“Did you talk to Madison?”
He nodded. “We promised we’d find her a body double for those scenes and shoot the closeups without the animals. Gina, Kyle, and Marlon have already agreed to the new scenes.”
That made sense. None of the other werewolf actors had complained about the animals on the shoot.
“In the meantime, I’m staying for a while,” Stone said. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look awfully pale.”
“I’m just a little—” Molly dug her elbow into my ribs. “Ow. Er, I told you about Molly, my PA. I said she’s the very model of a modern major general?”
“Pleasure to meet you, Stone.” She stepped forward and held out her hand. “Let me know if you need anything. I’d be happy to help out.”
They shook warmly. “I was going to invite Sebastian for dinner. Would you care to join us? It won’t be formal. Do you know who would deliver a pizza out here?”
“I do know that.” Molly—as always—had things in hand. “If you give me your number, I can send you links to any of the restaurants in St. Nacho’s. There’s a local online delivery service that will bring food out here. Thank you for the invite. I’d be thrilled to come.”
“We can bring food. It’s no trouble,” I said.
“After the terrific meal you brought last night?” Stone asked. “I insist. Let me get this one.”
“Okay.” Had I wounded his pride? “Of course.”
While Molly told Sebastian which restaurants were good to order from, I watched them interact. Since shaking his hand, she hadn’t taken her eyes off Stone’s face. Based on the way he’d tilted his head so only the unmarked side showed and how the crest of his high cheekbone darkened faintly, he felt her gaze.
Stone was aware she was staring.
How often did that happen? Every time he met someone new?
I couldn’t tell what Molly was thinking from her expression, but knowing her as I did, she felt some combination of grief and empathy. She returned to her usual, efficient self a few seconds later, but the damage was done. Stone wouldn’t meet her gaze after that.
“You’re parked by the bluffs, aren’t you?” Molly asked. “Is it pretty there? Bast loves to take pictures. Did he tell you?”
Stone’s glaze slid my way. “No, he didn’t mention that.”
“It’s my hobby,” I admitted. “Whenever I get sick of being in front of a camera, I step behind one.”
“Come by anytime.” Stone whistled for Hades and Seph.
“We’ll see you,” I said.
Molly and I watched as he opened his van, which held separate large crates for Hades and Seph.
It was probably only vanity, but I thought maybe the wolfdogs knew me from the night before. They looked my way and sniffed and swished their long tails as though they remembered me.
“God, when you’re right, you’re right. He is dreamy,” Molly said as we watched Stone put Hades and then Persephone into their crates. He stopped to talk to Deacon, so we took off toward our golf cart.
“He’s sweet too. The wolfdogs are like family to him. Wait until you meet his emotional support dog, Morrigan.”
She turned to me. “Why don’t you have an emotional support dog?”
“I travel too much, so I got myself an emotional support PA instead.”
“You dork.” She bumped my shoulder with hers before getting behind the wheel of the cart. “Let’s get back. I want to change into something stretchy.”
“And I need a shower. I can’t believe that hot man saw me with vomit breath.”
“Sebastian? Can I have a minute?” I turned and found the hot man in question standing behind me.
“Oh God.” He heard me, didn’t he?
“You really don’t look well.” He took me by the shoulders and came close enough that I thought he was going to hug me. Instead, he took a deep breath.
“Did you just sniff me?”
Oh God. Stone Wilder sniffed me. Now I had to find a quiet place to die.
“Let me feel your forehead. Do you feel like you have a fever?” He pressed both hands to my cheeks, and if I didn’t have a fever before, it was for damn sure I needed a lethal one. Right now.
“Molly? It’s been wonderful. Kill me now. Just do it.”
“Aw.” Molly couldn’t have cooed. She wouldn’t dare. “You already sound like a really good friend.”
“Molz,” I said, stricken. “Whose side are you on?”
“I’m always on your side.” Her gaze remained on Stone. “Sebastian had a difficult and exhausting day, physically and emotionally. He’s experiencing the residual effects of a triggering event, and—”
“Molly!”
“I see.” Stone’s eyes