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)
In a way, he understood their anger. In a way, he deserved it.
He took a deep breath and opened the door.
And there she was: the woman of his dreams. “Erin,” he said, as love and pain collided.
Erin stepped inside and closed the door behind her. He wanted to go to her and cover her face, her body, in kisses, but he held back in case the scene at breakfast had caused her to change her mind about him. He was more relieved than he could express that she’d come here, as he’d prayed she would, but he was worried too.
“I hope I didn’t embarrass you in front of your family,” was all he could find to say. She was so beautiful and so precious he wanted to pull her into his arms, but it was the truth. He didn’t deserve her. Maybe she was seeing that now.
She laughed, but there was no humor behind it. More irritation and frustration than anything else. “Are you kidding? You finally helped make my overprotective brothers see me as a grownup. I’ve tried for years, but they’ve never listened.”
Jay allowed himself a small smile. “They’re right, though. I’m the trailer trash who doesn’t know how to do anything but hustle. You’re smart and beautiful and educated. You’re a great writer. You could do anything. You don’t want to be stuck with me.”
To his shock, she walked forward and threw her arms around him. He breathed in the scent of her skin, stroked the soft hair flowing down her back. She felt perfect in his arms.
She touched his face with a tenderness he’d never known before. With a smile, she said, “I love you. I love you for bringing me a towel when I’m cold on the beach, for making me hot chocolate with marshmallows, for the way you get excited about books and telling stories that will reach millions of people and touch their hearts. Jay Malone, you may be loud and brash, but you’re always fair and honest. And you have the biggest heart of anyone I know.”
Jay was so happy that for once in his long, loud life, he was lost for words. Finally he remembered to say, “I love you too, Erin. More than anything in the world.”
They kissed deeply, and in seconds he was hungry for her again.
There was so much love and lust in her eyes he knew she was feeling the same way. “Plus you adopted this rescue dog who would have been a goner by now if it hadn’t been for you.” Nelson was listening to every word and wagging his tail. “Sorry, Nelson.” She kissed Jay again. “And I found out for sure that you’re the anonymous donor who saved the shelter.”
Even though he’d already admitted it to her, he was slightly upset. “That donation was supposed to be confidential.”
“I’m a pretty good investigative reporter when I want to be.” She smiled. “Plus, I went to high school with the head of the shelter. She couldn’t hold back about the ‘great-looking man who brought us a huge check.’”
Uncomfortable with being painted as such a good guy, he swiftly changed the subject and asked how the rest of the family had been after he’d gone.
“I didn’t stick around for long, but my brothers are still pretty mad. If I know Mom and Dad, they’re still at the table, talking them down. My folks seem really supportive of you and me together.”
He kissed her again because he couldn’t help himself. “I went to Betsy when I knew I was falling for you, but thought I’d messed this up. She told me she saw this coming ten years ago.”
Erin’s eyes went wide. “What? I can’t believe how intuitive my mom is.”
“That’s where you get it from.”
“I kind of love that you confided in her first.”
“She really is like family to me. And so kind and understanding.” He paused. “You are a lot like her.”
Erin smiled shyly. She was about as good at accepting compliments as Jay was. They walked hand in hand to Jay’s office so he could switch off his computer.
She eyed the script and the screenwriting books on his desk, intrigued. “Were you busy? Did I interrupt anything?”
“Believe it or not, I was working on the romantic comedy script. This thing better sell, because it looks like I’m losing my biggest clients.”
“They’ll get over it. After all, where are Arch and Smith ever going to find an agent who hustles like you do?” She turned to face him with an expression so sweet and serious. “And who loves them like a brother.” With that, she moved into his arms at exactly the same time as he pulled her into them.
They went up to his bedroom and made love, their bodies communicating without any need for words, with all the sweetness and tenderness growing between them. Maybe the fact that he had stood up for her, believed in her, told her family in no uncertain terms how strong he thought she was, meant that she was beginning to see herself in that light too.