Page 6 of California Sunsets

All Jay could say was, “Maybe I am.” He looked around the room. “You’re the third Davenport I’ve had in my house this morning. Mila was showing it to Erin when I got back early from LA.”

Arch gave him a hard look, his earlier playfulness draining away. “I get that you just moved here and you’re single, but Mila’s all but engaged, and as for Erin, don’t even think about going there.”

Jay laughed easily. “Believe me, I respect my gonads too much to put them in jeopardy by going near one of your sisters.”

He said the words with conviction, but in truth he had to admit that for the first time since he’d met her, he’d seen Erin not as Arch’s cute and nerdy kid sister, but as an interesting woman. Which was weird. Too weird to keep thinking about. He wasn’t the kind of guy to wade into murky territory—not even in his own thoughts. No. He was confident about making fast decisions. They’d almost always been the right ones.

So why did it feel like his head and heart were playing tricks on him? And why wasn’t Arch’s warning having its intended effect?

He quickly changed the subject to something safer—business. “How are you getting on withShock Tactics?”

Arch flexed his impressive biceps. “I’m working out like a maniac. Tessa was hard enough on me when she was helping my broken leg heal, but now she seems to have taken it upon herself to be my personal trainer, and that woman is tough as anything. She’s breaking me.” Arch said this with such affection that Jay couldn’t help but smile. They both knew Arch could have chosenany of the top personal trainers in the world to prepare for this role, but instead he’d chosen his new wife to take on the task.

“Whatever Tessa is doing, it’s working. You’re ripped. They’re barely going to need any prosthetics to beef you up.”

Arch nodded. “That’s the idea.”

“How’s the script looking? Have they made any significant changes after the table read?”

Arch shrugged. “It’s pretty good. Better than I thought it would be.”

“I’m telling you right now, this has all the makings of aTerminator-style classic.” He tapped his nose. “I can smell a hit.”

Arch, who usually laughed at Jay’s unwavering confidence, opened his eyes slightly wider. “Really?”

“Really.” He couldn’t explain how he did it, but it was a kind of superpower, being able to spot a hit. Of course, there was the odd fluke, but his track record was remarkable. And his gut was telling him that he and Arch were both going to make a nice chunk of change when the movie—and its sequels—went on to become legendary. As he liked to tell anybody who’d listen, especially his clients, that was why he got paid the big bucks.

Arch looked thoughtful. “What about this biopic of Herschel Greenfield? You think that’s going to be a hit too?”

He was less sure of this one. But he knew one thing—the story needed to be told. “When I first saw Herschel Greenfield at Tessa’s art show, there was something about the guy. He’s a real American hero, but he’s humble too. The guy’s seen things that only a handful of people will ever get to see or experience. He nearly died coming back to Earth. And it’s not fiction, it’s real.”

Arch nodded slowly. “I think the heart of the film is his honesty about being afraid to get back in the water. And how learning to surf helped him overcome that.”

Jay absolutely agreed. “And the fact that you can surf makes you the perfect person to play him.”

“Plus, I have easy access since he lives nearby and is crazy in love with my sister. Also, I genuinely like and respect him. He’s brilliant, but never shows off, and his fitness is off the charts. Do you know how many Iron Man competitions he’s done?”

Jay grinned. He was thrilled that Arch and Hersch were getting on so well. It would make it much easier for Arch to take on the part. He was probably picking up Hersch’s mannerisms and way of speaking without even realizing it. He doubted that the Herschel Greenfield biopic would ever become a massive hit, but it would be worthwhile, and definitely profitable.

When they’d finished the tour, Arch turned down coffee, which was pretty much all Jay had in the house, and said he had to get home. “It’s workout time.”

Jay walked him out and they clapped each other on the back. But as he was leaving, Arch said, “This is a great house you’ve got here, and I’m super happy to see you in the neighborhood.” He paused for a moment. “I’m sorry about Miss April. It would be nice to see you share this place with someone new.” Arch gave him a penetrating look. “Someonecompletelynew.”

Jay gave a slightly forced laugh. “Copy that,” he said as he waved good-bye.

He knew what Arch was implying—that if he had any thoughts about making a move on his sister, then stop, pronto. But something about being told not to do something was enough to push Jay in the opposite direction. He did not like being told what to do.

As Jay closed the front door, he turned to take in his new house and found his mind returning to his childhood home. They’d barely had any possessions, but they always had a TV. His mom would pass out watching old romantic movies, but he’d sit there until the credits rolled. He’d fallen in love withmovies when dreams were all he had. And now he was living the dream. But it wasn’t a dream, it was reality. And maybe, like those movies, the women who could pose for centerfolds or sell lingerie in fancy catalogs had been a dream too, and at the age of thirty-five, he was finally waking up. He didn’t want women he chose because of their looks and hot bodies. He wanted somebody real. Somebody he could talk to.

He liked the way Erin had challenged him today, the way she’d made assumptions about him—that he was shallow and incapable of reading a book all the way to the end. He wanted to show her that there was more to him. Frankly, he’d never had to try very hard with women. Now, he realized he didn’t want that anymore. He wanted someone like Erin.

He closed his eyes briefly. SomeonelikeErin, someonecompletely new, he reminded himself, even as deep inside a little voice suggested that maybe the woman he really wantedwasErin.

And didn’t that make his life a whole lot more complicated?

Chapter Four

Erin had stayed much longer than she’d intended to at Jay’s and now she had to hurry if she was going to pick up her dog Boswell and get to work on time. She followed a fairly loose schedule, as she was often out reporting on events or talking to the local residents, so she tended to come and go as she pleased, making sure she hit all her deadlines.

---