Page 11 of Love On and Off Set

“Not yet. That’s not unusual. They’ll likely be auditioning more guys. Maybe bringing some around for more callbacks.”

“So they might contact you for more callbacks.”

He glanced out the car window.

February was a cold month in Vancouver, and although rain was the norm, tonight threatened snow. Fortunately, we’d only be walking from the car to the building, so it didn’t make much difference to us one way or the other. If the roads were bad in the morning, my staff had orders to work from home. Most were hybrid anyway. A day or two in the office per week. We’d found a good balance between productivity and the need to be in meetings together.

“I hope it snows.”

Dade’s words startled me. “Oh?”

“Yeah. I love walking in fresh snow. And there’s a deadening quality when the snow’s falling and there’s no traffic.”

Ah.

“I hate to tell you this, but traffic in downtown Vancouver never completely stops.”

He eyed me. “There must be side streets.”

“I suppose so.” Would you even know?

Dade’s eyes lit. “If there’s actual snow on the ground tomorrow, can we go walking through the neighborhood? Where it’s quiet? Please?”

Why he’d want to do anything with me was quite beyond my comprehension. Since I often skied, I had good winter equipment, including sturdy boots and a warm coat. “Okay, a walk in the snow it’ll be.” I glanced outside. “If it snows.” And why are you hoping it will?

Dade still hadn’t removed his hand from my knee. And I wasn’t going to point that out.

Within another moment, the limo glided up to the hotel where the charity event was taking place.

The door opened, and a young woman wearing a porter’s cap smiled. “Welcome.”

Dade, who sat closest, nearly bounced out of his seat. He stood and held out his hand for me.

Startled, I slid across to his side and allowed him to pull me out. He pressed a kiss to my cheek before tucking his arm under mine. We hadn’t worn outer coats since we planned to only be outside long enough to get in and out of the limo.

I liked how he felt tucked against me. He was just a few inches shorter than my own six one and we just…fit.

Don’t get used to it. This is just for one night. And yet my traitorous mind fast-forwarded through all the events on my social calendar for the next few months. The dinners, the golf games—all places where having a companion would help. “Do you play golf?”

Dade halted, then glanced up at me. “Huh?”

“Golf.” This seemed like a perfectly logical question to me.

He grinned. “No. But you can teach me.”

“Something tells me you’d be a fast learner.”

His eyes lit, the blue irises sparkling. “Oh, you bet.”

“Well, that would be helpful. My CFO, Bethany, can’t be beat. I need to up my game this year.”

“We’ll see what we can do about that.” He pressed another kiss to my cheek, then we entered the massive ballroom.

The dim light from the ceiling ensured I had to squint to find our table. I guided Dade, keeping a firm hand to his lower back.

Elation and dread washed over me as we arrived at our table. Dread because Lucille, the reporter, was already seated. Her platinum-blonde hair shimmered in the candlelight, and her assessing brown eyes spotted my protective hand at Dade’s back.

She arched an eyebrow.