“I know that. Michelle told me that you’re the town dentist and we need you to be on call. You never know when somebody’s going to break a cap and need a quick fix to go on with a scene. It would mean a screen credit for you, too.”

“Count me in,” Norman said, shaking Ross’s hand and looking pleased.

Hannah looked at Ross with new respect. He’d effectively diffused a tense situation and suddenly he was Norman’s and Mike’s new best friend. But was he really? Hannah gave a little shiver as Ross’s arm brushed hers. Had their chairs been this close together when they’d sat down? Or had Ross inched over so that he could be closer to her?

Michelle came up carrying a cup of coffee. “Here you go, Mr. Barton. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Not right

yes, there is.” Ross obviously changed his mind in midsentence. “I’ve just cast Mike here as the Sheriff of Cherrywood and Norman’s going to be our crew dentist. Why don’t you introduce them to the rest of the cast and crew? That’ll save time later, at the auditions.”

It was no sooner mentioned than it was accomplished. Mike and Norman stood up and Michelle led them away to do the introductions. The moment they had left, Ross turned to Hannah. “So? What do you think of the new assertive me?”

“It’s a big change,” Hannah said honestly. The Ross she’d known at school had been content to sit back and wait for someone else’s suggestions. This older, more mature Ross had morphed into someone who led, not followed.

“Do you like me the way I am now? Or was it better the way I was back then?”

“What a question!” Hannah said with a laugh. “I liked the old you just fine. But I don’t know the new you well enough to say.”

“Well

we’ll have to remedy that,” Ross said, slipping his arm around Hannah’s shoulder and giving her a squeeze. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Hannah. I never said anything, but did you know I had a terrible crush on you in college?”

Hannah, who’d just taken a bite of scrambled eggs, swallowed with difficulty. She would have died rather than admit it, but Ross’s crush on her had been reciprocated in spades! “I

but

” Hannah stopped and regrouped. “You were living with Linda!”

“I know, but a guy can dream. I always thought we were better suited. She never laughed at my jokes or picked up on my drama quotes.”

“Come on, Ross. That’s not really fair. I had to know my plays. I was taking a seminar on American Theater. Linda majored in art history.”