Page 14 of Persuading Penny
“This is the best news,” another actor said, clapping his hands in appreciation. “This guy is a real pro.”
“Yeah, I hear he really knows what he’s doing.”
“Who are they all talking about?”I asked Keely. “I thought Bridget Johnson was the big star. Who could be topping her?”
“That could only be my award-winning cinematographer best known for his work in adventure documentaries. Getting him onboard this project was a real coup. Come on,” Keely said, guiding me through the crowd. “I’ll introduce you. He is not only excruciatingly gorgeous, but he is one of America’s most eligible bachelor.”
Documentaries? Adventure? Award-winning?
Why did my heart race all of a sudden? Why did I feel like something major was about to change my life?
Then I saw why. Following Keely, every step in slow motion, the sound of my pounding heart blocking out all other sounds, I saw him.
I wanted to stop. I wanted to turn around and run away.
Don’t be silly, I told myself. I’m an adult. This is just one of those things adults must go through; just one of those uncomfortable encounters that leaves both parties stammering for lack of anything intelligent to say.
But as we got closer, and just as he brought his gaze to me, the little girl in me won. I turned and walked away.
No. Now wasn’t the time to see him again. This wasn’t the place. Not like this. Not in front of everyone.
And not before I’ve had a moment to collect myself.
FOUR
Standing at the backof the room, numb, I watched them all from afar. The action played out in slow motion, all sounds muffled as if my head was underwater. Keely turned to find I was no longer behind her. She looked for me for a brief moment, then continued on, her smile broad as she welcomed Cliff with a familiar hug and a kiss. It was clear through her manner that she was comfortable with him. Had they met often? Discussed the coming production?
And him; he’d hardly changed. Wearing a pale blue shirt and dark blue jeans, he needed nothing more. He looked great. So great. How could it be that he looked even better than I remembered.
His intense hazel eyes concentrated solely on the person he spoke to. He’d always had that way of making the people around him feel special and heard.
His brown hair curled lightly at the nape, and his smile...
How I remembered that smile.
No. How could this be? How could he be the cinematographer who was going to work on the very same movie I was to work on?
