Page 21 of Dumbstruck
“If I didn’t want to go out with you, I wouldn’t have. I learned a few things from my ex, so that relationship wasn’t entirely worthless.”
“Do I want to know what you learned? What was his name?”
“The Ex. I don’t use his name because he doesn’t deserve that.”
I shake my head, smiling despite myself. She is the most intriguing woman I’ve ever met. “You are remarkable, June Harper.”
“And you owe me ice cream and a real name, Jonah James.”
I laugh. “I’m getting a little too used to you calling me Jonah James, so I don’t know if I want to tell you anymore. You’ll be sorely disappointed. But ice cream? That I can do.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Wow,someonesounds eager.” And I wish I could say yes, but that’s going to be a tough one. “I can’t do tomorrow. I’ll find a time to get away and give you that kiss you agreed to, if you still want it, but I’m going to be shooting until midnight, most likely.”
“That sounds horrible.”
“It’s part of the job. Particularly when that job is a murder mystery. We haven’t shot any of the night scenes yet, and Bonnie’s going to be out of town next weekend for a wedding or something, so the director is trying to pack a bunch in while he can.”
“Bonnie’s leaving town? Is…never mind.”
Chuckling, I settle back into the couch now that our conversation has strayed from her stupid ex. I stretch out and get comfortable, hoping this conversation ends up being a long one. “Her author is going with her, if that’s what you’re asking, though I hope you’re asking something else. I’m still not convinced you aren’t interested in the guy, and I want to keep that interest for myself.”
“I’m not sure I like jealous Jonah James.”
“Oh, you haven’t seen me jealous, June Harper. It’s taking all my power not to be my usual clingy self.”
She laughs, and the sound is music to my ears. “There is no world in which I can imagine you being clingy.”
“Is that a challenge?”
I may not be able to see her, but I’m convinced June rolls her eyes. “You are…”
“Something else?” I finish for her. “You do have a habit of telling me that. But I should know if you like clingy or not, because that’s going to change how I act around you.”
“Ah, see, this is why I don’t like actors.” But I can hear the smile in her voice, so I’m not worried. “How am I supposed to trust anything you say to me, Jonah James?”
“Because I might be falling in love with you, June Harper, and I don’t have any plans to mess things up.”
“You’re not falling in love with me,” she says, her voice thick with derision.
“No,” I agree with a chuckle. “But I could.”
She doesn’t respond for several seconds, and her voice comes out soft. “You don’t even know me.”
“Nowthatis a challenge if ever I heard one.” Especially now that I know she has an idiotic ex who didn’t deserve her. My eyes land on the note, which I left on the table across the trailer from me. I still want to figure out who’s messing up my movie—needis a better word—and I want—need—to spend as much time with June as I can while I’m here. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone. “Hey, June?”
“Yeah?”
“I have an idea. How do you feel about solving a mystery?”
Chapter Seven
June
Idon’tseeJonahfor three days. Not even when I try to visit the set, though I can never get close to where he is. I would be worried that I did something wrong except for the fact that he sends a million texts during the day and calls me each night, talking to me long into the morning hours even though he should be getting way more sleep than he is. The director, Beckett, has gotten paranoid and won’t let anyone near his movie, and Jonah is almost desperate for a chance to get away once Bonnie and Hank head to New Mexico for the weekend.
“I thought getting locked in a trailer was bad, but this is a million times worse,” he says over the phone. “Even Richie is feeling trapped, and he’s one of those weirdos who likes small spaces.”
