Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Again, Mila shook her head and Tessa chuckled, happy to take a backseat while Erin tried to read Mila’s mind.
“One of Damien’s friends? It’s not a rock star, is it?” Much as she loved her brother, a rock star wouldn’t be right for that house. She shuddered as she imagined a wild band trashing the grounds with their all-night parties or knocking through walls to create some ultramodern space.
Once more Mila shook her head, looking smug. “Try agent.”
At the way Mila’s eyes were glinting, Erin felt her excitement dim as though a big cloud had passed in front of the sun. “Oh no.”
Mila nodded. “Oh yes. Julius Malone, our old friend Jay, bought that house. He’d told me he was interested in the area and when this became available, I called him right away. I knew it would be perfect for him.”
“But I love that house,” Erin said again, feeling even more forlorn. She didn’t know why it seemed worse that Jay of all people should have it, but it did. Well, that wasn’t true—she knew exactly why. Jay was a brash bulldozer. Not at all the kind of guy who’d treat a historic home like that with any respect.
Tessa said, “Jay is a good guy, Erin. I know he can be a bit. . . much sometimes, but he has a good heart. He’s more than an agent to Arch. He’s a true friend.”
“He’s also very hot and single,” Mila added quickly.
Erin rolled her eyes. As if.
But Mila continued, “I saw the way you two were dancing at the wedding.” She left the last comment hanging in the air.
Tessa giggled. “I agree with Mila. Even though I’d never look at any man besides Arch, obviously, Jay is very hot. I’m afraid I didn’t notice the two of you dancing together, but Mila said there was some real chemistry.”
Erin didn’t choose her men based solely on looks, the way Mila had for most of her life. It wasn’t until Herschel Greenfield had come along that Mila had found herself drawn to something deeper. Erin wished her sister would drop the subject of Jay. “Mila’s just teasing. There was no chemistry.” She had to admit, though, that dancing with Jay had been more fun than she’d have thought it would be.
Mila gently prodded her in the shoulder. “You’ve known him for years. I don’t know what you’ve got against him.”
Erin shrugged. Why did she struggle so much with Jay? He had some good qualities, but he was the very definition of an alpha male. Even though she was used to alpha men in her family, it was different when they were her father and brothers who were so protective of her—almost too protective sometimes, which was why it often sucked to be the youngest Davenport and a girl. She’d also had a terrible run-in with an alpha male at college, a memory she kept buried way beneath the surface. Something about Jay’s confidence struck a difficult note in her, something she’d rather not face.
“It’s not that I have anything against him,” she said finally. “He’s all the things that make him a great agent. He’s just so loud and pushy and in your face. I feel lost when he’s around, as though if I speak, no one can hear me.”
The smile dropped from Mila’s face. “You’re right about his persistence. He’s like a dog with a bone when an idea gets hold of him. He didn’t shut up about making a movie about Hersch’s life until we finally agreed. Though, in fairness, it’s going to be a really good movie.”
“Oh, I’m sure of it,” Erin said. As a reporter, she knew that Herschel’s life story would touch the hearts of everybody watching it. He had gone through a major trauma when his space shuttle had splashed down in the ocean, and he’d almost died. With Mila’s help, he was getting over his paralyzing fear of the water.
“I guess I’m drawn to persistence in a person,” Mila said. “You should see how well Hersch is doing with his surfing. He just doesn’t give up. I can see the moments when he’s having to fight his demons to get out there, but he does it.” She paused and gave Erin a searching look. “Sometimes you just have to get out there.”
Tessa caught the look and softened her voice. “Jay has been very supportive of my career as well as Arch’s. And you know, he’s got a surprisingly sensitive side.” They both stared at her until she added, “He just hides it well.” A crease formed between her eyebrows. “Personally, I think Jay dates women who don’t challenge him.”
Erin was surprised at how much Tessa had seen, because she herself was considered the perceptive one of the family. But she had to give full credit to her new sister-in-law, because that’s exactly what she thought about Jay too. The guy who thrived on a challenge avoided them when it came to women. However, Tessa hadn’t been around Jay for as long as they had. She didn’t know his dating history. Jay’s girlfriends were all models and all had a certain look: very tall, very beautiful, very thin. While Erin was absolutely certain there were loads of women modelling who were also extremely intelligent and well informed, Jay never chose those ones. She suspected he didn’t want to be challenged by a woman whose opinions might clash with his own. So he dated a string of women who were interchangeable and, apart from their undeniable beauty, sort of forgettable—at least, the ones she’d met over the years.