Page 16 of Dumbstruck
“I like when you talk.” June’s steps falter as she blushes again. “I mean you’re fun to talk to. Obviously, since talking is your job. I just mean you’re…not as annoying as I thought you would be.” She grimaces, making me laugh.
“Wow, coming in hot with the compliments.”
She joins my laughter, shaking her head at me. “I’m saying you’ve surprised me, Jonah James. Not many people are interested in knowing much about me. And I don’t remember the last time someone got me to talk this much. Especially a man.”
“Do you talk to men often?” That’s a stupid question. She runs a hardware store, which is the average man’s playground. But I don’t like the idea of her being surrounded by men who would notice how attractive she is. Was I one of many to take an interest in her after stepping through her door?
June rolls her eyes. “No, I tend to avoid men. But something about you has piqued my curiosity.”
I laugh, though this feels too close to most people’s reasons for interacting with me. Most people don’t care who I am, just that I’m famous. “I know, I know. These good looks are impossible to resist.”
“No,” she says without hesitation. “It’s more than that. It’s something aboutyou. You’re genuine and easy to talk to.”
Oh, she’s playing with fire now by saying nice things, and I pull her to a stop so I can look her in the eyes. And by eyes I mean mouth because I’m a simple man, and a compliment like that makes me want to kiss her ’til the cows come home. Huh. Apparently talking about home has pulled the farm-speak out of me. “I could talk to you all night, June Harper.”
She lifts her chin, which feels a lot like an invitation. “Is that so?”
I nod and lean in, my heart picking up a frantic rhythm. She’s giving me all the signs, signs I couldn’t ignore even if I wanted to. “I could also do other things.”
June blinks slowly, her gaze slowly shifting from one of my eyes to the other. “Like what, Jonah James?”
I reach up and brush a finger along her jaw. “I could kiss you. If you’d let me.” I hold my breath.
Humming, she lifts her tempting lips in a crooked smile as one of her hands grabs the front of my jacket and pulls me closer until we’re practically breathing the same air. She smells incredible, drowning out the rest of my senses with the soft floral scent that envelops her. “You’re asking permission?”
“I like to think I’m a gentlem—”
June rises up on her toes and presses her mouth to mine. Her lips are soft and warm and disappear far too quickly, leaving me buzzing and dizzy. She smirks, her dark eyes dancing in the glow of a nearby street light as if she knows exactly how deeply her actions affected me just now. “I’ve always had a thing for gentlemen,” she says with a soft laugh.
I’m not sure I can form words. I hoped for a kiss, but I never expected one, and June has left me completely dumbstruck. It’s ridiculous, considering I spent a good chunk of the day working with the chemistry coach on set to make sure Bonnie and I are selling our relationship in the movie. But Bonnie isn’t June, and none of the on-set kisses felt like this one.
None of them left me wanting more.
“Walk me home?” June asks, and I nod dumbly.
We’re quiet until we reach her house, where the mangy orange cat sits on the porch with a disgruntled expression, like he’s angry that I kept June out past curfew. I glare at him—he’s standing right where I’d like to give June a proper kiss—but then he pads down the steps and rubs up against my leg, purring loudly.
June shakes her head, bending down to pet the cat. He darts away from her touch and disappears into the bushes. She huffs. “I don’t understand that cat.”
The shift in subject knocks some sense back into me, giving me the power to speak again. “He makes perfect sense. I happen to be incredibly likable.”
June matches my smile, warming the air around us by ten degrees. “I guess I can agree with him on that. Thanks for the walk tonight, Jonah. This was nice.”
Nice? This wasepic. I would walk with her every night if I could, just to hear her talk about herself. Especially if I can get a kiss out of it too. “I’m filming most of the day tomorrow, but…” My words trail off as something sparks into memory. Something I learned this afternoon but conveniently forgot until now because I was so focused on June.
Bonnie and the author—Hank—aren’t really dating. Their relationship is a publicity stunt, which is a pretty normal thing in our line of work but causes problems for me because today I was enlisted as backup. If their relationship falls apart, I’m supposed to step in as Bonnie’s new flame to make sure her tenuous popularity doesn’t drop.
I agreed because saying yes is my default setting and I like Bonnie enough to want to help her, but I don’t think I thought it through. Besides, that was before June kissed me. Before I thought I had a chance.
I clear my throat and lead June up the steps to her door, wondering if I can tell her about the Bonnie thing. It may never happen. Bonnie and Hank look pretty into each other despite their relationship being a sham. But what if it does happen? I can’t date June if I’m putting on a show with Bonnie.
“But?” June pushes when I never finish my sentence.
Smiling, I tuck some hair behind her ear. “But I’ll try to stop by your store if I get a chance.” I hold back a wince at such noncommittal words. They make me sound like a tool, and June already has plenty of those in her life.One problem at a time. If I need to step in as Bonnie’s fake boyfriend, I’ll tell June everything. Until then, I’ll continue as normal and hope for the best.
My stomach lurches, but I ignore the discomfort and press a kiss to June’s forehead, lingering there and breathing in the floral smell of her hair. “Mm, I’m definitely coming to your store.”
“What’s your real name?” June whispers.
