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)
Jay asked, “So, Clark, what are you interested in, apart from vintage cameras?”
Erin groaned inwardly. Jay was about to get Clark started on his favorite subject.
“I love all cameras,” Clark said, pushing his glasses up his nose, as he did when he was enthused about something. “Not just vintage cameras.” He leaned forward. “I’d love to be a camera operator for the movies, but I’ve never had enough money for film school.”
Jay made a noise like a snort. “I never went to film school either. LA is all about appearances and connections.”
Clark looked rather deflated. “Which I don’t have.”
“What have you done toward becoming a cameraman? I mean, apart from taking photographs for the Sea Shell, obviously.”
“I just do that for money.”
Erin took a sip of her cappuccino. Clark was kind of endearing, especially when he let his enthusiasm rip. She had sometimes wondered if part of her appeal for him was that her brother was Archer Davenport. Not that Clark would ever take advantage of the connection; maybe it was more that he felt she brought a little stardust into the room just by being the sister of a movie star. Clark told Jay about the short movies he made for fun.
And then to Clark’s shock and her surprise, Jay said, “Why don’t you send me a couple of your shorts? I can’t make any promises, but I know of an entry-level position that might be opening up at one of the studios.”
Into the stunned silence, Clark said, “Are you kidding me?”
“No. But it would mean moving to LA.”
“It would be my dream job.”
Jay smiled. “Well, let me see your stuff, and if I like it, I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Erin had always thought Clark had real potential, so while she was kind of irked that Jay was all but stealing the Sea Shell’s photographer out from under her nose, she was also pleased for Clark. She’d always known they’d lose him one day to bigger things.
Belatedly, Jay seemed to realize what he was doing. “Erin, am I landing the paper in it here?”
She smiled, letting him know she wasn’t angry at all. “Yes. You are.”
He shook his head. “Then I guess I owe you.”
It was such an innocent comment, but something shimmered between them, something hot and sexy.
And then Clark burst through that moment, fumbling with his new camera. He turned to Jay. “I’d like you to be the first person I take a portrait of with this camera. It came with eight frames left on the roll inside it.”
Jay smiled and said of course, but he wasn’t going to steal the limelight. He shuffled closer to Erin, slung his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her in tight.
Professional that Clark was, he spent ages getting everything just perfect. Meanwhile, she felt the warmth of Jay’s arm around her, could smell the spicy heat of his body, almost hear his heartbeat, they were so close. Her own heart began to pound wildly, and she realized she wanted the moment over but also for it never to end.
Clark frowned, and then got up, moving her head her head ever so slightly closer to Jay, and rearranging the casual way his arm was draped into more of a hold. Clark pushed the now empty coffee cups to the side so only the two of them were in the frame. That was exactly how it felt—as though the whole world had emptied out and it was just her and Jay. Clark took his time; this wasn’t a digital camera he could click away on like crazy. He was careful and ended up taking only three photographs—but she’d bet each of them would be technically perfect.
Jay said thanks and then quickly let his arm drop. He moved away from her as though nothing had happened.
Had Erin temporarily lost her mind? Jay had just been casually posing for a photograph, not trying to get up close and personal. She chastised herself for getting carried away.
“I’ll swing by at seven to pick you up for dinner.”
Erin said that sounded like a perfect plan.
It was. All too perfect.
Chapter Seventeen
Jay had sort of been lying to Erin.
No, not lying, he just hadn’t told her the complete truth. Nelson had definitely been missing her, but the worst part was that Jay had been missing her like crazy too. Because she was great to be with, and also because his body wanted what his body wanted. He swore to himself that was the only reason he couldn’t stop thinking about her, that maybe he just had a little crush. But deep down he knew that wasn’t true either. More serious emotions for Erin were taking root. But instead of grounding him, he felt as though he were holding a grenade that was about to explode and take them both down.