Susan Hatler - Just One Kiss (Kissed by the Bay Book 3) Read online

  Luke started to pour beans into the grinder.

  Rex muscled him out of the way. “She doesn’t like that grind, soap man.”

  The grinder turned on loudly. A fountain of beans shot up into the air, then dropped down and rattled across the counter and floor. Luke hit the off button and glared at Rex. “Now look what you did.”

  Rex glared right back. “What I did? You forgot the cap thingy. Besides, it’s not the first time we had a coffee disaster, is it, Charlie? You remember that time in Monte Carlo when we were headed to that little coffee shop . . .”

  “And you decided to autograph some girl’s chest? Yeah, I remember that trip all too well,” I said, embarrassed that Luke had to be here to witness my juvenile insult.

  Luke started the grinder. The sound filled the room.

  Rex shouted over it, “Well there was that time in Rio when . . .”

  “When you spent the entire day blowing me off to spend time with some young, hot pop star who later blew you off for an actor who showed up?” I shouted.

  Oh, why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut? I didn’t want Luke to hear any of this. I didn’t want to rehash it, either. Why couldn’t the cops show up and get rid of the paparazzi, so Rex could hit the road? Every time he spoke, it was like a reflex to fire a rebuttal at him. Old times died hard.

  Blue lights flashed in the windows and I let out a grateful breath. We were saved!

  The grinder stopped, and Luke turned to me. “Do you use tap or filtered water?”

  Rex snorted. “See? You have no idea what she likes.” He marched to the refrigerator and yanked the door so hard things inside it rattled. “She always uses filtered. Well, ever since we could afford to. Hey, Charlie, remember when we were broke and living in that apartment that had the broken kitchen sink and we had to fill our coffee pot in the bathroom sink?”

  “Oh, please stop reminiscing. It’s just pathetic.”

  “I think the cops are here,” Luke said, quietly.

  The house had thick and sturdy walls, and they muted the sounds outside. But I saw a head pop up in my living room windows and bright camera flashes ensued.

  Rex started clapping. “I’m impressed. You can’t buy this kind of press.”

  I marched to the clever button that automatically closes all of the blinds in the house. Then I stormed over to the windows and yanked those thick drapes closed.

  Luke and Rex followed me to the living room. Apparently the coffee was long forgotten. There was a knock on my door and I peeked through the peephole then opened it. A uniformed cop stood on my porch. He nodded. “We got them all cleared out, ma’am. Give us a call if any of them show up again.”

  “Thank you, officer,” I said, then closed the door, and leaned back against it, trying not to cry.

  Luke backed away with his hands in the air. “I’ll make the coffee.”

  Once he’d vanished, Rex moved toward me. “Come on, baby. It wasn’t all bad.”

  I squeezed the bridge of my nose with my fingers, fighting the lump in my throat. “For you? I’m sure it wasn’t. For me? It was. I don’t want to relive it and I don’t want you here now.”

  “You heard her,” Luke said, reappearing with a tray neatly set with a coffee carafe and mugs. “So, why don’t you just leave?”

  Rex stared at me. “Charlie, I think we still have something. If you really want me to leave right now, then agree to have lunch with me.” He planted his feet. “Not going anywhere until you agree. I still have a house key, you know.”

  He did? I groaned. “Okay, fine. I’ll meet you for lunch at Over the Moon on Friday. Then we can talk. Now would you get out of here?”

  He went. I stood by the door, holding my breath until the Ferrari shot down the drive and out of sight. I went back inside to find Luke standing there, hands in his pockets. “That’s a small sample of what worries me about dating again,” I said, my voice cracking a little.

  Luke winced, but his gaze held mine. “I understand how you feel, Charlie. Let me clean up your kitchen so you don’t have to do that yourself.”

  I didn’t argue. We went to the kitchen and he helped me sweep and mop up the mess then somehow we drifted outside to the deck. The dark night was silent again. Everything peaceful. We sat in the hammock, looking out at the ocean and stars. His hand found mine and held it and I looked down at our joined fingers. Our hands looked right together, so right.

  I sighed. “I’m sorry you had to hear all that.”

  He shrugged. “I work on a soap opera. I’ve heard worse.”

  The stars peeked down, silvery and bright and the ocean spilled softly onto the shore. Luke had a way of making everything right, no matter how crazy things were. Now that the paparazzi were gone I relaxed, exhausted. I even snuggled close to him.

  “Have you ever cheated on a girlfriend?” I asked.

  “Never. If something wasn’t working in a relationship, then I’d break things off before dating someone new.” He kissed me then, a long and lingering kiss that made my belly warm.

  I leaned into his body, feeling safe and secure. No, Luke would never cheat. I knew that with everything in my heart. His lips brushed against mine again, sending shivers down my arms.

  “Luke?” I whispered.

  “Yes, sweetheart?”

  “I’m glad you came over tonight,” I said, and pushed my foot against the boards of the porch to set the hammock to swinging gently.

  “Me, too,” he whispered, resting his cheek against mine.

  We hung there in a perfect cocoon of warmth and starlight, with the ocean breeze blowing over us and the hammock rocking us back and forth.

  This moment was perfect, and I wanted it to last forever. Right now I ignored all of the odds stacked against us. I just leaned into Luke, listened to the soothing rhythm of the ocean, and dreamed of a simpler life.

  Chapter Nineteen

  On Sunday night, I got very little sleep, but when I woke up I was excited. No matter what was happening in my personal life, I still got to wake up today and do what I loved to do professionally: Act.

  I’d received script pages last night. Apparently, Maggie had been able to smooth things over with that writer. That, or she’d gotten a new writer awfully fast. Either way, Piper was in a scene today and she had lines. Woo hoo!

  I showered and dressed and headed upstairs, ready to start the day. But when I arrived on the main level, I walked right into a chaotic mess.

  “I want her fired! I want her fired now. It’s her or me, Maggie.”

  The whole cast and crew had gathered around Adele, most of them watching with the same horrified fascination people get caught up in when passing by a particularly nasty wreck. Nobody noticed me, which was good since I was equally caught up in the scene.

  Adele stood facing Roger and Maggie, and even from where I stood it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who she wanted fired. That would be me.

  “Adele, you’re right . . .” Maggie’s voice was cool and soothing.

  My heart stopped.

  Anna sidled up beside me. “You’re spying too, huh?”

  “I’m not spying.” I lied. “I just don’t want to go in there right now.”

  “I wouldn’t either if I were you. Adele’s really losing it. I mean she’s not spinning her head around on her neck or anything just yet but it looks like she’s getting close.”

  Too close. I shrank back in the doorway to avoid being seen. The crew had already set up the scene, and everything seemed in place for my part in the scene.

  If I got to do the scene. For all I knew, Adele’s wish was about to come true.

  “I read online that your ex is back in town?” Anna whispered. “Rex Rockwell. I still can’t believe you let him go.”

  “Well, it was complicated . . .”

  “What’s complicated about being married to a rock star? Having the spotlight on you like that sounds divine. I’d love it. Could you introduce me to him?”

  I blinked. “Wh
at for?”

  “What for? He’s totally hot, and I’ve just always wanted to meet him. Um, if that’s okay with you, I mean . . .”

  “Sure.” Oh why not? I glanced back at the scene unfolding and fidgeted. What should I do? I had no idea. I didn’t want to get fired. I also didn’t want to have lunch with my ex this week, or ever. Wait a minute. . . “Tell you what, Anna. I can stage a run-in with Rex for you if you’d like. I happen to know he’s having lunch at a diner called Over the Moon on Friday at one o’clock.”

  “Thanks for the tip!” Anna threw her arms around me, and gave me a squeeze. “I’m definitely going to meet him. Rex Rockwell. I can hardly believe it. You’re the best.”

  “Yeah, sure.” I watched as Adele leaned forward, talking to Roger in a low and angry voice. She looked beautiful and perfectly put together, as always. How she could keep herself so together when she was obviously angry was impressive. I wanted to take notes.

  Anna pouted. “See? I told you that you were spying, and you didn’t hear a word I said.”

  I waved a hand at her. “Sorry, Anna. But this is important.”

  “I can’t fire her, Adele.” Maggie’s words made me jump. Gladness filled my heart. I wasn’t fired after all! “The chemistry between Piper and Derek is just too good. The ratings on the first episode went through the roof. Now let’s get this scene started, people.”

  “You’re up, girl!” Anna gave me a push that sent me flying into the room.

  I careened into a man holding a boom, and muttered a quick apology. I swung around to find myself face-to-face with Roger. “Um, good morning?” I said, forcing a smile.

  “You heard Adele, I take it?”

  “Yes,” I admitted, sighing.

  Roger blew out a breath. “She discovered you got offered a pretty meaty part in a movie and she’s angry. It’s nothing personal and shouldn’t affect your work.”

  “Of course not.” I headed for wardrobe, keeping my head high. I pretended not to see the stares or hear the snickers, but I did. How could I not? They were kind of obvious.

  When the makeup people were done with me, I walked out onto the set. The room had been redone with very pretty and frail furniture. The room was crowded with people trying to stay out of the camera’s eye and people desperate to get into it.

  Anna held pages and mouthed the words, putting a series of expressions on her face that were comical and overly emotive as her on-set love interest, a young guy whose character was named Darien, pretended to fist fight an invisible foe. Their scenes must have been after ours.

  Luke stood nearby, his script in his hand, nodding as he read the lines again.

  I made my way to my mark. The cast and crew looked on. Luke went to his mark and I stared at him, thinking about Saturday night. We’d stayed there in the hammock for hours, until he’d kissed my temple, and said goodnight to me. Such a gentleman.

  “Action!” Roger shouted.

  Luke and Adele started the scene. I waited for my cue, my hands shaking. I knew my lines and as I swept into the room something weird happened.

  I got really mad.

  Adele was completely unfair.

  She shouldn’t try to rob me of a dream I had waited so long to find but she was doing her best anyway. Rex should not have shown up at my house over the weekend and tried to worm his way back into my life. The paparazzi should not have taken photos at my private residence. And that guy that had driven Luke and me home shouldn’t have left a rotting fish in his car!

  I hit my mark and walked in.

  Adele turned to me. Her eyes held a triumphant glow and her red painted lips opened. “Oh, there you are, Piper. I was just about to call you to come in here.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “Because you may be out on bail right now and you might think you’re getting away with murder, but Derek knows the truth about you now,” she announced in a triumphant tone.

  “What did you tell him, Catrina?”

  Luke stepped forward, his face wearing a tight and strained expression. “Talk to me, darling,” he said in an anguished voice. “Tell me it isn’t true.”

  “I didn’t kill her husband. You know me, Derek. I would never kill anyone.”

  Adele pointed at me with her red fingernail. “Lies! Lies and deceit. That is all you have. You murdered my beloved and I will never forgive you,” she said, her shoulders shaking and then she crumpled over, sobbing.

  Luke went to her, his arm going around her shaky shoulder. “It will be all right, Catrina. I understand how hard this is on you now. I know you want justice . . .”

  “I want Sebastian back and I will never have him back because she killed him.” She looked up, pointing that stiff finger right at me. “Take her back to jail, please.”

  “You know I can’t do that,” Luke said, moving closer to me. The lighting highlighted his sandy-blond hair, which was pushed back in a sexy way. “I don’t believe she would have killed Sebastian. Tell me you didn’t do this, Piper.”

  “Why are you calling her Piper? I told you her name is Jenny. She’s my dear Sebastian’s long lost, love child. He never changed his will after we married, and Jenny knew she would inherit everything if he died. That’s why she killed him, to get the money.”

  He turned to me. “Is it true? Are you really Sebastian’s daughter?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t find out until a week before he died. My mom hid the truth from me. I wanted to tell you, but he made me promise to keep it a secret.” I looked between Adele and Luke, holding out my hands in a pleading gesture. My eyes burned as I paused. “I didn’t kill Sebastian, my dad. You have to believe me.”

  “Piper . . . or is it Jenny? Why didn’t you just tell me you’re Sebastian’s daughter? You hid this from me and now I know I can’t trust your word.”

  I gulped, hot tears escaping down my cheeks. “My mother and I had to live on the streets, thanks to him. We had nothing. I didn’t want you to think of me that way, to pity me. Everyone thought Sebastian was a good man and he had another family. He just didn’t want me.”

  Luke’s eyes watered. “I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. I never realized how hard you had it, and I wish I could’ve been there for you.”

  “You’re letting her get to you!” Adele cried out, grabbing Luke’s arm. “She had the motive. Take her back into custody. I demand justice!”

  I pointed a finger at Adele, pulling all of my anger in for this moment. “Catrina’s the liar! And the killer! I have the proof.” I pulled out the camera and held it aloft. “I found this behind her safe while I was cleaning. I should’ve given it to you before, Derek. But I felt sorry for her . . . for how badly he treated her by seeing my mom again after they married.”

  Adele gasped. “Nobody knows about that.”

  Luke held the video camera out, playing a video scene of a struggle. “Catrina, this is you. You pushed Sebastian down the stairs that night. It’s here on film.”

  “Let me see that.” She shoved her face in front of the camera screen as he hit rewind. “That’s not me. I would never wear a tacky dress like that.”

  “This new evidence proves you’re the one who killed Sebastian.” He grabbed Adele and snapped handcuffs on her wrists. “You killed your husband.”

  “What do you think you’re doing exactly?” Adele shouted.

  “At long last, I’m doing the right thing.”

  Adele yanked away from Luke and tottered toward me. I moved back and she tripped over a hassock. She went down, howling and flailing.

  My eyes bulged. I reached out to help her up but she smacked my hand away.

  “It wasn’t me, Derek. I swear. It was her!” Adele howled as Luke got her to her feet, and started reading her the Miranda rights as he hauled her out of the scene. “What’s happening? It was supposed to be her! Not me. Her!”

  Luke was taking Adele off when the door opened and the actor who played the other detective, Travis Daring, walked in. “Not so fast, Derek,” he s
aid. “We have new evidence in this case.”

  “What do you mean, Travis?”

  Travis paused dramatically, then he said. “There’s evidence that confirms the two of them, Catrina Holloway and Jenny Holloway, conspired to kill Sebastian together. And we have a witness who can prove it.”

  “Cut!” Roger shouted. Then he walked over to Adele and Luke and said something in a low voice. Luke nodded and then hurried out of the room. Adele walked out as well, and then the writers came up to Roger, talking in low, excited tones. One of them gestured grandly a few times and I groaned inwardly. I had no idea what was going on, but I feared whatever they were talking about would somehow lead to me dying some grisly soap opera death.

  Roger finished with the writers, and walked back over to me. “Don’t leave, Charlie.”

  “Excuse me?” I blinked, wondering what he wanted. Had he also heard I’d been offered that part in Cherries Jubilee down in Los Angeles?

  “I want to talk to you in a few minutes, so don’t go anywhere.”

  Of course he wanted to talk to me. The writers had probably gleefully plotted out a way for Adele to push me off the bluffs and into the ocean. And since this was my house, maybe he wanted tips on the best location to do that. I really hoped Piper/Jenny survived.

  Chapter Twenty

  Roger Abbot informed me that the writers were torn between several different scenes so they wanted each of the scenes acted out so they could make some decisions about chemistry and so forth. Therefore, Luke, Adele and I worked all day long. Since Piper was already out on bail, she didn’t have to go back to jail, and I wanted to cheer. Orange was so not a good color on me.

  I managed to wolf down half a sandwich between takes but by the time we were done for the day I was famished. Luke walked up to me after we’d wrapped. “How about dinner?”

  “Sounds perfect.” I lit up at the invitation, because spending time with Luke felt like the perfect way to end a grueling but rewarding day at work. “I was impressed with your scene today where Derek reveals he became a cop because his father was shot and killed while working at the family gas station. Very emotional.”