20. Heather
20
Heather
“ W as it really necessary for us to haul our butts all the way to San Diego to meet?” Lucy shot me a sideways glance from behind her dark glasses.
I saw her annoyance in my peripheral vision as I tried to keep my eyes on the road so I wouldn’t miss the exit coming up.
“Why are you complaining?” I asked.
“Well, for one, couldn’t you have planned this for Monday so we could have gotten a day away from the office?”
“They could only all meet on the weekend.” I was about to drive over the bridge to Coronado and the view was absolutely gorgeous.
Lucy sighed. She clearly wasn’t seeing the bigger picture.
“You do know we’re going to a bar famous for being packed full of Navy SEALs from the base at Coronado. Right?” I asked.
Glancing over I saw her react. One brow high, she said, “That’s what this McP’s place is?”
“Yup.” I nodded. “It’s where Joanne and Maria met with Clay and Tasha, saw the chemistry between them and offered them the jobs on Hot House . More than that, McP’s is where Tasha first met Clay. And you know how that worked out.”
Theirs had turned out to be an epic romance. Ratings gold that played out on the air for millions of viewers.
Lucy opened her purse and took out her lipstick.
Enjoying my victory, I smiled but didn’t comment.
The GPS started to spew directions at me and I had to concentrate to navigate the tourist-laden streets leading to McP’s Pub.
I parked in the first spot on the street I could find near the bar, figuring we could walk the rest of the way.
It was a nice day. This was California, so of course it was. When we weren’t in the middle of a mudslide or wildfire, it tended to be pretty perfect here.
The weather was nothing like where I’d grown up, where it could range from freezing cold and blizzard conditions to beastly hot, depending on the season.
I stepped out of my car and glanced through the lenses of my sunglasses down the street toward McP’s. A familiar figure caught my eye.
“Oh my gosh. Is that . . .” I began.
“Nick from Cold Feet ,” Lucy finished my sentence.
Heck yeah, it was. I’d cut enough footage into promos I would recognize that hot man’s strut anywhere.
“Come on. Let’s get in there.” Lucy was ten feet ahead of me by the time I caught up with her on the sidewalk.
We pushed through McP’s front entrance side by side, almost getting wedged in the narrow space in the process.
Inside the dim interior I slipped off my glasses and walked toward the bartender. “Hi. I’m Heather.”
The old man stared at me, finally saying, “All right.”
“I’m supposed to be meeting some people here. Clay and Tash—” I didn’t have to finish.
“Out back on the patio.” He hooked a thumb at the door next to the bar and then turned his attention to the woman wearing a McP’s T-shirt.
Apparently I had been dismissed as he concentrated on the waitress who’d walked up to the bar with a pad in her hand. “Ray. I need a dirty martini, a longneck, a diet soda and a cosmopolitan.”
I glanced at Lucy. “I guess they’re out back.”
She let out a short huff of a laugh. “Guess so.”
“I’m nervous,” I said as we walked out to the patio.
“I know, right?” Lucy agreed. “It’s like we’re meeting celebrities.”
“We kind of are.” These people might have started out like me, but they ended up being a part of millions of viewers’ lives.
“There they are,” Lucy whispered.
I followed her gaze and saw the table in the back corner. It was like a who’s who of New Millennia Media’s top stars. Clay and Tasha from Hot House . Gabby Lee and Zach from Trash to Treasure . And Nick from Cold Feet .
“Where’s Dani?” Lucy asked.
I’d noticed Nick was alone too. I shot her a sideways glance. “I don’t know. Trouble in paradise?” I asked.
Lucy cringed. “Maybe.”
It was like we knew these people personally. Intimately. We were invested in their lives and yet they didn’t know us at all.
They knew each other though.
Apparently the local cast had formed a friendship. They laughed and joked at the table we slowly, skittishly approached.
They didn’t notice us as they welcomed Nick, the new arrival, with handshakes and slaps on the back.
I felt like an intruder insinuating myself into their circle, but I’d been the one to set up this meeting so I guess I had to.
“Um, hi. I’m Heather from New Millennia Media.”
“Oh my God. Hi. So nice to meet you,” Tasha jumped up and came around to give me a hug.
“This is Lucy,” I said. “We work together in the marketing and PR department.”
Lucy smiled and barely had time to say hello before she received her hug from Tasha.
“Sit. Both of you. Clay, pull up another chair.”
The big brooding dark-haired SEAL stood and moved to a nearby table with an empty stool. He asked permission to take it and then carried it back to us.
Meanwhile Zach, younger but no less big or handsome than Clay, had stood and swung the one empty stool at their high top around to my side. “Here you go. I’m Zach by the way. This is Gabby.”
I swear my cheeks got hot. “I know. I worked on the promo for your wedding. Congratulations. It was just beautiful.”
Gabby smiled. “Thank you.”
The waitress I’d seen ordering at the bar arrived with a tray filled with drinks. Lucy and I both ordered a glass of pink Moscato from her, Nick asked for a beer, and then it was time to get to business.
When we were finally all seated and the introductions done, Nick said, “Dani will be along shortly. She asked me to send her apologies for being late. She’s having trouble getting away from the set.”
I sent a glance in Lucy’s direction. Not trouble in paradise after all. I had a feeling Lucy was a little disappointed by that because Nick, the youngest man there, was gorgeous, just like the two other SEALs at the table.
“Understandable.” I nodded.
“Oh, yeah. We know how crazy things are over there at the beach house,” Lucy agreed.
Nick let out a laugh. “Yeah. You could say that.”
Cold Feet was already a hit and the season hadn’t even aired yet. The network had been teasing it on TV relentlessly. When they released an extended version of the sizzle reel online, the views were insane. But it was the corresponding app that had the younger viewers especially going nuts. That’s what had made the cast members famous.
It was marketing genius, building momentum before the season started. I only wished I’d come up with the idea. We’d copied it from the hit UK version of a similar show. It was a winning formula. The proof was in the numbers.
Now, I was hoping I could capitalize on those numbers and get some attention for the shelter’s adopt-a-thon. And by proxy, also for the adopt-a-thon’s sponsor, Strickland.
“So, thank you all for agreeing to meet us. I know it’s completely last minute but I was hoping to get at least one or two of you to come out to the Hermosa Beach Animal Shelter adopt-a-thon in Hermosa Beach this weekend. It’s kind of a clear the shelters initiative to not only find forever homes for the shelter animals but to also raise awareness for their low cost spay and neuter program.”
“This is what you’d emailed me about?” Tasha asked.
“It’s related. I’d initially reached out about a possible collaboration between you and the shelter. I’d had in mind that you and Clay and your rescue dog Shellie could possibly shoot like a fifteen-second spot promoting adoption. You know, an adopt don’t shop type thing. But then this adopt-a-thon event came up . . .”
“When is this event?” Gabby asked.
“Saturday.” I cringed at how little time I’d given these very busy people. “And again, I’m so sorry this is so last minute.”
“Last minute is better actually. I can’t plan my life more than a few days ahead.” Zach reached out and squeezed Gabby’s hand.
She nodded agreement and mumbled, “Mmm, hmm.”
I glanced at the others at the table.
“Well, I can definitely do it and so can Clay,” Tasha said.
Clay’s dark brows formed a low line over his eyes. “Oh, can I?” There was amusement in his voice, otherwise the man might have been a little scary.
Tasha wasn’t intimidated. “You know you can. You’re not like Zach or Nick. You’re retired and that means you have plenty of time for this. And we’re between seasons for the show so we’re both totally available.” She glared right back at him as she made that statement.
And this was why the show had been a hit. Tasha and Clay had sparks between them. I felt like I’d stepped through my TV screen and landed in the middle of their show.
It was amazing. I saw Lucy next to me was as riveted as I was by the live action in front of us.
“He’ll be there,” Tasha reiterated.
Clay grunted. “I’ll be there.”
He was a softy when it came to dogs so I really hadn’t been worried he’d say no. Well, maybe a little bit worried.
“I’ll have to be a firm maybe until that day. Is that okay?” Zach asked.
“It’s fine. Really. More than I could have hoped for.”
“I’ll definitely be there.” Gabby smiled. Calm for a woman who didn’t know if her husband would be here, or half way around the world fighting.
“I’m a go for now. But just like with Zach, that can change at any moment,” Nick said. “And here comes Dani, so she can speak for herself. Sad that I’m probably going to be more available even though I’m back on active duty, than she is now while she’s trying to finish up the final days of that damn show.”
That damn show . Yeah, Nick had been an unwilling participant on Cold Feet . But the executive producer was right when she said the camera loved him. And the fans really loved him.
“Hi. Sorry, I’m late. I’m Dani,” she said to Lucy and me.
“I’m Heather. This is Lucy. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“I know, right?” Dani agreed. “Crazy that we both work for the same company but we’ve never met in person.”
“They usually like to keep us locked away in Burbank.” Lucy laughed.
I wished that weren’t true but it kind of was. It wasn’t until we’d pitched the chicken farmer show idea that we’d ever been sent out of the office.”
“So what did I miss?” The flustered woman set her big bag on the table as Nick gave her his chair.
The production associate sat heavily, looking like she’d been working every one of the eighteen-hour days I knew the crew was putting in on the Cold Feet set.
I did a quick recap of what we’d covered for her benefit.
Dani nodded as Nick, clearly the devoted boyfriend, set a wine in front of her and rubbed her back as he stood behind her.
“So what kind of participation are you looking for from Cold Feet exactly? Just Nick?” she asked, looking used to the fact her SEAL boyfriend had become a reality star.
“Well, I was kind of hoping maybe one or two of the bridesmaids and groomsmen might be able to pop by. Joanne approved the idea. If they’re available and you’re finished production before Saturday.”
Dani let out a snort. “We’d better be finished. The contract with the homeowners for the beach house is up next week. But yeah. I’ll pitch it to the cast when I get back to the house tonight. I definitely can't promise the bride or the groom will show, but as for the others, I think they’ll be into it.”
“If nothing else, it’ll be perfect for their Instapost.” Nick rolled his eyes, telling me his true feelings about social media.
“For sure.” Dani nodded. She directed her attention to me. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you so much. That’s really more than I’d even hoped for.”
If David thought the Strickland video response had been wild, wait until he saw what kind of attention the Hermosa Beach Animal Shelter Strickland Feed Adopt-a-thon was going to get with the help of some stars.
It was going to be epic! I couldn’t wait to tell him. But when? Just because we’d spent last night together didn’t mean he’d want to see me again tonight.
I could text him. I had a good reason. I did have big news about the adopt-a-thon. But after us being together last night it felt weird calling or texting.
Would it make me look clingy? He’d seen me this morning at the shelter. Would he think more than once a day was too much?
Crud. Sex complicated everything. Really good sex, even more so.