Chapter Sixteen
Jay hadn’t really intended to go to the auction Clark had mentioned during his shoot for the Sea Shell , but after a long walk with Nelson on the beach Saturday morning, he found himself with the better part of a day free, which almost never happened. He was scheduled to be flying back from LA today, hence the empty calendar. He looked up the auction online and checked out some of the items. One thing caught his eye—a camera that had been used to make silent movies. The same model that had shot Citizen Kane . He was still looking for some quirky, interesting things to add to the décor of his home. A Mitchell Standard would be an amazing conversation piece.
If he was honest, a small part of him was determined to go because Erin would be there with her friend Clark. Not that it seemed like she had any interest in the poor guy, but Jay knew that men could be dogged in pursuit of the women they adored. It would be a chance for him to observe the two of them, to see if they were more than just friends. Also, he felt protective of Erin. And although he tried telling himself that it was none of his business, he wanted to keep an eye on Archer’s kid sister to be sure she wasn’t making a mistake.
No. It was more than that. Erin confused him. She was getting under his skin in a way that left him wanting more. So much more.
He headed out and thought again how much Carmel-by-the-Sea already felt like home. With the sunshine warming him as he drove alongside the ocean, it was clear that he was living in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
He found the auction house and headed inside to the buzz of people chattering as they maneuvered around the antiques. Although he was keeping an eye out for Erin and Clark, he soon got caught up in all the quirky, fun stuff. There was a whole area of art, jewelry, and furniture, but he was drawn to where the cameras were displayed. He wasn’t especially a camera geek, but he loved everything to do with the movies, and that silent-movie camera was calling him.
Brochure in hand, he was fascinated to read more about the Mitchell Standard, the 35mm studio camera introduced in the 1920s as a hand-cranked silent film camera. According to the information provided, the camera came with a four-lens turret, a matte box on rails mounted to the front of the camera, and options that included a film footage counter and an internal matte disk with nine pre-cut mattes, including half-frames, circles, keyhole, binocular, and oval. He thought about how basic that was and yet how charming. It would have been really noisy, but that wouldn’t have mattered in a silent film. It wasn’t until 1926 that they had to worry about camera noise—and the stars’ voices.
He was admiring the camera when Erin appeared at his side. He grinned at her and then noticed Clark trailing behind her, looking like a kid who’d just wandered into his very first toy store. His eyes were big and it was like he didn’t know where to look next because he wanted to take it all in at once.
Jay was pleased to see Erin, so he was surprised at the slightly accusatory note in her tone as she asked, “What are you doing here?”
The same question, twice in two days. As if he had to defend himself. Jay kept his own tone light. “I’m interested in the Mitchell Standard. It’s the same camera that was used to film Citizen Kane . Can you imagine? How fun would that be as a conversation piece in the house?”
She looked slightly taken aback, probably at his enthusiasm for a camera that was over one hundred years old.
But Clark got it. “That’s going to go for a lot of money. It’s a find.”
Jay felt a bit crestfallen. “Are we going to bid against each other?” It wasn’t that he couldn’t outbid a guy who made his living as a photographer for a weekly, but he didn’t want to crush a young man’s dreams either.
Luckily, Clark shook his head. “I could never afford it. Besides, I’m after a vintage Leica from the thirties.” He wandered off to look for the camera he was hoping to bid on.
Erin remained silent, looking deep in thought, her eyes trained on the Mitchell Standard without really seeming to take it in.
Before he could stop himself, Jay blurted, “So, are you guys on a date?”
She looked shocked. “No. I don’t date people I work with.”
Jay looked over at Clark, all gangly and geeking out over the camera. “It’s just that he sort of seems your type.”
Erin scoffed, instantly looking suspicious. “What do you mean?”
Jay shrugged. He’d known her for so long. Did she really think he hadn’t noticed? “You tend to go out with geeky guys who don’t challenge you.”
If she’d been a cat, Erin’s back would have arched and she would have hissed at him. “You don’t know that.”
“Actually, I do. I’ve been in your life a long time. And I’ve got eyes.”
She looked stunned for a second, and then put her hands on her hips. He was in for it now. “Well, Mr. Lingerie Model Dater, since you won’t go out with a woman whose assets aren’t on full display at all hours, I’d say the pot was calling the kettle black.”
He almost laughed. “Lingerie model? Can you not even say the word underwear to me?”
“Of course I can.”
“Then prove it.”
For some reason she blushed. He’d only been joking about her saying it out loud, but she almost stammered as she half-whispered, “Underwear.”
And then regret filled him. Regret at challenging Erin about her taste because clearly he was jealous—jealous of a geeky young guy who obviously had no chance with Erin. Regret at asking her to say underwear because now all he could think about was Erin in sexy underwear that he would very much like to peel off her. And yet he loved how she’d obliged him, how she’d said the word even though it embarrassed her. It made him wonder what else she might be willing to do just for him.
He barely stopped his train of thought before his body got in on the act and started to react. This was ridiculous. Erin was not a potential lover. He had to get that through his rebelling mind and body, no matter how hard it was.
And oh boy, was it hard.
Erin excused herself and went to rejoin Clark. Jay felt like a fool, especially since he had been looking forward to taking Erin out to dinner later to thank her for dog sitting. Now he wouldn’t be surprised if she canceled.
He walked on around the auction house, but his heart wasn’t in it anymore and nothing else took his fancy. When the auction started, he found a place near the front and then saw Clark and Erin join a little later at the back.
Clark had been right. The opening bid for the Mitchell Standard was pretty high, but Jay had already decided he was going to buy it and nobody was going to outbid him. He already had the spot picked out in the living room where it was going to stand. He’d treat it nicely, honor its heritage. He liked to think that he was helping to preserve a little piece of movie history, and one day he’d probably donate it to a film school or a museum or something. But for now, he just wanted to enjoy it. Apparently, it still worked. It would be really fun to make a movie on it. He was positive Archer Davenport and Smith Sullivan would get behind such a project.
He watched idly as other items came and went. And then the Leica that Clark was interested in came up. He was rooting for the kid, but Clark stopped bidding when the price got too high. He could see the absolute disappointment on his face, and some impulse that he didn’t even understand made him discreetly join the bidding. He didn’t even think Clark or Erin had realized that he was in it. And Jay didn’t like not to win. So, in less than a minute the Leica was his.
With the auction over, he went to collect both his items, feeling pretty pleased with himself. The Mitchell Standard was being very carefully boxed up, and he was given a ticket to drive up and receive it, but the Leica they handed over to him. He was about to phone Erin when he caught sight of them ambling slowly away from the building.
“Hey, Erin, Clark—hold up,” he called.
When they turned, he jogged forward and presented Clark with the camera. Clark’s face transformed—first with shock, then with pure joy—and Jay felt a rush of happiness that he’d made this guy’s day. It had been a long time since he’d hung out with people who didn’t have more money than they could ever hope to spend, so it was refreshing to see someone so thrilled by a gift that was all but nothing to Jay.
Clark stammered, “I can’t believe it. Wow. Look, let me pay you what I can.”
But Jay shook his head. “It’s my pleasure. And I get it. I like to think that these pieces of history are going to people who’ll look after them and enjoy them.”
Clark nodded enthusiastically. “I will take such good care of this. I don’t know how to thank you.”
Jay smiled. “Why don’t you come and have coffee with me? I’m new to town and don’t really know many people.”
At this point, Clark would probably have given him a kidney if he’d asked, so coffee was a no-brainer. During the whole exchange, Erin hadn’t said a word. Instead, she was watching. But that was Erin all over. Quiet and observant.
As the three of them walked to a coffee bar that Clark knew near the auction house, Jay realized he was actually having a great day. He’d got himself a fabulous piece of movie history and had done a good deed for another human being. He was feeling pretty good about himself. When Clark insisted on buying the coffee, he let him.
While he was getting their order, Erin and Jay hunted for a free table, which wasn’t easy on a busy Saturday. When one became free, they jumped on it and then waited for Clark.
Erin was so quiet he wondered if she was holding a grudge about his earlier comments. But then she said, “That was a nice thing you did for Clark.”
He decided to tell her the truth. “He reminds me a little of me when I was younger. Full of passion, with some pretty geeky interests. So I knew exactly how good that camera would make him feel.”
She laughed. “I never saw you as a geeky guy, but I think maybe you’ve just hidden that side of yourself pretty well.” She gave him a smile that was almost coy. “A master of disguise. You were born for the movie business.”
Jay smiled back. “Hey, I’m sorry if I was out of line earlier. Who you date is none of my business.”
Did he imagine it, or did Erin look disappointed?
But she only shrugged. “You’re not wrong.” And then she changed the subject. “So, what are you going to do with the movie camera?”
“I might make a silent movie. For fun. I bet Arch and Smith would be up for it.”
She shook her head, laughing. “I can just see Archer hamming it up.”
“Not just Archer. We should get your dad involved, too. Can’t you imagine him all big and showoffy? In fact, all your family would love it.”
“Not me.”
He shook his head. She was telling the truth. “No, you’d be behind the scenes. Probably the screenwriter.”
She smiled, as though she was pleased he understood her that way. “Definitely.”
And then he had a thought. “Have you ever considered writing a screenplay?”
She tilted her head. “It would be impossible to say I’d never thought about it, since obviously there’s an actor in the family, and he talks a lot about scripts. But I’ve never pursued it.”
He didn’t comment, just nodded, because Clark was arriving with the coffee and he didn’t want to embarrass Erin any more than he already had today.
As the three of them talked, Jay could see that Clark was hopelessly in love with Erin. But his earlier instinct about the two of them had been right: She didn’t return that love. Even though she and Clark were close friends, it would never be more. Frankly, he was relieved, mostly because he didn’t want her wasting herself on somebody like Clark.
It flashed through his mind that he would make a better match for her, but obviously they could never be more than friends.
* * *
Erin did what she did best: She sat back and watched Jay and Clark converse. She’d noticed before that Jay could get along with just about anyone. He was naturally charming, and though he was opinionated and talked a lot, he had a way of making other people feel at ease. Now that she observed him with Clark, who was his polar opposite, she realized just how much he did to make other people feel comfortable with him. She was beginning to wonder if that was what he’d done with her all those years ago when they’d first met. Had he made sure that as a big male, he wasn’t at all threatening? Had he deliberately put her into the little-sister role because that would make things easier for her, and for him too? There were a lot of things to think about now that had never before entered her head.
Jay asked, “So, Clark, what are you interested in, apart from vintage cameras?”
Erin groaned inwardly. Jay was about to get Clark started on his favorite subject.
“I love all cameras,” Clark said, pushing his glasses up his nose, as he did when he was enthused about something. “Not just vintage cameras.” He leaned forward. “I’d love to be a camera operator for the movies, but I’ve never had enough money for film school.”
Jay made a noise like a snort. “I never went to film school either. LA is all about appearances and connections.”
Clark looked rather deflated. “Which I don’t have.”
“What have you done toward becoming a cameraman? I mean, apart from taking photographs for the Sea Shell , obviously.”
“I just do that for money.”
Erin took a sip of her cappuccino. Clark was kind of endearing, especially when he let his enthusiasm rip. She had sometimes wondered if part of her appeal for him was that her brother was Archer Davenport. Not that Clark would ever take advantage of the connection; maybe it was more that he felt she brought a little stardust into the room just by being the sister of a movie star. Clark told Jay about the short movies he made for fun.
And then to Clark’s shock and her surprise, Jay said, “Why don’t you send me a couple of your shorts? I can’t make any promises, but I know of an entry-level position that might be opening up at one of the studios.”
Into the stunned silence, Clark said, “Are you kidding me?”
“No. But it would mean moving to LA.”
“It would be my dream job.”
Jay smiled. “Well, let me see your stuff, and if I like it, I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Erin had always thought Clark had real potential, so while she was kind of irked that Jay was all but stealing the Sea Shell ’s photographer out from under her nose, she was also pleased for Clark. She’d always known they’d lose him one day to bigger things.
Belatedly, Jay seemed to realize what he was doing. “Erin, am I landing the paper in it here?”
She smiled, letting him know she wasn’t angry at all. “Yes. You are.”
He shook his head. “Then I guess I owe you.”
It was such an innocent comment, but something shimmered between them, something hot and sexy.
And then Clark burst through that moment, fumbling with his new camera. He turned to Jay. “I’d like you to be the first person I take a portrait of with this camera. It came with eight frames left on the roll inside it.”
Jay smiled and said of course, but he wasn’t going to steal the limelight. He shuffled closer to Erin, slung his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her in tight.
Professional that Clark was, he spent ages getting everything just perfect. Meanwhile, she felt the warmth of Jay’s arm around her, could smell the spicy heat of his body, almost hear his heartbeat, they were so close. Her own heart began to pound wildly, and she realized she wanted the moment over but also for it never to end.
Clark frowned, and then got up, moving her head her head ever so slightly closer to Jay, and rearranging the casual way his arm was draped into more of a hold. Clark pushed the now empty coffee cups to the side so only the two of them were in the frame. That was exactly how it felt—as though the whole world had emptied out and it was just her and Jay. Clark took his time; this wasn’t a digital camera he could click away on like crazy. He was careful and ended up taking only three photographs—but she’d bet each of them would be technically perfect.
Jay said thanks and then quickly let his arm drop. He moved away from her as though nothing had happened.
Had Erin temporarily lost her mind? Jay had just been casually posing for a photograph, not trying to get up close and personal. She chastised herself for getting carried away.
“I’ll swing by at seven to pick you up for dinner.”
Erin said that sounded like a perfect plan.
It was. All too perfect.