Free Thrill Me by Susan Mallery Page A

I’m talking about.”
    He waited for her to say something like his amateur shoots were nothing compared to her professional experience. He had a feeling that in her position, that was what he would have been saying.
    â€œFine,” she said at last. “We’ll do it my way, then we’ll do it your way. Once we’re back in the studio and editing, we’ll see what’s what. Fair enough?”
    He nodded.
    They shifted the equipment so that the sun was over his shoulder, then he put his foot up on the trunk and raised his glass of wine.
    â€œI’m thinking about coffee this time,” he told her as she reached for the clapperboard. “Lots and lots of coffee.”
    She laughed and called for action.
    * * *
    M AYA WAS STILL tired when she walked into The Fox and Hound to meet Elaine for lunch. The previous day’s photo shoot had gone until sunset. They’d gotten some great footage, but today she was wiped out. She was sure Del was equally tired. Posing in front of a camera didn’t sound like work, but it required complete focus, not to mention a lot of standing. By the end of the day, her brain was fuzzy and her back hurting and she was sure he felt a lot of the same. Today she was playing catch-up and tomorrow would be all about the editing. She was curious to see how their shooting styles would translate onto the screen.
    She wanted to say she knew her stuff would be better, but she’d been in the business long enough to know it wasn’t always possible to judge. Sometimes the unexpected jumped out at the viewer. Not often, of course, but sometimes. Del could surprise her.
    She smiled when she saw her friend had already been seated at a booth.
    â€œHi,” she said as she sat across from Elaine. “How’s it going?”
    Before Elaine could answer, their waitress walked over. Maya studied the sixty-something woman and tried to hold in a grin. It seemed that in the past ten years, Wilma hadn’t changed a bit.
    She still wore her hair short, with glasses perched on her nose. She snapped gum and looked ready to take on the world.
    â€œYou’re back,” she said to Maya, then nodded at Elaine. “We’re doing a new roast beef sandwich with a horseradish cream. The bread is from the bakery. Trust me, order that, or you’re an idiot. What would you like to drink?”
    They both ordered iced tea.
    â€œI’ll give you a minute to look over the menu,” Wilma said with a sigh. “Not everyone listens to me.”
    When she’d walked away, Maya leaned toward her friend. “I think I’m getting the roast beef sandwich.”
    â€œMe, too. How was the photo shoot yesterday?”
    â€œGood. Long.” Maya shook her head. “Your son can be stubborn. He seems to have forgotten I’m in the business. He had ideas about every location.”
    â€œGood ones?”
    â€œWe’ll see when we start editing.”
    Elaine smiled. “I can tell by your tone, you’re thinking he’s made some bad choices.”
    â€œThey’re his to make. As I said, we’ll see. Maybe he’s secretly brilliant.”
    â€œIf he is, he wouldn’t make a secret of it. Trust me, none of my boys would.”
    Wilma returned with their iced teas. As Elaine ordered the sandwich, Maya noticed there were shadows under her eyes. She studied the other woman more closely and couldn’t help thinking she seemed tired. No, not tired. But there was something off.
    Maya waited until their waitress had given them a choice between fruit, chips or fries and then walked away. She picked up her tea, put it down, then decided to simply spit it out.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked, doing her best to keep her voice from sounding abrupt. “Tell me I’m crazy, but I feel like something isn’t right.”
    Elaine’s eyes widened. “Why would you say that?”
    â€œI have no idea. Am I