“But it is a romantic comedy with a British travel backdrop?” Sophia leaned forward over her now-empty plate. Vic might have worried about her mussing up her alluring white undershirt if Sophia hadn’t licked the dish clean of any remnant of Brogan’s chicken bacon pie.

“Yes,” Emma exclaimed. “Exactly that, sort of like a Hallmark movie with an international flair. Hopefully I can capture the charm of those great, down-home, fish-out-of-water stories, but with a less familiar setting than abstract Americana.”

“I like where you’re going.” Sophia nodded thoughtfully and ran one finger along her lower lip.

She seemed part story scholar, part circling shark, and Vic enjoyed both immensely. It wasn’t hard to see how Sophia became a force in Hollywood, not just on the acting side of the equation, but through carefully calculated career risks as well.

“You’re combining something familiar with something more exotic to keep it from being stale,” Sophia continued. “Adding a real sense of place gives the story a deeper anchor, and if you filmed in this area, you’d have so much to work with. Sweeping vistas, crooked cobblestone streets, windswept coastline, I mean, have you even seen the beach out back?”

Emma laughed. “Every morning from my conservatory, and I’m still not immune to it, but I’m a long way from thinking about film rights.”

“Why?” Sophia asked.

“I haven’t even written the full first draft yet!”

“So, what you’re saying is, I still have time.”

“Time for what?”

“To get a solid directorial debut under my belt.” Sophia sat back, somehow managing to appear both energised and relaxed all at once.

Vic envied her that ability, along with so many others. She had a way of commanding a room or a conversation that felt totally authentic, probably because it was. The ease with which Sophia slipped into meaningful conversation with Emma made Vic a little wistful. Even in the place where she felt most comfortable, with the people she most enjoyed, she’d never quite reached a level of unguardedness Sophia could apparently summon at will.

“I didn’t know you wanted to direct.” Emma’s own interest ratcheted up another notch. “Is that common?”

Sophia waved her off. “A lot of actors dabble.”

“But for you it’s more than a hobby, right?” Vic asked, hoping to spark more of the fire she’d seen in Sophia the last time the topic had arisen. She wanted to stand close to that flame, and perhaps, in some place deep she didn’t want to examine too closely, she also enjoyed showing off this captivating woman to a small part of her own circle of people.

“Correct.” Sophia gave her an indulgent smile. “Directing is my endgame, and this movie of yours we’re filming right now should help me get one step closer. Which means, it’s only fair that I should get to call dibs on your next screenplay as well.”