Thrill Me (Fool's Gold #18)(58)

“We’re getting into our work rhythm,” she said, looking for another clip and adding it. When she hit Play, the camera moved from the elephant to pan across the ranch where Annabelle, a local librarian, stood by her husband. They were only talking, and standing far enough away to practically be background. But there was something about their differences in height, the way he stood protectively close to her, not to mention the sexy angle of his cowboy hat, that added a spark to the otherwise-traditional landscape shot.

“Damn, we’re good,” he breathed, then laughed. “Mostly you.”

“I disagree. Without you dazzling the camera, we couldn’t connect the shots. Okay, we need twenty-seven more seconds. It’s going to be hard to pick what we want to use. Everything is really good.”

The door to the office opened and two men in suits walked in. They were both in their late forties or early fifties. One was short and balding, the other a little taller. Maya knew she’d never seen either of them before.

“Maya Farlow?” the shorter of the two men asked.

Maya nodded slowly, half expecting him to pull out a law enforcement badge and utter the spine-chilling phrase, “I’m going to have to ask you to come with me, ma’am.”

The two men looked at each other, then back at her. The taller one smiled broadly. “I’m Ernesto. This is my business partner, Robert. We’re in big trouble and we need some help. Can we bother you for a minute?”

“Of course,” she said, not sure what they could want with her.

Del rose and got two chairs. The men sat by the table.

“We own the Lucky Lady Casino,” Ernesto said. “We’ve planned an advertising campaign. We’re about to film a series of national commercials. Robert and I wrote the commercials with an ad agency and we’re shooting this week.”

His partner nodded. “We have the equipment rented, the actors, hair and makeup people, the costumes and perfect weather. The team hired to do the actual filming just told us they weren’t going to show up. We’re stuck. Can you help?”

Maya processed the information. “You want me to produce your commercials?”

Ernesto nodded. “Direct, create, produce. Whatever you want to call it. We have storyboards and a script. Everything you need.”

It was both intriguing and crazy, she thought. “How did you know to come to me?”

“We didn’t. We went to Mayor Marsha. She showed us some of your work.” Robert turned to Del. “We understand you work with Maya, and we want to hire you, too. She said you were a team.”

Just then Maya’s cell phone rang. She would have ignored it except she had a feeling she knew who was calling.

“Hello?”

“It’s Mayor Marsha, Maya. Are they there?”

“Uh-huh.”

The mayor laughed. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but they’re a local business and we do help out our own. I spoke to the city council and we’re going to release you for a week. That should be enough time, don’t you think?”

If she worked twenty-hour days, Maya thought. Still, a national commercial was a big deal. To have that on her résumé would be something.

“Oh, and tell them we want copies of their B-roll. They’re going to ask you to get shots of the town and the area. We should be able to put those to good use in our videos, don’t you think?”

“I’ll make it a condition,” Maya murmured, more than a little impressed that the mayor knew what B-roll was.

“Good luck.”

“Thank you.” She hung up and looked at the men. “That was Mayor Marsha. When would you want us to start?”

The men exchanged a glance.

“Today,” Roberto said. “Now.”

Maya nodded. “Give me a second. Del?”

They stood and walked into the hall. Maya led the way to a second, empty office and went inside. When he followed, she shut the door.

He grinned at her. “Are you excited? That’s so great. They want you, Maya.”

“I’ve never done a commercial,” she admitted, her head spinning. She felt light-headed and shaky, but in a good way. Possibilities crowded her brain. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“You have great instincts. You can do this.”

“I want to,” she admitted. “It would be great.” She told him about Mayor Marsha wanting access to the B-roll.

“You should get a copy of the footage for your résumé, or whatever you call it.”

“You’re right.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m terrified. Can do you do this with me?” Because she would feel better with him along.

“Are you kidding? It’s a chance to work with you. Think of what I’ll learn. I’m in.”

She stared into his eyes. Loving Del was easy, she thought. Especially at moments like this. He wasn’t insulted they hadn’t come to him instead of her. His ego wasn’t bruised because he knew he was good at what he did. His self-confidence meant he wasn’t threatened by her. A rare trait, she thought. At least from what she’d seen in her career.

“We only have a week,” she warned him. “It’s going to be long days. I’m guessing their advertising agency will hire someone to do the editing. If they do, we won’t have control over the final product.”