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Chapter Three
From his bedroom window, Jay watched Erin walk at a quick pace down Scenic Drive on her way to work. Beyond her diminishing figure was the stunning view of Carmel’s beach and ocean—worth every one of the many millions he’d spent on his new place. He had barely thought twice about parting with so much dough—this house was everything he’d dreamed of since he was a kid. It had been especially fun showing Erin around. The ten minutes he’d spent talking to her had been the most interesting he’d had in months. He certainly hadn’t got intellectual remarks from the last woman he’d dated, whose only opinion about his new house was that it wasroomy, but in all fairness, her brains hadn’t been her chief attraction.
He’d made a point of never dating actresses—they could be clients one day and he never crossed that line. So she had been another in a long line of lingerie models who showed no hint of wanting to break into Hollywood.
Erin might not be centerfold material, but watching her walk down Scenic Drive, he was aware again of that nagging pull of attraction. She might challenge him and offer him stimulating conversation in his own home. It was something to think about. Except it wasn’t. She was Arch’s little sister. He allowed himself to watch her until she was out of sight, and then went over the furniture and interior design plans. He wanted to be fully furnished and move-in ready asap.
When the doorbell rang an hour or so later, he almost didn’t answer it. Hardly anyone knew he was here, but since he was always available to his clients, there was always the possibilitythat one of them had tracked him down. He jabbed a couple of buttons on the unfamiliar security videocam until it flickered to life and there was Archer Davenport, grinning up at the camera as though it was there just for him.
Jay grinned back, put down the script he was reading, and headed for the door. He always had time for Archer. He was one of his most lucrative and, frankly, favorite clients. Also, they’d been a team from the beginning. As he walked downstairs his mind flashed back to the very early days of his career and the day Arch had first brought him home for Thanksgiving.
At that time, Arch had been a struggling actor and, like many hopefuls in LA, was a waiter trying to break into the movies. He’d discovered a part that was perfect for him, but he’d yet to secure an agent—and no agent, no part. That’s where Jay came in. He was also working at the restaurant. They’d become good friends, charming the all-female tables and sharing tips, and, after mulling over Arch’s dilemma, Jay had had one of those lightbulb moments. He figured that since Arch had natural talent, all he needed was the prestige of an agent. Why not Jay? All he had to do was to create a fancy-looking letterhead and start telling everybody in Hollywood how great his clients were.
So that was exactly what he did. He took to the role like a fish to water, knowing that confidence and self-belief and a lot of hustle was the recipe for success in Hollywood. Arch and Jay worked into the small hours of the night making the most of Archer’s meager credits to create a stellar resume. He’d starred in the high school play and the way Jay sold it, he sounded like he’d brought down the house on Broadway. He’d done a couple of commercials, one for tube socks and one for an acne cream, and again Jay made him sound like a major celebrity.
Arch wavered a couple of times, but Jay wouldn’t let him back down. He’d said, “Archer, Hollywood is all about creatingan image and selling it. That’s all we’re doing with you.” And then, “You’re sure you can play the part?”
“Yes,” Arch had said without hesitation.
Jay leaned forward, excitement buzzing through his bloodstream like he’d mainlined sugarcane, and said, “Can you blow them out of the water with how well you nail that audition?”
Arch had jumped to his feet and thrown his fist in the air. “Hell, yeah.”
“Then I accept you as my first client.”
Arch got the part and kept Jay as his agent. Soon, Arch’s career was doing well enough that they could both quit the restaurant business. Jay scooped up a few more talented hopefuls and the rest was movie history. As the two of them told that story over the Thanksgiving table, everyone had laughed. But Jay also recalled with acute embarrassment how intimidated he’d been by the Davenport family. Mila, with her flashy surfing career, and even fifteen years ago, Damien was already on his way to fame and fortune. But they had been so warm and welcoming that he’d soon begun to feel at ease with this family in a way he’d never experienced before.
It was a happy memory and as he opened the door, he greeted Arch with a big grin. “Good to see you, man.” He extended his hand for a bro handshake and then a quick manly hug—two claps on the back.
“I saw you drive past earlier,” Arch said. “Figured I’d better get a tour of the house before you head home to LA.”
Jay’s grin faded. Was that how Arch saw him? As somebody who was going to use this gorgeous waterfront place like a weekend getaway? The longer he spent here, the more he felt as though Carmel-by-the-Sea could be a fresh chapter for him, in this home he never would have dreamed would be his one day, back when he was a kid and had nothing.
“I figure I can do a lot of my business here and pop back to LA when I have to.” He paused and then grinned again. “It’s a lot nicer here, I think you’ll agree.” He took a step back and invited Arch into the Art Deco foyer.
As he gazed around, the expression on Arch’s face said it all.
“I am definitely paying you too much if you can afford this,” Arch said, laughing half in amazement. “I’m supposed to be the movie star and this is bigger than my place.”
Jay couldn’t help but feel a stab of pride, but he covered it with their well-worn banter. “Face it, bro, I’m better at business than you are.”
“That’s true. Also, I wouldn’t have the modest wealth I’ve managed to accumulate if it wasn’t for you.”
He grinned. “My thoughts exactly.”
He began his second tour of the day, noting that Arch was much less enthused by the built-in shelving in the library than Erin. He couldn’t wait to fill those shelves with books. When he got to the master bedroom, a massive space begging for an enormous bed, he took a good long minute to enjoy the view. “No place like home,” Arch said, gazing out at the ocean. “There’s just something about Carmel that nowhere else tops. Maybe it can even crack a tough LA nut like you.”
Jay wasn’t a sentimental guy, so he kept quiet, but inside he was thinking that Carmel-by-the-Sea had already hooked him. Was already reeling him in.
Turning to gaze around the bedroom, Arch raised an eyebrow and asked, “Okay, no bed yet. But where’s Miss November?”
Jay grimaced. “It was Miss April, and she’s no longer in the picture. We weren’t compatible.”
“Don’t tell me you’re turning over a new leaf?”
Somehow, Jay didn’t find the comment funny. In fact, it had been playing on his mind all morning, ever since Erin had teased him about dating lingerie models.
Arch said, “I was just joking, but you’re not laughing.”