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

  “Thanks for your feedback.” I rolled my eyes, thinking I’d never wear that dress again. I picked at the small cardboard circle around my cup. “I just don’t like people recognizing me.”

  “Because of all the junk written about you and Rex?”

  “Pretty much.” I changed the subject abruptly. “So what’s up with you?”

  Claire broke her cookie in half, then broke that half in half. Crumbs scattered across the tiny paper plate and she popped a bite into her mouth. “I’m having an issue at work. Well, it’s not really ‘work’ that’s the issue. It’s Scott, who I work with, so I guess it’s work-related.”

  I sat back in my chair. “You’re going to have to get more specific, sis.”

  Claire tugged at the sleeves of her light green sweater and then toyed with a tiny fake pearl bracelet on her wrist. She sighed. “Scott’s a great guy, really. I like working with him. He’s one of my team leaders and he’s super smart and hot. Boy is he ever hot.”

  I picked up a cookie off my plate. “Are you having a dilemma over dating a co-worker?”

  A slow smile spread across her face. “Maybe . . .”

  “You know that’s a bad idea.”

  “Says the woman who’s dating one of her co-stars.”

  I choked on my coffee. “First off, I’m just someone they brought in for a tiny part so I’m hardly a star. Secondly, I’m not dating Luke.”

  She lifted a brow. “I thought you two were going out.”

  I shifted in the hard chair. “He asked me out, yes, but we haven’t actually gone out yet. And we’re here to talk about you.”

  “Right.” She took a long sip of coffee then set her cup back down. “I really like Scott, but I don’t know if I can trust him. There’s been some gossip around the office. But I don’t know if the gossip about him is true or not.”

  “Story of my life,” I mumbled. But I loved my sister and the idea of her being hurt alarmed me. So I waved my hand in the air. “Tell me. What’s the gossip?”

  She picked at a fingernail, a sure sign she was nervous. “Well, he did date one of the temps for a little while. There are some rumors that he’s dating another woman in the company, but he says he’s never dated her. I just don’t know who to believe. I want to believe him. He says he just works closely with the woman he’s supposedly dating and that people are blowing stuff out of proportion. What should I do?”

  Like I knew the answer to that one. I was pretty much in the same boat as Claire. Luke had said basically the same thing about Adele, that they worked closely together, but weren’t dating. I wanted to believe him, too. But something still made me hesitate.

  I took off the lid and looked into my coffee, hoping to find an answer in the inky surface. “I think you have to go with your gut feeling, Claire.”

  “Is that what you’re planning to do?”

  “We’re talking about you,” I reminded her. The date I wanted to go on but was so nervous about loomed up large in my mind, though. I knew I had to choose. Either trust Luke, or don’t. My stomach bubbled with worry. “What do your instincts tell you to do?”

  She lifted her coffee cup. “Oh, I’m going to follow my big sister’s lead.”

  Oh great. That was like the blind leading the blind right off a cliff that led to the deepest part of the ocean. I couldn’t keep going back and forth anymore, though. The lobbing was giving me mental whiplash. It was time to put on my big girl panties and make a decision. I took a big deep breath. “I’m going to turn Luke down.”

  The light in Claire’s eyes faded, then she nodded slowly. “Me, too.”

  Even though I knew I’d made the smart and safe decision, my heart cracked just a little.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning I headed downstairs to the wardrobe room. Adele was already coming out, dressed for the day, and she gave me a dirty look. I ignored it. Adele loved Claire but didn’t like me. Whatever. I didn’t need to antagonize her by giving her a look as equally filthy.

  She stopped in front of me. “I know what you’re doing.”

  “Going to wardrobe?” I asked.

  Her lip curled. “No, you’re dating Luke just so you can get more lines. But it won’t work.”

  “Look, Adele—” I started, but she flounced off. I heard a snicker behind me and I turned my head to find Anna practically glowing. I watched her skip away and I knew exactly where she was going. I’d discovered she was a terrible gossip and it wouldn’t be long before everyone had heard what Adele had said to me.

  Would they believe it? Probably after that on-screen kiss.

  The rumor about dating Luke for lines in the soap opera wasn’t true, of course, but it gave me pause. I already knew I couldn’t go out with Luke. I liked him too much and things were getting way too complicated way too fast. This last little snip from Adele just made it all somehow worse. I had to break that date with him right now.

  After wardrobe was done with me, I was told to go outside. I was actually looking forward to doing my scenes, but as I walked out of the house my spirits became as leaden as the sky.

  The sea was churning and foaming and the clouds were getting thicker and darker by the minute, which was worrisome. I doubted my insurance would cover anyone getting hit by a bolt of lightning. Hopefully the show had their own insurance. Harper would know.

  Adele stood near the water, at her mark, and her face was screwed up into an expression that could only be termed homicidally angry. She saw me coming off the last step with Roger, and came storming over.

  She paused right in front of us and put her fists on her hips. One of her feet tapped up and down so rapidly sand blew up from below her shoe. “Roger, we’re filming in Blue Moon Bay because of my fan base but she has got more lines than me in this scene. I demand to know why!”

  “Now Adele, this is just a story arc. It happens. You know you’re the star . . .”

  “That’s right, I’m the star. Not her!” Her yelp was loud and furious, making several of the crew and cast back away. “You better not forget that, Roger.”

  Luke ambled up. He looked exceptionally handsome in a blue long-sleeved button down shirt that emphasized the powerful flex of his muscles. He wore his police badge at his waist.

  Maggie Sparks came running over with a flushed face. “Roger, we need to get this scene done fast before that rain starts.”

  He nodded. “Everyone, to your marks!”

  Luke came over and asked me if everything was all right. Noting Adele’s wicked glare at the two of us together, I shook my head, but took my place on the beach.

  “Action!” Roger shouted.

  I had the first line, so I opened my mouth—

  “This is not the way it’s supposed to be!” Adele shouted, charging toward me.

  “Uh . . .” My mind went blank. That wasn’t Catrina’s line.

  The wind whipped the cute little frock Adele was wearing up around her knees and I stared at her. She was wearing high heels and she was somehow managing not to sink right into the soft sand in those things.

  I couldn’t say the same for me. My heels were practically stuck in there. I tried to move forward like I was supposed to do in the scene, but when I took a step the stupid heel stayed right where it was. I hastily put my foot back down, sliding back into the shoe as best as I could and hoping they could edit that right out of the scene.

  Detective Derek Brody stepped forward. “We can hash this out, Catrina. Don’t say anything you’re going to regret later.”

  Okay, that was his line. Good, we were back on track.

  I took a breath and opened my mouth to say my next line—

  “No!” Adele shouted, her piercing voice echoing across the sandy beach. “No, we can’t hash this out, Derek. Everything’s a mess and it’s all her fault.”

  I stared at her finger, which was pointing directly at me. Um, confusion here. Catrina was supposed to be standing next to me right then, and she was supposed to have said something about he
r deceased husband, Sebastian, having been the one to hire me, even though the employment agency had no record of my being registered with them.

  “Calm down, Mrs. Holloway.” I had to keep going until Roger yelled “cut” so I dragged my feet through the sand, walking closer to Adele.

  “Don’t tell me to calm down. Ever since you got here everything’s different. You . . . you’re just a maid.”

  I glowered at her. “Really? I’m just a maid?” I was about to blurt out that I owned this house—albeit, maybe for not that much longer at the rate I was going—and that the cast and crew seemed to like me just fine.

  “This is ridiculous.” Luke stepped in between us where we faced off. That wasn’t his line either and I could hear the real exasperation in his voice.

  “It’s ridiculous that I’ve allowed myself to be manipulated by the likes of her.” She turned to me, that wicked finger pointing again. “You’re fired!”

  “You’re not the one who hired me, so I’m not going to listen to you. I deserve to be here. I’ve earned it.” I pointed my finger back at her, which, okay, was completely childish. But stabbing my finger in her direction so felt good.

  Her face became enraged and she shot forward and grabbed my arm.

  I yanked my arm back.

  “I want you out of here!” She snarled at me, which looked so odd since she was insanely graceful and beautiful normally. She reached for my hair and I slipped in the sand, barely getting my head out of the way in time to avoid her grasping fingers.

  Unfortunately, I lost my balance and fell into her. We both toppled toward the water and it was like for those seconds, time had suddenly frozen. Adele reached her hand toward Luke and screamed. “Help me!”

  Luke’s strong arms bypassed Adele, wrapping around me before I fell. Adele, however, went down on her bottom like a sequined seal. At the moment she fell, a giant wave ruffled with foam at the top, splashed right over her shoulders, and knocked her under.

  Adele came up spluttering and gasping and punching the water. It was quite a scene and I took it all in from the safety of Luke’s arms. She spat out a mouthful of water and what looked suspiciously like a very small fish before throwing her arms up. “We’ve been together so long. Why didn’t you save me?”

  “I couldn’t let her fall, Catrina.” Luke peered down at her pitiful face serenely. “I’ve fallen for her. I’m not going to pretend I haven’t.”

  Was that a line for the scene? Or did he mean those words? I gazed up at him stunned.

  “And cut!” Roger yelled.

  Cut? I gawked at the crowd gathering around us. Maggie looked pleased and was trying to calm down two of the writers who had gotten irate. Some of the cast stared on with wide eyes. Bette came rushing over to the waterlogged Adele, showing more concern for the wet dress than the wet actress.

  Adele struggled up on her feet and out of the water, then stormed past Luke and me. One of her eyelashes dangled from her upper lid. Her hair was soaked, seaweed dotted her legs and arms, and her dress was so wet it shed water with every step.

  But she still hadn’t lost her ability to walk perfectly in those heels. Impressive.

  “I’m looking forward to our date tomorrow night,” Luke whispered, and then he walked over to Roger who had called to him.

  Luke had literally saved me. I would’ve been a sopping wet mess on camera if he’d chosen to help Adele. There was no way I would break that date with him now. I just hoped this decision wouldn’t leave me with a broken heart.

  Chapter Twelve

  I woke up the next morning with my head still spinning from the craziness of that oceanside scene for Just One Love. Not only had Adele fallen into the ocean, but she’d somehow managed to bruise her bottom while doing so and the wardrobe lady had to figure out a way to put ice packs on her toosh today in a non-visible way so Adele could keep working.

  The rest of the filming had gone on just like it was supposed to, at least. I’d managed to deliver my lines right on cue and well. I’d hoped to talk to Luke afterward but there was a big magazine in town, who had sent a reporter to interview Luke and Adele together. As they walked off to do that interview Adele had shot me a catty look over her shoulder.

  Whether I liked it or not Luke and Adele were linked in the public’s eye. Plus, her previous accusation still haunted me. I was enjoying my continuing part as Piper on the show. What if people did start to think the reason I was going out with Luke was to get more lines? Was I destined for a life of rumors?

  I thought about those things as I walked through the slightly damp cobblestone streets of downtown Blue Moon Bay. The sky had already cleared, it hung cerulean blue overhead with big puffy white clouds, and the ocean breeze was light and fresh.

  My footsteps slowed as I spotted a line in front of Bay Side Coffee where I was meeting my friends. I’d dressed to be as inconspicuous as possible. I wore a plain long-sleeved tee, a maxi skirt in a soft pastel color and nice sandals. Sunglasses perched on my face and I wore a widely brimmed hat on my head, but half the women I saw wore the very same thing. I’d finally gotten the art of disguise down, or so I told myself, and there was no need to be nervous.

  I stepped into the coffee shop. The line snaked past the little ropes and out the door. The baristas were busy and fast, and the line was steadily decreasing. I spotted Megan, Wendy, and Olivia at a table, hoping they had ordered me a coffee.

  “Good morning. Caramel latte for you.” Olivia pushed the saucer holding the large mug toward me.

  I slid into a chair. “Thank you. I’ve never seen the line so long.”

  Wendy pushed a plate of delicately cooked little tarts toward me. “We ordered scones, too, but they aren’t quite done yet.”

  I sipped the coffee gratefully and took a tart. Wendy looked easy and relaxed this morning, which made me smile. “How are things going at the inn?”

  “The best they have ever been.” She popped a bite of apple tart into her mouth, scattering crumbs along her blouse as she did so. She brushed them away. “How is it in the house of soap opera horrors?”

  “I pushed Adele into the ocean yesterday.” My face heated as their eyes locked onto my face.

  Olivia leaned over the table, her face avid with curiosity. “You did what?”

  “It was an accident,” I clarified hastily.

  Megan snorted. “An accident is when you run a red light and knock into someone’s fender. Pushing Adele into the ocean doesn’t sound like an accident. Curbing the competition?”

  I groaned. “Very funny. We had lines in the scene but she went off script and started yelling at me. I played along since the director hadn’t stopped us, and we had a mini-altercation that ended with her in the ocean. She was not too happy with me.”

  Wendy gave a little laugh. “I’ll bet. So, you had another part in the show? Are you planning to work on the soap opera after it returns to San Francisco?”

  I blinked. “No. I mean they just needed me for some minor part.”

  “Wasn’t that supposed to be for one day? Pushing the leading actress into the ocean doesn’t sound like a ‘minor character’ move to me.” Olivia checked her cell phone and then put it down again. “Sorry, work thing.”

  “How’s the business going Megan?” I asked, changing the subject.

  She dabbed her lips with a napkin. “I got a new website design contract yesterday, so that’s good for business. Now if I could just land the perfect guy my life would be complete.”

  “Weren’t you just dating someone?” Olivia asked her.

  Megan gave us each a woeful glance. “The last time I went on a date I had to not only utilize my friend-in-trouble-pull-the-plug text, but I also wound up getting an email from that guy demanding that I refund him the amount he paid for my coffee.”

  I gaped at her. “Four bucks? You’re kidding.”

  “I wish,” she said and slumped down into her chair. “He even sent me his payment information and a photo of the receipt. He’d circled
my coffee in bright red ink and wrote ‘of course you ordered the specialty coffee’ right below it. Oh, and he wanted half the tip back, too.”

  Olivia choked. Wendy stared. I opened my mouth and found I had absolutely no reply to that. Wendy finally asked, “Where did you meet that guy?”

  Megan rolled her eyes. “On a dating website.”

  Olivia whistled. “Wow, you dodged a bullet on that one.”

  “I know, but dating is depressing. Let’s talk about something else. How about Charlie and Luke? Is he as dreamy in real life?”

  “He’s different than I thought,” I answered. “I had a little crush on him from watching the show because, you know, he’s gorgeous. But he’s actually down to earth. He reads books from the library. I’m supposed to go out with him tonight but I’m nervous.”

  Megan perked up. “Oh, your date is tonight? What are you wearing?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t really know. I’m having second thoughts.”

  “Are we back at this again?” Wendy asked, smiling at the barista who set warm scones on the table for us. “You’ve had so many second thoughts, you’re not allowed to use that expression anymore.”

  “Short memory, Wendy.” Olivia waved a finger in the air. “I seem to remember a certain someone acting crazed when a certain guy named Max asked her out. Right?”

  “Oh, right.” Wendy chuckled, tapping her manicured finger to her temple. “It’s all coming back to me now. Tell us what you’re worried about, Charlie.”

  I sighed and pushed aside my half-eaten tart. “It’s just that I haven’t been interested in anyone since Rex. I dated Wyatt, yes. But I wasn’t that into him. Being around Luke feels so right and it’s way too soon for that. I mean, what if he turns out to be a giant creep?”

  “You might have to refund him your half of dinner,” Megan joked. “But you said he’s a nice guy and that you like him.”

  “He is and I do.” Confusion spiked through me. “It’s just that I don’t have the best judgment when it comes to men. Obviously.”

  Wendy leaned over and took my hand. “Charlie, Rex always had a bit of an ego before it blew up out of control. Luke’s already famous, so his ego should already be at its resting altitude. And it’s just a date, it’s not like he’s asked you to sail off into the sunset with him.”