Page 46 of California Love Songs
Erin interrupted the moment by calling Jay to tell him how well it had gone. When she disconnected, she turned to everyone and said, “Jay’s on his way. I hope that’s okay, Damien. He wanted to hear all about it firsthand.”
Damien nodded. He could tell how much it meant to Erin that he and Jay were getting on. Then his own phone rang. It was Arch, who also wanted to know how the interview had gone. “Why don’t you drive over?” Damien suggested. “Jay’s on his way. Is Tessa free? Bring her too. I’ll make dinner for everyone.”
“Great idea,” Arch said. “It’s been forever since we hung out at your place. I’ll bring some junk food. I know you won’t have a single salty snack in the place.”
Damien laughed. He actually couldn’t remember the last time he’d bought a bag of potato chips.
He went to the bar, which he kept well stocked for his friends’ benefit, and checked that there were enough beers kept cool in the fridge. The wine fridge was likewise well stocked. Opal, Erin, and Crystal were getting on like a house on fire and he left them to chat while he set about figuring out how to make a group dinner that would please his carnivorous family. He knew deep down that was why he’d insisted on a big kitchen and family room space when he’d had the house designed. He wanted to offer the same hospitality his parents had always offered, and he needed room for all the Davenports in one noisy place—the kitchen.
The family grapevine must be in good shape, because Mila and Hersch showed up with Jay and his brother and sister-in-law. Then his mom and dad showed up. He buzzed them in and suddenly it was a family party.
He introduced Opal to those she hadn’t met, and then at Mila’s suggestion, ordered pizza. No one needed to be offered a drink; they all knew where the beer and wine fridges were and most of them helped themselves. Arch made sure to get Opal a beer and Damien was pleased to see his brother getting to know the young musician, while the girls ganged together as they often did when the family converged.
Mila popped a bottle of bubbly and said, “We have to celebrate.”
Crystal laughed. “You haven’t seen the interview yet.”
His phone rang—it was his manager with the bad news that their interview piece had been preempted by a huge scandal with an aging rocker who turned out to have fathered a couple of kids with his wife’s riding instructor. As news went, even Damien could appreciate it was more juicy than the narrative about him helping a new musician find her feet. They’d been promised the interview would air the following evening. When he told his family, there were boos all round, but they agreed they’d have a watch party the following night.
Even so, no one was in a hurry to leave. He loved seeing Crystal with his sisters. She fit right in with them, but she was also an outsider, someone he could talk to without fear of the rest of the family hearing about it. She was loyal.
Loyal and beautiful and talented and smart. And since their kiss, he now knew she was sexy as all hell.
Were they really going to pretend it had never happened? Was it his fault that they just weren’t talking about it?
Because the trouble with a great kiss was that it got a man wondering what it might be like to go to the next stage…
Chapter Twenty-Two
Crystal sat back on the couch, sipping her champagne. How she loved the entire Davenport clan—they were all big personalities and all had something to say, often all at the same time. But there was so much love there, too. Opal was a little shy with everybody at first, but she soon opened up and was laughing and joking with the best of them.
Now that she had a moment, she savored the comment Damien had made—that he imagined he was singing to her when he felt an attack of nerves. He could have said it simply to soothe Opal, but Crystal didn’t think so. He was always honest about his music, and to think that she was the person he thought of when he wanted to calm himself meant almost as much as that kiss. Almost.
Damien came over and said, “You were brilliant today. I can’t thank you enough for what you did for Opal… and me.” His gaze held hers and there was more than warmth there. There was heat. Delicious heat that made her whole body tingle. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and ask him to take her to the bedroom.
Argh, betrayed by her own body. What was she doing? She wanted him so much. But she knew that he would leave her. He couldn’t help it. Although she knew the real, down-to-earth Damien, he was a rock star. There was always another concert, always another gig, always a reason to be somewhere else. It wouldn’t be fair of her to ask him to stay.
But as he gazed into her eyes in that intimate, sexy way he had, she began to wonder again if she could just enjoy him for as long as it lasted. Did she have the strength to do that, knowing it would end? Knowing she’d be left with some wonderful memories and a heart that might never piece itself back together again?
Before she could be tempted even further, she was the first one to leave the party. She planned to slip away without saying goodbye, so there wouldn’t be any awkwardness with Damien. She simply whispered to Erin that she needed to go.
Erin glanced from Damien to her and nodded. “Okay. I’ll walk out with you.”
Once they were standing by Crystal’s car, away from the house, they agreed one more time how much they both hoped the interview would work, and help to scotch the rumors of any romance between Opal and Damien. With any luck, it would also launch the young singer’s career.
Then out of nowhere, Erin said, “So… you haven’t mentioned your birthday.”
Crystal was so relieved that Erin hadn’t brought up Damien that she couldn’t conceal her surprise at the change of topic. “Why would I? I have one every year. So do you.”
“Don’t be coy. You’re turning thirty,” Erin said. “I happen to know that because we were born the same year. I just have an earlier birthday than you do.”
She made a face. “Do you have to remind me? Thirty seems so old, and I’ve barely done anything I thought I’d do by this age.”
“Are you kidding me? You have a successful life—a great business, your own home, a wonderful family.” She tilted her head and added, “And obviously, great friends.”
Crystal laughed, and for some reason started thinking again about the challenge that Damien had set her. To look into the journey of becoming a doctor. She hadn’t done anything about it yet. The kiss had thrown her into a complete spin. But if she was honest, the idea had lit a fire in her that wasn’t about to go out. She could at least go to night school if she wanted to. It would be good for her, and she’d enjoy it—not that she would have admitted it, but she’d loved school.
But part of her was afraid of failing. She’d left her nerdy student self behind a long time ago. What if she wasn’t up to the challenge of applying to med school? The best thing to do was to apply without telling anyone about it. Not even Erin. That way, if she didn’t end up following through, it would be fine.
