Hollywood Ever After (19 page)

This was not going to ruin my day.
He will not ruin it.

“Look, Mom, he’s too weak to walk. We’re starving.” Natalie was carrying Will.

I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes. “You need to take drama next semester, Nat.”

Arthur nodded. “Your mother has a point. You’re really quite convincing.”

“Wow, Mom.” Will pulled a flower from the arrangement and tucked it behind Natalie’s ear. “That’s a whole garden.”

“Oh, and they smell divine, too.” Mom joined us, bending over the arrangement to inhale deeply. “Flowers always make things nicer.”

“Nicer?” I looked pointedly around the room. It was exquisite, with intricate leaf and ivy crown molding, a ceiling medallion of striped silk, crystal chandeliers, and brocade settees and wingback chairs. I’d been too nervous to sit, let alone lounge about. “Really, Mom? Nicer?”

I was ready to get out, walk, explore, and have a fantastic day. And get away from those damn flowers.

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out. I was smiling as I flipped it open. “Morning.”

“Morning. Are you all up and about?” He sounded tired.

“Yes. You?”

“I’m up and somewhat about. We’re almost there. Didn’t know if you’d eaten or if you wanted to go out?”

“We haven’t eaten, but the kids are starving. We’ll meet you downstairs?” I asked.

“Right. Five minutes.” He paused. “I didn’t get any bloody sleep.”

I felt my smile growing broader. “Me neither.”

“Good. Glad to know I didn’t suffer alone.” He laughed softly. “See you in a bit, then.”

Holding tightly to Will’s hand, we hopped every other step of the grand staircase that led to the hotel lobby. He was smiling and giggling, completely adorable. I wondered if stair-skipping was a common practice at the Ritz. As lovely as the hotel was, I was ready to go someplace less pristine—or wrap the children in bubble wrap.

“Natalie said I had to eat fish for breakfast,” Will said when we’d reached the lobby. I shot Natalie a look. She burst out laughing.

“No, Will, you won’t have to eat fish for breakfast. You can if you want to. I think Natalie said she was planning on trying some?” I looked back at her in question.

Natalie wrinkled up her nose and shook her head emphatically.

“Kipper is actually tasty,” Arthur said.

“Kipper? Kipper’s a dog. He’s in one of my favorite books,” Will told him. He looked very disapproving of Arthur at that moment. Shannon started laughing.

“Kipper is also a fish.” It was Josh, sounding amused. I felt a tingle shoot up the base of my spine. Our eyes met and I smiled warmly.
Good morning.

“Morning,” Helen chimed in.

“Morning. I’m
so
glad you’re here. Let’s eat.” Natalie led Helen toward the immensely elegant and terrifyingly grand dining room.

Josh and Will were regarding each other. I watched with interest.

“So Uncle Arthur eats the fish kipper, not my storybook dog Kipper?” Will was greatly concerned over this.

Josh squatted, meeting Will’s eye level. “That’s correct. I imagine Uncle Arthur doesn’t eat dog. That’s right, isn’t it, Arthur?” They both looked at Arthur for his nod. Once Arthur nodded, they regarded one another again. “There now, that’s good to know. I’m Josh, by the way.”

“I’m Will. Nice to meet you.” He shook Josh’s hand then smiled impishly. Will knows how to smile; it’s blinding. Josh smiled back at Will, somewhat startled.

Will took Grams’ hand and dragged her toward the dining room. “Come on, Grams. I want to see what a kipper looks like.”

“He’s beautiful,” Josh said.

I smiled as I looked at Will. “He is.”

Will called back over his shoulder. “You too, Mom. Uncle Arthur might eat them all.”

“You look a little rough this morning, Mr. Wiley,” Shannon said.

He answered, smiling, “I didn’t sleep.”

“Neither did Claire. She went for a run this morning,” Arthur shared. “I saw her out the window long before I’d had my first cup of coffee. I’m not sure if I’m inspired or horrified.”

Shannon winked at us. “Too bad the two of you didn’t not sleep…together.”

Josh stared at me. I felt my skin grow warm as I considered some of the activities we might be able to come up with during our sleepless hours.

“Let’s go find some kipper,” said Arthur.

A meal with children is eventful. A meal for eight is a challenge. Combine the two and the Ritz’s lovely dining room was probably a bit more boisterous than a typical breakfast. Glancing around the table, I felt such contentment.

Helen and Natalie had hit it off. Arthur was smitten with Will, though their camaraderie had been briefly threatened by Arthur’s inclination to eat beloved storybook characters. And Shannon and Mom kept up constant conversation; they both loved to talk. They were currently poring over the Rick Steves’ London travel book, pointing and tagging more spots they wanted to see.

Josh was watching me—a lot. I felt beautiful and valued. I searched out his hand under the table and held it tightly.

He squeezed back, still staring. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered in my ear.

“You are too.”

He wore a soft button-down flannel shirt over a white T-shirt, black jeans, and large black boots. His hair was hidden under a black newsboy cap, which rested more to the right. He was beautiful. And young.

I finished my inspection to find him smiling at me, an eyebrow elevated. “Still beautiful?” There was laughter in his voice.

I nodded. “Very.”

A waiter approached us, bending closer to Josh. “Pardon me, sir, but the young ladies wondered if you might give an autograph?”

Josh blushed. He sat up and cast an eye toward the table the waiter indicated. There were four young women, staring and turned in their chairs, craning to get a better glimpse of him. He didn’t smile, but he nodded and scribbled his name on the proffered tablet. The waiter withdrew.

“Why did those people want your name?” Will asked before taking a bite out of the scone he’d layered with clotted cream.

Josh shot him a lopsided grin. “I’m not sure.”

“Because Josh is in the movies, Will,” Mom explained. “You know that fancy blaster gun your mom brought back from California? The ones from the space movie you’re not old enough to see yet?”

Will nodded, chewing silently.

“Josh is in
that
movie,” she finished.

“Remember, Will? We saw him on that poster. The one with the cool guns,” Natalie tried to explain.

Will looked thoughtful, but shrugged. He smiled. “Oh. That’s nice.” He went back to his cream.

Josh laughed. “That’s the best reaction I’ve had yet.”

“You really don’t like the attention, do you?” my mother asked.

He shook his head. “Not in the least. If I never make another blockbuster I’ll be content.”

I sighed and looked up at him. “But if you make something you’re proud of, and it happens to become a blockbuster, you’ll be okay with it? Because people might enjoy watching
you
and the films you make. And that’s something you should be proud of.”

He watched me as I spoke. It was a little unnerving, the way his eyes traveled over my face, my jaw, and lingered on my lips. “You’re right. And I need to be reminded of that. Regularly.” The smile he sent me stirred a solid covering of goose bumps down my neck and arms.

I couldn’t help the huge smile that spread across my face. “Good answer.” I sounded a bit breathless. His hand cupped my cheek and he leaned towards me. I could tell from the way his eyes fell to my lips, he was going to kiss me.

I stiffened, blinking at him rapidly. He cleared his throat and sat back, glancing about the table. All eyes were on us.

“Well, Josh, you certainly know how to dazzle a woman,” Shannon murmured.

“Those were some flowers. I imagine an arrangement like that would close a small florist down for the day,” my mother said.

Josh looked confused, so I interrupted. “Actually, they weren’t for me. Wrong room. They’ll pick them up this morning.”

He stared at our hands. Mine had tightened around his, but he didn’t say anything.

“Why would he send flowers to Mom, Grams?” Will asked.

“Because Josh is Mom’s—”

“Friend,” I interrupted Natalie, quickly slathered cream onto another scone and handed it to him. “Will, finish eating. We have lots to do today.”

“Are we going to find a dragon?” Will asked with wide eyes and flushing cheeks.

“Not today. But we’ll have fun, I promise.”

***

Shannon sat in the cream and blue silk wingback chair in our suite’s sitting room. “My feet hurt.”

“We did a lot of walking today,” Arthur agreed. “Did they get settled for the night?” he asked me as I closed the kids’ bedroom door behind me.

“Will almost fell asleep in the tub,” I said.

“I didn’t expect him to last that long,” Josh added. “He’s a solid little chap.”

Shannon rubbed her feet. “Tomorrow, whatever we do, less walking is at the top of my list.”

“I’ve an idea,” Helen said. “Take a double-decker bus tour? They’re loads of fun and easy on the feet.”

Arthur nodded. “I like the sound of that.”

My mother stood and stretched. “You decide and let me know in the morning. I know it’s early, but I’m too tired to think, let alone attempt conversation.” She smiled around the room. “Night, all.”

“Night,” I said, watching her close her door.

“I’m off too. Davey and the others are meeting at Irene’s for a bit.” Helen smiled at us.

Josh nodded. “Be careful.”

“You’ll get home okay?” she asked innocently.

He nodded, shooting a look at me.

Shannon waited until the door was shut behind Helen before asking, “So who were the flowers from?”

I frowned. “You don’t get the concept of off-limits conversation, do you?”

She smiled. “Um, no…”

I was wrapped in a warm embrace, effectively capturing my attention. I smiled as Josh pulled me against his broad chest. He smelled heavenly.

“I don’t give a damn about the flowers. I’ve been waiting to do this all day.” Josh sounded as hungry as he looked.

My response was immediate. I’d been waiting for him to do it all day too. It had been a
very
long day.

His hands cupped my cheeks, my hands covered his, and our eager lips met and clung. One kiss turned into two. He cradled my head in his hands, holding my lips captive—two very willing captives.

My hands slipped down, one grabbing at his shirt front, the other sliding around to grasp the nape of his neck. His hands traveled too, catching my back and pressing me to him.

I was vaguely aware of Arthur’s politely murmured good-night, Shannon’s giggle, and the front door closing behind them.

“We’re alone?”

His voice was husky against my lips, pulling on my lower lip and stealing my murmured, “Yes.”

We stumbled, still clinging to each other, across the living area to my room. Josh ran into a coffee table and I tripped over Will’s shoes, but we made it without injury. The bedroom door shut rather loudly behind us, startling us into stillness.

I peeked up at him, my heart full. His hands framed my face and his lips moved over mine, hungry and hot. “I missed you. Every single inch of you,” he whispered.

I stood on tiptoe so my lips could travel behind his ear, down the side of his neck to the spot where his neck met his shoulder. His skin quivered under my lips, making me smile.

His breathing hitched as he bore me back onto the bed. He untied my sweater and rolled me onto my stomach to pull it off. His breath blew in hot bursts against the nape of my neck as he dropped tender kisses along the curve there, between my shoulder blades and down my spine. His lips nuzzled across the sensitive skin on my side while his fingers unclasped my bra. His hands slipped under me, cupping my breasts. His mouth pressed against the back of my neck, catching my earlobe in his mouth and making my head spin.

His hands slipped lower, unzipping my jeans before he stood and pulled them, and my panties, off. My skin quivered as a finger traced the bare curve of my buttock. I jumped as his lips nipped at my thigh, his breath exquisitely hot against me. With eyes shut, I gave in to feeling. His hands traced across my lower back, over the curve of my buttocks and down my legs to my feet. He grasped one ankle and rolled me over again.

I was naked, sprawled on the bed, and he was staring down at me. He was wearing too many clothes.

I smiled up at him, shifting onto my knees to quickly unbutton his shirt. He helped until there were no clothes to get in the way.

When his arms pulled me close, the feel of his skin sliding against mine was magic. His chest, hard and lightly furred, fit perfectly against me. I gasped against his lips; his breath hitched in response. My hands slipped across his back, exploring the hard lines of his torso, the firm swell of his hips and buttocks. I loved the feel of him under my hands.

I lay back. He followed, pressing us into the mattress with more passion than finesse. I bit his lip as his hands cupped my buttocks, parting me gently. In one deep thrust, he was deep inside me. I didn’t try to stifle my groan. I couldn’t.

He was heavy and thick, joined so intimately with me. I lifted to meet him, hungry for all of him. The ache for him grew, rising within me with his every thrust. His hands, his breath, his scent, his body wrapped me in a passion, a love I didn’t know I could feel.

My release was hard, rolling over me with an intensity that made me cry out into his mouth. His hands held my face, holding us together. Our lips clung, sealed to catch the throaty call of his climax.

He stared at my face, his fingers tracing my lips, my cheeks, exploring me. He pressed his lips to my forehead and shifted, pulling me alongside him. He smoothed the hair from my shoulder and spoke softly. “I love you.” His face broke into a smile. “I should have started with that, I suppose.”

“I’m fine with the order,” I teased. I was very happy. I smiled at him.

He kissed my forehead again. “That’s a relief.” His arms held me loosely against him.

I sighed, resting my head on his chest and burrowing closer.