Page 39 of Dumbstruck
“She?” I smile wide. “How inspiring to know there are women out there redefining gender norms.” I squeak when Jonah elbows me in the ribs, keeping my eyes on Glen even though he’s looking at me warily. “Anyway, we would love advice on where to look for problems on our RV.”
“Okay, so, you’ll want to check the—”
“Could you write it down?” I say as an idea sparks out of nowhere. If nothing else, we can compare his handwriting to the note that was left on my door. “Please. Neither of us can claim a good memory anymore.”
Sighing, Glen looks between us before grabbing a scrap of paper and scribbling some notes on it.
Jonah leans down, burying his face in my wig as he whispers, “You are brilliant.”
I feel that praise in a shiver that travels from my head to my toes. Or maybe I feelhim. I’ve been trying not to relive the kiss he gave me in the diner, but I have been failing miserably because I’ve shared two kisses with this man now, and the only thing they have accomplished is making me want more. More than a simple peck. More often.More.
“You smell good,” Jonah murmurs, using our clasped arms to pull me closer. “My darling wife.”
Another shiver prompts me to lean into him and soak up his warmth. “It’s the hairspray.” My hair is plastered to my head under the wig, held down by a tight length of fabric. “I’m pretty sure I’m incredibly flammable right now.”
Jonah’s laugh seems to escape out of him against his will, and we both look over at Glen, who has stopped writing and is standing there staring at us. “We are on a third honeymoon,” Jonah says brightly. “A last hurrah before—”
“Don’t you dare say ‘before I die,’” I snap, pinching his side. It’s as much to stay in character as it is because I didn’t like it when he said it the first time either. Jonah James is a bright spot in the world and will hopefully be around for a long time.
Glen hums and scoots around his desk to hand the paper to Jonah. The handwriting is vastly different from the note left on my door last week. “These are your basic problem areas,” he explains, offering up some details for a couple of the bullet points while both of us pretend to listen intently. “And you might want to think about moving your vehicle to the other side of town.”
“Is the film crew dangerous?” I ask. The alarm in my voice is only half fake.
Grunting, Glen picks up a worn leather bag and hefts it over his shoulder. “Not necessarily, but something is angry with them. Person or ghost, it would be better for you to keep your distance until someone figures out what’s causing all the problems.”
He shows us outside and offers a ride back to Main Street, but Jonah declines, telling Glen that we are content to walk and enjoy the sights of the town. Once Glen has driven off in his truck, we are finally alone for the first time all morning.
Or, mostly alone. Jonah’s eyes flit across the street, where Dexter has found a seat against a tree in front of a house and looks all too conspicuous typing something on his phone.
“I don’t think he understands lying low,” I mutter.
Jonah snickers. “He’s doing his best.”
I can’t help but wonder if Jonah ever gets tired of someone always being around. He may not be top tier in Hollywood, but he is famous enough that he brings his bodyguard home with him. Is he ever alone? That must be suffocating.
I need to change the subject before I start imagining being a part of that life, always under scrutiny. “What did you think of Glen’s take on the sabotage?”
“I think…” Jonah leans in again, pulling the same move as before by burying his face in my fake hair as his arms wrap around me. “You were on to something and spooked him. Seriously, you smell so good.”
If anyone smells good, it’s him, and I tuck myself into his embrace. Even with Dexter keeping an eye on us, it might be time to explore that wholemore kissesidea. I don’t know when we might get another chance until we shed our old folk personas later today.
Before I can suggest ducking behind a tree and out of sight of Dexter, Jonah pulls away and grabs his phone from his pocket, reading something with a furrowed brow. “Interesting…”
It had better be interesting. “Care to share?”
“Richie says there was a sighting of someone sneaking around set about twenty minutes ago, but no one was able to get more than a glimpse because they kept disappearing; everyone who saw the person seems to have seen something different.”
I narrow one eye. “Does that make it more or less likely to be a ghost?”
Chuckling, Jonah pockets his phone and holds out his arm to me. Apparently it’s time for us to continue our investigation. “Honestly? I’m not sure. It could mean we’re looking for more than one person.”
“But that’s not necessarily new information.”
“And we haven’t narrowed anything down yet,” Jonah adds.
“Except I think we can cross Glen’s name off the very long list of potential suspects.”
“Really?”
