Meg (Beach Brides Book 1)
Page 3
She glanced over her shoulder to see Elliot walking through the doors. But, boy, was he good looking with that strong jaw and those rounded lips.
“There’s your ride.” He pointed at a man holding a sign with her last name on it standing in front of a black SUV. “I’ll see you later tonight.”
He was leaving? She’d been counting on him to get her through everything and to keep her calm. “Wait. Where are you going?”
He glanced down at his buzzing phone. “I have some things to take care of in town. Don’t worry. Carla will help you with anything you need.”
Carla? Who was Carla? What Meg needed was to not get ditched at the airport by the only soul she knew on the island.
He smiled and waved. Then he put his phone to his ear and headed toward the rental car counter.
The heat running through her now was less desire and more anger. So much for having Elliot by her side. She carried her bags up to the man with the sign. “I’m Meg Mullen.”
He nodded. “Welcome to the island, Miss Mullen,” he said in a thick Caribbean accent. “Let me get those for you.” He took the rolling suitcase and opened the back door of the vehicle. She climbed in beside a woman with wavy red hair and glasses with thick plastic frames. She wore a rock-band T-shirt and denim capris—not what Meg would expect from a Hollywood exec. Of course, for all she knew, this woman was a recruiter for a serial killer. Why hadn’t Meg done more research? The woman put her finger in the air, indicating that Meg should wait. Where else would she go? She was in their hands now.
“She just arrived,” the woman said into her cell. “What? No, she looks good.”
Meg squirmed under the woman’s stare.
“I’ll call you back.”
Meg could still hear the person on the other end of the line saying something when the woman hung up and sighed. “Sheesh. It’s already crazy, and we’ve barely gotten started. I’m Carla. I’m a co-producer.” Her phone buzzed, and she looked down at it and groaned. “Not again.”
A co-producer? Elliot hadn’t mentioned her. Meg pressed her lips together. How did she get herself into these things? Maybe her dad had been right. Even though she knew better than to trust a smooth-talking man like Elliot, somehow, he’d convinced her to come here, and she’d softened to him on the plane ride. If she was going to do this, she needed to be more careful around him. Around all of them. “I’m Meg. It’s nice to meet you.”
Carla put her phone on her lap. “You know, this isn’t how things usually work. Normally, we would do hours of interviews with you before we would fly you here.”
“This isn’t how I normally do things either.”
Carla’s gaze studied her, and then she laughed. “I’m sure it isn’t. After the last girl fell through, Elliot concocted this whole crazy story in his head.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t get it, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Maybe Carla’s words should have insulted her—made her feel she didn’t belong—but Meg agreed with her. It was crazy, and Meg didn’t belong here. She belonged in Oklahoma in the theater. Her failed year in New York City proved that. “He was persistent.”
“I see what he saw in you, but we usually go through an entire audition process.”
The driver had loaded her bag in the back and was taking his place behind the steering wheel.
Carla leaned forward. “Back to the resort, and we’re kind of in a hurry.”
Meg put on her seatbelt as they pulled away from the curb. “How do you like being a producer?”
Carla gave her a wry smile. “A lot of work. Not enough pay. But I gotta do the dirty work to build up my resume for my dream job.” She grabbed her phone again and started scrolling.
“Which is?”
“I want to produce movies. Feature films.” She looked up. “Are you in the business?”
“I run a small theater, and I studied theater in college.” She understood why Elliot assumed she wanted to be famous. At one point in her life, she’d wanted it more than anything else.
“That’s right. I saw that on your background check information.” Carla tossed the phone aside and dug through a plain, white folder. “Here’s the schedule for this afternoon. When we get to the hotel, you’ll go directly to hair and makeup and start interviews. We’ll film the mixer tomorrow.”
This was really happening. She blew out a deep breath. “Any advice for me?”
“Be yourself. Don’t try to hide things or put on airs, because the truth always comes out. You’ll come off looking disingenuous. Elliot thinks you’ll be a natural in front of the camera, but he seems sort of taken with you.”
Meg couldn’t imagine feeling like herself in a situation that was so foreign to her. Better to keep her guard up in front of the cameras—and with Elliot.
Chapter Four
Elliot walked into the resort conference room where the camera, sound, and lighting guys were setting up for the interviews. Things were already running behind schedule, and he needed to get them back on track. After landing, he’d spent the rest of the day in a local government office, convincing them not to shut down filming after someone had complained about plans to rope off part of a public beach tomorrow evening.
Beside the craft services table, Carla talked on her phone. He rarely saw her without that device attached to her ear. She hung up as he approached. “They’re almost ready,” she said. “We can get back on schedule, but Meg is still in hair and makeup.”
What could possibly be taking them so long? It wasn’t like she needed any help looking beautiful, but he’d learned to trust the team to do their jobs. “What do you think of her so far?”
Carla shrugged. “She’s great, but she doesn’t know what she’s going to be in for these next few weeks. She’s nothing like the other girls we’ve had.”
No doubt about that. He was relieved not to have to deal with another high-maintenance, wannabe actress. Of course, Meg might surprise him. Putting a camera on someone could change them in ways nobody could predict. His past relationship had proved that any kind of stress could send a previously dependable woman running for the exit. “That’s the point. She’s real. The viewers will be able to relate to her.”
Carla scrolled through the emails on her phone. “I get it, but going through this process isn’t for the faint-of-heart. We don’t need her getting freaked out and heading back to Oklahoma.”
He shook his head. “She’s stronger than she looks, and she’s convinced this will help the little theater she works for.”
“I hope you’re right. Otherwise, you better find another message in a bottle.” Carla’s phone vibrated in her hand. She groaned. “One of the male contestants is apparently passed out on the beach. I need to make sure he doesn’t end up too burned or too hungover to film tomorrow. If Meg’s ready before I get back, go ahead and start the interview.”
A thread of guilt ran through him as he went through a mental checklist of the men they’d cast. They had a professor, a firefighter, and an attorney to name a few, but were any of them good enough for Meg? He didn’t think so, but he might not be the most objective judge when it came to her.
What was he thinking? Meg was his contestant, and the guys were fine. They’d vetted them. Done the proper background checks and hours of interviews. One of them could be Meg’s one true love—whatever that meant. He wasn’t sure such a thing existed anymore. He flexed the tightening muscles in his neck. Why did the idea of Meg choosing one of them give him a headache? Two days of traveling, not to mention having to find a new girl for the show, could stress anybody out.
Meg stepped through the door with her hair in soft waves down her back. His pulse sped at the sight of her. Her bright eyes looked even bigger, and her perfectly bowed lips were painted red. She looked like a movie star.
He blinked, trying to clear his head. If the viewers didn’t fall for her, they’d have to have stone hearts. Yes, everything would come together, and Elliot would prove to Carla that Meg was perfect.
“You look great,” he said.
She looked down at the tight-fitting red dress. “I don’t quite feel like myself in all this.”
“Take a deep breath. You’ll be fine. Did Carla explain tonight to you?”
“Just that we would be filming some interviews.”
Usually they would have taken a full day or two to interview Meg on camera, but they’d have to squeeze them all in tonight. They needed to get the interviews out of the way. “Tomorrow, we’ll have what we called the mixer. We’ll introduce you to ten great guys. You’ll choose your top three.”
“After only one meeting? How will I know who to keep and who to get rid of?”
“Follow your gut. Base it on chemistry. You’ll know.” He could already think of a couple of guys he’d like to mark off the list.
She squinted at him. “Because it’s worked out so well for other couples on the show.”
He frowned. “Ouch.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so cynical.”
More than anything, Elliot needed her to choose someone—anyone—at the end of the show. “Trust the process, Meg. You never know what’s in store.”
“And what happens if none of these guys are interested in me?”
Elliot laughed out loud at the idea of any of these men not falling all over themselves for Meg. “That is one thing I’m definitely not worried about.”
A few minutes later, Meg sat on the stool in front of the green screen. Her gaze darted around the room as she waited for the interview to start.
Elliot stood behind the camera. “It’ll be fine,” he reassured her. “It’s just you and me, having a conversation, like on the plane.”
The corners of her mouth twitched, and she nodded. “Okay.”
“Try to answer the questions in present tense and in full sentences.”
She nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
He looked down at the clipboard of questions that Carla had given him. Worst date? How she spent her free time? These were the same questions they’d asked every woman who’d been on the show, but this stuff wasn’t going to get to the core of who Meg was as a person. He really wanted to know deeper things. The things that made her who she was today.
When the cameraman gave him the signal they were rolling, Elliot cleared his throat. If he were a viewer or someone dating Meg, what would he want to know? “Meg, tell me why you moved to New York.”
“I moved to New York because I wanted to be an actress.” Her voice shook slightly. “It was my dream to be on Broadway.”
He’d already heard this part of the story, but it still fascinated him. How had she switched so quickly from wanting to be on Broadway to not wanting to leave her tiny town? “Why didn’t your family want you to go?”
“My dad is a retired police officer.” Her voice began to relax. “He was worried about me being there on my own.”
“He didn’t think you could do it?” Because Elliot had the feeling Meg could take care of herself.
Meg shrugged. “He couldn’t understand why I would want to, but I went anyway. Turned out that he was right. I got a couple of roles in off-Broadway plays that paid peanuts. Then, my dad aggravated an injury he’d sustained years ago as a police officer.”
“So, you went home?” And her dream got cut short.
“Of course. Family comes first, and I’d been there a year. I wasn’t making any money. It was time.”
A year wasn’t long in show business. What would have happened if she’d stayed a little longer? Would Meg be starring in a Broadway production? “What about your mom?”
The color in Meg’s face drained at the question. Then, she straightened, regaining her composure. “My dad raised us on his own, and he did a great job.”
The camera guy whispered that they needed to stop the interview to reset the lighting.
“They’re going to take a quick break,” he told Meg.
She stood. “Can we talk off the record for a few minutes?”
He nodded and led her to the other corner of the room. “What’s up?”
Tiny lines of worry creased the edge of her eyes. “I probably should have mentioned it earlier, but I’d rather not talk about my mom. I mean, there isn’t much to talk about. She’s never really been in the picture.”
“Okay. You were raised by a single dad. That’s all you have to say.”
But the way she chewed on her lip told him there was more. “And when we go back to Alna to shoot the hometown episode, I can’t take the guys to the home where I grew up. We’ll have to do it at my rental or the theater or something.”
Putting her life out there for people to judge and critique wasn’t easy, but the visits home were an important part of the show. “But viewers will love to learn a little about where you come from so that they can relate to you.”
She looked down, and her long eyelashes rested against her flushed cheeks. “My father is against this whole thing, and he’s a proud man. I don’t think he’d want people to see where he lives.” Her gaze lifted.
“Where does he live?” Elliot asked, starting to get nervous.
She shrugged. “A little trailer park outside of town. It’s not bad. He does his best to keep it up, but after his injury…”
He knew what Carla would say. She’d say that they’d found their storyline and that they needed to do anything they could to use it in the show. But standing here with Meg looking at him like that, he could only do one thing. “I’ll do my best, but I hope you’ll reconsider.” Maybe if he could just get her to trust him, he could eventually change her mind.
She squeezed his hand, and what felt like electricity bolted through him. He was doing the right thing. He would have done the same thing for any of the contestants on the show. That’s the lie he’d keep telling himself, and that’s what he would have to tell Carla if she found out.
****
In an empty hotel board room, Meg fidgeted with the strap of the dress the wardrobe women had put her in, careful not to mess up the microphone the sound guy had hidden in the back. Carla had led her here and instructed her to wait. Now she stood alone in these ridiculous high heels.
Finally, the door opened, and Elliot walked in. So glad to see a familiar face, she almost hugged him. Almost, but she stopped herself. He was the producer of the show, not her friend, and she couldn’t forget that. She’d made the mistake before of trusting too easily.
“You ready for this?” he asked. “It’s go time.”
She nodded, but she was most certainly not ready. She’d rather stay in this empty room with Elliot. Under the best circumstances, dating was horrible and awkward, and she was about to go out with strangers on national television. She reminded herself for the thousandth time that this wasn’t about her. She was doing this for everyone at the theater.
“The guys are waiting. Robby will introduce you.”
“Robby?”
Elliot sighed and shook his head. “The host. You really don’t watch the show, do you?”
“Oh, yeah. The host.” She faintly remembered a short man with perfect teeth. “Of course.”
Elliot’s eyes darted around the room as if he were the one who had something to be nervous about. He didn’t have to do anything but watch this fiasco happen in front of him. “He’ll say a few words. Then, he’ll take you to your mark, and the men will come introduce themselves individually. Be patient because we may have to do multiple takes and set up different camera angles.”
She nodded, trying to take it all in.
“Obviously, don’t look directly at any of the cameras. Act like we’re not even here.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, sure. Just a normal day on an island meeting eligible men for a television show.”
Elliot gave her a reassuring smile. “You’ll be surprised. After a while you’ll get used to the cameras.”
Meg doubted that.
“You’ll want to make a mental note of the contestants you like and the ones you don’t want to keep around,” he said. “It can be a little confusing at this stage.”
She nodded, feeling too overwhelmed to say anything. Her hands shook slightly, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of this thin dress or simply nerves. She’d always had a touch of stage fright, but it usually disappeared when she took on another character. But in this situation, she was stuck being herself, which somehow seemed more daunting.
Elliot put a firm hand on her arm. His touch seemed to steady her. “Afterward, we can sit down with you and talk through which guys you want to keep. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” But going through the pros and cons of different men with Elliot sounded painful. Because as much as she didn’t want to admit it, she liked being near him. The way he looked at her and really listened to her when she talked made her feel like he understood where she was coming from. When she’d said she didn’t want to film at her dad’s, he could have very well told her to get over it, but he didn’t.
She couldn’t forget that he was the producer of this show. He was paid to make her feel important and to gain her trust.
Carla stepped into the room in her black jeans and T-shirt, making Meg feel silly and overdressed. “We’re ready for you.”
They left the room and walked down a hallway to a huge set of closed double doors. A booming voice came from the other side.
“That’s Robby doing the introduction,” Carla whispered. “When we open these, make your way to your mark. Robby will guide you.”
Elliot leaned in beside Meg and poked an elbow into her rib. “Hopefully, you can figure out which one he is,” he said sarcastically.
“Ha. Ha.” Meg kept her eyes on the door, trying to calm her nerves.
Carla pressed on the ear of the headset she was now wearing. She nodded at Elliot. “They’re ready.”