Page 34 of Anyone But the Superstar

‘Well from what I heard, they see a lot more of you inallthe lights now.’ She waggles her eyebrows.

‘Ha. Ha.’ Dough ready, I scoop out a golf-ball-size amount with my hand and roll it between my palms into a five-inch-long snake.

‘What kind of cookies are those?’

‘Biscoitos.’ I lay the snake down on the cookie sheet and bring the ends together to make a circle, pinching the ends together. ‘It’s like Portuguese shortbread.’

She props both elbows on the island counter, framing the cat, who looks at me the way one should the cookies, between them. ‘Cool.’

I get through shaping the first six cookies when my phone rings. ‘Shoot.’ I drop the dough in my hands back in the bowl. ‘It’s probably Jack.’ I move to retrieve my phone from my pocket, hesitating when I see my greasy hands.

‘Don’t worry.’ Anne hops off her stool and circles the island. ‘I’ll get it.’ Before I can think better of it, she reaches into my pocket. I stare long and deep into Mike Hunt’s eyes to prevent my lower half from reacting to Anne’s inadvertent grazing.

Phone retrieved, Anne slides her finger across the screen then taps on the speaker button before setting the phone down on the counter.

Anne points at the phone, then holds her finger over her lips, miming that she’ll be quiet.

Likethat’swhy I’m frozen, unable to speak.

‘Felix?’

Clearing my throat, I turn back to my dough, needing a distraction and boner cover. ‘Hey, man.’ I glance at the clock.Between the time and the hum of a crowd in the background, I’m guessing he just got off the plane.

‘How’s the condo?’

I pick my discarded snake of dough out of the bowl. ‘I don’t think it’s gonna work out.’ Laying it on the cookie sheet, I pinch the ends. ‘There’s a problem.’

Anne’s lips purse in amusement. Probably from being considered a problem.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ Jack’s sigh fills the phone with static. ‘What’s wrong with it?’

I open my mouth to explains, but Jack cuts me off before I can.

‘Vance assured me that while the owner barely ever stays there, it’s always kept clean and well-equipped. Something about her cowboy boyfriend being a neat freak who bakes.’

Anne and I both look at the cookie sheet and baking paraphernalia strewn across the island.

Jack mutters something to someone then speaks into the phone again. ‘Something I figured you’d like as you like being in the kitchen.’

‘The condo is fine, it’s just that I don’t think he?—’

‘It’s gonna be hella awkward when we meet Vance and the rest of the astronaut crew for dinner after the filming is over if we reject his favor of a place to stay.’

Anne seems to freeze, and I wonder if she thinks I’ll go back on my word to find a new place to stay. I won’t, but I also don’t want Jack to know she’s the reason why I need to leave. He’s dealing with enough at the moment. I don’t want him to think there’s another woman out to get me.

Ripping a paper towel off the holder, I begin making quick swipes at my hands, hoping to take the call off speaker before Anne can protest.

‘Are you sure you can’t stay there?’ Jack asks, as if already resigning himself to the answer and the smoothing-over he’ll need to do.

Hoping I’m clean enough to grab my phone, I toss the paper towel. ‘The thing is?—’

But Anne beats me to the phone, ending the call with one tap.

‘Hey.’ Hand still outstretched, I frown at her. ‘Why did you?—’

‘I have a new deal for you.’

He drops his hand, sighing. ‘Listen, I wasn’t going to suddenly change my mind and try and kick you out. I’ll leave, I promise. I just need to?—’