I touched his arm. “Hold up a minute, would you?’’

He stopped, head cocked at me in a question.

“You and Jesse got really quiet when we asked who might have fooled with that electric cord. Why was that?’’

“Like Jess said, guessing doesn’t really serve any purpose until we know what caused that bird to be shocked.’’

“It seems pretty clear,’’ I said. “The way that electrician with the reading glasses …’’

“Gaffer,’’ Tilton said. “That’s what we call the chief electrician on the set.’’

“Sorry, it seems clear from the way the gaffer reacted, there was something wrong with that cord, and somebody put it in the puddle.’’

“You can’t assume that, Mace. Cables and cords run everywhere on a movie set.’’

“Then you’re saying it wasn’t intentional.’’

“No. I’m saying we don’t know enough to theorize.’’ Glancing back toward the trailer, he lowered his voice. “I will tell you, Jesse’s made a lot of enemies for someone so young. She’s hurt people, and that’s all I want to say.’’

I thought of Savannah pounding on the young star’s door, face tight with anger and pain.

Suddenly, I heard Tilton chuckle beside me. “Something funny?’’ I asked.

“Not really, in light of what almost happened to Jesse. But I was just thinking of how much faster everything moves in Hollywood these days. In just a few years, she’s managed to make more mistakes—and enemies—than I made in decades.’’

“So who are your enemies, Greg?’’

He gave me a half-smile, so familiar from his movies. “I’m not worried about the enemies I can name. I’m worried about the ones I can’t.’’

I watched the ground, trying to dodge the deepest rain puddles in front of the food tent. When I looked up, Tilton was staring at me.

“I meant it, you know.’’

“What?’’ I asked.

“Everything. That Jesse was really lucky you were there; that I’m sorry for coming on so strong in the woods. You clearly weren’t interested, and I had no right to try to force it. I don’t expect you just to forget, but I hope I can convince you to forgive me.’’

I must have looked skeptical, because he quickly tried to explain himself. “Seeing how close Jesse came to getting hurt, maybe dying … Norman’s murder … everything else that’s been happening on the set. All of it has made me realize how short life is. I don’t want to spend the time I have left being an asshole.’’

I think I opened my mouth. No words came out. I was that stunned.

“I’d like it if we could be friends, Mace.’’

Friends with a Hollywood legend, especially one begging me for forgiveness? Gee, I thought, let me study on that for a while.

“Okay, with a caveat,’’ I said. “Everybody oversteps a line at some point. But if forcing yourself on women is a pattern with you—and I’ve heard that it is—you need to get some help.’’

A flicker of anger lit in his eyes. “Who told you it’s a pattern?’’

“Who is not important; why is. Are you denying there’s a pattern?’’

He stopped walking and looked off to the left at the distant trees. I turned to wait for him.

“Are you?’’ I finally said.

“No, I’m not denying it. There’s some truth there.’’ He brought his gaze to mine. “You know, I had a pretty screwed-up childhood. It left some raw wounds.’’

“Which is all the more reason you should get help. Get yourself straightened out. The way to heal isn’t to hurt everybody else.’’

He put his hands in his pockets and studied the ground. “I know that.’’

“What is it, then? The power?’’

He looked at me, brows raised in a question.

“The first day we met, you mentioned you’d been in and out of lots of foster homes. You must have felt pretty powerless, being pushed around all the time. Maybe you need to feel like you can dominate someone.’’

“So you’re an animal wrangler and a psychologist?’’

“Can’t help it. My big sister psychoanalyzes me all the time. I think I caught it from her.’’

He showed me the blisters on his forearm and gave a rueful grin. “Well, if that’s what’s going on in my head, dominating you sure didn’t work.’’

“I’m serious,’’ I said.

He shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know where it comes from. I’ve always resisted getting therapy. I guess I’ve played too many tough guys. I never wanted to seem weak.’’

“How’s that working out for you?’’

“Pretty bad.’’

“That should tell you something.’’ I started for the tent again, shooting a question over my shoulder. “Besides, doesn’t everybody in Hollywood have a therapist?’’

“Ah, yes. The emotionally troubled movie star. It’s such a cliché, right?’’

“It’s not a cliché if it’s your life.’’

In the tent, we picked up Jesse’s tea and Maddie’s tiramisu. I also slid a half-dozen of the still-warm cookies onto a plate. I took a bite from one, and then stirred three packets of sugar into my coffee.

“Not big on counting calories, I see.’’

“I’m a growing girl,’’ I said. “Besides, this is Himmarshee, not Hollywood. They’ve had to put in steel bars to reinforce the pews at half the houses of worship in town. Nobody counts calories in Himmarshee.’’

“Well, you look great.’’

I gave him a sidelong glance.

“I’m not hitting on you. I’m stating a fact. You look healthy, and I can attest to the fact that you’re strong. It’s a simple compliment, Mace.’’

“Yeah? Well, that’s one of my psychological issues. Everybody tells me I don’t know how to take a compliment. I’m never sure if the person means it; I never know how to respond.’’

“Just say thanks.’’

“Okay.’’ I grinned at him. “Thanks.’’

“You’re welcome. See how easy that was? I gave a beautiful woman a compliment, without expecting anything in return. You accepted it without overanalyzing what it meant.’’

His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. I saw real warmth there.

“While we’re talking so freely …’’ he said.

Uh-oh, I thought. Here comes the left hook.

“You should see your face. You look like you swallowed spoiled milk.’’

“That obvious?’’

He nodded. “All I was going to ask is if it’d be all right for us to talk again. It’s normally hard for me to open up to people.’’

“Yeah, I know how that is.’’

“How about tomorrow afternoon?’’

When I hesitated, he showed me his open palms; nothing hidden. “Don’t worry, we’ll make it a public place. Let’s say the catering tent. We can grab something to eat and two seats in the back.’’

Still, I didn’t answer. His eyes turned pleading. “I just feel like talking about getting help might make me more likely to finally get help. I know it’s wrong how I’ve treated women.’’

That’s what finally did it. I love to hear someone admit they’re wrong, as long as the someone isn’t me. “Okay, let’s make it for dinner, right there.’’ I pointed to a table just inside the tent’s entrance.

I was surprised at the relief that flooded his face at my decision. I hoped I wouldn’t regret making it.

Tilton walked me back to the picnic table. He handed Jesse her tea, gave my shoulder a friendly squeeze, and then started away. Suddenly, he turned. In what seemed like an impulsive gesture, he bent and kissed me. It was a glancing brush, but still on the lips. “Thanks, Mace.’’

Maddie’s mouth dropped open. Mama’s eyes went wide. Marty’s top teeth were making their way to the bottom row, right through her lower lip.

I was relishing their shocked expressions until I noticed Carlos at Jesse’s trailer. The gaffer was talking to him, but for the moment, at least, Carlos’s glare was aimed at the departing Tilton and at me. I wondered if a scorch spot was forming at the spot where the movie star had kissed me.