“Excuse his lack of manners, sweetheart,” Miss Leona chimed in. “At my table you are not required to sing or offer a penny for your thoughts for your supper. Or your French toast.”

Amanda took a deep breath. “Well, I was hoping to save this conversation for our first—yeah, um, but I would maybe ask Sam to be more specific in what he does want?” She looked over at him cautiously. He looked back at her, waiting for her to go on. “It sounds like you’ve been doing the appropriate rounds. No harm in hearing people out even if the project isn’t right for you, but you are in a position to ask for things. And I’m guessing in a position to pitch some ideas of your own.”

“Bloop!” Corie said as she reached for more diced fruit.

“Quiet, you,” Sam said with a playful glare, before he turned his attention back to Amanda. “I’m with you. Go on.”

“I guess just be super honest with yourself, go for the big asks and if this all goes belly-up and your career is ruined, I heard a rumor that your family owns a ranch. Might make for a softer landing.”

“Bloop, bloop, bloop! Girl called the whole family out,” Corie laughed.

“No. I just mean you’re lucky, right. Having a supportive family is great. My parents have my back and they’ll never know how much I appreciate that, but what you guys have here is amazing, from what I’ve seen so far. If you take big risks and they don’t pan out, Big Rock Ranch doesn’t seem like a terrible place to start over.”

“She’s right,” Zach said with a shrug.

“I didn’t say she was wrong.”

“It’s not a bad thing,” Amanda scrambled to say. She bit her tongue so often with Lady Voldemort, she forgot how freeing it was to speak her mind, but maybe this wasn’t the right time or the right place.

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing either,” Sam replied. His hand slid back over her thigh, giving her an encouraging squeeze. “You’re right, I’ve been . . . rushing. That’s the right word. I’ve been rushing to find the next project because I want to keep up the awards-season momentum, but I don’t want to follow up this win with just another project. I want to do something I’m proud of and something I’m excited for.”

“You have two brilliant actors, in your grandmother and your father, right under your nose. And all of this to come home to. I say use this time and combined resources and experience to really chase after what you want. Or maybe I’m wrong and I should have just sat here and ate my crepe tart.” Amanda dropped her eyes back to her plate and shoved a nice forkful of said tart into her mouth.