Page 10 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
She decided to be honest. “Actually, I’ll be here for the next six or seven weeks. I work for the Charleston Group that ownsLinford Castle. I’ll be staying in the village while the filming is going on at the hotel.”
“Ah, you’re the girleen staying at JJ Cahill’s old place.” He wiped his hand on a shirt that didn’t quite button all the way over his stomach, before extending it to her. “Ted Nolan. Linford might be small, but there’s nothing you can get in a big city that you can’t get here.”
She hid a smile as she shook his slightly clammy hand. “Jess Bradley.”
“Anything you want to know, Jessie, I’m your man.”
“Great, thanks again. And,um, it’s just Jess.”
Ted’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I heard you alright. Well, I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of you over the next while.”
“Uh, yes, I’m sure you will.” Jess had the uneasy feeling that that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
CHAPTER 6
By Friday morning, the last of the hotel guests had left and the staff had set to work to get the whole place ready for the film cast and crew.
Much of the grounds had been closed off to the public while the ‘village’ was being completed, the main part of which was composed of a street of fake fronts, including thatched cottages, a pub, a small grocery store, and a funeral parlour, none of which would have looked out of place on the set ofThe Quiet Man.
Jess had packed everything up again and put her case in the boot of her car. Part of her was sorry to be leaving the luxurious surroundings of Linford, but she was looking forward to six weeks in her own place.
Emily joined her for a mid-morning coffee in the orangery. “I still think it’s a pity they’re not using Linford Village to shoot their outdoor scenes.” She dunked some croissant into her coffee and then scooped it out unselfconsciously with a spoon when it fell in. “Like, have you seen the set? It’s like something out of the eighties.”
“More like the fifties!” Jess rolled her eyes. “Anthony said the local residents’ association refused them permission. Which is mad – they’d have been well compensated.”
“All I know is it’s all the shop-owners who are on the committee,” Emily said.
“Which makes even less sense, then.” Jess spread some butter on her scone. “You know, maybe it’s better that most of the chefs won’t be here for the next while. I’d pile on so much weight if I was eating like this every day.”
“You’ve actually lost a tonne of weight since ...” Emily flushed. “Like, since I saw you last.”
Jess pretended to examine the range of miniature conserves. The last time Emily had seen her she’d been pregnant. But she’d lost more weight than normal since the miscarriage. Stress, probably.
She flashed Emily a quick smile. When she and Adam got together, word had spread quickly around the Charleston Group. News of their breakup had spread even more quickly. She knew Emily would never intentionally hurt anyone, but she was a magnet for gossip.
As if she’d read her mind, Emily sat up a bit straighter. “Oh my God, have you heard about Afric Brooks and Spencer Torres?”
Jess shook her head. She’d seen Irish actor, Afric Brooks, in a few things on TV, and she and Spencer had previously acted in a movie together. But while Afric was still relatively new to Hollywood, American-born Spencer Torres had been part of its stable since his teens.
“They actually can’t stand each other!” Emily said triumphantly.
Jess grinned. “Bit awkward. But it doesn’t matter, does it? They’re actors.”
Emily shook her head. “You don’t get it. Publicity is massively important if they want to make bank at the box office. People want them to be a thing!”
Jess finished her scone and debated having another one. “You could be a movie consultant.”
“And give all this up?” Emily gestured around the room. “Seriously, it’s the best move I ever made, Jess. The staff are cool! My love life is a bit tragic, but I’m working on it.”
Jess poured herself some more coffee. “Are you living in the village?”
“Nah, I’m in one of the new apartments on the outskirts. Mad low rent, and way classy. I’ve a gorgeous one-bed.” Emily checked the time. “Uh, have you seen Holly’s uncle’s place yet?”
“Nope.” Jess smiled. “But I’ll be meeting Holly’s mum at lunchtime to get the key. So, will you be working here while the filming is happening?”
“Anthony wants me here two days a week, helping with admin. But I’ll have time to be an extra. I mean, they’re gonna need loads of us, Jess.” Emily chewed on her lip. “I think I’d be a good extra. A lot of the time you have to be good at looking busy when you’re actually doing nothing.”
Jess regarded her with interest. “Did you take acting lessons when you were younger?”
