“I love you in red,” Carly said. “Not that I don’t like you in every color.”

“I accept the compliment.” Lauren lifted her glass of Bordeaux in the soft candlelight. It had to be the most expensive wine she’d ever tasted, and it showed. She touched her glass lightly to Carly’s. “I missed you today. I’m glad we’re doing this.”

Carly’s blue eyes sparkled, and matched the dress she’d selected for dinner perfectly. “I feel the same way. We were on opposite schedules all day, so I wanted to spend some time together.” She looked around. “I haven’t been here in years. It’s a little known LA secret.”

Their set menu for the evening, which Lauren was told by the server changed nightly, was New York strip with pepper cognac sauce, creamed spinach, and poblano macaroni and cheese. For dessert, they’d have bananas Foster butter cake with a petite chocolate milkshake. It really was a fairy tale.

It felt wonderful to be somewhere so quaint, so charming. Lauren’s day had gotten away from her. When she’d stepped into her callback for a bit part on an action movie, the casting director had taken a good hard look at her. After her reading, which she honestly felt she’d bombed, the woman met her in the hallway. “Do you have time for one more? I can’t help but wonder if you might be right for a hard-to-cast project. Something very different from this one.”

“Um, sure. Of course.” She checked her watch and realized it was now late in the afternoon. How had that happened?

The woman scribbled some directions on the back of her business card. “You’re looking for an office building three down from this one. I’ve messaged ahead and they’re expecting you. But hurry, because they’re wrapping up for the day and have agreed to squeeze you in.”

“Okay. Great. I appreciate it.”

Lauren quickly read a text from Carly about iced coffees as she scurried across the lot, halfway wanting to ditch the additional audition and join Carly at home instead for that iced latte poolside. Yet she reminded herself that she’d come to LA for an exploratory mission, and she needed to use her time to do just that. Carly would be waiting after.

“And how was your day today?” Carly asked, swirling her wine from across the table. Lauren noticed a nearby table smile in their direction. They raised a glass to Carly, and Carly raised hers back. She’d been recognized but didn’t miss a beat in their conversation.

“You first. Tell me all about the audition,” Lauren said, resting her chin in her hand.