They’d brought in a Jamaican-born mural artist to paint the far wall. A Caribbean beach scene with palm trees and hammocks. Cat could almost hear the steel drum band. Back in the kitchen, she’d reorganized the storage and given Reggie all new appliances. The reveal was being shot this afternoon, and tomorrow they’d shoot the reopening. Post-production would have one hell of a time cobbling together an entire episode in such a short time, but the story editor had been dictator-ish about sequences. So, it was still do-able.

Next on deck was Mrs. Pringle’s house and the Hais’. Cat had a few furniture pieces and knickknacks she needed for both projects. She’d need to carve out some time to shop. Maybe she could take a crew with her and head to one of Merry’s antique shops?

Maybe Noah would like to go with her. They could grab dinner—

“Fuck,” Cat muttered.

Paige pulled off her headset. “Cut.”

“Shit. Sorry, Paige,” Cat said, scrubbing a hand over her face and immediately smudging her makeup. “Dang it!”

“Makeup,” Paige yelled. She levered herself out of her chair and latched on to Cat’s arm. “How about we have a little chat for a minute. Take five!”

In all their years of working together, Paige had rarely had to remind Cat to keep it together on camera. Only during her post-birthday hangovers was that order necessary because otherwise Cat was a consummate professional. Or she had been until she’d consummated the hell out of Noah.

“What is going on in that brain?” Paige demanded when they stepped out the front door.

Cat looked at the anxious crowd who were hoping for a glimpse inside and dragged Paige down the block. “I did something stupid last night.”

“Did you kill someone? Oh, God! It’s not Noah, is it? I’d feel bad about helping you hide his body. I thought you two were getting along after the whole Thanksgiving thing.”

“Where do you get these ideas?” Cat grumbled.

“Is Noah alive or dead?” Paige pressed.

“Alive. At least he was when I kicked him out of my bed this morning.”

“What was he doing in your—oh. Oh!”

Paige gaped at her like a betta fish in a new bowl, unsure of her new environment.

“Yeah. Oh.” Cat shoved her hands into the pockets of her cargo pants. She’d left her coat inside and hunched her shoulders against the winter wind.

She glanced around. Christmas was slowly maneuvering its way down Main Street. With the Rudolph lights mounted on the streetlamps, businesses had begun decking their own halls with festive window displays, Christmas lights, and greenery.