“Hey, I need to get going, but I’ll come by later, yes?”

“Come by later. God, yes. And Jack?”

“Mmm-hmm?”

“Have I told you I loved you today?”

“Not yet you haven’t.” I could hear the grin on his face.

“I love you so much. Truly I do.” My fingers touched his face in the picture.

“I love you too, Grace. I’ll see you tonight. Bye!”

I clicked off my phone and walked back through my house. I unpacked quickly and hung my dress for tomorrow night in the guest room closet so Jack wouldn’t see it. Leslie and I had finally found the perfect dress, and I couldn’t wait to wear it for him.

I was hungry, as it was dinner time in New York. I looked out at the backyard and saw that my avocado trees were full of fruit. In pure Southern California fashion, that afternoon for a snack I had an avocado, dressed simply with salt, pepper, and fresh lemon juice from my own trees. It was accompanied by a dirty martini, which Jack had thoughtfully purchased the ingredients for. He’d even put the vodka in the freezer. I truly did not deserve this man.

After checking in with Holly and inviting her to breakfast the next morning, I made my way to my bedroom, thinking of the one and only night I’d slept here.

I lay down on my bed, crawled under the soft sheets, and let myself take a blessed nap. It was good to be home, even for only one weekend.

***

“Hey, sweet girl. Wake up.”

I sighed into my pillow, my dream of Jack spilling over as I swear I heard his voice right next to me. I waited for horns honking and the hustle and bustle of the city to remind me where I was.

Instead I heard birds and wind chimes. I smelled—wait, S’mores? I cautiously opened one eye, not able to believe I was really home. My one eye took in a beautiful sight: Jack perched next to me on the bed. White waffle-weave long-sleeve T-shirt, shredded black jeans. He looked exhausted but happy as he leaned down to kiss my forehead.

“Hey yourself,” I muttered, opening both eyes and stretching my arms over my head. I’d slept hard and fast, and I was sure there were pillow wrinkles on my face.

“You have pillow wrinkles on your face,” he said, his fingers tracing along my cheek.

“Can’t you let one slip by? We’re not all one of People’s Most Beautiful,” I teased, rolling over on my back and curling my legs beneath me.

“What are you prattling on about? I’m not on that list.” He frowned, swinging his own legs up onto the bed after kicking off his shoes. He laid down next to me, on top of the covers, leaning his head on his elbow.

“Not yet, maybe, but you will be. Mark my words, people will be lining up to market the pretty. Make sure no one steals my Hamilton Brand though. That’s mine alone.” I laughed, and he looked confused.

“What the hell is a Hamilton Brand? Holly was talking about branding the other day in a meeting with a PR rep. Why the hell do I need a brand?”

“Actually, I was thinking of a brand of a different kind, and I’ll tell you about it at just the right time.” I smirked, scooting closer to him and snuggling into his warm body. He was always tall and lean, but I could tell he’d not been eating well on the road. He’d been losing weight steadily since I left him in September. I’d have to start cooking for him again once my show and his film schedule settled down. I looked up at him, and he smiled at me.

“Lips, please,” he said.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Lips, please. You haven’t properly kissed your man yet,” he said, and I leaned in to comply. I kissed him softly and sighed as I felt his warm mouth. I kissed him again more firmly, and then snuggled into the Hamilton Nook.

We lay in silence for a few minutes, and he stroked my hair and shoulders. It was so comfortable and peaceful, I was reluctant to ever get up. But my tummy decided for us, and when it began to rumble so loud it was impossible to ignore, I giggled.

“Well, I guess we should decide what we’re doing for dinner. Did you eat?” I asked, sitting up and stretching.

“I was waiting for you, love. What are you hungry for?”

“It might sound stupid, but I’ve been craving Gladstone’s since I passed so close to it today on my way back from the airport. Too public?” I asked, wondering about the brilliance of us eating somewhere so touristy the night before his premiere.

“Oh, f**k it, Nuts Girl. Let’s just go. They have great fish and chips, and we can take a drive up the coast.” He rubbed my back as I peered back across my shoulder at him. He looked so tired, I thought he could fall asleep right there.

“Are you sure? We can stay in and order something. You look tired.”

“That’s a nice way of saying I look like shit, Grace,” he answered, smiling a rueful smile.

“Not possible. You’re too pretty.” I laughed, giving him a light slap on the cheek.

He mimed outrage and was about to pounce when his phone rang. “Sorry, love, it’s Holly. I need to take this.”

“It’s cool. I need to run through the shower real quick, and then we can go,”

“Damn. I hate the idea of you showering alone when I’m so close.” He looked at me, then the phone, then back at me again, confused.

I laughed and opened the phone for him, putting it in his hand and kissing him on the cheek. I gathered what I needed quickly and stepped into the bathroom. I was washing my hair when I heard him open the door, still on the phone.

“Gracie, can I use your computer?” he asked.

“Yeah, it’s in my bag in the front hallway.”

“Thanks,” he said, and I heard the door close.

I finished up, stomach growling loudly now, and began toweling off. I couldn’t wait until the day we could shower together all the time again. I pulled on my jeans and was buttoning my shirt when I heard him coming down the hall.

“Gra-ace,” he sang, and my skin grew hot at the sound of his voice.

I might as well stop buttoning right now. I knew that tone.

***

He’d attacked me in the bathroom, and I quickly gave myself over to our impromptu sexing. It was hot.

Once I untangled myself, the Brit grinned at me sheepishly while I tried to make my shirt button again. But as he’d removed most of the buttons when he ripped it off, no such luck. I scrambled in my bag for something else to wear, and he laughed when I asked him if he found what he needed on the computer.

“Yes, Gracie. I sure did. And thanks,” he said in a low voice, thick with sex. I could feel myself getting worked up again, and I made a mad dash for the front door, pulling him along with me.

“Come on, love. The crab cakes are calling,” I quipped, locking the door and then tossing him the keys.

We drove back the way I’d come this afternoon. The sun had almost set and cast a silvery light along the cliffs as we drove toward Malibu. The radio was loud, the top was down, his hand was on my leg, and I was smiling big.

When we got there, it was crowded, and I felt a little panicked. I suggested we just hit a drive thru, but he insisted it would be okay. He tried to take my hand, but on this one I did stand firm. He frowned, and I tried to gently assure him.

“Love, you know why. Let’s just get through your film premiere, and then we can discuss the potential of ruining your fan base over me, huh?” I tried to joke, as he ran his hands through his hair.

“Whatever you want, Grace,” he said, sighing heavily.

I knew this was tough on him. It was tough on me too. But we’d promised Holly we’d remain inconspicuous, and I intended to keep my promise. Besides, I knew how much they’d hate me, and I tended to think Jack was being a little naïve in his opinion that his female fan base would be so accommodating of him dating a woman in her thirties.

I shook my head. Not tonight, Sheridan. No bad thoughts tonight. Put it in The Drawer.

We got a table outside so we could relax and watch the tide roll in. The evening air was cool, but refreshing, and I was glad I’d pulled on the red flannel Jack always had with him. We spent the evening laughing and drinking beer, getting him ready for the onslaught tomorrow evening would surely bring. There was a huge crowd expected at the premiere, and although he was getting more used to dealing with crowds, it still made him nervous. He still didn’t truly grasp how much his fans loved him, or why they loved him, for that matter. He insisted it was just because of the series, that they were in love with the character. I tried to explain that yes, that was probably it at first, but the pandemonium that ensued with each public appearance could only be explained by his innate charm and self-effacing personality. Not to mention that the boy was stunning.

And the fact that he didn’t get that? Even hotter.

We made it through dinner with no paparazzi and only two autographs, which, according to him, was a light day. We drove back to my house, the moon now shining brightly over the canyons as we played each other songs on our iPods. We needed to sync them up, as we were always arguing over who got to pick the next song and always switching them back and forth.

When we got back to the house, I went around and turned off the lights while he made sure we were locked in for the night. I was in the bedroom plugging in my phone charger when he came in with his own bag.

“Is it cool if I hang a few things in the closet?” he asked, pausing by the closet door.

“Of course. You don’t have to ask, you silly Brit,” I answered as I unpacked a few more clothes and placed them in an almost-empty dresser. I never had moved my clothes in. The ones I hadn’t taken to New York were still in boxes or in storage.

He disappeared into the closet, and I was tempted to follow him in there, but I wanted us to have some quiet times tonight—not another repeat of closet sex, Santa Barbara style. Although that was highly enjoyable.

I realized I hadn’t brought my nightshirt with me, but I spied one of his many T-shirts and slipped that on instead. I was surrounded by his scent, and it made my head swim a little. Hard to explain why that was so comforting. When you don’t see someone for weeks at a time, it’s weird what you fixate on. I was enthralled by the scent of him. I’d roll around in it like a kitten in catnip if it were an option. I missed it that much.

We talked while we got ready for bed, falling back into the pattern we’d established when we spent all our nights together. He brushed his teeth while I put on my lotion, then he watched me brush my teeth. He sat on the counter while I spit out my toothpaste and handed me my little cup of Scope when I was ready. We talked about everything and nothing, catching each other up. He discussed his plans to remodel and make room for the giant shower he still insisted upon, which I informed him sounded great. Provided he pay for it.

I told him about the Time billboard Leslie and I walked by each day when we went for coffee. We discussed at length the fish and chips he had at dinner that night, and the difference between porpoise and dolphins. A pod of something swam by during dinner, and we continued our argument about what made the two different and which we’d seen.

This discussion finally came to a close when I climbed into bed. I dug the remote out from under the pillow, and he shut off the lights. He wore his normal bedtime clothing: boxer briefs. Tonight they were a dark charcoal gray. I wondered if he’d noticed I had trouble keeping my toothbrush steady when I saw him strip down. He walked across the room toward the bed and, with a graceful turn, slipped beneath the sheets. He’d grown thoughtful in the last few minutes, no longer responding to my Flipper jokes.

“Hey, George. You still with me?” I poked him with my big toe as he settled under the covers.

“Sorry, Gracie. Yes, I’m still with you.” He smiled, but something wasn’t right.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, sweeping his hair back. He relaxed under my touch and scooted closer to me in bed.

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just glad you’re here,” he said as he snuggled up against me. He laid his head on my chest, and when he was comfortable, I began to play with his hair like I knew he liked. I scratched his scalp and worked the knots out, making his curls soft and silky. He sighed contentedly. “I’m glad you could make it back here for this.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I whispered into his hair, kissing softly.

“It’s going to be crazy, I’ll warn you now,” he said, his voice darkening.

“Well, lucky for you, I happen to know all about crazy.” I smiled into his hair and resumed my stroking.

We were quiet for a few minutes as I scratched his head and kissed him every so often. His breathing deepened, and before I knew it, he was fast asleep. I looked down at him, his eyes closed. He looked so young in that moment, like a kid almost. He looked perfectly peaceful. I shifted slightly to turn off the TV. As he felt me move, his green eyes flickered open long enough to meet mine, and he smiled sleepily.

“Love you, Gracie.” He yawned and rolled me over onto my side. He pressed his body against mine, and his hands crept under my shirt, across my belly, and up to my breasts. With one in each hand, he kissed the side of my neck, sighed once, and said, “Fantastic.”

Then he promptly fell back asleep. I felt his warm chest through the thin cotton of my (his) T-shirt and his soft, yet possessive, grip, and I smiled as well.

“Love you too,” I whispered, but the only response was the tiny snore he always had when he was first asleep. I was out within five minutes, wrapped in Jack.

Chapter 11

The next morning we woke to the sound of phones ringing. Mine rang first, then his, and in the confusion we bonked heads in the middle of the bed.

“Ow!” I rubbed my forehead while I answered the phone. He mumbled a similar hello into his.