Page 74 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“Hey, Jess.” Emily looked a bit puzzled. “Did you say something to Holly about this party you want to organise for me?”
“Uh, yeah, ages ago!” Jess frowned. “Holly’s local, so she’s the ideal person to help organise invites. She and I have things well in hand, don’t worry.”
“I suppose.” Emily chewed her lip. “Yeah, cool beans. So, are you and Robert still okay for tomorrow?”
Jess smiled. “Totally, so stop stressing. You do you.”
“Hey, you could totally put that on a T-shirt!”
For a moment, Jess wondered if she was joking, but she seemed to be perfectly serious. She decided that if Dermot messed Emily around, she’d beat him up with his camera. “Are you getting lunch?”
“Yeah, Chef Marco has salads and sandwiches in the kitchen,” Emily said.
“I wonder if the cast and crew appreciate the fact that their meals are now being prepared by Michelin star chefs,” Jess mused, as they took the back stairs that led to the hotel’s huge basement kitchens.
An aroma of onions and garlic greeted them but, apart from one long counter covered with trays of food, its professionally organised bank of ovens, sinks and vast steel preparation areas were spotlessly clean and bare, and a startling modern contrast to the rest of the castle.
They helped themselves to filled paninis and freshly made coffee, before heading back outside to eat.
“Can you believe this weather?” Emily sighed happily. “It’s my first summer living here so I’m taking it as a good sign.” She bit into her sandwich as they wandered into the grounds. “Let’s see if we can find somewhere to sit in the walled garden.”
“Sure.” Jess shrugged. “Once we avoid anything that belongs to the film crew. I know they’re doing some filming in there.”
As they stepped into the sunken garden, a sharp memory of her previous time here flashed to mind. She and Adam had driven down to oversee a wedding-themed publicity shoot forthe hotel. On their way home, they’d stopped at Adam’s family farm, where they’d gone riding, before having dinner with his parents. And all that time she’d kept her upcoming wedding to Simon a secret.
At least she wasn’t keeping secrets anymore. Not like that, at least.
“Wow, this place is busy!” Emily said, looking around. “Ooh, there’s Mel.” She waved. “Hey!”
Jess glanced over and gave a little wave. Ever since the fallout over what Frank referred to as “the tunnel incident”, Jess had been slightly wary of her. But so far she’d made no other awkward requests.
“Over here.” Emily hurried ahead and sat down on a stone bench, surrounded by flower beds. Jess joined her, putting her wrapped lunch on the small space between them.
“Is everything okay, Jess?”
“Sure, why do you ask?”
Emily hesitated. “It’s just, sometimes you seem really sad, but you pretend like everything’s cool. And I just wanted to say that you don’t have to pretend to be okay if you’re not. You do you, yeah? Especially around me.”
The damned flowers were definitely triggering her hay fever, Jess thought as her eyes started to sting. She cleared her throat. “I’ll remember –oh shit, Emily! Run!” Jess jumped up as Snuggles seemed to appear from nowhere, barking loudly and running straight for them.
Emily grabbed Jess’s arm. “Don’t move! He’ll think it’s a game and chase you.”
“Emily!” Maybe they could outrun him. Her pulse was already racing faster than him. He wasn’t even muzzled! “Down, boy! Spencer! Spencer!” Terrified, she crossed her arms over her face and chest and braced herself.
Snuggles jumped, propelling himself through the air, and landed on her, throwing her back against the bench. With his upper paws on her chest, he started to lick her hands and the bits of her face his tongue could reach. She tried to push him off, as waves of shock and relief started to shiver through her. As she turned her face away, she managed to open one eye and saw that Emily was on her feet, gaping down at her.
“Okay, nice boy – down, Snuggles!” Jess tried to push the dog’s big face away from her own, but her arms felt as weak as her legs. She’d be stinking of dog for the rest of the day. Not that it mattered – she’d probably just live on this bench for a while. She definitely wouldn’t be able to stand any time soon.
“Snuggles!” Spencer ran over. “So, so sorry, Jess, I don’t know what happened. I didn’t realise he was gone. He must really like you, though.” He grabbed hold of his collar and tugged him away from her.
She smiled weakly and wiped her face with her sleeve in an effort to dry it, aware that she’d probably wiped away half her makeup.
“He’s just a big softie, really.” Spencer offered a wry smile.
“Right, I can see that.” Jess looked at Emily, who had gone from apparent shock to helpless giggles. As her pulse started to return to normal, she struggled for composure. “Spencer? His muzzle? And maybe a lead?”
“Shit.” He pulled a face. “Sorry, I’ll try to remember.”
