She laughed. “Yeah, me, too.”

“Would it trouble you too much if I ask for an autograph? And maybe a picture?” He pulled out his phone.

“Not at all.”

Bill led her over to the counter, where Logan was checking out.

“I’ve got a pad of paper here. If you could make it out to DeeDee, that’s with two sets of double Es, my wife would be tickled.”

“Sure, Bill.” Des wrote out an autograph to his wife, then Bill handed Logan his phone.

“Hey, Logan, would you mind taking a picture of me and Des?”

Logan cocked a brow. “Didn’t know you were a fan, Bill.”

“Oh, DeeDee and I go to the movies all the time. She’s going to be so mad she missed the chance to meet Desiree.”

Des got close to Bill and smiled. Logan took the picture and handed the phone back.

“Thanks a lot.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You sure have a lot of picture takers out front,” Bill said.

“Yes, unfortunately I do.”

Logan grabbed his bag. “Are you ready?”

“Sure.”

She ignored the photographers outside, and their barrage of questions about who Logan was and what she was doing in Hope today. Fortunately, Logan had parked right out front and he opened the truck door for her. She slid inside and she could tell when he came around and got inside the truck, he was pissed. He put the truck in gear and pulled out in a hurry, paying no attention to the photographers scattering all around them.

He didn’t say anything as they drove down the road. At least not for a few minutes, but his jaw was clenched.

“I’m sorry about that,” she finally said.

“It’s not your fault they swarm on you like scavengers.” He shot her a look. “You get that all the time?”

She nodded.

“Jesus Christ. What are they after?”

She shrugged. “Something newsworthy.”

“And the auto parts store in Hope is newsworthy?”

“They camp out in airports and take pictures of celebrities coming off and going onto airplanes.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea. To see what they’re wearing or who they’re with or where they’re going. Then they sell the photos to the highest bidders. Me being here for a movie shoot is, I guess, newsworthy.”

“I don’t find it hot news. No offense.”

Her lips lifted. “None taken.”

He pulled out his phone and punched a number. “Hey, are you on duty today?” He shifted his gaze to hers as he listened. “I’m in town, and I’ve got Desiree Jenkins with me.”

Des wondered who he was talking to.

“Yeah, the movie star . . . Because she wanted to come with me, that’s why.” He rolled his eyes as he drove. “No, idiot, we’re not.”

And now she really wanted to know who he was talking to.

“Listen, those damn photographers are swarming her. Think you can do something about that while we run some errands?”

Ah. Likely his brother Luke.

“Thanks. We’ll be stopping at Emma’s place next. Meet us there.”

He clicked off.

“Does this mean we get a police escort?”

“Something like that.”

The Hope Small Animal Hospital was a charming one-story that looked a lot like an oversize house with a huge parking lot. A full parking lot, too, which now contained two police cars at the parking lot entrance.

Logan pulled in and rolled down the window. A tall, extremely good-looking cop who resembled Logan strolled over to the window with a fierce but adorable German shepherd in tow.

“Causing trouble?” Luke asked.

“Yeah, that’s me. Des, meet my brother Luke.”

Luke tipped his hat. “Ma’am.”

“Hi, Luke. Call me Des. And thank you for running interference. I’m sorry about the paparazzi.”

“I’m sure there’s not much you can do about them, but we’ll try to keep them out of your way.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“We’ll try to get out of town as fast as we can,” Logan said.

“Don’t be so fast. I told Emma you were here with Des, and she wants you to stick around and have dinner with us tonight. We can do it at the house so there’s no ruckus at one of the restaurants.”

Logan looked at Des.

“I’d love to,” she said.

“Sounds good,” Logan said.

“Good. Emma closes up at six, so you’ll have to kill some time.”

Logan nodded. “I’m sure we’ll find something to do.”

“Great,” Luke said. “I get off at five, so we’ll see you at the house.”

Logan pulled into a parking spot and turned off the ignition. “I suppose you’re going to want to come in.”

“There are animals in there. And Emma, who I suppose is dating Luke?”

“She’s his fiancée, so yeah.”

“Awesome.” She took off her seat belt. “Let’s go.”

Luke and another officer had put a halt to the photographers parking in the lot and were waving their hands for them to move along. Des couldn’t resist a laugh.

“They must be hating that,” she said.

“What?” Logan asked, then looked. “Oh. Your photographers? Yeah, probably. And it’s likely making Luke’s day.”

They stepped inside and all activity stopped. There were a few people in the waiting room, and Des caught the stares. Not that she wasn’t used to being stared at, but it was always a little disconcerting.

And small-town stares were always a little different.

“Oh. My. God. Desiree Jenkins.” A young girl with short dark hair and glasses stepped from around the counter and held out her hand. “I’m Rachel and I’m a big fan.”

“Hi, Rachel. Call me Des.”

“Oh, my God. So excited you’re here, Des.” Rachel looked around the waiting room. “Hey, everyone, did you know Desiree Jenkins was in town? She’s just so awesome.”

Des actually felt herself blush, which almost never happened. She gave everyone a wave. “Hi.”

Rachel turned to Logan. “Oh, hey, Logan. Martha called ahead and told us what you needed. I already have it at the counter.”