His Every Word by Kelly Favor Page B

nightmare.
    Are you all right?”
    She exhaled shakily, looking at Hunter’s sleeping form. He’d turned his head away from her now, but his chest rose and fell rhythmically.
    “I’m okay,” she said. “But just barely.”
    “From what I heard and read, that maniac came in just a few minutes after I left the restaurant.”
    “You were lucky. It was a few minutes that might have saved your life.”
    “I suppose my luck has finally turned around,” Bryson joked. “I just wish it didn’t feel as though it had come at someone else’s expense.”
    “You have nothing to feel badly about, Bryson. I’m relieved that you weren’t there for any of it.”
    “And Hunter. How is he?”
    “He’s doing better. He’s awake and alert, seems very upbeat and optimistic.”
    Bryson grunted appreciatively. “That’s some man you’ve got yourself. He’s the real deal, isn’t he?”
    “I think so. I think he’s the bravest man I know.”
    “You’ll get no quarrel from me. Before he went and took on a crazed gunman, he took on that maniac Max Weisman and went to bat for an unknown screenwriter to direct a major motion picture. Remember that?”
    Kallie laughed. “I do remember that. Speaking of which, you mentioned that Max had been in touch with you. Did he say anything of note?”
    Bryson grew quiet. “Listen, now might not be the best time to discuss that.”
    “Why not?” Kallie asked.
    “I just think that right now you and Hunter need to focus on his health, and the last thing I want to do is make you feel like you need to get involved in something silly, when you’ve got real concerns to deal with.”
    “Your movie is a real concern,” Kallie told him. “Hunter just gave me my marching orders, and the first thing on his list was your film. So what’s going on?”
    Bryson sighed. “Max called me yesterday and told me that things are moving very quickly with the movie, and that he’s already got the female lead on board.”
    “He does? Who is it?”
    “Eliza Johnston. She was in Forty Nights with Robert Pattinson.”
    Kallie nodded. “She’s perfect. That’s good news, isn’t it?”
    “Max told me that Eliza would only sign on if Stephen Soderbergh directs. Max also told me that I might be able to be Soderbergh’s assistant director, but only if Stephen is okay with it.”
    Kallie’s stomach tightened and a sudden pounding headache came over her.
    “You’re kidding me, Bryson.”
    “No, I’m not kidding. Max said that he had to try and get Soderbergh on board—
    that he owes it to the film and all that. Who am I to argue with him?”
    “He can’t just do that without even talking to me or Hunter about it first.”
    “Max said he didn’t want to bother you two with Hollywood shenanigans while you were having such a hard time.”
    Kallie laughed. “He’s so full of crap.”
    Bryson laughed with her. “I’m sorry, Kallie. I don’t want to start any trouble.
    Maybe we should just let this one go.”
    “I need to think about it. I’ll call you back soon, okay?”
    “Sure. Take care of yourself.”
    They got off the phone and Kallie sat there, her thoughts muddled together and confused. She felt completely lost. With Hunter in the condition he was in, she didn’t have anybody who could help her through this problem. And who was she in the movie business? She was a complete and total nobody.
    Hunter had the clout to stand up to Max Weisman, but Kallie had zero clout.
    “Damn it,” she said softly. Suddenly, the tears came, only this time, they were tears of self-pity. She hated to cry and feel sorry for herself, but it was impossible not to.
    She was worn down, tired, mentally and physically spent. “I can’t do this,” she whispered. “I just can’t.”
    When she was done crying, she didn’t feel any better. There was no release.
    Kallie just felt empty—she felt transparent, as if she might just disappear and fade out of the world altogether. This was too much.
    Just then,