She sat in her usual corner, adding more shading to her sketch, and felt eyes on her. Caz. He held a call sheet, and she saw his gaze shift from her to the AD. She sprang up and hurried over. “Don’t.”

Caz gave her an innocent look.

“Don’t,” Ashley said. “I’m a sea-level creature.”

His perfect mouth twitched.

“No.”

Caz turned away and she followed, stepping into his line of vision.

“Look at me, Caz.”

He slanted a look at her from the side of his blue-green eyes.

“No,” Ashley said, slowly and clearly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

“Next week is our last week, then shooting wraps.”

“Right, so I’ll see you next week and after that for several more in postproduction work.”

“I need you there.”

“I don’t like the mountains.”

“You didn’t say that when we were house hunting.”

“Hollywood Hills isn’t exactly Mt. Whitney. Besides, I want you to live wherever you want. I don’t have to like the location.”

Caz hooked an arm around her waist and drew her in. “Please, please come with me?”

Her cell beeped, delaying her refusal. Ashley looked down and read her text message. “Unexpected meeting in New York, back Sunday, Dad.”

Chapter 15

At first, the weather on the mountain didn’t seem too cold. The temperature hovered in the forties. Ashley could handle the forties. She wore layers and Powder gave her little square hand-warmer packets; the beads inside heated up and kept her fingers toasty.

“It’s only for three days,” Powder said. Powder seemed to be trying to reassure herself. “And they’re setting up a heated tent.” She pulled a fake-fur wrap tighter around her head. “I’m going to set up my station.” Powder hurried up the path. The rocks on either side of her were khaki colored, and large ridges filled with snow lay in the distance. The whole location was beautiful, and other than Powder’s distrust of the outdoors, spirits were high.

Ashley drew in a deep breath. The path smelled like plants and fresh air. Sometimes, you don’t realize how polluted a city is until you escape it. White snow edging the path sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight. Snow never accumulated like this in Houston. Ashley couldn’t stop herself from patting and crunching the toe of her boot into it.

“See, you like the snow,” Caz said. “You’re playing in it.”

Ashley looked up from the white powder covering the toe of her boot and raised her eyebrows. “Just because it’s foreign and interesting doesn’t mean I like it.”

Caz laughed and pulled her close. “Tell me you like it a little.”

Ashley tilted her head back and looked at him through her sunglasses. “Maybe a little.”

“I’m foreign and interesting. Tell me you like me a little.”

“Well, you’re foreign.”

The AD stood further up the trail, clapping his mittens together, shifting from one foot to the other, sending anxious looks at the sky. He wanted them locked into three days here: no overtime, no going over budget. “Let’s get started and get back to Lone Pine.”

The nearby town of Lone Pine served as their base camp. Last night the small group had eaten dinner together in its small hotel, forming a new sense of camaraderie and purpose. Ashley hated to admit it, but these might be her favorite three days of shooting.

Ashley honestly thought that—until it started to rain. Forty degrees was very bearable until you got wet. She huddled in the heated tent as soon as the first drops fell, rolling the hand-warmer packet between her fingers like a rosary. Powder huddled by a heater, staring at her black nail polish. She wasn’t outdoorsy either.

The actors rotated in for touchups and to get out of the cold. Ashley had seen them all except the star. “Where’s Caz?”

One of the actors answered her. “He’s in all the scenes, so they’re keeping him out there. Filming will slow if he takes a break.”

Ashley groaned, grabbed a blanket and a hot chocolate, and headed for the opening to the tent. The relentless rain, pouring off her umbrella in steady streams, and the muddy ground under her heavy boots, made the fifty feet to the shooting area seem much further.

Caz sat, tied up on a log by a fire, his character’s face defiant. His huddled shivering didn’t look fake.

“Cut,” the AD called.

Ashley moved in and carefully placed the cup between his icy, bound hands.

“Thanks.” Caz lifted the drink to his mouth. He made a sound of annoyance and twisted the fake restraints off his wrists. The rope fell beside his boots, soaking into the mud.

Ashley lowered beside him.

“I’m all wet,” he warned when she scooted close. Holding the umbrella in one hand, she used the other to toss the blanket half around him, half around herself, and huddled into him. His body radiated chill instead of his usual warmth.

Putting her right arm under the blanket, she touched his soaking shirt. Ashley slipped her warmed hand underneath his two layers of shirts and touched him. His skin felt icy against her palm.

Caz made a pleased sound and lifted a hand for the umbrella. “Use both hands.”

Ashley slid her other arm around him in a hug, certain his affectionate look was more about her warmth than her company.

The nearness made the wetness of his clothing seep through her sweater, and she wondered how he stood it.

“I don’t want a house in the mountains either,” Caz said. “We can just do a day hike sometime.”

Ashley grinned against his arm in total agreement. “You should tell the AD you’re ready to stop for the day.”

“I’m fine.” His body shook.

“Okay,” the AD said, “We’re ready for you, Caz.” Caz muttered a cut-off groan in response.

Ashley noted in annoyance that the AD wore a full parka and had someone holding an umbrella over his head. She gave Caz a final pat and lifted away from him. “I’ll get a dry blanket and come back.”

***

The temperature was falling with each raindrop, and Caz’s skin felt even colder when she returned.

Caz said, “I think this is the last shot.” His teeth chattered around the words. “They’re worried about the condensation on the cameras.”

“Here.” Ashley took hold of the umbrella and blanket and slid his hand under her sweater. The icy feel of his fingers against her warm waist made her jump. He tried to withdraw his hand, but she pressed it back in place and took his other, placing both against her skin. The blanket slipped, and she grabbed hold before snuggling into him, one arm around him, one hand clutching the blanket and the umbrella.

“The AD suggested I think warm thoughts, like the beach.”

“If your hands are the indicator, that’s not working.”

Caz leaned his head against her shoulder. “I’m glad I made you come out here with me.”

“That’s not very nice.” The pinging rain became harder pounding rain that blew in sideways. The angle made holding the umbrella over their heads almost useless.

“I’m not nice. Tell me something warm to get me through the next shot.”

The AD warned, “Five minutes, Caz.”

“Hmm, well, you could think about the lodge and a warm cozy corner by the fire.”

“Are you sitting by the fire too?”

“I’m sitting by the fire telling a nice guy all about the kissing pentagon.”

Caz stiffened and sat up to look at her with bright eyes.

Ashley said, “Too bad you’re not nice.”

The AD said, “Okay, we’re ready. Let’s get this last shot over and wrap. The rain at this angle is really getting to the equipment.”

Ashley stood, lifting the blanket with her. Caz surprised her by standing too. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “Thanks.” He pressed his cold lips to her neck and she shivered, but not due to the cold.

***

Sharing a room with Powder meant giving up all claim to counter space. Powder’s stash of cosmetics covered the small area, in addition to every other spare surface in the room. For the first time in her life, Ashley went to bed each night slathered in face creams. Her skin looked great in the morning, but not so much at bedtime.