Infamous Read Free Page B

manual labor. Although after
Quinn
, that was going to change. There would be no more ditch digging, landscaping, or carpentry in this man’s bright and shiny future.
    “Thank you,” he said. “But, um, I’m not sure—”
    “Have you got a minute to come to my trailer?” she interrupted him. He’d have plenty of time to be humble later. “I’ve got tons of information to give you before someone else grabs you.”
    Before the actor could answer her, Paula jogged over, calling, “I’m sorry, Dr. Carter. How can I help you?”
    “Coffee,” Alison said. “Two cups—in my office, bless you, and …” She looked at their lovely Gallagher. “You must’ve just arrived on set. Have you had breakfast?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “Bring over a breakfast tray, too. Thank you, Paula.”
    He looked surprised and a little uncomfortable as the intern hurried away. “That’s really not necessary.”
    “Get used to it,” she told him, walking backward so that she could look at him as she led the way to the row of production trailers, one of which was her office. The resemblance was really remarkable. “It comes with the territory. Where on earth did they find you?”
    “Find me?” he echoed. He had a slightly puzzled look on his face, as if she were speaking a foreign language and he was having trouble translating.
    “Strange new world, huh?” she said. “I’m with you there, Alice. I fell down the same rabbit hole myself, just a few weeks ago.” She rephrased her question. “Where are you from?”
    “Alaska,” he said.
    Alison laughed. “No wonder you look shell-shocked. You’re a long way from home. I’m from Boston myself and every time I go outside, I feel like I’m stepping into an oven. People are going to tell you that you’ll get used to the heat, but they’re lying. You won’t. You’re going to have to drink a lot of water. And always carry a hat.”
    He smiled at that, and it softened his face and made atleast five of those extra years disappear. “It’s been a while,” he said as they crossed the street and headed back behind the town’s single motel, where the production trailers were hidden out of camera range, “but I’ve spent plenty of time in the desert. I know how to handle heat.” He cleared his throat. “What I can’t quite figure out is … how did you know who I am? Did … someone call you or …?”
    “I haven’t checked messages yet this morning. Truth is, I recognized you.” Alison took out her keys as she led him to the narrow door of her office, unlocking it. “It’s been a particularly crazy day.” She stepped back and gestured for him to go in first. “Better duck. This thing is a death trap for tall people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hit my head. You’d think I’d eventually learn.”
    He had to both duck and angle his shoulders slightly to make it through the door and into the trailer.
    It was silly for her to have let him go first, because now he stood there, at the top of the stairs, gazing at the piles of books and papers that crowded not just her desk but every available surface—including the enormous leather sofa that lined one whole side of the tiny room. The thing must’ve been built in there—or the trailer constructed around it—according to some actor’s contract, circa 1985.
    “Sorry about the mess,” she said, shutting the door firmly behind her in a pathetic attempt to keep the cool air in and the scorching heat out. “And it’s not really as bad as it looks, I know exactly where everything is, so let me … Excuse me.” She squeezed past him—he was extremely solid in addition to being tall—and cleared off space on the sofa for him to sit.
    “Organization is actually one of my strengths,” she added, “but—and I don’t know how many movie sets you’ve been on—but everyone who knocks on my door needs something done
immediately
, top priority, drop everything, including whatever five