“Do you remember your lines?” Richard’s cretin assistant sang, blowing so that her fluffy auburn bangs danced in midair.

“Sure,” Shay snapped. “To bee or not to bee, that is the question.”

“Sheesh,” the assistant marveled, not getting the joke.

“All right, Shay,” Richard said, indicating one of two cameras with a nod of his head. “We’ll be filming from two angles, but I want you to look into this camera while you’re delivering your line.”

“Since when is ‘bzzzz’ a line?”

“Just do as I tell you, Shay.” A muscle under Richard’s right eye was jumping. Shay had never noticed that he had a twitch before.

“I’m ready,” she conceded.

The cameras made an almost imperceptible whirring sound and a clapboard was snapped in her face.

“Take One!” Richard cried importantly.

“Bzzzzzz,” said Shay, dancing around the hood of the sedan as though to pollinate it. “Come to Reese Motors, in Skyler Beach, 6832 Discount Way! You can’t afford to miss a honey of a deal like this!” She moved on to a red pickup. So far, so good. “Take this model right here, only nineteen-ninety—nineteen-ninety—”

Shay’s voice froze in her throat and her concentration fled. Mitch Prescott was standing beside Ivy, looking stunned.

“Cut!” Richard bellowed.

Shay swallowed, felt relieved as she watched Mitch turn and walk resolutely away. Were his shoulders shaking just a little beneath that pristine white shirt of his?

“I’m sorry,” she said to Richard, who looked apoplectic. It seemed to Shay that he took commercials a mite too seriously.

“Take Two,” Richard groaned. “God, why do I work with amateurs? Somebody tell me why!”

He wouldn’t have dared to talk to Marvin that way, Shay thought. And why had she apologized, anyway? Nobody got a commercial right on the first take, did they?

Shay started over, offering the folks in Skyler Beach a bunny of a deal.

“That’s Easter!” Richard screamed, frustrated beyond all good sense.

“Don’t get your stinger in a wringer!” the bee screamed back and every salesperson on the lot roared with laughter.

On the third take the spot was flawless. Shay scowled at Richard and stomped into the RV with Ivy right behind her. The younger woman kept biting back giggles as she helped with the cumbersome costume.

When Shay was back in her slacks and golden, imitation-silk blouse, her hair brushed and her makeup back to normal, she left the RV with her chin held high. The salesmen formed a double line, a sort of good-natured gauntlet, and applauded and cheered as she passed.

Shay executed a couple of regal bows, but her cheeks were throbbing with embarrassment by the time she closed her office door behind her and sank against it. It was bad enough that half of Washington state would see that stupid commercial. Why had Mitch had to see it, too?

Chapter Five

The very fact of Marvin’s absence seemed to generate problems and Shay was grateful for the distraction. Dealing with the complaints and questions of customers kept her from thinking about the three commercials yet to be filmed and the very enticing dangers of working closely with Mitch Prescott.