She calmed her breath and tried to forget about the filthy things John had muttered in her ear a few moments ago, but it was not easy. They weren’t going to be alone again for hours, not until after the red carpet, the premiere of John’s movie that Anna had directed, and all the after-parties.

She glanced over at him before moving to straighten his hair. He wore a black single-breasted tuxedo with a bow tie like he was made for it. She had learned a lot while they were together, but her fingers itching to tear off a bow tie was a new one.

“Who keeps calling you?” Anna asked.

“Frank thinks we’re going to be late.”

“We are going to be late. Why did I let you pull me into that closet?”

“We have time,” he said. “Besides, I’m on a mission.”

“Is it a mission, exactly, finding out what lingerie I’m wearing?”

He grinned back at her, catching her eye in the mirror.

“We don’t need closets. We have a hotel room now.” She swept her hair out of her eyes. “It has a view of the French Riviera and everything.”

“I’m not interested in that view.” John wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder.

The doors opened with a ding.

“Come on, let’s find Frank before—”

“Will you hurry up?” Frank chided. “I appreciate a quickie as much as the next guy, but it’s been a year. Aren’t you done making out in elevators?”

“It was a closet,” John said as he grabbed her hand to lead her over to where the rest of their group had gathered.

Gold chandeliers dripped from the ceiling, and Anna’s heels clicked on the black-and-white marble floor. The massive room was crowded with men in tuxedos, women in gowns, photographers, anxious production assistants with clipboards, and waitstaff seamlessly moving through the throng. John squeezed her hand before he and Frank moved to the side of the room to talk with a number of studio executives. He was already working on another script, and he and Frank were going to produce another movie.

Anna walked over to where Nicole and Reed waited by a massive fireplace, away from the crowd. Both had taken small but pivotal roles in the movie. Frank and John had agreed all the stars of the movie should attend the premiere, so all of them were in Cannes to represent the film. It felt a bit like a reunion from the days on set.

“Where’s Jenny?” Anna asked.

Reed wiped his brow. “She’s eating crackers and cursing my existence.”

Anna had visited Jenny earlier that morning. Her friend’s morning sickness hadn’t improved in the past two weeks. “So, same?”

Reed wrung his hands. “I need to go check on her.”