I was very skilled in the art of pushing things aside.
His right hand set up camp on my left knee. I had worn shorts for just this reason. Any opportunity for his skin to touch mine was gladly accepted. I watched him as he drove, hair blowing, sunglasses on. He hadn't shaved that morning…I hadn't given him enough time to do so. I'd stood outside the shower while he was in there, threatening to flush the toilet if he didn't get a move on. He'd tried to get me to shower with him, as was now the custom, but I steadfastly refused, knowing we'd be incapable of showering together without some hanky panky.
His profile was stunning as always, strong jaw, chiseled cheekbones, sweet lips. He turned to me, catching me staring, and his upper lip curled in that sexy smile I loved so much. "What's up, Crazy?" he asked, bringing my hand to his lips for a kiss.
"Just watching you. I'm burning this into my brain. Us, together," I answered, brushing back the hair from his face. "Jeez, I'm schmaltzy today!" I exclaimed, leaning back against the seat, tucking my legs beneath me, laughing at my own triteness.
"I don't think so. I've been doing a little brain burning myself. What am I going to do without my Nuts Girl?" he asked, sounding more serious than I think he meant to. We were both thinking about it, even though I promised myself I wouldn't.
"I know! Who is going to make you watch Golden Girls?'" I teased.
"Who is going to make sure all the shampoo is washed out of your hair?" he teased right back.
"Who is going to keep you stocked up on FatBurger?"
"Who is going to dump niblets in your knickers?" he deadpanned.
"Whose boobies are you going to hold while you sleep?"
"Who is going to listen to you snore?" He chuckled.
"Hey, I don't snore!" I yelled, turning to him and giving him a light slap on the face.
"Fine Grace, you don't snore," he said sarcastically, shaking his head. We were both quiet for a minute.
"Seriously though, will anyone be listening to you snore? I mean, in New York? Do you think you will…I dunno…be snoring for anyone else?" he asked, turning the banter into something serious. He looked nervous, but was covering well.
"Well, will you be holding anyone else's boobies while I'm gone?" I asked quietly, my mind immediately thinking of this Marcia.
"I asked you first," he said.
"Well, I would like to make it clear that while I officially do not snore, the answer is no. I don't plan on snoring with anyone else while I'm gone," I said, nervous now myself. This was the first time we had discussed, really discussed where this was going.
He was quiet and I could see his jaw relaxing. He'd been quite tense.
"And?" I asked.
"And what?" he asked back.
"What about you? And holding boobies? Will you be…holding…anyone else's boobies?" I could barely breathe. This was a twenty-four-year-old guy who could have practically anyone he wanted. Could I really be asking him if he was planning on monkhood while I was gone?
Yes, you are asking him, and he owes you an answer.
I waited.
"Grace, I think I can honestly say, with no second thoughts, that there isn't another pair of boobies on the planet that I'd rather have in my hands than yours. Sleeping or otherwise," he stated, with a glance at my chest.
I got it.
"Oh, baby, you say the sweetest things," I cried in a sickly sweet voice, launching myself across the seat at him, smacking his cheek with a wet kiss.
"Blech, don't call me baby, you have enough nicknames for me already," he teased, crisis averted.
"Oh, suck it, Sweet Nuts," I taunted
"Now, if Jessica Simpson happens to fall on me and I have to steady her by holding on somewhere…" his voice trailed off.
I gave him a wet willy.
We laughed, turned up the stereo, and drove on up the coast. I hoped we could keep the promises we just made.
***
We pulled into Santa Barbara just after noon, and as the tiny streets wound through the trees, I finally realized where we were staying. The Four Seasons Biltmore was a famous resort and I had stayed here once when Holly and I first moved to California. It was Spanish in its architecture, with a classic Californian open feel.
We pulled around to the front, the valet got our luggage, and when Jack checked us in, I was pleased to note that we were staying in one of the cottages right on the ocean. I raised my eyebrow when I thought about the extra privacy this would afford us, and he winked at me.
"I wanted you to be able to scream as loud you wanted to, Crazy," he whispered, green eyes smoldering. I could feel my body warming just listening to him tease me.
"Will someone be making me scream?" I asked in my own whisper, pressing my lips to his neck, while the desk clerk coughed discreetly.
"Count on that, love," he answered, his hand sneaking down to my bum and giving it a squeeze. I giggled in anticipation as the clerk handed over our keys. We began to make our way in the direction of the cottages, kissing deeply, when I heard a woman's voice say,
"Well well, what have we here?"
I turned to see a pretty blonde, standing with a tall, brown-haired guy who obviously worked out a lot. They were both smiling at the two of us pawing each other in the lobby. Jack's hand gave my bum one more squeeze, and then broke away. He smiled back at them, shaking the guy's hand and giving the girl a hug. A hug, I noticed, like one you would give your little sister.
"Lane, Rebecca, this is Grace," he said, pulling me back against him as I shook their hands. They seemed to be eying me up and down in an amused way, but it was not unpleasant. I got the sense immediately that they were approving. Which was a nice change of pace.
"Gracie, you would know them better as Isaac and Penelope." He smirked, introducing me to the other two main characters in the film. Lane I already knew I liked, he was grinning big. Rebecca was appraising me a little more carefully, woman to woman. She played the love interest in the film, and I was curious to see the chemistry they had off set.
"It's really nice to meet you. Are you staying here as well?" I asked, noticing that Lane was eying my chest appreciatively and giving Jack a high five. Rebecca laughed kindly at the two of them, and answered, "Yes. We have the photo shoot tomorrow, so a few of us decided to come up a day early." She smiled at me, a bit more warmly this time, and I got a gut feeling I was going to really like her.
"I must say, Grace. I don't know why Hamilton was keeping you such a secret. You're hot!" Lane burst out as Jack rolled his eyes at him.
"Thanks, Lane. I do have a pretty sweet rack." I laughed as Jack blushed and shook his head at me, eyes closed. I could tell he was pleased I was getting along with his cast mates so quickly.
"So, what are your plans for the afternoon? We were just going to get some lunch, you should join us," Rebecca offered.
"Well, actually, we were going to get settled in our room and then maybe just order in," Jack said, pulling on my hand and squeezing it.
"We would love to come!" I interjected, smiling at both of them. I saw Jack's expression out of the corner of my eye. It was now my turn to stall. Just for fun.
We all agreed to meet in the oceanfront restaurant in fifteen minutes. We said our goodbyes and headed for our cottage. As we walked down the cobblestone pathway, he looked at me incredulously.
"What happened to not being able to wait for the shagging? I thought we were going to spend some time inside today," he asked, shifting my overnight bag to his other shoulder so he could tuck me into his side as we walked.