by Unknown
I trudged back toward the house and got halted in my tracks by Anna, who wanted to tell me—loudly and with so many exclamations that my ears hurt by the time she was done—what had happened when she met Rex at Over the Moon. I just stood there, nodding and trying to sympathize while she waved her hands and acted out their whole meeting.
By the time she got done, the producer was calling me down to the beach where the next scene would be shot. I headed to the beach, hoping I’d get the chance to talk to Luke after the scene was over.
The cameras were set up by the shore, and the crew stood behind them. The producer and director sat in chairs on the sand, little umbrellas over their heads. “Action!” Roger shouted.
I took my mark, fashioning a theatrical pose. The actor strolling toward me played the part of Travis—Derek’s partner—on the show. He was handsome and tall, his brown hair gleaming, and there was a slight and sexy bit of stubble on his chin.
Piper was supposed to be attracted to Travis, so I pretended Luke was the one walking toward me. Luke, with his perfect kisses and open smile. I let that attraction pour from me, along with all of my feelings for Luke.
Travis stopped at his mark, by the brilliantly blue water, wearing a rumpled shirt and unknotted blue tie. “Do you know what I was thinking just now, Piper? How beautiful you are. . . How the wind pushes your hair off your face so I can see every inch of your porcelain skin.”
I pictured Luke saying those things to me.
My breath caught in my throat. The camera crew got closer. “Thank you, Travis. But I’m not sure why you’re saying this to me.”
His fingers grazed my arms. I turned to leave, but he pulled me against his broad chest. “Let me help you, Piper. I know your background and how hard you’ve had it with your father’s death. Let me make things better for you. I can do that. I can get you out of this murder investigation clean. I’d do that for you. Even if it meant my job.”
I fought my way free. “Why are you doing this? You know how I feel about Derek. Wait . . .” I paused, pretended to consider that last part of what he said. “You could clear my name? Why would you think it would cost your job? I’m innocent. You wouldn’t have to risk your career.”
His grin got wider. “I knew you cared.”
“I do care. I care about Derek,” I said, emphatically. The camera hovered nearby and I knew that it was zooming in on my face right now.
Travis grabbed my arm. I knew he would but when his fingers closed on my skin, I jumped a little. “Derek isn’t a guy who knows what he wants, but I am. And I want you.”
“You don’t always get what you want in life.” The truth of that hit me hard, and I pulled that emotion into my acting. “Nobody always gets just what they want, Travis.”
“So you realize you might not get Derek? Catrina wants him, and she’s determined to have him.”
“Over my dead body! You’re just trying to make me think he doesn’t love me. But your manipulations won’t work. Nothing you say will make me love him any less.”
Travis’s face took on a wounded expression. “But I love you, Piper. You can’t be sure Derek feels the same way now that you’ve been arrested for murder.”
I faced Travis. It was like facing my doubt and fear yet again. “I love him and I trust him, Travis. I could never trust you.”
He leaned forward, all wicked intentions and determination. “I wouldn’t say such things if I were you. Not when I could get that witness to forget to show up in court and testify against you.”
I stopped, fastening a horrified look onto my face. “The witness?”
“Yes, the one who saw you that night with Sebastian, right before he was killed.”
I spun back around, sand puffing up around my sandaled feet. I was really angry now. Really angry. At myself. At Claire. I let that anger show. “Are you trying to blackmail me?”
Travis chuckled. “I’m not trying to blackmail you. I am blackmailing you.”
“How can you claim to care about me if you won’t even believe that I’m innocent?”
“Does your precious Derek think you’re innocent?”
I gasped. My hands flew to my mouth and I knew they were going to edit in the shocking organ music while the camera did a close-up of me.
“Cut! That’s a wrap!” Roger yelled.
Travis grinned at me. “Great work, Charlie.”
“You, too.” I relaxed my pose, emotionally exhausted.
There was a rumble of gasps coming from behind me and I panicked. Had I blown the scene? Or had it been just that good? My gaze flew to the people who had gathered around. Then my eyes wandered to what they were gaping at, or make that who they were staring at.
Rex Rockwell stood on the beach in full-on rock star mode. He wore leather pants, a black tee-shirt, dark sunglasses, and a big smile.
The cast gaped at him like they’d never seen a famous person before, even though many of them were famous in their own right. Half the women in the crew headed for him, their faces all lit up. Anna rushed out the back door, running right toward him.
Rex, seemingly oblivious to all of the attention, hooked his sunglasses up on his forehead and called out, “Bravo, Charlie! Let’s hear it for my wife!”
Every eye turned from him to me.
My face went hot. “Ex-wife,” I said faintly.
And if he’d been just a little closer, I would’ve pushed him right into the ocean.
Chapter Twenty-eight
The last place on earth I wanted to be was anywhere in the vicinity of Rex Rockwell. But here he was at my house and I knew he wouldn’t just go away. He came forward to give me a kiss, but I backed away.
Rex just smiled and nodded at me. Then he signed a bunch of autographs. I didn’t want to talk to Rex. I wanted to talk to Luke. But apparently I had to settle things with Rex once and for all. “Can I see you up on the back deck?” I asked.
Ironically, the back deck was where my new hammock sat.
He finished signing and then we headed up to the deck. I stopped near the railing, as far from him as I could get without having to raise my voice to talk to him.
“What are you doing here, Rex?” I demanded.
“Hey, Rex! Down here!”
I looked down, annoyed, to see some of the crew smiling and waving like they were trying out to be on a homecoming float. Rex shot them a wave.
I held up a hand. “I’m tired of you showing up at my house, Rex.”
He leaned against the railing. “I had to come here in person to hear you say it. Were things really so bad between us?”
I crossed my arms. “Yes, it was bad. Bad-bad-bad-bad-bad!”
All of the smugness wiped right off his face. His shoulders slumped. He shook his head, then he looked over at the hammock. When he spoke all the affectation was gone—all that rock star royalty entitlement and cuteness was stripped away.
“Charlie, I’m so sorry. I’d take it all back if I could.”
“Ronnie?” My heart twisted. Finally, after all the years he was back. Not Rex. Ronnie, the guy I’d fallen in love with so very long ago.
“I’m here, baby.” The man staring at me wasn’t a cocky rock star, he was a guy who realized how badly he blew it. “I messed up, didn’t I? Everyone wants or needs something from me. You were the one person who loved me for who I was. There was nothing I had that you wanted or needed—except me. And I messed up.”
“You did hurt me, but it’s in the past. I forgive you. My heart moved on and I’m happy now. I’m truly myself again, so don’t worry about me.”
He gave me a smile, a real one. Not one of his patented smirks. “I can see that you’re happy. I’m glad. I still don’t know a single soul who’s trustworthy, except for you. And I lost you.”
“You still have your music.” I swallowed back tears. I didn’t love him anymore. Whatever hurt had existed between us was gone now. And I was beyond glad.
He gave me a lopsided grin. “I was right to be scared of yo
u becoming an actress.”
My mood collapsed. Was he about to say something mean?
He lifted a single finger and placed it on my neck. Right where he had always set it, above the ticking beat of my pulse. “I knew if you started you’d knock everyone dead. I knew you had it in you. I knew you would be one of the greats and I was afraid I’d lose you. I’m sorry about that, too. I’m sorry I delayed your dreams.”
Delayed. I blinked hard. “That’s okay. I’m doing it now.”
He took his finger off my pulse and gripped the railing. “I don’t know what to do, Charlie. I don’t know what to do next with my life.”
“Go back to L.A. Go find your life, Rex. I don’t know what advice to give you. I would suggest maybe dating people like Virna D’Angelo. Also, you might want to stop hooking up with groupies. No woman in her right mind wants to date a man who’s known to date his groupies. I hope you will find someone else, Rex, like I did.”
“You mean that actor guy, don’t you? The two of you going to marry on the show?”
Irritation surged in. Just when I thought he was changing for the better too.
“Just kidding. I hope you’ll be happy together.”
“I’ve made a few mistakes with him and I need to go fix them now.”
Rex pushed himself away from the rail. “If the guy has any brains in his head he’ll do anything to keep you. You’re the best there is, Charlie, and you’re worth it.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me.” I gave him a hug, one that said all the goodbyes we would ever have to say. I pulled back. “Why don’t you go say hi to Anna?”
“Who?”
I rolled my eyes. “The one who was so excited to meet you? She ate your pancakes? She’s just inside.”
“Goodbye, Charlie.” He nodded then went inside.
Now I had to go find Luke and tell him the truth about the part I was offered in Cherries Jubilee. I hoped Rex was right and that Luke would forgive me. Because I didn’t even want to think of a future without him.
Chapter Twenty-nine
I hurried around the house after Rex left, but I couldn’t find Luke anywhere. It seemed like he had gone for the day without saying goodbye to me. Why would he do that? I spotted Anna talking to a cast member and approached her. “Hey, have you seen Luke around?”
She nodded and pointed down the hall toward a small corner room that the producer and director had commandeered. “Yeah, he went in there a few minutes ago.”
“Thanks.” I headed down the hall, determined to find him and tell him everything. That I had been offered the part but turned it down. And I would apologize for holding back my trust, which had nothing to do with him. It was my own deal. I should’ve trusted him enough to tell him before, but I trusted him completely now.
My belly fluttered as I approached the door and my footsteps slowed. I had to go in there and talk to him. I had to. I was just incredibly nervous to do it. How would he feel about what I had done? Would it make him angry or sad? Would he forgive me?
Twisting my hands together I started toward the door again. It was cracked slightly and I lifted my hand to open it the rest of the way but paused when I heard voices coming from inside.
I slid to one side and peeked through the crack. Luke, the producer, and the director were all in there and just as I peeked in I heard the Roger say, “Listen, Adele gave us an ultimatum. It’s her, or Charlie.”
My fingers flew to my mouth. I’d known that they would discuss it eventually but I hadn’t meant to spy on them while they did it. I scanned the hallway. No way could I pass back by the cracked door again. I’d been lucky they hadn’t seen me in the first place.
“And?” Luke asked.
“We’ve decided to let Adele go. The ratings have spiked since Charlie came on the show. You and Charlie have amazing chemistry. Fans have been writing non-stop. So that’s our decision. Adele is out. Charlie’s going to be offered a starring role.”
I wanted to break into a happy dance right there in the hallway. I felt bad for Adele under my joy—I did. She worked hard and she was a great actress. But she’d given the producers an ultimatum and it had backfired.
As for me? I could finally have it all! I’d get to keep my beloved house in my equally beloved Blue Moon Bay. I could commute to San Francisco to work on Just One Love. And Luke and I could be together. Everything in my life was finally working out.
I should go in there and tell them what I’d heard. Yes, that was the right thing to do. I pushed the door open just a little wider, ready to walk in and join them. . . .
“No,” Luke said, firmly.
I blinked. Had Luke just said no? To what?
I levered my body back behind the door and peered through the crack again. Luke sat on one side of the desk. The director sat across from him and the producer stood next to the director. I could see the back of Luke’s head and the firm set of his shoulders where they stuck out from the sides of the chair just a little bit.
And I could see the expressions on the other two people’s faces. They looked like someone had just hit them with a two-by-four. The director looked at the producer. I wanted to cry, to run in there and ask what was going on. What was he saying no to?
“I don’t understand,” Roger said.
Yeah, that made two of us. I pressed my eye to the crack, straining to hear them better.
“If you fire Adele, I’ll quit the show,” Luke stated.
My legs threatened to give out. What was he doing?
“Have you lost your mind? We can’t fire Charlie and Adele won’t stay with her here. But we can’t lose you. Travis’s character is growing but the fan base loves Derek Bishop.”
“Then fire Charlie. As of right now, it’s a small spot. You haven’t offered her the bigger role yet. Tell her you’re sending Piper to prison for Sebastian’s murder.”
Okay, now he was going too far. How could he even think of doing that to poor Piper? She wouldn’t hurt a fly. My whole body shook. Luke, my Luke, was saying to fire me? I couldn’t believe this was really happening.
The producer began to pace. I held my breath, praying she’d come up with something good, some reason why I had to stay, or maybe this was all some grim joke the three of them had played on me. Which, you know, wouldn’t be funny at all.
“I’m not bluffing. If you fire Adele, I’ll quit. You can find yourself a new Derek Bishop.”
Pain speared my heart. I couldn’t listen anymore. I hurried down the hallway still processing that Luke had just betrayed me. I’d given up the part of a lifetime just to be with him and he was getting me fired? How had I been so wrong about him?
I flew down the back stairs. But before I reached my room, a sob escaped me, followed by another and another. I dropped back against the wall, my body sinking to the floor. Luke had betrayed me. My heart shattered into pieces. I didn’t know how I’d ever be whole again.
Chapter Thirty
“They’re letting Catrina get away with murder! Oh and I’m going to prison for killing Sebastian and I didn’t even do it. That’s not just unfair that’s . . . outrageous!”
I stamped on the gas pedal a little harder. “Oh, I know I’m not really going to jail at all. But, really? Really? That’s how they write me off the show? By turning poor innocent Piper into a cold-blooded daddy killer?”
I realized I was going dangerously fast and lifted my foot off the gas pedal. Being mad and upset about being written off the show was one thing, dying on a hairpin turn was something else entirely.
The producer had called me down to see her the evening before. I had stood there and pretended to be surprised when she thanked me so much for my hard work, told me they enjoyed working with me, but that the character’s part had been played out.
“She lied to my face, too!” I swung past the tricky section on the bluff, squeezed past the narrowest section of road, and came down the long drive that would lead me to the Inn at Blue Moon Bay.
Adel
e should be hauled off in shackles for trying to get me fired in the first place. And she shouldn’t be the only one either. Luke should be right there with her. Only it hurt my stomach to think of him behind bars, even if it was just as Derek Bishop.
I hit the brakes in time to avoid driving right around the little loop in front of the inn. I parked next to a really nice luxury sedan, cut the car off, and prepared myself to have it out with Luke right here, right now. I stormed into the lobby.
Brian glanced up from the podium. His brown hair was neatly combed and he wore a short-sleeved polo shirt and khakis. I saw the khakis when he backpedaled from the podium, his hands in the air. “Hey, whatever made you look that mad, I didn’t do it.”
I rearranged my face into what I hoped was a pleasant smile, since Wendy’s sweet brother shouldn’t suffer for what Luke had done. “I need to see Luke Montgomery. Is he around?”
Brian scratched his head. “You know Wendy doesn’t like me giving out information on the guests.”
I tilted my head sideways and glared at him.
“But since he’s not really in the building right now . . . ” His eyes flew to the back windows. “You know, because he’s out on the beach and all.”
“Thanks, Brian.” I headed toward the back door, hurried along the porch, and flew down the stairs in record speed. I didn’t see him right away, but it was a wide beach. I glanced around then found him standing beside the monument, reading the legend of Blue Moon Bay.
I slogged my way through the sand. “Luke!”
He turned around. “Charlie? What are you doing here?”
What did he think I was doing there? Did he honestly believe I’d decided to wreck a perfectly good pair of shoes with seaweed and sand and salt water for no reason at all? I got closer. “I need to talk to you.”
His face held a blank expression. “I see.”