Chapter 20

20

R eagan was still glowing as they took the elevator to the suite Wolf and Ana Ramirez had booked. Tucker found her fingers and threaded his through them, causing warmth to envelop her.

They had spent all day in their room, most of it in bed. Teasing. Tantalizing. Exploring. Learning. Loving. Tucker had suggested they turn off their phones so there would be no interruptions. After they got ready and turned them on again, both had dozens of text messages. For her part, she merely texted the entire group that they were headed up to Wolf and Ana’s room.

The doors opened, and Holden and Finley got on, Finley grinning at her outrageously.

“Guess you two were seeing so much of Austin that you didn’t have time to reply to any texts,” she said. Laughter then bubbled from her.

“We saw all we needed to see,” Tucker said cryptically, which caused Holden to chuckle.

The writer said, “I think Finley and I have seen a lot of those same sites.”

Then they all four roared with laughter. Finley hugged Reagan and whispered in her ear, “I want to hear all about it later. At least as much as you can tell me.”

They got off the elevator and went to the suite. Holden knocked on the door, and Dax opened it.

“Come on in, guys,” he said enthusiastically. Then his eyes landed on her, his grin lopsided. “Heard you came to town early, Reagan.”

She felt the hot blush spill across her cheeks. “We did. I bought a new car.”

“A new car?” asked Ivy, slipping her arm through Regan’s. “What did you get?”

She told the group about her new SUV as Wolf handed her a glass of champagne. She saw Ry giving Tucker a wink as Emerson smiled fondly at both Tucker and her.

“Now that everyone is here, I want to toast the screenwriter of Hill Country Homicide ,” Wolf said. “Not only did you write an incredible, complex book, Holden, but you knocked it out of the park when you adapted it into a screenplay. Your tight, suspenseful writing made my job as a director and Ana’s as a producer a piece of cake because we had such wonderful material to work with. To Holden!”

Wolf held his champagne flute high. The others did the same, echoing, “To Holden!”

Reagan drank the chilled drink, the bubbles tickling her nose. She was happy to celebrate the success which had come to Holden, but she was secretly toasting the turn in her own personal life in finding love again with a very special man.

Ana asked, “How has the book tour gone so far, Holden? I know you’ve only hit two cities so far.”

“Things have gone really great,” he replied. “People are excited that Inside Threat is set in the world of Washington, D.C. again, especially those fans of Capitol Crimes , but I still got a ton of questions about the upcoming movie. Fans were pumped to hear it had the same director as Capitol Crimes .”

Wolf laughed. “But not nearly the same budget. With a big studio, I was able to go all-in on special effects that first time. Thankfully, your second book was easier to budget for, especially with it taking place right here in the Hill Country. It was nice to be able to use local places to film, and a lot of the actors were already living here in Texas.”

Ana added, “Since I was in charge of the budget, I was happy that filming one murder and solving it didn’t involve nearly the planning and coordination needed when Wolf was responsible for shooting in D.C.”

Her husband laughed. “All those permits. It took time and money to close down streets and get the exact shots I needed, not to mention blowing up a few things. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to helm Inside Threat . That is, if you plan to sell the film rights, Holden, and I know your agent is chomping at the bit to do that very thing.”

Ana placed a hand on Holden’s arm. “WEBA Productions isn’t built to take on filming a movie such as that, but once you’ve finished up your Mr. Hamilton book, that is exactly the type of film I want us to take on.”

Holden nodded. “You’re right about a big studio needing to make Inside Threat . I think Mr. Hamilton’s World would be perfect for WEBA, though. Finley, Evan, and I have already had conversations about that very thing. I’ve already given Evan the go ahead to start shopping Inside Threat to the major studios, but even he agreed that WEBA would be the best home to place Mr. Hamilton’s World .”

“Would you write the script for Mr. Hamilton?” Dax asked.

“I’d like to give it a shot. I told Evan that Wolf and Ana would be calling him after this weekend. That was my one sticking point. The story is too personal for me. I want to be the one who tells it.”

Reagan remembered what Holden had shared with her about Mr. Hamilton, the custodian who had mentored him and changed his life. She couldn’t wait to read it.

“When will your Mr. Hamilton book be finished?” she asked.

Holden shrugged. “Maybe the beginning of December? If not, I’m certain I’ll wrap it up by the end of the year. My publisher has it slated for release next September, just before Labor Day. A lot of schools go into session then, and I think they want to use that and tie it in to the fact this is a story about two individuals at an elementary school and how it only takes one person to change the trajectory of a life.”

Wolf rubbed his hands together. “Once you’ve completed the edits for your editor, I’m dying to get my hands on an early copy.”

“Definitely,” Ana said. “If we read it— even before you start your screenplay —we’ll have ideas about casting. Where to film. The size of the production. That kind of thing. Do you think once you finish the novel you can start on the script?”

“That my plan,” Holden said. “I know it won’t involve a lot of sets. You might even be able to contact a few elementary schools in the area and see about filming in one of them after school finishes for the day. I’m happy for this story to see the light of day. I think the sooner you can shoot it and the closer it can come out to the book’s release, the better.”

“Enough business,” Finley declared. “We’re here to celebrate.”

Ry and Dax grabbed more champagne bottles and opened them, and everyone downed a second flute.

Ivy, who’d remained by Reagan’s side, now pulled her away. The women in the group quickly joined them.

“Give us the scoop,” Emerson said. “When you sent the text saying you and Tucker were coming a day earlier, I was hoping for fireworks.”

Heat filled her cheeks, and everyone laughed.

“Okay. I’ll tell you that things are really good between us. Really good.”

“As in you’re together? Maybe in love?” asked Ivy.

“We are a couple,” Reagan confirmed. “And in love.”

Squeals sounded from those surrounding her. As different friends hugged her, she glanced over and saw Tucker’s friends slapping him on the back, and Reagan knew he’d also given them the good news.

“You should have told us right away,” Ana chided.

“No. This is Holden’s moment. Yours and Wolf’s, as well. We’re here to celebrate your achievements,” she said.

Ana glanced at her watch. “We better get going. The limos will be downstairs soon to take us over to the Hideout Theater. It’s on Congress, just a couple of minutes from here.”

“We should’ve walked,” Ivy remarked. “It’s not far at all.”

“No!” Ana exclaimed. “Wolf wanted us to arrive in style and let Austin know WEBA Productions is here to make its mark on Texas filmmaking. We plan to take the industry by storm, starting tonight.”

“I’m all for that,” Finley said. “I’m ready for my man to shine tonight.”

“You will, too, Finley,” Ana told her. “Your posters of the film and billboards are breathtaking. Excuse me. Mama is entertaining Eva and Bear. I need to tell them it’s time to go.”

Soon, their entire party was downstairs, loading into two different limousines. The Ramirez family, accompanied by Holden and Finley, climbed into the second one. The rest of them got into the first one.

“Shouldn’t we let them go first?” Reagan asked Tucker.

“My guess is they want to give us the pleasure of seeing them pull up, as well as them being the last in a limo to arrive. Movies and music are all about optics,” he explained.

“That makes sense.”

“This makes more sense.” He leaned over and kissed her, causing a burst of tingles to spread through her.

They arrived at the theater, one which Dax said was part of the group that the Austin Film Festival used each year. Spilling from the vehicle, Reagan saw a large group of people gathered. A few flashbulbs went off.

“This way,” a young man in his mid-twenties said, ushering them along an actual red carpet, stopping them about two-thirds of the way up it.

“Wait here,” they were told.

The man hurried back to the curb, where the second limo was pulling up. He opened it, and Holden was the first to emerge, waving at the crowd. He leaned back and took Finley’s hand, helping her out. Reagan could hear people calling Holden’s name and saw many held a copy of Hill Country Homicide in their hands, waving it around, trying to attract his attention.

Wolf Ramirez was the next to appear. Apparently, the director had his own group of fans, because Reagan heard several shout his name. Ana appeared, looking chic, then her mother and their two children were helped from the vehicle. Reagan watched as Holden signed copies of his novel, and Wolf and Ana chatted with the crowd. Eva and Bear waved at the crowd and even posed for a few pictures.

Finally, Holden and Finley caught up to them, and Holden said, “Let’s move inside.”

The man who’d greeted them guided them along the remaining red carpet and to prime seats in the theater. Reagan found herself seated next to Tucker on one side and Ry on the other.

Ry leaned over and said, “I couldn’t be happier for you and Tuck.”

She smiled and said, “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.”

And it was true. She had loved Arch. She would always love him. But so much had changed in her life. Tucker was the right man for this time and place.

Reagan couldn’t wait to see what their future held.