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His expression softens immediately.

“Beautiful.”

I roll my eyes.

“That's not helpful. I meant, how do I look for this role?” I reply and roll my eyes, but inside?

Inside, I’m grinning like the Cheshire cat.

“Well, I’m just being honest. You always look beautiful to me.”

He walks over and straightens one of the ribbons on my shoulder with those big careful hands of his.

“But do you want the truth?”

“Always.”

“You also look a little nervous.”

I sigh.

“Am I that obvious?”

“To me? Yeah.”

“Great.”

“Hey, that’s only because I know you as well as I know myself.”

He’s not wrong. Less does know me. But that doesn’t ease my nerves.

Then, his hand finds my waist.

Warm.

Steady.

Safe.

“You've done this a thousand times, Rusty.”

“I know.”

“And you’re not walking out there a nobody, you hear me? You're Amanda Perkins.”

I snort.

“Yes, but even Amanda Perkins occasionally gets stage fright.”

“Impossible. You’re a superstar, Rusty.”

I laugh.

“I absolutely am not.”

He bends and kisses my forehead.

“Damn straight, you are. Now, get out there and kill it.”