‘This is not going to be easy, is it?’ Luke said.
I looked up, half-terrified I’d missed something vital. ‘I’m sorry?’
‘Your face…’ He laughed his famous laugh as we were waiting for our steaks.
‘Yes, I know, you find me funny.’
He leaned in, fixing his cool blue eyes on me. ‘And beautiful.’
Well, he sure knew how to work it. They didn’t pay him actors’ wages for nothing. I leaned away from the table, reaching for my San Pellegrino water.
‘Are you going to try to charm me into seeing things your way?’ I asked. ‘Because I’m not susceptible to male charm.’
He shrugged. ‘Lots of lesbians love me, too.’
‘I beg your pardon? Do you think—?’
‘I don’t think anything. Besides the fact that you are a tough nut to crack.’
‘And why’s that?’
He took a sip of his beer and swallowed. ‘Because you’re not the type to be dazzled by city lights. You believe what you believe in.’
I was surprised he’d got that about me already. Or was it a ruse?
He put down his glass, his eyes never leaving my face. He was studying me. Choosing his next words. So would I, I guess, if I had thousands of dollars riding on the cooperation of a writer/housewife.
‘Can I ask you a question?’ I blurted as I set my glass down, happy to see I’d kept it steady and not spilled it over my LBD. I still couldn’t believe I’d got so dressed up in the morning, even if it was the most important meeting in my life.
Luke tilted his head, glancing up as he had many a time from the silver screen, only it had always been for the benefit of his heroine, the woman who would be charmed within an average timeframe of ninety-six minutes. He slapped his cheek lightly and sighed. ‘Oh, man, this is gonna hurt big time, I can feel it already!’
I shrugged noncommittally. If anyone here was gonna hurt, it was me, and the kids.
‘Why – not that I’m complaining because believe you me, this offer has arrived in the nick of time – but why on earth would you want to produce a female-led romcom? I mean, wouldn’t someone like, I don’t know, Nancy Meyers better fit the bill?’
He shrugged. ‘I got to it first.’
‘Yes, but why? You admitted yourself it’s not your cup of tea.’
‘No, I only said it should be told from both points of view.’
‘Then why don’t you talk about your own experience? You have the money, you have the connections, obviously.’
He grinned. ‘That may be true. But I don’t have your talent.’
My mouth opened. ‘You mean you don’t write?’
He shook his head, looking very much like the Cheshire cat. ‘Nope.’
‘Not at all?’
‘Not even shopping lists.’
‘So let me get this straight. You want me to write your point of view? Even if mine is diametrically opposite to yours?’
He nodded. ‘I’ve read all your books.’
‘I’ve only published three.’
‘I know. They were great. They are great. You write like a dream.’
‘Thank you. But you must understand that I can’t write what I don’t believe in.’
‘So you’re not gonna give this poor ex-husband, along with all the ex-husbands in the world, a chance to have his say?’
‘Why don’t you get someone else’s—’ I shut up immediately, not wanting to sound like I didn’t want the contract. I wanted it, and how. But I had no idea how we were going to rub along, if at all.
And then he put his hand over mine. It was warm. ‘Was it that bad, Nina? The break-up?’
I stared at his long fingers as they gently gripped mine. On what planet had I ever imagined having lunch in Hollywood with Luke O’Hara in the flesh, holding my flesh—I mean, my hand? Certainly this was all one misogynistic bastard of a dream that would leave me shattered the moment I woke up? I didn’t have time for ogling famous men on the internet, but now I’d have to find it because I needed to know exactly who I was dealing with. The man behind the face.
I shrugged. ‘Yes. It was bad. But I’m over it.’
‘Then what is it? Do you not trust me? I promise not to be a total control creep.’
I smiled. ‘No, it’s not that. I was just thinking of the benefits for my children. I’m pretty much broke and this would mean changing their life around completely.’
He nodded, squeezing my shoulder. ‘I understand.’
Yeah, sure, I thought.
His eyebrows rose. ‘Don’t give me that look, Nina. I really do understand. My family was so poor we couldn’t afford anything. And they worked so hard, you know? But there was just no way they could dig us out of it.’
‘Really? I didn’t know that. Not that I know much about you. I confess to not being a—’
‘A fan?’ He grinned. ‘I had an inkling of that!’
I snickered and took another sip of my San Pellegrino. Gosh, even the water tasted better here.
He took a draught from his beer, still grinning at me. He had an addictive laugh and I found myself saying funny things just to hear it.
‘So do you agree, then?’ he said and I sobered up instantly, remembering why we were actually there.
‘Yes.’
‘Fantastic! I’ll have the papers drawn up. You’ll be happy you stuck with me and not Ben. He’s much too traditional and conventional. Congratulations to us!’ He clinked his glass to mine, that charming look on his face just as the waitress arrived. ‘Ah, our food, just in time! Thank you… Danielle,’ he greeted her, reading her name tag with a dazzling smile and she smiled back, apparently used to seeing Hollywood stars, but still star-struck by him. And it hit me again, where I was, and why.
‘So, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll come to England,’ he said, out of the blue.
‘Oh? Excellent.’ That way I wouldn’t disrupt the kids’ lives.
‘I’d
