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)
How had he never noticed how built all the Davenport brothers were? If they decided to gang up on him, what was he going to do? Still, they were also decent men and he doubted very much they intended him physical harm. They barely acknowledged Jay as they joined Arch on the couch.
Jay took a deep breath. It was better they all heard this together.
He had to stand. He’d pitched tougher men than these four in his life, but never, ever had his pitch been more important. He didn’t have notes or a prepared speech. All he had were his feelings.
“First of all, I get that I’m not the guy you’d have chosen for Erin. I wouldn’t have chosen myself for Erin either. I absolutely agree with you that she deserves better. But you know what? She loves me and I love her. And maybe at breakfast the other day I felt like I really wasn’t good enough, and maybe I was willing to walk away, but Erin has convinced me not to. And I’ll tell you what—I would not do one single thing that would make Erin Davenport unhappy. If my walking away makes her unhappy, then that is non-negotiable.”
The four brothers looked at each other. Obviously, they figured it was Arch who should do the talking, since he and Jay had always been so close.
Arch scratched the back of his head, as though he couldn’t quite figure out what to say. “But I told you to stay away from her. I told you to stay away from both my sisters.”
He’d made that argument a few times now, and it was starting to sound a little weak. This was good. Jay hadn’t become an expert negotiator without being able to gauge the strength of an argument and the commitment behind it. Archer might be saying the words, but he was having trouble holding on to his conviction.
Jay opened his hands. “You did. And I’m telling you right now, I tried. I never thought of Erin as anything but your kid sister. But since I’ve arrived here and we’ve come to know each other, what I feel for Erin is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before—anything I thought I was capable of feeling. Can you understand that?”
Okay, it was a bit of a low blow and he knew it. Because Archer had walked the same road Jay was walking now, having to accept that Tessa, the love of his life, had been right under his nose for a while before he’d figured it out.
However, Archer wasn’t giving in that easily. “What happened with me and Tessa has absolutely nothing to do with you and Erin.”
“No. I know that. But you have to admit the situations are a little similar.”
Damien obviously couldn’t hold himself back any longer. Outraged, he growled, “But she’s our little sister. You had to know she was off limits.”
Jay turned to the fierce rock star. “I never meant to fall for your sister, and I know what a shock this must be for all of you. I agree that I’m not good enough for her, but I love your sister so much that I would give up my whole life and every dollar I’ve ever earned for her. She’s my everything.”
Archer scoffed and then stepped forward, getting right in Jay’s face. “Do you really think that after pulling a stunt like this, I would let you near my business?”
Sure, it was hard to face the threat of losing one of his most lucrative clients, but Jay was not going to be intimidated. Not by Arch or anybody else. He didn’t flinch or retreat. “Falling in love with Erin is not a stunt. I’d pick loving your sister over running your career any day of the week.”
Arch was so shocked he couldn’t seem to find words.
Finn muttered, “I never thought I’d see the day.”
Arch finally found his voice. “Wait a minute. I’m firing you. You can’t fire me.”
Jay looked at his friend, red in the face, nostrils flaring, and softened. In a quieter tone, he said, “I don’t want to fire you. I want to represent you and your best interests. I want to keep making money for both of us and finding you movies so great they haven’t even been dreamed up yet. All I’m saying is that if I have to choose between the two of you, I choose Erin.”
Nick shifted on the sofa. “It’s easy to say you love her. Can you prove it?”
How did you prove love? How could he show what lay deep in his heart? Did they expect him to pull out that organ and display it for them?
Then an idea struck like a sneaky wave. An idea so embarrassing he wasn’t sure he could do it. Would he make himself that vulnerable to four of the toughest guys he knew?