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

by Unknown

  I gnawed at my bottom lip. “I’m trying not to be seen.”

  “Ah, now it makes sense.” Olivia nodded, making me feel understood. She led the way inside and asked for a table near the back. The smiling hostess showed us the way, seating us in a bright red corner booth.

  “I’ve only been out a few times since I moved back to Blue Moon Bay. I feel like everyone is staring,” I admitted, as we opened our menus and began to peruse them.

  Wendy gestured to my scarf. “They’re probably staring because of the scarf. I’m afraid if your goal is to avoid attention you’re sort of defeating the purpose by wearing it. It’s pretty, but definitely drawing attention to you.”

  “Really?” I asked, wondering if she might have a point. The scarf was printed in a tropical motif with glaring reds and yellows dominating the green background. I took it off and laid it on the table. “Maybe I could find a scarf in more subdued tones. I seem to have misplaced a lot of stuff when I moved from my bedroom to the guest room.”

  “Okay that is the perfect lead-in for my next question.” Megan rubbed her hands together. “When are you going to tell us what is going on at your house? I hear it’s wrought with soap opera characters.”

  We paused our conversation while the waiter came and took our orders. For a moment, I was worried because I didn’t have my armor of sunglasses, hat, and scarf. But the water barely glanced at me before he took our menus and disappeared.

  “The soap opera, Just One Love, is filming at my house for a month,” I said, immediately picturing Luke, and the way his eyes crinkle when he smiles at me. “It’s a promotional plotline because Adele Andrews grew up here in Blue Moon Bay and apparently the show has a large fan base here.”

  Wendy tilted her head, her dark bob falling against her cheek. “I don’t remember anyone named Adele.”

  “She went to a private school, and one of the interviews I read said she considered herself a wallflower in her youth. The show has set up a lot of interviews for Adele and the other actors throughout the month, so I’m sure that will reveal more about her.”

  “Do you know if Catrina killed Sebastian?” Megan asked, leaning forward in her seat. “If you’re not allowed to tell me then that’s fine. I figured it doesn’t hurt to ask.”

  I had to laugh. “Nope, but believe me I wish I knew the answer to that one.” For some reason, the image of Luke kissing Adele in their scene flashed in my head, and I felt my stomach tighten up. I knew he was an actor and that was his job, and we hadn’t even had a first date . . . but that image of them did not sit well with me. Not at all. Deciding to change the subject, I asked, “Olivia, how are things going with Brody?”

  Olivia smiled broadly. “Really well. We were out on the water earlier this week and he’s teaching me how to surf. It’s so not as easy as it looks but it’s great exercise and I love being on the ocean. He also surprised me with two-dozen live orchids for our two-month anniversary. Live, can you believe it? I love orchids.”

  The waiter returned and set down the pitcher of margaritas we’d ordered, four glasses, and a small platter of chips accompanied by several kinds of fresh salsa. We paused long enough to each pour ourselves a glass and then do a “cheers” to friendship.

  “I can’t believe Brody’s so romantic . . .” My voice trailed off as I took a long drink of my margarita, the tart flavor bursting in my mouth. “I’m glad you guys are so happy.”

  “I said the same thing to Olivia.” Wendy raised her glass, and then clinked it into mine. “So, you’re next. When is your date with Luke? Friday night, right?”

  “What? Who’s Luke?” Olivia asked.

  Megan glanced at me while taking a sip of her margarita, and then her eyes went wide above the rim of her glass and she choked on her drink. “Wait a minute. Luke? You can’t possibly mean Luke Montgomery from Just One Love, right? You’re not going out with him, are you?”

  “Yes, she is,” Wendy said, smiling. “The reason I know this is because I ran into them at the library and he asked her out right in front of me.”

  “No way! I’ve always had a huge crush on Derek Bishop,” Megan explained.

  “Is that true?” Olivia asked.

  I gestured toward Wendy. “It’s true that Wendy and Max were kissing in the library!”

  “Don’t blame me,” Wendy quipped. “Blame it on the legend. Max and I kissed at that special spot by the bay under a blue moon, and the rest is history.”

  I laughed. “Well that explains the PDA in the library.”

  Several servers appeared and brought us our food. I stuck a fork in my taco salad, then took a bite of the juicy meat and shredded lettuce concoction topped with sour cream and salsa. Delish!

  “What’s he like?” Megan peeled a piece of tortilla from her burrito. “The soap opera star, I mean. I know what Max is like.”

  I drained my margarita glass dry. I hadn’t planned on talking about Luke, but I didn’t mind at all. These women were my friends, and I trusted them completely. “Luke is nice. Sometimes he seems so down to earth, but I don’t know. I mean, he’s an actor. He can pretend to be anything he wants, so how would I know what he’s really like?”

  Wendy set down her fish taco, and swallowed her bite. “Wait a second. This isn’t really about good old Rex, is it?”

  I cringed at Rex’s name, my gaze darting around to make sure nobody had heard. But the noise from the nearby tables made our conversation in the corner exceptionally hard to hear. Thank goodness.

  “Uh-oh. Inside voice, Wendy,” Olivia said, pouring me another healthy helping of margarita. “Our dear friend is trying to stay out of the tabloids, remember? We don’t want a reappearance of the scarf, do we?”

  Wendy gave me an apologetic look. “Oops, sorry.”

  “That’s okay.” I pressed my lips together, loving how sweet and supportive my friends were. “I don’t know if my trepidation could be about Rex. I’ve been burned but I feel more than ready to be dating again. And I do really like Luke. But . . . he might be having an affair with one of his co-stars. I’ve read he’s secretly together with Adele Andrews.”

  “Well, we all know to believe everything we read,” Wendy joked. She patted me on the arm. “It’s just a date, Charlie. I mean, one date. It’s not like he proposed marriage. Go on the date, and have some fun. It would do you good to get back into the world.”

  Megan tapped her finger on the table in front of Wendy. “Not everyone can meet a guy out on the beach, kiss him right under the blue moon like you did, and live happily ever after. Most guys are like Rex. Trust me, I’ve dated way too many of them.”

  “I used to feel the same way,” Olivia said, finishing off her drink and then reaching for her glass of water. “I had a lot of bad dates and a few creepy boyfriends before I met Brody. But now I’m in a good relationship. The question really is—do you want to go on a date with him? If the answer’s yes, then go for it.”

  I set down my fork. “He makes me feel all warm and gooey inside. Maybe that’s why I am afraid to go out with him. He makes me feel something I never felt before. And that is really scary.”

  “You should just go on the date and enjoy it,” Megan said, once again turning into that optimistic girl I’ve always known and loved. “Just take it for what it is and stop thinking about all of the other stuff. Me, I’d settle for a steak, a nice bottle of wine, and a decent conversation with a guy who actually knocked on the door instead of leaning on his horn and yelling.”

  “All right. I’ll just enjoy the ride and not worry that Luke will turn into Rex.” I raised my glass in the air, and my three friends clinked their glasses into mine. “Cheers to that!”

  Suddenly, there was a loud commotion at the door. We all turned our heads in that direction to see what was going on. Then all of the blood drained from my face.

  Luke Montgomery and Adele Andrews were walking into the restaurant, hand-in-hand. The flash bulbs went off all around them, freaking out the diners already seated. But it
was obvious by their calm expressions that Luke and Adele were used to it. Luke smiled and nodded, and he even joked with the paparazzi as he pulled out a chair for Adele.

  My heart sank.

  I’d tried to rationalize that Luke had never actually said he wasn’t dating Adele. But that didn’t matter because they looked like quite the cozy couple, which left the nagging question of why he’d asked me out to dinner. Maybe my crush really did want me . . . he just wanted me as a tour guide of Blue Moon Bay. Not exactly the scenario of my dreams.

  Chapter Eight

  The next morning, I woke up determined to tell Luke I was canceling our upcoming date. Some women might be comfortable dating a guy who was also dating someone else, but I wasn’t one of them. I arrived on set, but before I could talk to Luke, one of the younger actresses cornered me.

  “Please tell me what it was like to be married to Rex Rockwell. He is so divine. I have all of his albums and listen to them every day at the gym. Oh, wait. Is this the house where you caught him cheating with that groupie?”

  “Don’t we have to practice our scenes or something?” I stared at Anna, trying to be patient. It was obvious that the girl had no idea how rude she was being, or how intrusive. I needed to cancel my date with Luke now, while they were setting up the next scene and everyone was on break, but Anna wouldn’t disengage.

  “Rex is so hot! No disrespect, but I would have just forgiven him. I mean he’s hot. And rich. And really famous. I bet you two had paparazzi around you all the time. I’d love that kind of attention!”

  “No, you wouldn’t,” I assured her. “Those flashbulbs can burn out your retinas.”

  Anne threw her head back and laughed. “That’s why they make sunglasses!”

  Luke was across the room, and alone for a change. If I got to him now, I could break off our date in a place where he couldn’t ask for more explanations. It would be easy and painless and I could go on with my life. At least that’s what I told myself.

  I turned to Anna. “If you would please excuse me . . .”

  She grabbed my sleeve. “I saw that they gave your character more lines. Are you going to be an actress now? I mean, you could get lots of breaks I bet with all the people you know. You wouldn’t be the first Hollywood wife to get famous after a divorce. If I don’t start getting some better parts soon, then maybe I should consider marrying a guy I can divorce.”

  “I hope you’re kidding,” I said, my gaze latching on to Adele, who had moved over to where Luke stood. The two of them started talking and laughing. My teeth sank into my bottom lip. He sure didn’t look annoyed with Adele’s obvious flirting.

  Adele leaned toward Luke, gazing up into his face and batting the three-inch long eyelashes the makeup team had affixed to her eyelids earlier this morning. After what seemed like a lifetime, she finally moved away from him.

  “Good-bye, Anna.” I started toward Luke but before I could get over to him, the make-up gal snatched onto my arm.

  “You’ve chewed off all of your lipstick!” she said in a voice full of accusation.

  “Sorry,” I muttered, watching someone powder Luke’s forehead before he was hauled off by the wardrobe team. A headache started behind my eyes. I had to break off my date, and I had to do it now.

  Luke was obviously dating Adele and while I knew it was silly to demand exclusivity from a man I was only just getting to know, I couldn’t imagine he was very interested in me if he was also dating someone else. It was just that simple as far as I was concerned.

  Only getting to him to break the date seemed anything but simple. I’d no sooner shaken off the hair and makeup people than Anna came back up to me, her pink lips pursed. “You didn’t tell me if you’re going to be starting an acting career. What’s the deal?”

  “I’m just playing this part as a favor to the producers. That’s all,” I assured her, then headed toward Luke. . . But before I even got close to him the director called everyone to their places. Argh! Feeling chagrined, I took my place and waited for Roger to call action.

  We were doing a simple scene. Detective Bishop (aka: Luke) was going to question Piper, the maid (aka: moi) about my employer Catrina Holloway’s whereabouts on the night of Sebastian’s murder. I was going to answer his questions then the scene would be over.

  Someone checked to make sure my new uniform—they had tailored my formerly-loose maid’s dress—was straightened, and that the glass and pitcher of ice water was on the bar. Then Roger Abbot called out, “Action!” and the cameras started rolling.

  I picked up the pitcher and glass like I was supposed to do, then I turned to Luke. “Would you like some water, Detective Bishop?”

  Luke, looking sexy as ever, moved a little closer to me. My heart started pounding like crazy and I swallowed hard. I’d wanted to break our date off before I could get lost in those blue-gray eyes he had just fastened right on mine. I wanted to smack myself right now for considering not breaking the date even though I knew I absolutely should. Get a grip, Charlie!

  “I’d like to ask you some questions,” he said, his blue-gray eyes boring into mine.

  Yeah, I’d like to ask him a few questions, too.

  Staying in character, I smiled. “Of course, Detective. Anything to help find Sebastian Holloway’s murderer. He was a good boss, and a good man.”

  I’d studied my lines but I felt so frazzled I couldn’t remember what to do with the pitcher and glass, and he hadn’t refused or said yes to the water. Was he supposed to have made a decision? My mind went blank.

  “Were you at their house that night?” he asked

  I shifted, trying not to panic. “I was there. Yes.”

  “I see. Was Catrina alone with Sebastian?”

  Oh! My heart thudded in my chest as my lines flooded back to me. I wanted to cheer with joy that I finally remembered them. But, you know, I didn’t.

  I sucked in a breath. “Do you want to know if Catrina was alone with Sebastian because you want to know if she’s a killer, or because you’re trying to find out if they were unhappy again. I mean, you are seeing her, aren’t you?”

  Oh, no. I’d gone off-script with that last question and somehow had asked the question burning deep inside of me. Luke’s expression didn’t change, and he rallied fast.

  “I’m asking the questions here, Piper. I need to know if Catrina was home and alone that night.”

  “Do you think it’s okay to see more than one person at a time, Detective?”

  His eyes narrowed. “I’ll take that water now.”

  He hadn’t answered the question. I’d blown my lines, made myself look like an idiot, and I still didn’t know whether or not he was seeing Adele.

  “Certainly you may have some water, Detective.” Holding the pitcher, my arm rose and my hand squeezed the pitcher, as I intended, really intended, to pour the water into the glass. But when Luke moved toward me I jerked my arm, meaning to give him a “stop right there” hand signal, which I did, but I had forgotten I was holding the water pitcher.

  Ice water flew through the air, splashing against his chest. One second Luke was dry, and the next moment he was thoroughly soaked. My eyes went wide and I stepped back. My gaze darted around the room, landing on Adele. Her hands flew to her cheeks in a perfect expression of horror.

  “Cut!” Roger yelled.

  Well that was it then. I’d be fired now. I should’ve never left the guest suite. Then I wouldn’t have the hots for the show’s leading actor. I’d only come upstairs that first day because I wanted to know who had killed Sebastian. Could I really be blamed for that? It was clearly the writers’ fault for leaving a cliffhanger!

  A woman ran on set with a towel and started drying Luke off. If I didn’t feel so awful then the scene might be funny. I stumbled toward the end of the room but someone called my name. I stopped, and turned around to see one of the assistants headed toward me. My spirits sank even lower. Here came the termination. They’d probably decided that not only could they not have a l
unatic working on set but they also couldn’t film in a house belonging to said lunatic.

  The assistant, a spritely guy named Theo, stopped in front of me. “The chemistry was so good between you and Luke the writers aren’t even mad. Okay, they’re a little ticked off. Well, make that a lot ticked off. But Maggie loved it! She and Roger thought the scene worked phenomenally. They are going to messenger you over a longer script for tomorrow.”

  My mouth fell open. I was sure I’d either gone completely crazy or I was caught up in some practical joke. But I managed to open my mouth. “Um, okay.”

  Theo grinned and headed off. I saw someone cover Luke’s head with a towel and there was no way he could see me right now. But everyone else could see me, and they were openly staring. I seriously wanted my privacy back.

  Chapter Nine

  The water-splashing scene was over but the cast and crew continued to give me weird looks. So, I did what any normal person would do. I hightailed it down to the beach, each footstep a litany of self-recrimination and worry.

  I just made a fool of myself.

  I just threw a pitcher of water on Luke.

  Everyone probably knows why I’d blurted that last question.

  I wonder what the script they’re sending me will be about.

  They’ll probably kill me off in a gory fashion.

  Yeah, no warm fuzzies coming from my brain as I flew down the many steps and arrived at the beach, which usually soothed me. The sight of the tall bluffs behind me, the endlessly blue sea before me, the water capped with white foam splashing against the shining brown sands, the encircling arm of land around the bay. . . But right then they didn’t help at all.

  I stood on the sand, watching the sea birds wheel against the cloud-filled cerulean sky. I wanted to cry, or scream. Either one would have been good but I couldn’t seem to do either.

  Instead, I groaned in frustration at the sight on the sand next to me. Someone had decided to take my good outdoor furniture from my storage space and set it out on the beach. I knew the crew sometimes sat out there and I didn’t mind, but the wind had whipped the furniture until the chairs were lying on their sides and the umbrella hung half on the table and half off of it.