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“Fine. He slept like a baby. We both did.”
He looked a bit sheepish, and she turned to him, shocked. “Julius Malone, did you let that dog sleep with you on the bed?”
Big, tough Jay Malone looked pretty embarrassed. “I put that expensive dog bed on the floor and he wouldn’t get in it. He just sat there looking at me with his big eyes. And then he kind of started to tremble. What could I do? I’m sure he’ll grow out of it.”
If she knew dogs—and she did—that would not be happening. But Jay would figure all that out for himself.
Suddenly he asked, “Are you reading anything good at the moment?”
She was so taken aback by the non sequitur that she stopped in her tracks and peered at him.
He laughed. “Is it such a weird question?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. It’s just not one I ever expected to hear coming from your lips.” A sudden shiver went through her at the thought of Jay’s lips. They were full and a pleasing shape and for a moment she thought about what they might feel like grazing her neck, her collar bone... down, down, until—
She stopped there, chastising herself. What was her mind doing? “Prodigal Summer,” she blurted.
“Prod what?” Jay asked.
She stared at him. Was he teasing her? His eyeswerefull of mischief.
“Prodigal Summer,” she repeated. “It’s by one of my favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver. I read her novelThe Poisonwood Bible when I was a teenager and I’ve loved her work ever since.”
Jay looked thoughtful. “I should read more female authors. What’s it about?”
Erin blinked again. Had the man who scoffed at putting his Hollywood heartthrobs in romantic comedies just admitted he should read more female authors? She swallowed. Was Jay saying all this stuff because he knew what she wanted to hear? But then she shook away that cynical idea. Deep down, she could tell, he was being his true self. Not the bravado-filled tough guy he’d been putting out into the world.
She took a breath and felt the familiar joy of explaining why she loved a particular author or novel. “It’s set over the course of one long, hot summer,” she said. “And it weaves three stories of love against a background of forested mountains and struggling small farms. The ecological narrative is as compelling as the human relationships, and it just gets to the truth of things somehow. I haven’t finished it yet, but it takes my breath away,it really does.” A little wistfully, she added, “If only I could write like that.”
“But you’re an incredible writer. And you totally get to the truth of things. Look how you were with me. I’ve spent years and years concealing my upbringing, but five minutes with Erin Davenport and I’m spilling my guts. You’ve got something in you that makes people feel safe, and you tell their stories beautifully.” Jay looked like he wanted to say more, but stopped himself. “What is it about you that makes me want to tell you all my secrets?”
She was so shocked by Jay’s sweet words that she had no answer for him. Instead, she held his gaze, a moment trembling and shimmering between them that seemed to last forever. She couldn’t hear anything but the blood pounding in her ears. Couldn’t see anything apart from Jay’s gray eyes, which sparkled with what looked to her like lust and admiration. She felt soft at the knees, as though she might swoon onto the sand at any moment. Just like Hollywood.
And then he came closer, strong jawline tilting, and for a split second she thought—my goodness he’s going to kiss me—
When suddenly Nelson came bounding up between them barking his head off. He was already protective, or maybe even downright jealous. She laughed nervously and Jay joined in. She was darned grateful to that dog for saving her from herself. The moment had dissolved like a mirage.
Jay bent down and picked him up, and Nelson licked his face happily.
I kind of want to crawl into his lap and lick his face too.
Chapter Thirteen
Jay left for LA with a heavy heart, a small bag of essentials in one hand. Nelson had only just come into his life and already he was leaving him. He felt like the worst dog dad in the world. But at least he’d saved him from a humdrum life at the rescue center, squabbling over cheap chow and who got the chewed-up squeaky toy. And now he had the best dogsitter in the world, Erin, and a built-in new best bud, Buzzy.
Without having to ask, he knew that Erin would head over to his place as quickly as she could. She would sense that Jay was worried about Nelson being all by himself so soon after he’d been adopted. He didn’t want Nelson to develop abandonment issues—he knew exactly how it felt to be on his own with no role model. So he was determined to be a reliable carer for Nelson, and when work forced him away, Erin was the perfect substitute. Probably even better, if he was honest with himself.
How had it taken him this long to really get to know Erin? He’d learned more about her in the last two days than he had in fifteen years of being her brother’s buddy and agent. And he liked it. He liked her. Helikedher. She was a super interesting woman in her own right—not simply the youngest Davenport sibling, lost in the noise of her big family. Even though they’d only just said good-bye, he was looking forward to the next time they’d be alone together.
Erin was getting under his skin, with her thoughtful manner and her sense of humor and the way she made him laugh so hard. All those dog names beginning withBthat no one would ever use. Women he’d dated in the past never made himlaugh... not that he was dating Erin, of course. But given how much time they’d spent together over the last couple of days, he was amazed that he was never bored in her company, never dying to get away and be on his own.
She was also incredibly sexy—although frankly, even that thought would get him in serious hot water with Archer. He had to stop his mind from wandering in this direction for both their sakes.
At least Nelson loved Buzzy. That was one thing he didn’t have to worry about. It was too cute how his little guy followed Buzzy around, looking up to the bigger, more confident dog to see how things were done. It reminded him again of when he’d first had dinner at the Davenport family home. Watching Betsy Davenport was how he’d learned table manners. He shook his head. Maybe he was getting soft now that he was in his mid-thirties, but he was really going to miss Nelson even though they’d only spent one night together.
If only he could get the idea of spending the night with Erin out of his head.
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