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at all? This is the one time when I’m going to tell you, don’t listen to him.” She threw her thumb in Raymond’s direction.
    â€œSo, this is the thanks I get for taking time off from work and flying halfway across the country to be with you and you’re telling folks not to listen to me. Maybe I should—”
    â€œLean over here and give me a kiss, Dr. Thomas.”
    â€œHello!” Dana exclaimed as the couple shared a kiss. “I’m still here, sitting at this table with you two. No one wants to witness your PDA anymore.”
    Imani rolled her eyes at Dana and Raymond while they laughed. “I don’t think either of you are funny. But I will say this—if you do have dinner with him, make sure you go someplace expensive and order caviar.”
    â€œWhy would I do that? I don’t even like caviar.”
    â€œI know. Just order it and throw it in his face.”
    â€œThat’s cold, babe,” Raymond said.
    Dana shook her head as she rose from the table. “And on that note, I’m out. I have pictures to edit. Thanks for listening, Raymond.”
    He smiled and stood to give her a brotherly hug. “Anytime, and don’t follow your friend’s advice. Tossing caviar at people is never a good idea.”
    â€œI heard that,” Imani shot back.
    Dana laughed, then headed for the door. Imani quickly caught up with her friend. “You know, if you simply want a dinner date, I could make that happen for you.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Dana asked with her hand on the door handle.
    â€œI could hook you up with Ian Kelly.”
    Dana rolled her eyes. “Your costar?” Ian Kelly was touted in the media as the next Matthew McConaughey, just without the naked bongos and marijuana. The actor had been voted one of People magazine’s sexiest men alive, and he stuck to his Southern roots despite his success as an actor. Was he attractive? Yes. But Dana couldn’t say she was interested. She hadn’t even met him yet; they were scheduled to do a photo shoot in a few days, and by all accounts, he was much less of a diva than Lawrence was and things would probably go well.
    â€œMy single, sexy, and sweet costar. You two already have something in common—he rides a motorcycle too. He’s grounded because he splits his time between New York and New Orleans. Just think about it.” Before Dana could object, agree, or tell Imani to mind her own business, her friend was on the phone with Ian Kelly. Dana started to bolt and leave Imani to her own devices when her cell phone chimed.
    Glancing at the text message, her heart lurched. Dinner tomorrow. Breakfast at Roscoe’s in a few hours? Please. A.B
    I have plans, she quickly replied. And I haven’t agreed to dinner.
    But you will. Miss you. Want to see you, badly.
    â€œOkay, Ian,” Imani said. “Raymond, Dana, and I will see you there.”
    Dana looked up from her text message. “Did I just hear you commit me to something?”
    â€œGet dressed and get ready for a night on the town,” Imani said with a twinkle in her eye. “Ian told me about this hot club that’s having an opening tonight.”
    She glanced at her phone. Well, she did tell Adrian she had plans and maybe having dinner with Adrian was a bad idea, despite what Raymond said. “All right,” Dana said. “What time should I be ready?”
    Imani looked down at her watch. “Shoot, I forgot to change my watch back to Pacific time since I thought I’d be going back to New York today.”
    â€œIt’s seven-thirty.”
    â€œAll right, be ready at nine,” Imani said as she tossed her cup in the recycling bin.
    Dana nodded and then left. If she made it through traffic and got back to the hotel at decent hour, she could get the photos ready for the studio and make herself presentable for a night out with Imani and Ian. And maybe I won’t