Gaffe Out Loud Read online

  This wouldn’t be great for filming. But I was so grateful to be alive that I didn’t even care. Things could have ended much worse. Much, much worse.

  “Jackson?” I said, gazing up at him.

  “Yes?”

  “Remember earlier when I said I was an excellent judge of people because I was an actress?”

  “I do remember that.”

  I frowned. “Well, I was wrong. Really wrong.”

  Three hours later, Jackson and I were back at my house. On the deck.

  The sun set in the distance. Ripley sat beside us. A pleasant breeze swept through the air. And this whole nightmare was finally over.

  Thank goodness.

  Instead of going inside, I wrapped my arms around Jackson. He squeezed me back, equally as tight. We were both still trying to comprehend everything that had just happened. It would take a while.

  “You’re okay,” he whispered into my hair. “I was so worried.”

  “They told me you hated me.” The words caused my throat to ache.

  “Why would I hate you?”

  Did I really need to remind him? “Because of that photo. It wasn’t real—”

  “I know that, Joey.” He said the words easily, as if he unequivocally believed them.

  “How do you know?” I stared up into his eyes, trying to read into his soul.

  “Because I know you, of course. You’re a lot of things, Joey Darling, but you’re not a cheater.”

  “A lot of things?” I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not.

  “You’re funny, entertaining, sweet, caring . . . nosy, dramatic, a trouble magnet. But you’re not a cheater.”

  “But you didn’t answer my calls and—”

  He squeezed my arm as if to reassure me. “I was on assignment. I couldn’t have my phone with me. It all came up this morning or I would have told you.”

  “But someone overheard you telling someone that you were about to make a big life change.” I clamped my mouth shut. “I wasn’t supposed to say that.”

  His eyebrows flickered up. “I know that Officer Danny says way more than he should.”

  “You do?”

  “Everyone does. And I was talking about my schedule, not breaking up with you.”

  “What?”

  “I’m going to have to turn down the overtime hours if I’m going to see you. And I definitely want to see you. Whenever you’re on a break from filming, I’d love to come down to Wilmington and spend time together. That’s the big change I need to make, not ending our relationship.”

  I buried myself in his chest again, feeling delightfully foolish over my wrong assumption. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

  “And I’m glad I found you.”

  I stepped back—only enough so I could see his eyes. I had questions for him. Lots of questions. “How did you know what happened? Where I was?”

  “Thanks to the lead you texted me, we were able to track down Jason. He told us the same thing he told you. So we started examining that hotel security video footage some more. I thought I recognized one of the hotel guests there. It was Annie, and she had a camera. I realized—”

  “She was the one who must have called security on Michael.”

  “Most likely. Here’s the interesting thing. Remember I told you I’d been to two other scenes this week where there was a domestic disturbance?”

  “I do.”

  “Well, both of those couples were victims of Adam and Annie. I looked more closely at the blackmail photos, and I recognized Adam in one of them.”

  I squeezed his arm. “Good detective work.”

  “About that same time, we got the prints back from the truck that T-boned Michael. We were able to clear him after we discovered that the prints matched Annie’s, whose real name is Annabelle Cleaver. She and Adam are wanted on various charges in three different states.”

  “Wow. They were really in this deep. I can’t believe I let them con me.”

  “They were good at what they did—they made a nice six figure income by manipulating people.”

  “Yes, they did.” They’d almost gotten my money, but the police were able to stop the transaction before it went through. The money was back in my account.

  “Anyway, I went to your house. Saw you weren’t there. And when Adam and Annie left, I followed them.”

  “You’re so brilliant. This whole time I thought this had something to do with a painting.”

  “Wesley found the painting, by the way.”

  I tilted my head at the unexpected news. “What do you mean?”

  “He’d packed it away when he moved and didn’t realize it.”

  My bottom lip dropped open. “How does someone do that?”

  “I guess he literally has hundreds of paintings. He didn’t remember packing this particular one. All of his things are in storage until he moves up to Norfolk. He just so happened to be looking for something, and he found the painting.”

  “He seems a little scatterbrained.” It actually sounded like something I might do.

  “Yes, he does. But he and Dizzy looked pretty happy together when I stopped by her house a little earlier.”

  “He and Dizzy?” Had I heard Jackson correctly?

  “You should see the way they were looking at each other. I think they might have something to tell us soon.”

  “Wow. That would be . . . crazy.” Dizzy just seemed so happy being single, and Wesley seemed so . . . fakely Italian. Actually, maybe they would be good for each other.

  Jackson rubbed my arm.

  I glanced behind me at my front door, realizing I needed to close the door on a certain chapter of my life. “I’d like to go back into my house.”

  “What about the ghost?” His voice lilted playfully.

  “There are no ghosts—of course.” I scoffed before winking at him.

  Jackson raised his eyebrows. “Of course.”

  “Besides, even if ghosts were real, Desiree would now have peace because her murder has been solved. That’s what they say on TV shows.”

  “And we both know that life is a lot like TV shows, right?”

  I grinned. “Right.”

  Jackson put his arm around my waist. “Yeah, let’s get inside.”

  I paused first. “Just one more question.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Did you use the photos I gave you?”

  “What photos?”

  “The ones I gave you in case I ever went missing.”

  A smile cracked his face, and then a chuckle escaped. “You’re something else, Joey Darling. And I love you for it.”

  He kissed my forehead, and I felt as if my whole world was right here—and that Jackson’s arms were the only place I wanted to be. Forever.

  A car door slammed in the distance. A moment later, Phoebe appeared on my deck, looking breathless and concerned. “Joey. Jackson. I heard what was going on. Some people came into Oh Buoy and said there were police at this rental house, and that Joey Darling had also been spotted there. Are you okay?”

  I nodded, grateful to have people to check on me. “We’re fine.”

  She threw her arms around me then Jackson. “I’m so glad. I was worried.”

  “I was too,” someone said behind her.

  I looked over and saw Sam had shown up also. My gaze went to Phoebe. Her eyes lit when she saw him—kind of like mine did when I saw Jackson.

  “Sam,” she muttered.

  “Phoebe?” Sam glanced from her to me. “I didn’t realize the two of you knew each other.”

  “Yes, of course I know Phoebe,” I said. “She’s only one of my favorite people ever.”

  “She makes a killer smoothie.” Sam grinned, his eyes lit with obvious interest.

  Phoebe beamed at his attention. “Thanks. It helps when I have appreciative customers.”

  “You know what else is good?” Sam seemed to totally forget Jackson and I were even there. His attention was totally focused on Phoebe. “Coffee.
”

  “There’s a really great coffeeshop just down the road.”

  “Maybe we should let them talk and go grab a cup. What do you say?”

  “I say that’s a great idea.” She took his arm before briefly turning back toward Jackson and me. “I’m so glad you’re both okay.

  I grinned back her. “We’re great. You two go enjoy a latte or two.”

  Jackson and I watched them walk away.

  Phoebe and Sam . . . I never thought I’d see that happening.

  “Is she going to get her heart broken?” Jackson asked, still staring after them.

  “I sure hope not.” In my gut, I didn’t think that would happen. I really hoped my gut was right.

  “You know, I have a different idea for this evening, one that doesn’t require going inside.”

  “What does it require?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  I raised my eyebrows this time. “A surprise? I’m intrigued.”

  “I just need to arrange a few things first. Sound like a plan?”

  “Sounds like a plan.” As he slipped away to make some kind of phone call, I looked down. I saw the words carved on the deck there.

  I had no doubt that Desiree had left them.

  I will be somebody.

  I only wish I could tell her that she already had been someone.

  The only thing I could do was to try and convince other people in Desiree’s shoes that there was more to life than Hollywood.

  Now I had to figure out what that meant for myself.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “Where are we going?” I asked as Jackson rowed the boat out farther into the waters of the Pamlico Sound right off of Rodanthe—a small village on Hatteras Island, about a thirty-minute drive from my new house.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  I reached back and rubbed Ripley’s fur. He sat behind me, his gaze searching the dark waters around us for any birds, fish, or other creatures that might want to “play.”

  “You’re not going to finish enacting Adam and Annie’s plan, are you? Get rid of my body. Take my money.”

  Jackson glanced at me, that knowing look in his eyes. “Do you really think I’m with you for your money?”

  The seriousness of his question seemed to halt even the air around us.

  “No, I actually don’t. I think you’d like me even if I was poor. Maybe you’d like me even more if I was poor.”

  He slowed his rowing and frowned. “What does that mean? What’s going on, Joey?”

  I glanced down at my lap, hating to interrupt this beautiful . . . moment, or whatever it was . . . to bring up my fears. Yet I couldn’t ignore them.

  “I don’t want to leave you, Jackson. I’m afraid of what the time of separation will do for our relationship. I already feel disconnected with you after the past few weeks. We’ve been so busy that we haven’t been able to spend a lot of quality time together. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like when I’m down in Wilmington—”

  “We’ll be fine,” Jackson’s voice was steady and unwavering.

  My gaze locked with his. “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I love you and you love me, and, even when times get rocky, we’re going to push through them. That’s what couples who make it do.”

  My heart lifted. “So you think we’re going to be a couple who makes it?”

  “Yes, of course I do. Why would you even ask?”

  “Because we’ve never really fought until this week, and . . . I don’t know.” Not being on the same page with him had really shaken me up.

  “Just because we fight doesn’t mean we’re going to break up.”

  “But isn’t that how all rifts begin? With fights?”

  “No. We start to worry when we disagree, but we stop caring about the fact that we’re at odds with each other. That’s where marriages start to fall apart.” Jackson rested the oar inside the boat, and we drifted in the serene water. “Joey, we’re not going to have a perfect relationship. There’s no such thing. We’re going to argue. We’re going to disagree. We’re not always going to see eye to eye. But that’s okay. The best marriages are the ones where a couple knows how to disagree.”

  I felt the moisture in my eyes. I hadn’t realized how much of a burden this had been to me. But my fears—relating back to Eric and me—had pressed on me and caused my confidence in my relationship with Jackson to falter.

  Jackson’s hand brushed my cheek. “I love you.”

  “But you know what a mess I am.”

  “I love you because of your messes. You have a good heart—one that seems to get you in trouble. And I want to be there to bail you out.”

  “And I want to be there to make sure you don’t take yourself too seriously.”

  He smiled. “And I need that in my life as well. We balance each other out.”

  I pulled back my emotions and rested my hand on Jackson’s knee, needing to feel connected with him. “What are we going to do when I leave for filming?”

  He moved his hand to capture mine and squeezed. “We’re going to see each other every chance we get. I’ll drive down there on my days off—and I’ll make sure I get my days off. And certainly they’ll give you a break sometimes, right?”

  I shrugged. “I hope so.”

  “And I’ll watch your TV show. It will drive me crazy to see you kissing someone else. The tabloids will drive me crazy when they claim you’re dating someone else. But it will be okay. I’ll get over it. And if I didn’t feel even a twinge of jealousy, then something would be wrong, you know?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I do know.”

  “What about the movie, Joey?” His voice sounded solemn and his throat looked tight. “What did you decide?”

  “I don’t know.” I’d thought about it and thought about it, but still felt wishy-washy.

  “Let me reframe the question. What do you want to do? When all the other factors are stripped away. There’s no Outer Banks. No long-distance love. No other issues. What would you choose then?”

  “I . . . I want to be in the movie.”

  “Then do it. Don’t let me hold you back.”

  His words washed over me. They were selfless and loving, but . . . it wasn’t quite that easy. There were other factors involved here. “But I want you too.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  I knew he meant the words, but . . . “It’s going to test our relationship.”

  He leaned closer until our gazes locked. “And we’ll be okay.”

  I squeezed his hand, so grateful that Jackson was in my life. “I love you so much, Jackson Sullivan.”

  “I love you too.” Jackson smiled slowly before glancing around. “We’re here. This is what I wanted you to see.”

  I looked at the water and sucked in a breath at what I saw. “It looks like you put glow sticks in the water.”

  “That’s what I wanted you to see. It’s bioluminescent.”

  My eyes widened. “I’ve heard about this before.”

  “It’s unusual for this area, but it’s been spotted several times in the past week. I was hoping it would be our lucky night.”

  “It’s so beautiful.” The top of the water glowed with a bluish green sheen. I’d never seen anything like it before. It was . . . magical.

  “It’s dinoflagellate that has an enzymatic reaction,” Jackson said.

  “Is that right?” I had to admit that I was impressed. I had no idea that knowledge was in his wheelhouse.

  “Just to be clear, I had to look that information up.” Jackson shrugged and let out a quick chuckle. “I figured you would ask.”

  “Thanks so much for doing this for me, Jackson.”

  “It’s worth it to see your eyes light up like that.”

  “Joey?” Jackson murmured.

  “Yes?”

  “This isn’t the way I wanted to do this. But I don’t want to wait any longer.”

  “For what?”

  “For this.”r />
  I glanced at his hand and gasped.

  He held a diamond ring.

  An engagement ring.

  “Wait . . . what?” I had to make sure I wasn’t seeing things or making assumptions that I shouldn’t.

  Jackson grinned. “Joey, from the moment I met you, I was fascinated. From the time you threw up all over a dead body and ruined my crime scene, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind.”

  “No sweeter words have ever been muttered.” I couldn’t resist the quip.

  “The more I’ve gotten to know you, the more I’ve wanted to keep getting to know you. I never thought another woman would consume my thoughts. I never thought I would want to love again. But when I met you, all of that changed.”

  Warmth stung my eyes at his words, and I could hardly breathe. Gone were all the witty comebacks that I normally attempted. I had to hear what he had to say next. I wouldn’t be able to breathe until I did.

  “Joey, I can’t give you much—no nice houses or fancy vacations. But I’ll give you my love and devotion—always. Joey Darling, will you marry me?”

  The moisture in my eyes washed over and onto my cheeks. “Are you serious?”

  Really, that’s the first response that comes to mind? Good one, Joey.

  “I mean, yes! Yes!”

  With a steady motion, Jackson pulled my left arm forward and slid the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly.

  I pulled my hand close to admire the ring. It was beautiful—probably half a carat, princess-cut with white gold and a thin band. The jewelry wasn’t anything extravagant—but I hadn’t expected or wanted anything extravagant. I’d had that before, and it didn’t mean the promise to love and cherish was any more real.

  “Oh, Jackson . . . is this why you’ve been working so much overtime?”

  He shrugged, and I knew the answer was yes.

  With tears still rimming my eyes, I leaned closer to Jackson, the boat wobbling as I did so. I ran my hand along his jaw. His face. His hairline.

  Jackson was the most wonderful man I’d ever met, and I was so thankful to have him in my life. “I love you, Jackson.”

  “I love you too, Joey.”

  Our lips met slowly as we savored the moment—and in order not to tip the boat.