when my brain is busy chanting KISS HIM, KISS HIM, KISS HIM. “I think so, why?”

He flashes me a grin. “Because I’m taking you on a date.” He treats Brooke to a little wink, and she practically dissolves on the spot. On that note, he wheels the horse around and the two of them thunder away.

Next to me, Brooke gives a small, lovelorn sigh. “You’re right. He is even better in real life.”

“Annoying, isn’t it?” I say, my eyes still on Jack, then I give myself a little shake. “Come on then, let’s go and see if Pam in craft services has anything on offer. I’m starving.”

Brooke and I make our way down to base in companionable silence, and I try not to worry too much about the conversation we’re about to have. It’s only a first step, I remind myself. I’m not committing to anything.

We park up at a small wooden table in front of Pam’s food truck, tucking into ham sandwiches made with doorstop-thick slices of bread.

“So, what’s up?” Brooke asks.

“I’ve been thinking about our last interview,” I say, blowing on my scalding-hot cup of tea. “When you asked me about Rufus.”

Brooke sits up straighter, unable to hide her interest.

I treat her to a long measuring look. “I watched some of your other work, you know,” I say. “Before we started filming. I wanted to know who was going to be following us around.”

There’s a hint of color in Brooke’s face. “What did you think?”

“I thought it was good. You have a great eye, and a skill for crafting a compelling narrative. I liked the work you did on the women’s shelter in New York.”

“That was my student thesis,” she says, surprised.

“I like to be thorough.” I put my cup down. “And I’m glad they booked you for this. I think you’ll make something more interesting than the puff piece the studio is after.”

“I hope so. It’s been a lot of fun so far.”

“So what I wanted to ask you about was your next project.”

Brooke’s expression is guarded. “What about it?”

I run my finger around the top of my mug. “I suppose I wondered if your question about Rufus had something to do with it. We both know the studio isn’t going to let you put anything about him in the documentary, so I wasn’t sure why you’d even ask. Plus, there was the other thing.”

“What other thing?”

I lift my eyes to hers. “I’m pretty sure you were trying to get me to talk about Shawn Hardy, and I want to know why.”

It’s my turn to be measured. Brooke’s lips purse thoughtfully as she considers me. “I’m working on something about women in the entertainment industry post MeToo,” she says finally.

“And you think there’s something to be said about Shawn?” I steady my tone as I ask the question carefully, though my heart thumps.

“I know there is,” she says, just as steady.

There’s a beat of silence then. To give myself something to do, I take a sip of my tea, which is still too hot.

“Okay,” I say softly, more to myself than to her. “I think you and I should have a conversation.”

“On the record?” Cheerful, sunny Brooke is gone; now she looks more like a shark scenting blood. I can appreciate that killer instinct. It tells me I was right about her.

My shoulders relax. “Let’s see how we get on.”

It’s a start.

Chapter 44 JACK

I knock on the door to the hotel room and wait.