Chapter Twenty-Six
On Saturday morning there was a family breakfast at the Davenport house. Erin was glad to be immersed in her crazy family. It stopped her from missing Jay, for one thing, and it was always nice to catch up with everybody over a plate of steaming pancakes and a glass of fresh orange juice.
The house was full of noise, each sibling talking over the other, except Erin, of course, who was listening to Archer and Herschel bonding over the movie they were planning about Hersch’s life. She remembered how that whole deal had gone down—Jay adamant that the astronaut’s life would make a gripping as well as moving film, Mila cross at Jay’s insistence. Now that she knew him a little better, Erin could see why Jay had been like a dog with a bone trying to get Hersch on board. He had seen the man behind the astronaut’s fame, a man who had experienced something traumatic and come out on the other side—albeit with some emotional scars and bruises.
Although Jay’s story was different, there were similarities: a connection between two people who had both overcome the odds, but buried their stories deep, deep down until—and she realized this now for the first time—a Davenport woman had come along and they’d confessed their darkest secrets. Of course, Erin could imagine how annoyingly certain Jay had been while pitching to Hersch. It was understandable that Mila had felt protective and been defensive on his behalf.
But ultimately Jay had been right. He had good instincts. And that made Erin feel a lot better about the fact that she was falling in love with him.
While Mila and Erin set the table, Arch was frying bacon and Hersch had been tasked with making toast.
Mila said, “Can you believe those two are BFFs now? They all played poker last night at Archer’s house, you know.”
“Really?” Erin tried to sound surprised, even though she’d overheard Arch inviting Jay. Presumably, he’d had to cancel, since he was still in LA. She missed Jay. Were they just going to be friends with benefits? Or could there be something more? The one thing she knew for sure was that the air didn’t spark as much for her when he wasn’t around. Nothing did.
Her mom had the radio playing softly in the background, and then the love song Damien had written for Arch and Tessa came on. Betsy raced across the kitchen to turn it up. No one was prouder of her children than she. Whether her rock-star son had created another top-selling hit, or Erin had written a particularly poignant article in the local newspaper, she was just as proud.
Damien looked a little sheepish as the song played. He was always modest about his success and favored privacy over fame. Erin had often thought that if Damien could find a way to play his guitar and write songs with no one ever knowing his name or recognizing his face, he would.
Finn suddenly said, “Listen—Did you guys know that this love song is one of Damien’s top-selling songs ever?”
Everyone burst out laughing, because Damien was famous for not ever writing a love song.
Dad said, “Are you going to write some more love songs, son? You clearly have a talent for it.”
Damien just shrugged and carried on slicing melon. Erin took in her brother, his head bent, intent on his task. “Maybe you have to be in love before you can,” she said.
Now Damien turned around for the first time. He looked over at her and nodded. “I think you might be right, little sis. When I watched Arch and Tessa, I felt their love, but I don’t think I’ve ever had that pleasure myself.” When Finn made a gagging motion, Damien backtracked. “Okay, lots of pleasure , obviously, but I don’t believe I’ve ever been in love .”
“You’ll know it when it happens,” Arch said, reaching out to touch Tessa. “And it’s the best feeling in the world.”
“Sure is,” Mila agreed. And then she put down her handful of butter knives and walked over to hug Herschel.
Finn said, “I don’t feel so good, Mom. I think I’m going to be sick.”
Erin smiled, but behind it, she wondered if, while Arch and Mila had both been lucky in love, she might be destined to fall for the guy who was totally wrong for her. She picked up the butter knives and resumed setting the table, but then she heard a familiar voice.
“Hope it’s okay that I dropped in,” Jay boomed as he entered the room.
Erin looked up, aghast, and the last knife landed on a plate with a crash. For a second, each family member turned from Jay to Erin. It wasn’t like her to drop things.
Nick said, “Okay there, butter fingers?”
A flush bloomed in Erin’s cheeks, but she fought hard to retain her composure. No way was she going to let everyone know how wildly bothered she was by Jay’s unexpected entrance, his crisp white shirt and jeans, his freshly shaved head and sexy stubble. He hadn’t left her mind in two days and she could still feel the imprint of his touch all over her body.
Mom calmly finished plating the scrambled eggs and then went straight over to Jay to hug him hello. “No invitation needed,” she assured him. “You’re always welcome for breakfast.”
He said a general good morning to everyone and then glanced at Erin. Nelson was with him and bounded straight over for a cuddle and a scratch. She laughed and bent to oblige him. She’d missed Nelson too.
She looked back up at Jay and casually, he said, “Morning, short stuff.”
“Morning, big shot.”
Something teasing and sexy flickered in his eyes and then it was gone. All chummy now, he turned to Arch, clapped him on the back and said, “Sorry I had to miss poker last night.”
Arch smiled. “Aw, I’ll fleece you next time.”
Speaking of poker, as they all settled down for breakfast, Erin wondered how she was going to keep a lid on her feelings. She had the most useless poker face ever. To make matters worse, Jay made sure he got the seat next to her. As everyone began passing plates and discussing their days ahead, Jay helped himself to eggs and said in a low voice, under the babble of all the rest of her siblings, “You missed me, didn’t you?”
Erin forced back the smile playing around her lips. She wanted to stay cool at all costs—because they were in front of her whole family, but also because she was used to keeping her cards close to her chest and doing otherwise felt odd. Then she remembered her decision to talk frankly with Jay, to start things—if that was what he wanted—with a clean slate.
Instead of answering, she whispered, “Did you miss me?”
Without a second’s pause, he shot back, “More than you can imagine.”
She all but melted. “I missed you too.” Then, with a little grin, she added, “But mostly Nelson.”
Nelson was currently getting acquainted with Buster, the Davenport family dog, with Buzzy bounding around the two of them, happy to have both his friends hanging out together.
Erin and Jay watched their dogs play, and for a second Erin caught herself imagining their own children playing. She shook her head, half laughing, half terrified, by the strong and enticing vision that had popped into her head. She took three pancakes from the stack and decided she’d eat her feelings until she got them under control.
Jay suddenly said, “Damien, have you ever considered doing the musical score for a film?”
Silence fell as everyone waited for Damien to answer. He looked a little bemused. “Not really.”
Erin wondered what Jay was plotting.
“I see your love song is number one—congrats. I’ve got a little romantic comedy project on the go. We should talk.”
Erin almost choked on a blueberry. If she hadn’t already got it, the way his knee was intimately nudging hers made it clear which romantic comedy he was referring to. The one he was writing about them .
With regret, Damien said, “I’m not sure I have it in me to write any more love songs. As Erin pointed out before you got here, I might be the kind of artist who has to experience love before they can really write about it.”
Beneath the table, Jay’s hand came to rest on Erin’s knee. Again, she felt the beginnings of a flush spread across her cheeks, so she grabbed her mug of coffee and dived right in.
“Erin is a very smart woman,” Jay said.
She gulped. The coffee was too hot and so was Jay. Her heart was beating so hard she could barely think straight.
The rest of breakfast passed in a blur. Normally Erin loved their big family meals, but this morning she might just leap to her feet and blurt, “I had sex with Jay.” That’s how messed up she felt. Mila was sending her glances that made it clear her sister had read the room.
Would this breakfast never end? She wanted to get to Jay’s place. And fast!
When all the food had been polished off, Erin declined another cup of coffee, shared what she hoped was a secret look with Jay, and said she had to get going. Jay got up to help with the dishes and said he’d be making tracks soon, too.
After hugging everyone good-bye, including Jay (which sent a thrill through her body), she headed for the front door. To her surprise, her mom walked out with her. She pulled her in for a big hug and then whispered in her ear, “I just want you to know that I approve.”
Erin pulled back, shocked. It was like her mother had some extra sense where her children were concerned. Had she seen that Erin was crazy about Jay? Just from seeing the two of them side by side at breakfast? She thought they’d been discreet, but maybe there was no being discreet when it came to her mom.
She wasn’t sure how to respond—after all, she still hadn’t got her own feelings in check—so all she managed was, “Thanks.”
Her mom gave her another warm, knowing look and then said she’d see her soon.
Erin walked to her car with Buzzy. If her mom thought Jay was good for her, maybe her instincts about him were right after all.
Though Jay hadn’t said more than a casual good-bye, Erin got in her car and drove straight to his house. She waited in the drive, all her senses tingling, the anticipation building. Just when she couldn’t wait another moment, his Lamborghini pulled up alongside her.
They both opened their doors at the same time and raced toward one another. His hands circled her waist, pulling her in tight, and his lips found hers hungrily. She stroked the nape of his neck and then allowed her fingernails to rake down his back. He moaned into her mouth. Without speaking, they pulled apart, stared at one another with a shared deep, intense lust, and then he grabbed her hand and half dragged her through the front door, the dogs bounding behind them.
Just like the first time they’d made love, they kissed as if their lives depended on it, and couldn’t get naked fast enough. He grabbed her hand again and they ran up the stairs together. Jay managed to close the bedroom door before the two dogs got there.
“I’d prefer to make love to you in privacy,” Jay said, smiling at her so tenderly she thought her heart might burst.
She definitely agreed. What she was about to do with Jay Malone was not for anyone else’s eyes—not even canine ones. He came toward her and then they tore each other’s clothes, laughing as buttons popped and zippers stuck. A shoe flew across the room. She had never felt so good in her own skin. Jay laid her back on the bed and kissed her deeply, tongues intertwining, bodies writhing, and then such a feeling of wanton desire coursed through her that she hooked her legs around his back and rolled on top of him, straddling his muscular thighs. He grinned up at her, delighted at the move, and she smiled too, feeling confident and sexy as she took the lead.
She rolled her hips, teasing him, never breaking their gaze until he cried out that he couldn’t take it anymore and reached over to the bedside table for a condom. She watched him put it on, delighted by the size and swell of his arousal, and then she lowered herself onto him and all thoughts left her head. They were nothing but two bodies, enjoying each and every most intimate inch of one another. At first they were fast and furious. And then she slowed down, trying to make the pleasure last. But instead it became stronger, rolling and rising, and as she felt the first glorious tremors of her climax, she cried out, louder and louder until it peaked and she shouted his name—and heard Jay’s orgasm echoing right behind hers.
She rolled off him, spent and sweaty, and caught her breath, watching the way the sun played across the high ceiling. She turned to face him, and he to her, and they shared a satisfied smile.
“So,” she said, still smiling, “How was LA?”
“Lonely,” he said, pulling her closer. “I missed you. Even Nelson was off his food. I think he missed you too.”
She kissed his bare shoulder. “I missed you both as well.”
Quietly Jay said, “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear it.”
Erin kissed his lips this time, which tasted now of salt, and then sighed happily. Jay rolled onto his back and she nestled into the crook of his arm.
They remained in contented silence, their bodies recovering, until she noticed his gaze trained on the Barbara Hepworth sculpture. “That really is the best place for it.”
He nodded. “I can’t stop looking at it and thinking about whether you could recreate that position.”
She studied the Hepworth in surprise. It was all round and sinuous, but she knew what he meant—it was the impression of a passionate embrace rather than actually being one.
Then, to her delight, Jay swung his feet to the floor and leaped out of bed stark naked. “Come here. Let’s see if we can make it work.”
She had to shake her head at him. “Are you kidding me? You’re going to try and use the sculpture as a sexual position?”
“Sure. We’ll make our own artsy Kama Sutra. Come on, you’re so athletic from surfing, you could easily twist like that, if you’re game?”
Erin burst out laughing. It was so ridiculous she had to give it a try. However, she should have known Jay had some devious plan in mind. He bent her over, arching backward so her feet were on the floor and her hands were on the bed and every part of her was curved and exposed to his view and his touch. He leaned over her, with a sexy, wolfish grin. He kissed each of her breasts, his tongue circling her nipples so she trembled, and then kissed his way slowly down her arched belly. He knelt before her, his breath heavy and warm, and pushed her legs apart tantalizingly slowly and then kissed the soft, tender flesh of her inner thighs.
Her trembling turned to shakes as he made his way up and then inward, using his tongue now to draw letters on her skin. Through the haze of pleasure she realized he was spelling her name. As his tongue grew more insistent, he moved its position and began to love her with his mouth. Her legs shook so badly she could hardly hold herself up and he gripped her thighs as she cried out in pleasure.
As her breathing subsided, he said, “Sorry. I got carried away there.” He glanced again at the sculpture. “Let’s see now, if you’re bent over like that, then I should be bent over this way.” He contorted himself and then bent her back over his body, and as she allowed herself to be twisted this way and that, she found herself tumbling and the pair of them collapsed on the rug, laughing.
When she got her breath back, she said, “I think it’s fair to say that sculpture was not meant as a how-to guide.”
He pulled her in for another kiss. When they parted, he said, “Let’s do something fun today.”
She thought they were already having a lot of fun, but absolutely agreed. She wanted to spend the whole day together. “But no overpriced restaurant where everything is unpronounceable and served with foam.”
He smiled, but kind of winced too. “You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?”
She raised herself up on her elbows and tossed her hair over her shoulders. “Nope.”
He turned over and kissed her. “I get it. You’re special. Unique. Down to earth. How about I take you out into nature, with the dogs?”
She smiled at him, her heart full. “That sounds perfect.”