Kissed Blind (Hot Pursuit #2)(41)

Vance chimed in first. “We’ll have to get approval from our boss, but I think it should be okay.”

“And if it’s not, money usually helps change people’s minds.” Oliver snickered. “I’ll make sure it’s not a problem with him if it’s not a problem with either of you.”

“It’s not a problem with me. I’d love to go,” I said.

“All right then. Cici, after you talk with Cadence, call their office and talk to… Cavanaugh is it?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “He’s the guy you’ll need to talk to.”

“Okay, so talk to Cavanaugh and work out the details with him.” Cici jotted more notes, and the elevator dinged as we arrived on the ground floor. “We’ll probably fly in Friday night,” Oliver said, walking through the lobby. “Be there for the ceremony on Saturday, and hop on a flight either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. We can work out all the details later.”

We proceeded through the lot and settled into the car. Oliver clicked his seatbelt. “Oh, and it’s going to be black tie. Vance, you’ll need a tux. Will that be a problem?”

“Not at all,” Vance said.

Of course Vance had a tux.

“Great. And Diana, you can wear whatever you’ll be comfortable in. I assume you’ll be able to come up with something suitable?”

I hesitated for a moment while I mentally inventoried my closet. I had plenty of black pant suits but wasn’t sure if any of them would be considered red carpet ready. I’d make something work or head out and do some quick shopping over the weekend.

Oliver noticed my delay. “I can have a stylist pick something out for you if you don’t. I want this to be as easy as possible for you.”

“Um, well, I might need something a little fancier than what I have in my closet.”

“No problem. Cici, call over to Saks and have someone pick out a few outfits for Diana and have them taken to her home tomorrow for a proper fitting. I know how you ladies are. It’s a much bigger deal for you to get dressed. We men all look the same.”

This was going to be a first for me, and I could barely contain my excitement. “Thanks so much, that’s very generous of you.”

“It’s nothing. I’ve been married long enough to interpret momentary silence.” He laughed under his breath. “Just give Cici your information and when you’ll be home for the delivery. We’ll get everything taken care of.”

Our commute was quick, and it was too early for many fans to have gathered yet, so entry onto the set was effortless. Once through the guardrails, Cici and Oliver split off in different directions. We followed Oliver to his trailer and stood at the base of the stairs. Just like the previous day, people shuffled about in a flurry getting everything perfect for filming to begin. We waited while Oliver went through his transformation.

After about an hour, Cici returned. “Okay, I just got off the phone with your office and everything is cleared. Your boss said he’ll contact you about the event.”

“Yep,” Vance said. “Not a problem.”

“Great.” She smiled and bit her lip. “And Diana, I just need to get your size, rough measurements, and address so I can have some outfits sent over to you.” I glanced at Vance. It wasn’t that I was shy, but discussing my bra size and hip measurements was awkward in front of him.

He chuckled under his breath. “I’m going to go find a restroom while you two discuss this.”

I tipped my shoulders. “Thanks.” After he walked away, I gave Cici my information.

“Okay, great. I think that almost catches me up.” She laughed but let out an exhausted sigh.

“Cici?” I asked.

She looked up from the pad of paper she’d flipped closed in her hand. “Yes?”

“Can I ask you something?”

She slipped the pad in her bag. “Uh, sure.” And tapped on a chunky silver ring on her middle finger.

“Do you like your job?”

“Oh, yeah, it’s great.” She paused and rolled her eyes. “Well, being at someone’s beck and call and being an errand girl isn’t my life’s goal, but it should help get me where I want to be.”

“And that’s acting?”

“Absolutely, but everyone else I know wants the same thing too. Working with Oliver gives me more of an opportunity to be noticed. Sometimes I think I should have thought it through a little more.” She laughed again. “But maybe eventually someone will notice me, you know, when I’m not running around like some crazy Tasmanian devil. I just need that one thing.” She held up her finger.

“Which is?”

“God, I don’t know. The one thing that will make the right person notice me. You know that kid with the high-pitched voice who was in Terminator 2?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“He was discovered in an arcade. An arcade! Can you believe that? I figure my chances are way better doing this though.” Something about the excitement in her voice made me warm to her a little. Maybe she wasn’t so bad.

“How long have you worked for Oliver?”

She stopped and mentally counted the years. “Three years now? Gosh, that’s hard to believe.”

“That’s a long time.”