Chapter 26

“No, please,” he said, reaching for my arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

I shrugged his hand off me.

“Let me make that up to you.”

“No, thank you,” I said and handed him back the drink.

As I turned away, I heard laughter. “Well, Brick,” a man who had been standing a few feet away said. “It looks like there’s someone who isn’t seduced by your charms.”

Brick grumbled, turned, and walked away.

Then the man turned to me and extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Walt Sheriden. You’ll have to forgive Brick, he doesn’t know what to do with a ‘no, thank you.’ I don’t think he’s ever heard it before.”

I tried not to gasp. Walt Sheriden was a well-known director. He had won several Oscars.

“Thank you for intervening.”

“My pleasure.” Then he turned to the bartender. “This lady needs another drink,” he said. “From the top shelf.”