“What’s going on?” Gavin asked.

Seth shook his head.

Eli stood. “Let’s go see.”

Seth wasn’t particularly interested when he followed his brothers to the other side of the room. He didn’t live here and couldn’t imagine whatever it was would concern him. He ordered another drink while Eli and Gavin tried to learn what all the commotion was about. Seth was tempted to tell them it didn’t matter, that they should go play another game of pool because he had to get home and start work soon, when he heard Tia’s name.

“What’d they say?” he asked Gavin, suddenly as interested as they were.

“I couldn’t hear, but I see a friend over there,” Gavin said. “I’ll ask Ben if he knows.” He nudged his way through the group. “What’s going on?” Seth heard him ask some guy with a full beard.

Ben gestured at a slouchy-looking guy in a flannel shirt over a white T-shirt and a pair of baggy jeans that had big cuffs at the bottom. “This guy was just asking if we’ve seen Tia Beckett, the movie star. He claims she’s in town.”

Seth caught his breath, hoping Gavin wouldn’t do anything to give Tia away.

“The one who was in that accident?” he heard Gavin say.

“Yeah,” his friend replied. “Have you seen her? Because I sure haven’t. I’d remember that.”

“I haven’t seen her, either,” Gavin said. “What about everyone else?”

After the rest of the people in the group shook their heads or mumbled a negative response, Gavin addressed the guy in the flannel shirt. “How do you know she’s here?”

“That’s what I was told.” He pulled some business cards from his pocket and started handing them out. “If you see her, would you give me a call?”

“What do you want with her?” Eli asked as everyone took one.

The guy looked up. “We have some business together.”

“So you know her.”

A smile curved his lips. “Yeah, we’re friends.”

Seth wanted to believe this guy was truly a friend, since Tia desperately needed one, but he didn’t get that feeling. He was too old to be the ex-boyfriend she’d labeled as controlling. And the fact that he didn’t take care of himself made Seth doubt he was an actor.

Was he a paparazzo? Part of an industry that made money off the fame of others?

Seth couldn’t wait for Gavin to return with the dude’s information. He was eager to see if there was a company or something else, besides his name, to indicate who he was.

There wasn’t. The card read only Ray T. Kouretas and provided a number.