Free [Churchminster #3] Wild Things by Jo Carnegie Page B

met. His were piercing, the colour of a summer sky on a cloudless day. The film star raised his eyebrows and smiled at Calypso, showing off a set of perfect, milk-white teeth. Calypso had an urge to laugh. He was like a walking, talking catalogue model! Across the room, Rafe looked slightly puzzled at her smirk.
    ‘Oh my God, he’s staring at you!’ Camilla had appeared at her side.
    ‘He probably smiles at all the girls like that,’ said Calypso dismissively. ‘Look at him lapping up the attention.’
    They watched as Rafe turned back to the girls and started giving the prettiest one his undivided attention.
    ‘Angie just got his autograph! She says he’s absolutely charming,’ said Camilla.
    ‘I bet he is,’ retorted Calypso. ‘“Absolutely charming” means sleazy and full of it. Come on, Bills, he’s just like the millions of pretty boys you see in Hollywood. Bland, vain and shagging anything that moves. Remember that up-and-coming Irish actor my friend Jasmine was seeing? She caught him in her bed doing it doggie with some 17-year-old model.’ Calypso had gone to an extremely cool girls’ school in London and was used to running with the beautiful, in-crowd. She’d met enough famous people in her time to not share Churchminster’s fever at having celebrities in their midst. Talking of which … ‘I see Sophia Highforth’s graced us with her presence.’
    Camilla looked over to where a tall, slender woman was standing. She had white-blonde hair teased into waves, and a dainty, doll-like face, her beautiful features creased into concentration as she tapped away on a BlackBerry. The actress was wearing cream silk trousers and a soft pink top that simply oozed class. A short man wearing a suit and glancing around with keen brown eyes, stood beside her proprietorially. ‘You can tell she’s a film star,’ Camilla said in admiration. ‘I wonder who that man is she’s with, though? Looks very short to be a minder.’
    Calypso snorted with laughter. ‘As if you’d need a minder in Churchminster!’
    A young man came up to them. It was Dan, Seraphina Inc.’s locations manager. ‘Great party, Calypso! You’ve stuck to the brief brilliantly.’
    Calypso looked pleased. ‘Glad to be of service.’
    Dan smiled widely at them, beer in hand. His cheeks were rather pink and he looked well on the way to being merry. ‘I’m having a top time! Nice to let off some steam.’
    ‘We were just wondering who that chap is with Sophia Highforth,’ said Camilla.
    Dan looked over and groaned. ‘Gordon Goldsmith, her manager.’
    ‘Of Goldsmith Management?’ Calypso asked.
    ‘Yup, until Gordon fell out with his brother Stevie and kicked him out of the company. They had a huge bust-up over who should look after Sophia; each one reckoned he was the first to discover her. Gordon guards her like a pit bull now, causes some right old problems on set.’
    ‘You must have an awfully busy job, keeping everyone onside,’ Camilla said sympathetically.
    ‘Tell me about it! Though in general the locals are the pain, issuing orders about this and that. I often feel like throwing the whole bloody lot in their precious village pond.’ Dan’s face suddenly flushed even redder. ‘Shit, I didn’t mean anyone here! You’ve all been great to deal with.’
    Camilla laughed. ‘No offence taken.’ Her eyes twinkled. ‘Granny Clem can be a bit much, but her bark’s worse than her bite. She’s just super-protective about the village. Anyway, you don’t have to worry about anything tonight; she’s at her bridge evening.’
    Dan gave a relieved smile. Just then there was a shout and the door behind the bar flew open. ‘Out you!’ One of the trilby-wearing men from earlier shuffled out shamefaced, while Jack followed, Stacey firmly gripped in one arm. Everyone turned to stare. ‘I just caught this pair in the cellar!’ he shouted furiously at Beryl.
    Stacey wriggled under her dad’s arm. ‘We were only kissing, you