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Chapter Twenty-Four
Jay was always an early riser, but that Thursday morning he stayed in bed as long as he could, just watching Erin sleep. She looked so beautiful with her hair, gloriously tangled from a night of passionate lovemaking, streaming down on the pillow beside her. There was a little smile on her lips. Did she always smile when she was sleeping, or had he given her something to smile about? He liked the fact that he didn’t know yet, but over time, he hoped to find out.
He felt eyes on him and then realized their two dogs were standing, staring at him expectantly. How had he gone from a carefree bachelor to a man with a woman to make coffee for and two dogs to take care of?
He grinned. He didn’t know how, but he was darned happy and grateful it had happened. And it was all down to Erin.
He slipped out of bed so as not to wake her and whistled cheerfully as he headed downstairs to let the dogs out and put the coffee on. He was trying to decide what to make Erin for breakfast when he heard her footsteps behind him.
As Erin walked into the kitchen, her tousled hair falling around her shoulders, he saw with pleasure that she was wearing one of his shirts. It reached to mid-thigh and he was pretty sure she didn’t have anything else on. He was instantly aroused. He wanted nothing more than to take her again, there and then, on the kitchen island.
But as he looked into her beautiful eyes, he saw a slightly uncertain expression that made him suspect Erin wasn’t in the habit of waking up in someone else’s bed. It made him desireher even more, but he also found himself filled with a kind of tenderness. He was suddenly determined to protect her from all of life’s troubles, which was crazy. No one could do that, but the urge was so strong he was taken aback. He’d never felt like that for anyone before.
And then the urge to hoist her up onto the granite counter and say good morning in a very carnal way returned and he almost laughed at himself. Being in love was so confusing!
Keeping all those urges in check, he simply said, “Coffee?”
Erin visibly relaxed into a smile. “Only if you want me to live.”
Once they’d fallen back into that easy banter, everything seemed natural between them.
Both dogs came in and wished her a good morning, as though they hadn’t all spent the night together, and she took a moment to bend over and pet the pair, who practically swooned in ecstasy at the attention from their favorite woman. The second Jay finished making her coffee, he handed her the cup and kissed her. Her lips were soft and still warm with sleep.
She took a sip, murmured, “Yummy,” then set it down on the counter so she could kiss him again. This time, it was more urgent, as though sleep had kept their bodies apart for too long. He tasted the coffee on her lips and pulled her in tight.
“Good morning,” he said, low and sexy.
“Good morning.” Her smile was a little shy but very sweet.
He had a feeling breakfast was going to be delayed.
And then his phone rang. He was about to switch the ringer to silent, but then he saw it was Archer.
His stomach lurched. Here he was, kissing Arch’s half-dressed sister in the kitchen after his very clear warning to stay the hell away, but he had to pick up. Some habits died hard.
He made a slightly scared face at Erin as he answered. “Arch, my man, how’s it going?”
Erin’s eyes widened and a flash of panic crossed her face. She waved her hands in front of her, clearly signaling to him not to let her brother know that she was there. Of course he had zero intention of doing that, and was now feeling incredibly guilty about what had probably been the hottest and most beautiful night of his entire life.
He had done the very thing that Archer had ordered him not to do. And yet he could no more have stopped himself from falling for Erin Davenport than he could have stopped himself from adopting Nelson, or, come to that, breathing. Still, he would have to talk to Arch man to man. But not right now. This was far too new and fragile and he needed to make sure he and Erin were on a good footing before he went blabbing to Archer that he was in love with his sister. Erin should be the first person to hear those words said properly.
Okay, he might have hinted as much to Betsy, but that was different. Talking to Betsy was like talking to an ancient Greek goddess. Some kind of family Oracle. She was so wise and knowing and she just wanted the best for everyone.
And then he nearly dropped the phone. Love. He was sodeeplyin love. He needed to tell Erin exactly how he felt about her. He couldn’t keep it in any longer. But they had only spent one night together. He didn’t want to scare her off.
His thoughts were running away from him so fast, he was almost having trouble hearing what Archer was saying. Lucky thing it wasn’t complex wording over a new contract. Archer was inviting him to poker night with the boys. He had to focus. Fortunately, Erin had slipped out of the room. She’d taken her coffee and both dogs with her. Even Nelson, the turncoat. At least without her right there clouding his mind, he could focus. He’d deal with how to face Arch about it later.
Pulling his brain cells together, Jay said, “Right, poker. Friday night. I’m in.”
He was about to finish the call as abruptly as he could when Archer said, “So, how’s it going with the mystery woman?”
Jay gulped. He hadn’t a clue how to respond. He was a hustler, so he knew how to tell a story, but he was no liar. Especially not to someone as close to him as Arch. And yet, a new kind of joy was blooming in his chest as he owned up to the fact that he was in love with the greatest woman in the world. He wanted to run down to Archer’s house right now, face him man to man, and tell him what was going on. But not yet.
He circumnavigated the question by saying he’d tell Archer more in person and then changed the subject, claiming he needed to get back to a script he was working on. That much was true—there were several more pages that he and Erin could write upstairs in the bedroom.
But for some reason Archer was in a chatty mood today. It turned out that Tessa was out painting and the actor clearly had time on his hands. So they talked more aboutShock Tacticsand how soon he’d have to fly to Utah, where they were doing some of the filming. Jay promised to fly up and hang out on the set for a day. The script was coming along nicely for the Herschel Greenfield biopic and Archer also had some notes on that. Jay told him to send them over and he’d take a look. Then, finally, Arch ended the call himself.
Jay leaned back against the counter and let out a low whistle. His heart had been beating double time for the entire call. In choosing Erin to be the love of his life, he hadn’t made that life easy. Not with Archer, and he suspected not with the rest of her brothers either. They knew too much about him and his past relationships. But the point was, all that was in the past. He just had to make it very clear to everyone that being with Erin was a brand-new start for him. Like coming to Carmel-by-the-Sea, and buying this house, he felt as though he’d finally grown into himself. Finally arrived.