name. It made them feel that you were on their side. It made whatever you said feel personal.
No.
She ought to say no.
She didn’t want to get involved with another dog. Not after losing Comet. The whole point of working as a freelancer was that she wouldn’t get time to bond with any of her colleagues—not like her days with the police, when she knew every single dog in her team and every single handler she trained. When they were friends as well as colleagues. When she’d known most of the dogs from the moment they were born.
Being that close to everyone had left her life in tatters, and she just couldn’t let that happen all over again.
‘Please, Jess?’ he asked softly. ‘I can’t hold up rehearsals until my aunt gets back. We’re on a tight schedule and a tight budget as it is. And I definitely can’t take Baloo back to the dogs’ home. You know what will happen if I do.’
The dog would be put down.
And Jess had had enough death in her life, this last year or so. She couldn’t bear the idea of a young, healthy dog being put down just because she hadn’t been trained and was a bit boisterous.
‘She needs training. Which means a lot of time and hard work and patience,’ Jess warned.
‘I guess that’ll be Monica’s job. Or maybe when she gets back she’ll find the right home for her, with someone who can do the training. But for now Baloo’s with me. And I haven’t got the time to train her or give her the attention she needs.’ He stooped to scratch the back of the dog’s head, and the dog rubbed her face against his knee.
Not his dog, hmm? From Jess’s point of view, that looked like some serious bonding going on. He’d made a fuss of the dog without even realising he was doing it. And the dog was looking adoringly back at him. As far as Baloo was concerned, she’d found the person she wanted to live with for the rest of her days; Jess had a feeling that Luke might not have quite as much say in the matter as he thought he did.
‘So can you help us, Jess? Please?’
Say yes, and open herself up to the risk of getting involved and being hurt.
Or do the sensible thing and say no, sorry, she couldn’t.
Except that would mean refusing to help a dog who was already in trouble and had nobody to speak up for her. How could Jess possibly do that?
‘Can’t you find a dog-sitting service?’ she asked in a last-ditch effort.
‘Dump her on someone else, you mean?’ He grimaced. ‘Monica trusted me with her, and I’ve already messed up once. I feel Baloo ought to stay near me.’
‘Even though you keep telling me she’s not your dog?’ She couldn’t help calling him on the inconsistency.
‘Fair point.’ He sighed. ‘Look, Monica’s my favourite aunt. And she’s batted my corner more than once. This is my chance to do something for her. I just need someone to help me get through the next three days.’
Three days.
Knowing that she was probably doing totally the wrong thing, but not being able to steel her heart enough to be sensible, Jess said, ‘OK. I’ll help. Provided it’s OK with Ayesha.’
‘Thank you, Jess. I really appreciate this.’
When Luke shook her hand, it made Jess feel all funny. Tingly. Weird. Like nothing she’d ever experienced before.
Then again, Luke McKenzie was a movie star. He had stage presence—no, screen presence—and this was a straightforward case of being faced with that for the first time. After a couple of weeks of working on the set, no doubt she’d be completely immune to it.
‘No problem, Mr McKenzie,’ she mumbled.
He gave her another of those knee-melting smiles. ‘I meant it when I said to call me Luke.’
Oh, that smile. On the big screen, his smile was stunning. In real life, it was a hundred times better. No wonder he had a ton of female fans willing to fall at his feet and do just about anything for him. Jess was horribly aware that she’d just joined their ranks and she understood now for the first time why her sister and her best friend had always raved about him so much.
Because Luke McKenzie really was something else.
‘So, where do we start?’ he asked. ‘What time are you in tomorrow?’
‘Half past seven.’
‘You’ll need time to get stuff sorted, first. Shall I meet you here at half past eight?’ he asked.
Again, Jess’s whole body felt tingly and weird. Which was crazy. Luke McKenzie wasn’t asking her out on a date and arranging when and where to meet her. Of course a movie star wouldn’t ask an ordinary person on a date. He just wanted her to help him train his dog. This was business.
‘If it’s OK with Ayesha,’ she said again.
‘If what’s OK with me?’ the production manager said, walking back into the office and clearly overhearing the end of Jess’s words.
‘I need help with the dog,’ Luke said. ‘So she doesn’t steal anything else from Mimi and chew it to pieces. It’s only for three days. And I’m more than happy to pay for a temp to fill in for Jess.’
‘Baloo wasn’t any trouble today,’ Jess said. ‘I don’t need anyone to fill in for me. I can still do what I need to do here and have her with me.’
‘Are you sure?’ Luke asked.
She nodded.
‘If the actors are happy, then I’m happy,’ Ayesha said. ‘OK, Mr McKenzie. Jess can help with your dog.’
He grimaced. ‘We were on first-name terms when we worked on A Forever Kind of Love, a couple of years back. Or would you prefer me to call you Ms Milan now?’
Ayesha winced. ‘This film isn’t the same as that one.’
‘You mean, I’m not the same,’ he said softly. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take my personal life out on my colleagues. You’re right—I haven’t been my normal self on set for a while now, and that isn’t fair to the rest of the crew. Let me know if I’ve upset anyone here, and I’ll have a quiet word with them and apologise tomorrow.’
Ayesha nodded. ‘Thank you, Luke. That makes things a bit easier.’
‘And I’ll try not to be such an idiot in future.’
That earned him a lick on his hand from Baloo, and Jess couldn’t help smiling.
Maybe she wasn’t doing the wrong thing, agreeing to help.
Maybe this was going to be just fine.
And maybe, she thought, Baloo was going to do them both a favour. Help them both move on from a difficult situation in the past.
‘Half past eight,’
