Page 39 of Sunsets at Seaside
“I’m glad you like it. I love listening to you play.” Jessica decided to wait and give Jamie his gift when they were alone. A mood ring wasn’t just silly. It implied intimacy, and she was still a little shy after what Amy had said.
“Thank you. Until my fingers won’t allow it, I’m going to play to my heart’s content.”
Jessica knew that feeling. She’d been working hard at ignoring the urge to pick up her cello. She focused on her father’s baseball to stifle the urge to join Vera. “Jamie, I heard back from Steve, and he’s going to give the buyer my number.”
“That’s awesome.” Jamie folded her into his arms and hugged her tight. “You might get that baseball after all.”
“I hope so. I’m going to run this stuff home. I want to call my father and catch up on a few things.”
“I still haven’t given you a lesson on eBay or the computer. I’m sorry that fell through the cracks. Want to do that now?”
She couldn’t tell if the desire in his eyes was her imagination or if he was making up an excuse so they could be alone and intimate again. She already missed the feel of him, and ever since he made the innuendo in the pool about being aroused, she’d been fighting memories of lying in his arms and being spoiled by his hands, his mouth, his body.Oh my.She had to go home before Vera saw right through her.
“That’s okay. You’re working and spending time with Vera. Hopefully, the buyer will call me, so there’s no rush.”
“Jessica, why don’t you bring your cello down and accompany me in a piece? I would love to hear you play.” Vera patted Jamie on the shoulder. “Go on, Jamie. Help her bring her cello down.”
“I don’t want to interfere.” Jessica couldn’t ignore the goose bumps racing up her arms at the idea of playing with Vera. Playing for Jamie was one thing, but Vera was an accomplished musician. She’d appreciate the musicality of Jessica’s style, which would be thrilling, but she would also notice her weaknesses.
“What do you say, Jess?” Jamie rose to his feet.
How could she say no to Vera? “Okay. Sure. Thank you, Vera.” They walked across the quad toward her apartment.
“Where are y’all going?” Bella hollered from her deck, where she was grilling. The smell of seasoned steaks rose around her cottage.
“Jess is going to play with Vera,” Jamie answered. “Come on over.” He turned to Jessica and lowered his voice. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“No, it’s fine.” She wasn’t sure if she was so nervous about playing in front of everyone, or because once she did, she might not be able to keep herself from playing again and again.
“I’ll bring steaks.” Bella hung over the edge of her deck and hollered, “Jenna! Pete! Jessica’s playing with Vera. Grab some salad!”
Jenna ran outside in her new tie-dyed sundress with Joey on her heels. “Really? Oh, yay! I’ll get Ames. Can you tell Kurt and Leanna? Oh, and Tony?”
“Amy left to meet Jake.” Bella stepped off her deck.
“And Tony’s right here.” Tony waved from his side yard. “I’ll be over in a few minutes.”
“Go get ready!” Bella shooed Jamie and Jessica away.
Jessica looked nervously at Jamie, who was smiling with pride in his eyes, while her stomach twisted and turned.
“See? Everyone wants to hear you play.” He draped an arm over her shoulder as they headed up the stairs to her apartment.
Jessica realized the real cause of her stress. She’d played in front of thousands of people, the media, even the president, and she wasn’t as nervous as she was to play in front of her new friends. She wanted to be plain old Jessica Ayers to them, and she knew the minute Vera heard her play, she’d know how accomplished she really was, and even though the others may not realize the level of expertise she possessed, surely they’d recognize that her cello playing was above average. She hoped Jamie was right and that she was misjudging how she could fit her cello into the real world, and more specifically, into their relationship.
In her apartment, she fisted her hands in Jamie’s shirt and kissed him. She needed to get her mind off her nerves and she’d been thinking about his lips all day.
“I’ve waited all day for that.” He sealed his mouth over hers again, and within seconds her legs turned to jelly and her nerves eased.
She was blissfully under his spell. When he pulled back, she was breathless.
“Are you nervous?”
“You can tell?”
He covered her hand with his on his chest. “You’ve got a handful of chest hair in there. Some skin, too.”
She opened her fists. “I’m sorry.”
