I have to get better at this.

She plastered on a smile as she exited the car and walked over to shake hands.

“Hi, Matilda,” she said in her warmest voice, “I’m Hunt.”

“So nice to meet you,” Matilda said, shaking her hand vigorously. “I’m sorry we couldn’t make it work last night. But these darn studios, not wanting to waste millions of dollars an hour, right?”

“Sure,” Jessie replied because she couldn’t think of a snappier response.

“Hi, guys,” Matilda said, waving as she took in the sight of the three other men as they got out of the car. “I didn’t realize there would be so many of you. I only chilled one Perrier.”

“That’s okay,” Dolan said drily. “I prefer tap water anyway.”

“Still it is,” Matilda said enthusiastically before turning to Murph and Toomey. “And for you gentlemen?”

Murph shook his head. Toomey didn’t respond at all.

“They’re good,” Jessie said quickly. “Why don’t we go inside? I think Mr. Toomey here is going to remain outside. He’s a tad claustrophobic.”

“It’s a really big house, Mr. Toomey,” Matilda promised. “Are you sure?”

Toomey gave a half nod. Matilda shrugged and beckoned for the others to follow her in the house as Toomey took up a position by the front door, facing back down the driveway.

“Jett only just got up,” Matilda told them as she led them down a hallway with what appeared to be quartzite floor tiles underfoot. “He didn’t wrap for the night until after midnight and he didn’t get back here until after one. So he’s still easing into the day.”

“We’ll try not to harsh his mellow too much,” Dolan promised.

“I feel like you’re teasing me a little,” Matilda said playfully, though her smile seemed a bit forced.

“Just a little,” Dolan replied as they rounded the corner and suddenly stepped into a massive room.

It was easily fifty yards long, with a thirty-foot-high vaulted ceiling. The entire length of the room was covered in floor to ceiling windows looking out on the Pacific. The side of the room closest to them looked like a cross between a retro bar and an arcade, with old-timey stand-up video games along the walls and the center area comprised of a ping-pong table, a billiards table, a foosball table, and an air hockey table. At the far end of the room was a huge, almost theater-sized screen against the back wall. Surrounding it in a loose semicircle were multiple couches and easy chairs.

“Jett,” Matilda called out, her voice echoing loudly. “Your guests are here.”

A head popped up from one of the couches and the arm attached to it waved them over. As they did, he got up to meet them.

Jett Collison looked much as he did in the movies that made him famous. He was tall, probably six foot two. Though he appeared lanky at first glance, Jessie saw that his biceps were bulging through his slightly-too-small T-shirt, which also exposed the bottom half of his well-defined abs.