8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Jonah
N ote to self: try not to sleep on any more floors.
When I wake, the sky is still pretty dark outside, June is sound asleep, and I feel like I got hit by a truck. I like to think Im pretty spry for a thirty-two-year-old and used to sleeping in strange places while Im on the road filming, but my back was not meant for hardwood. Nor was my heart meant for worrying the way I did last night. I dont think I slept much because every little noise made me think someone was coming after June.
Sitting up and stretching, I watch June for a few minutes and marvel at the way she handled things last night. She was scared, but most people would have been full-on panicked. I almost was, and Im glad Richie agreed to come check on her. Im more glad he gave in when I told him I was coming whether he joined me or not.
Yeah, he said whoever was in that car was probably just trying to scare June into minding her own business, but what if he was wrong? What if someone had tried to hurt her?
I run a hand through my hair and tiptoe out of the room to where Richie is propped up on the couch, eyes fixed through the open blinds to the front yard. Anything happen last night?
He shakes his head. All quiet.
Did you sleep at all?
He doesnt have to answer that question. When hes on high alert, Richie doesnt sleep. I have no idea how he does it. I swear there have been weeks during press tours where he only gets a few hours of sleep over the course of several days, but he keeps chugging along like its nothing.
I finally understand how he feels when hes in charge of my safety, and I dont know how he handles this kind of worry all the time. I feel like Im one jump scare away from falling apart.
What about the license plate? I ask through a yawn I cant hold back. Now that the house is bright with morning sunshine, Im relaxing. Barely.
Chuckling, Richie lifts his phone with a shrug, showing me the black screen.
I groan. Dead? We need to get you one of those supercharged batteries or something. Or keep a portable charger in the car. Though, knowing him, he would forget to charge that too. Ill check and see if June has a charger you can use.
Its not until I poke my head into the bedroom that I remember shes still asleep. These late night shoots have been killing me this week, and only partially because my late call times meant I couldnt talk to June until midnight or later. And Ive been desperate to talk to her every day, which is ridiculous because weve been on a single date and shared one too-quick kiss that barely counts for anything.
Hasnt stopped me from reliving it.
Like a creep, I lean my shoulder against the frame of Junes door, my hands in my pockets, and watch her sleep. Does she feel our connection as much as I do? Sure, she hugged me like no tomorrow last night, but Im giving all credit to the actual creep in the car. If she hadnt been spooked, I wouldnt have gotten an embrace like that, and thats fine.
But now that Ive gotten a taste of what its like to hold her, I want to do it again.
June looks a lot less fierce when shes asleep. Of course she does. But her dark hair is a mess around her head, and her mouth hangs open slightly as she breathes deeply, like she doesnt have a care in the world now that someone is here to look out for her.
I want to take care of her. To make sure she has no reason to feel any fear in her own home. It took her a long time to fall asleep last nightI spent that time listening to her toss and turn and telling myself that it was a bad idea to start up a middle-of-the-night conversationand shes probably exhausted from her ordeal last night. But what can I actually do to help her?
I only have a couple of days break while Bonnie is out, and I plan to spend as much time with June as I can. But I dont want to pressure her into solving this sabotage mystery with me. Shes been talking a big game the last couple of days, but that was before things got personal. I wouldnt blame her for wanting to step back, though that would make it harder for me to enjoy her company.
My mind needs to figure out whos trying to ruin our movie. My heart needs
I swallow, biting my tongue as June stirs. My heart wants her. It wants to know if this is more than a simple attraction. And if it is? Thats going to raise a lot more questions I wont have answers for. Im a Hollywood actor from LA who rarely has breaks in his schedule. Shes a business owner from a small town in Colorado and seems content to stay that way. Theres no way this can work.
But I dont know if the reality of the situation is going to stop me from trying.
June opens her eyes and finds me in the doorway, and the smile that lifts the corner of her lips heats a ball of lead that has been in my chest since our kiss. If that thing goes molten, I may never cool down when it comes to this woman, because everything she does seems to add a little heat.
Youre still here, she says, her voice scratchy.
I fold my arms. What kind of guy do you take me for?
The kind who has better things to do than hang around here.
Agree to disagree. I cant think of anywhere better.
Her blush heats the ball inside me another few degrees, as I knew it would. Jonah James, she whispers and runs a hand through her hair to smooth it.
Time to change the subject before my exhaustion convinces me boundaries are for suckers. Do you have a phone charger Richie can use?
What kind?
USB-C. I already know you dont have an iPhone.
She rolls her eyes and reaches behind her side table. Are you an Apple purist?
Her teasing question eases some of the tension still lingering from last night, and I breathe more easily knowing she isnt completely traumatized. Me? No. But Dexter is, and hes the one who buys everything for me. I suggested an Android once, and he broke into tears.
Chuckling, she sits back up with a black cord in hand. She looks at it for a second and shudders before holding it out to me.
I frown. What?
Nothing. But then she grins. Hank put something in the book hes working on. Gabrielle almost gets strangled by a phone charger.
Grimacing, I gingerly take the cord from her, like it might spring to life and try to end me. Thats gruesome. Are we sure Bonnies safe with this guy?
Technically it was my idea to use the phone cord.
Ah, so youre the gruesome one. Got it. Remind me not to get on your bad side. Or the authors.
Wrapping herself in a blanket, she follows me out of the bedroom looking adorable. More than ever, I want to wrap her back up in my arms and feel like Im good for more than pretending to be someone Im not. When I held her last night, I felt truly useful for the first time in a long time.
I dont think Hank has a bad side, June says.
I snort a laugh. The guy who writes murder stories? Turning to look at her as I walk, I tilt my head and make a face of disbelief. Not sure I believe you on that one. And for the record, hes one of the few people in the world who dont like me, which says more about him than it does about me.
She whacks my arm with a hand thats still gripping her blanket. Hey, Hank is a good guy. Its not his fault you were playing his character wrong.
After handing off the charger to Richie, I press a hand over my heart and cluck my tongue. June Harper, you wound me. I was following the script.
You didnt think to read the book before you started filming the movie?
I dont want to lose Junes smile or her teasing, but thats inevitable with what Im about to say. If were to have a shot at something, I might as well be honest with her. I would have if I wasnt in Idaho right up until I had to fly out here to start shooting. My mom has been sick.
Her smile falters. Oh. Is she okay now?
I hope so, but its hard to say. Shes old. Im the baby of five kids, remember? Seventy-one isnt that old, but its up there.
I think she still has a lot of time left, Richie says, giving me a sympathetic smile.
June looks at him, tilting her head to the side. Youve met her?
Many times.
Richie has been with me a long time, I say, counting back to when he first started working with me. Eight years? He nods to confirm. Hes basically part of the family at this point, and my mom knits him a sweater every Christmas.
The longing look June gives me is enough to make me weak in the knees. Its like she has never heard of anything better than a woman making a sweater for her sons bodyguard. I love that, she says softly. I always wanted to learn how to knit, but my mom never had time for that kind of stuff, so she never taught me. To be honest, I never had the time either until I moved here. The curse of being a career woman, I suppose.
I told her last night that I think she misses her old job. With the way her expression turns wistful and distant, I stand by my assessment. I dont see anything wrong with having a career, I say. Some women knit. Some women put people in jail.
She laughs. For the record, I was never the one prosecuting. I saved that for my ex. My fingers curl into fists at the mention of him, something June notices. Pulling her lips between her teeth, she fights what Im going to assume is laughter and says, Is this Jealous Jonah coming out again?
I have no reason to envy your ex. My growly tone would say otherwise, but whatever.
So youre feelingprotective? She tilts her head as if confused by the idea.
Was she not here last night? I feel absurdly protective over you, I admit with a sigh. Its kind of awful, especially if youre going to be courting danger.
She snorts and adjusts her blanket more securely around her shoulders. Im not courting danger.
But last night
We overreacted. This is Laketown, and no one would be stupid enough to do anything dangerous.
Im not sure I agree with her, but shes far more relaxed than she was last night. If shes not worried, maybe I dont need to be either. Ha! Fat chance of that. The rising heat in my chest is proof that I might be worried about June for the rest of my life.
Still looking like she might laugh, June smiles at me and says, Can I make you two breakfast to say thank you for coming over last night? Its not nearly enough, but I
Its plenty, I say, rubbing my chest as if that might soothe the building pressure. Thank you. But let me know if your eggs turn out to be empty so I know if were dealing with a ghost.
As I expected, Junes eyebrows drop low, and her words are hesitant. What do you mean, empty?
I am as serious as I can be when I reply, Exactly as it sounds. The set ghost took a whole pallet of eggs and left hollow, intact shells. The head of catering almost called an exorcist.
Thatsstrange.
Youre telling me. Its the one thing I havent been able to justify as a human act so far, but Im trying not to think about it. Its easier to swallow if I crack jokes about it. Can I help you with breakfast?
Before June can respond, Richie barks out a laugh and says, Better say no, Miss Harper. Hes terrible in the kitchen.
Hey! I complain. How am I supposed to impress this woman if you tell her things like that?
To my delight, June leans up and kisses my cheek, her blanket-tucked hands wrapped around my bicep. I think your ego is big enough, Jonah James. Ive got breakfast. You can hang out here.
I watch her head back down the hall to the bathroom, and then I point a finger at my bodyguard. I mean it, Rich. Youd better not ruin this for me.
Smirking, he shakes his head and speaks quietly as he turns his phone on. I dont think trying to impress her will do you any favors.
Hes right. June wasnt impressed by me at the beginning, and the more things I admit to her, the less she likely thinks of me. Shes too smart and self-assured to take me at surface level, which is something I havent experienced in a long time.
Its intoxicating, I murmur, touching the spot on my cheek where she kissed. The way she makes me work for it.
Its been a while since you even cared.
Harsh as that sounds, hes right. I dont remember the last time I wanted to try with a woman. Or anyone, for that matter. If it hasnt been relevant to my job, it hasnt been my priority. My lack of dates lately was as much my own fault as it was a shortage of genuine options.
Are you going to survive the effort? Richie asks.
Shut up. But I match his smile before dropping onto the couch and resting my head on the back, eyes closed. Im so tired. Im hoping June has coffee. If not, Im more than happy to stop by the little shop in town, even if the young barista squeals whenever I step inside. Or maybe I should get Dexter to bring the coffee to us. Then I wouldnt have to move. That sounds nice.
Richie elbows me in the ribs, and I open my eyes to find June standing in front of me with an egg in her hand. The house smells of bacon and toast, and its a lot lighter than it was a second ago. How long was I asleep?
You lied, June says, raising an eyebrow.
I run a hand down my face, regretting the way my neck was cricked back. About what?
You do snore.
A smile cracks my lips. Stretching my neck from side to side, I search for some witty retort but come up blank. However long I was asleep just now, it wasnt enough. Its a good thing Im not filming today, or makeup would have their hands full making me look like less of a zombie than I feel.
Is that my breakfast? I ask, nodding to the egg in Junes hand. Generally, eggs are better when theyre out of the June sets the egg in my hand, and I freeze, dread rolling through me. Its empty.
Am I about to start believing in ghosts?
June snickers. You should see your face. Look closer.
I do, though I have to blink a sleepy film out of my eyes before I notice the tiny holes on either end of the egg.
People blow the contents out of eggs sometimes to paint them, June says as I hand the egg to Richie to examine. Its not easy, especially with holes that small, but it can be done. And Id bet if you looked at the eggs that the catering staff had, they would have holes like these.
Thats a strange prank to play, I mutter, wishing I had taken the time to look at the cursed eggs rather than accepting the catering staffs story point-blank. But why would I have done that?
June shrugs. But did it work? Seems like it had some of you spooked.
I wasnt spooked, I say. Totally lying. But yeah, some of the crew are still convinced it was a supernatural occurrence. So this could be proof that there is someone out there trying to get us to leave. The question is who?
Phil Collins, Richie says.
His tone is so matter-of-fact that I wonder if my mouth and brain arent connecting and I asked something different. What?
The car last night. It belongs to Phil Collins. Again, nothing about the way he says it suggests this is a strange joke hes trying to tell; Richie is notoriously giggly when he tells jokes.
I rub my face again, marginally convinced Im still asleep. Are you telling me Junes stalker last night was a British rock singer?
When June pats the top of my head, I feel extra baffled as she says, Its a good thing youre cute, Jonah James. Phil Collins lives here in Laketown. Then she heads back into the kitchen as if thats a totally normal thing to reveal.
I jump to my feet to follow her. One, Im not going to forget that you think Im cute. And two, Im pretty sure Phil Collins doesnt live in small-town Colorado. Last I heard, he was in Florida or something.
Grabbing a frying pan of eggs from the stove and moving it to the table, June takes her time arranging the breakfast spread shes made us. When she finally turns to look at me, her eyes are dancing with amusement. Phil was born and raised here in Laketown and has never left. Obviously Richie didnt mean the drummer from Genesis. She gestures for me to sit and smirks.
As Richie takes the seat next to me, I glare at him. You could have told me that part sooner.
He shrugs. Hey, I only got a name. This looks great, Miss Harper.
Richie and I wait until June has served herself before we dig in, both of us taking far less of the bacon and eggs than we would if we were at catering. If we were home in Idaho, Dad would have made double the amount that June did for the two of us, but he also would have overcooked most of it. When Mom first got sick last year, my dad took on cooking duty, but hes still getting the hang of things. Half the time, one of my sisters heads over to the farmhouse to make a bunch of freezer meals, and Ive been considering hiring a chef for them so Dad can focus on the farm.
Hes long past retiring age, but hell only stop working the land when hes dead. Even then, he might try to make it happen. Hes still spry and hearty, but I dont know how long that will last.
I make another mental note to get in touch with my agent. Ill need to be in as many movies as possible next year if Im going to pay for a personal chef on top of everything else I secretly do for my parents.
You look pensive, June says, pulling my attention away from my plate. How long has she been watching me? Are you still stuck on Phil Collins?
I chuckle, wrinkling my nose at her. While Im disappointed that I wont get to meet one of my music idols, my thoughts are elsewhere. But I appreciate your concern.
Idols, huh? Phil Collins?
It was the soundtrack to that Disney movie, Tarzan , that did it for me.
June snorts out a laugh. I never know what to think of you, Jonah James.
I need to find a way to fix that. I dont want her to always be guessing when she could simply take me as I am. How can I change that? I ask, reaching across the table to grab her hand.
Her eyebrows fly high, but she doesnt pull her hand away. Ill take that as a win. Not sure, she says. Right now, Im more focused on the fact that Phil tried to scare me last night. I dont know the guy much outside of what I already told you, other than his sister also lives in town with a couple of kids, but he lives on his own. I dont think he left the note the other night because hes notorious for his atrocious handwriting.
And I dont think he could have been the one to lock us in the props trailer, I say, nibbling on a piece of toast and trying not to stare at the remaining eggs. Junes cooking is far better than caterings. (In their defense, the catering staff is cooking for an entire film crew, and my nutritionist has kept my meal options pretty limited.) It was decidedly a womans voice we heard.
You are aware people can disguise their voices, right? June says with a smirk. I thought you of all people would know that.
Maybe, but I have a sense for these things, and it was definitely a woman.
Hopping from her chair, June searches through a drawer before returning with a pad of paper and a pen. Before she sits, she picks up the pan of eggs and dumps the rest on my plate. I can make more if you need it.
I always need it. My protein-heavy diet keeps me looking the way I should during filming, though I think my trainer would faint if she saw how much fat Ive eaten this morning between the eggs and the bacon.
Ill be good, I say instead of requesting more. Thanks. I offer some of the eggs to Richie, but he gestures for me to eat. Hes too good to me. What are we writing down?
As she settles back in her chair, June starts writing as she talks, which is insanely impressive. We need to figure out whos messing with your movie.
Because now theyre coming after you?
She looks up, one eyebrow raised and her lips pursed together. Because theyre starting to bug me. People in this town can complain all they want, but I dont like the way theyre forgetting there are good people on the other side of this. So were getting to the bottom of this.
The attorney side of her is coming out in full force, and I cant help but grin. Are you sure you want to do this, June? Last night
Last night was annoying and made things personal. Were solving this, Jonah.
Yes, maam. And dang if her forcefulness isnt wildly attractive.
There have been instances both in town during filming and on the field where the crew is set up. The tire, Bonnies harness, the eggs and water tank
And about a million other things, I add with a roll of my eyes.
June chuckles as she writes down several of the instances. Dexter must have told her about some of them, because I certainly didnt. Add the note left on my door, she says, and Phil driving past my house over and over, and we have a lot of instances to connect. We have at least three different suspects, unless the woman who locked you in your trailer also left the note. Im guessing they made a copy of the trailer key somehow, but thats circumstantial at best, and it wont be easy to prove.
I study the columns she makes, frowning at the lack of evidence we have. Thats a whole lot of nothing, I murmur, thinking hard about any other details we might have. The crane operators said it was something with the wiring, so we might want to look into anyone who has electric training.
June purses her lips, then writes down a few names. If I knew my neighbors better, I could add more people to this list, but Im not all that friendly with my fellow Laketownians.
Whys that? And why would anyone in this town decline a chance to be best friends with this woman? June is fantastic. Shes interesting, independent, bold, beautiful There must not be any single guys in this town, or they would have set their sights on her immediately.
Shrugging, June sets her pen on the table and keeps her eyes on the paper in front of her. I guess I didnt want to lay down any roots.
That shouldnt make me feel hopeful. It means she probably feels untethered and waywardexactly how Ive felt for the last decade and a halfbut it also means she might be willing to leave Laketown. It means theres a chance, however small, she would consider moving closer to me and making a go of this thing between us.
Lets not get ahead of ourselves, Jonah. She doesnt even know your real name.
I clear my throat and shovel the last of the eggs into my mouth. We need to talk to people in town to get some answers, I say with my mouth still full. Classy .
June frowns, and I hope its because of what she says and not because Im a brute. I tried that, remember? And it got Phil stalking my house.
Is Phil going to be an actual danger? I ask, glancing between Richie and June. I dont know if I can take another night like last night.
June shakes her head at the same time Richie shrugs. Hes like a hundred pounds soaking wet, she says, so I could take him, but hes also incredibly timid. Either someone put him up to it, or someone borrowed his car.
Which means we have even less information, I grumble. And talking to people is the only way were going to get answers.
But
Were going to need to go undercover.
June stares at me like Ive grown two heads, which isnt exactly bolstering. Undercover? You know this is a small town, right? Pretty sure everyone knows what we look like.
What do you think undercover means? And have you forgotten that Im here to film a movie? I stand, grabbing all three of our plates and bringing them to the sink. I may not cook, but I am a master dish washer. Grabbing the sponge and some soap, I clean while I talk. We have a whole makeup department, and some of them are incredibly good at what they do. They could make us look like completely different people if given a few hours to work their magic.
A few hours? June is suddenly at my side, snatching a soapy plate from my hands before I drop it in surprise at her nearness. She rinses the plate and grabs a towel to dry it. Is this going to be a whole day affair?
If I have any say in the matter? Yes. As long as youre okay with that. I know you have a store to run.
The store will be fine if I dont open today. Her shoulder brushes mine as she reaches for the next plate. Then brushes again. And then were standing side by side, arms pressed together, and I am perfectly content with this situation. Ill admit, she says, I wasnt thrilled about the movie being filmed here, but that doesnt mean I want you to leave.
She means you as in the film crew collectively. Deep down, I know that. But Id much prefer she means you as in me and doesnt want me specifically to leave. Ill have to leave eventually, but that doesnt mean this thing between us has to end when I go. We can make this work.
Somehow.
So what do you say? I murmur, leaning into her and lowering my nose closer to hers. Want to put on a disguise and be my partner in crime for a day?
Id prefer to skip the crime part, but She holds out a wet hand. Yes. Id like that, Jonah James.
I take her hand and pull her in so I can kiss her cheek. Id like to do more, but Richie is sitting right there watching us, and I spend too much of my life kissing with an audience. Its a date, I say and smile, loving the way June blushes red as a response.
My thoughts may have gotten ahead of things, but Im determined to catch up to them in reality. June is something special, and Id like to keep her.