She shook her head. “Everyday life intrudes, even in the Hamptons. I just wanted to let you know that I need to make a phone call. I’ll go to another room so you can get to work.”

“Of course.” He paused as though he wanted to say something more but then walked to his desk.

She felt weirdly disloyal, lying to him about calling Troy, but she didn’t want to go down that twisty road.

She left Gavin in the office and returned to the pool room.

“What is it, Troy?” she said as he answered.

“It’s sunny in LA, and they love me in my role, and I’m staying at Finn Bolger’s apartment right on the water. Thank you for asking.” His tone reached for irony but came off as boastful.

“Sorry, but I’m crunched for time, and your message sounded urgent.” She forced herself to loosen her grip on the phone before the pressure cracked the screen.

“You’re never going to believe who I’m acting in four scenes with.” He paused for effect. “Irene Bartram!”

“She’s in a soap opera?” Shock made Allie tactless, and she could practically feel the chill across all three thousand miles.

“Many stars got their start in soap operas.” He mimicked her scornful tone perfectly.

“I didn’t mean it that way. I thought she only did movies.”

“She’s lowering herself to do a guest appearance on Saints and Sinners.” The frost melted into whining. “You love the Julian Best movies, so I thought you’d be excited. Irene and I have been talking about what it’s like to work with Hugh Baker and Edwin Shaw.”

She decided not to tell him that she’d met Irene Bartram and Hugh Baker and hadn’t been impressed.

“I have to give you credit,” he said. “All the times you made me watch the Julian Best movies paid off. Irene was bowled over by how much I knew. She says I have a profound understanding of the dynamic, and I should consider auditioning for a role.”

“Glad I could help, Troy, but I have to go.”

“Wait! I have some not-so-good news for you.” She braced herself as Troy continued. “I know you love the Julian Best books, but Irene says that the author, Gavin Miller, has a bad case of writer’s block. Can’t write a word. He’s way past his deadline for the next book. And she’d know because she was engaged to him.” He lowered his voice. “It’s so bad that they’re hiring a ghostwriter to do the screenplay for the next movie.”

“What? That can’t be right!” Allie cast a nervous glance at the door to make sure Gavin wasn’t racing in to see what she was yelling about.

“I think Irene would be correct, since she’s starring in the movie. And she’s going to get me an audition for a speaking role. She says I’d be perfect for Sturgis Wolfe’s right-hand man.” His excitement came through the telephone line.

Allie made sure to keep her voice calm this time. Troy didn’t know about her connection with Gavin, and she wanted to keep it that way. “Does Irene have any idea when the movie will be released?”

“Late next year. I know you’d rather have a book,” Troy said, although he’d never understood her preference, “but a movie is better than no Julian Best at all.”

She might have agreed with that before she’d met Gavin, but not now. “I’m still hoping for another book.”

“Did I tell you that they love me?”

“Yes, but I have to go to work.”

“Okay.” His tone was sulky, but he disconnected.

She lowered the phone. It didn’t make sense. Hugh said he’d been released from his movie contract, and he wouldn’t be mistaken about that. So why would they hire a ghostwriter to create a script? She didn’t know anything about how contracts worked for books that got turned into movies, but Gavin must have some control over the character he had imagined into fictional existence. However, the fact that Irene had promised Troy an audition made the movie sound like a reality.

Now she had to decide if she should share this information with Gavin. If it were true and Gavin didn’t know about it, he would be even more devastated than he’d been by Hugh’s contract news. If it were not true, she would be upsetting him for no reason.

Wait, he had Jane, who was a really great agent, according to Gavin. She would know what was going on with the ghostwriter, and she would certainly tell Gavin if there was anything to worry about.

Allie blew out a breath of relief. She didn’t have to upset Gavin unnecessarily. Damn Troy anyway.

She marched back to Gavin’s office and said breezily, “All settled. Sorry it took so long. Now we can get to work.”

He swiveled around in his desk chair and nodded to the coffee table. “Don’t you want your hot chocolate?”

A tray with two steaming mugs and a plate of what looked like homemade miniature doughnuts sat on the table. She inhaled and caught the rich scent of chocolate, making her mouth water. “Do I ever. Got any tequila to add to it?”

“Hair of the dog?” He walked to a built-in cabinet and swung open the door to reveal a well-stocked bar. “Here we are . . . Gran Patrón Piedra. Probably a crime to mix it with chocolate, but it’s all I’ve got.”

“I was kidding,” Allie said.

“But I wasn’t.” He carried it to the tray and poured a generous helping in each mug before he picked them up and offered one to her.

“This isn’t going to improve your work ethic,” she said, taking the drink.

“I hope it will completely destroy yours.” He touched his mug to hers and took a sip.

She did the same and moaned at the deliciousness of the dark, slightly bitter chocolate, the creamy milk, and the kick of tequila. “Germaine is a genius.”

“And you haven’t even tasted her doughnuts.” He took a pastry from the plate and held it in front of her mouth, his eyes glinting.

Allie knew she was being seduced, but she played along, taking a bite of the doughnut, chewing the light, cakey treat and licking the sugar off her lips. Gavin watched her mouth the entire time, his face tight with focus.

“You seemed to enjoy that,” he said, offering her the doughnut again.

She took another bite, chewed, and swallowed, but before she could lick her lips, Gavin leaned in close. “Let me,” he murmured before he flicked his tongue against her skin, lapping up the sugar crystals.