“I know I don’t deserve another chance, but I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said about not overthinking things and going after what you want, and honestly, I just want to get to know you better.”

“Anything else you want to do?”

Anna’s face heated. “Now you’re just trying to make it painful. Please answer yes or no so I can go back to pretending I don’t find you attractive.”

“Yes, Anna, I will go to dinner with you.”

“Good.” Anna worried she sounded like she did when something went particularly well at work. “How about tonight?”

“I don’t have any plans except for working on this movie.”

“Cool, me neither.”

“Cool.” John rocked back on his heels.

Anna couldn’t remember the last time she’d asked anyone on a date. Wait a minute. “You know this is a date, right? I’m asking you on a date.”

“Yeah,” John said, laughing. “I know.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

John walked out of the small production office and waited for Anna outside the soundstage. Production had shut down for the day. The rain had stopped, and the sun sat low in the sky, casting a brilliant glow across the studio parking lot. Like any other workplace, office workers and cafeteria staff chatted good-naturedly as they streamed from the nondescript buildings to their cars and out to the main road to the bus stop.

Matteo waved to John. He liked the camera operator. Matteo was experienced, easy to work with, and had provided useful insights. With his full dark beard, long hair falling into his eyes, and his casual manners, he’d quickly charmed everyone on the set. Well, everyone except Cole. The director of photography was determined to be irritable to everyone he met.

“Vuoi bere qualcosa?” Matteo asked, miming drinking from a glass.

John’s Italian wasn’t great, but he understood the question. He appreciated the local crew’s easy camaraderie as they worked with crews from many different countries on many different productions.

John shook his head as Anna walked out from the soundstage, chatting with Pauline and Sofia. The young woman had proven herself invaluable on set as she supported many different departments. Anna smiled at John before turning to the other woman.

Matteo glanced between John and Anna and raised an eyebrow. John wasn’t worried about the press like Anna was, but that didn’t mean he was interested in being gossiped about by the cast or crew. When John didn’t respond and instead met the other man’s gaze without innuendo, Matteo put up his hands as if in surrender. John nodded to the other man. Matteo gave him a nod in return and continued on his walk to his car with his friends.