His Kiss (Summer in New York Book 2)

by Jolyse Barnett

  “I’ll admit I’m a little nervous about meeting more than thirty of your closest friends and family all at once.” Asking him to survive a three-hour dinner party at her grandparents’ place wouldn’t necessarily pale in comparison though, considering she hadn’t gotten the courage to tell him about the extent of her family’s wealth or their connection to Starling. She sighed. She’d tell him soon. After this weekend.

  “They’re going to love you.”

  I just want you to love me.

  “They’d better.” She joked instead. “We traveled six-and-half hours just to see them.” She turned her face to the warmth of the sun and closed her eyes. She was so tired. She’d taken a couple of those diet pills every day the past week and they’d cut her hunger, helping her lose the rest of the weight so she was swimsuit ready for the beach this weekend, but now she could barely open her eyes, used to the extra jolt of energy the pills provided. She wouldn’t be taking any more of those pills. It wasn’t worth feeling so lousy. She leaned her cheek against the window. Maybe if she closed her eyes for one minute she’d be fine.

  Jeremy shook her arm. “Hey. We’re here.”

  “Sorry.” She breathed in the warm, salt air through their open windows and looked around. She must have slept the rest of the car ride. A large, ocean-weathered house stood proudly on her right. She sat up, smoothing her mussed hair. “Oh, it’s gorgeous.” The butterflies in her stomach dissolved as he opened her door and she saw a group of young women with a couple of kids spill onto the porch, hollering their welcome and waving. She took his hand. “You’re right. This weekend’s going to rock.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‡

  Elizabeth blended in with the group that weekend. First, she assisted the older women in the kitchen then played in the backyard with the little ones, introducing herself to everyone and listening to their stories. After a simple dinner of takeout pizza for the whole crew, they split into groups according to interest, playing board games and cards. Jeremy told her late that night she had a gift, making everyone feel special.

  Saturday was another picture-perfect day, the clambake a huge success as far as she could tell. Six of the couples, including Jeremy and her, had played volleyball after lunch in the Gervais’s new inground pool. She hadn’t had that much fun in years. Jeremy proved himself to be athletic and competitive, but thankfully was a good sport as well, since their side lost every game.

  The group enjoyed leftovers for dinner, and now Jeremy and the other guys were lounging around the fire pit helping the kids make s’mores while the women, including her, chatted indoors around the farm-sized table.

  “So, what’d you think of your first Holly Point weekend?” Jade asked, moving around the table refilling the girls’ wine glasses with the most delicious pinot grigio.

  “You’re all lovely and so down to earth. I’m so happy Jeremy invited me. These past two days have been wonderful. I worried I’d feel like an outsider, wouldn’t get any of the inside jokes and stuff, but I already feel like I’ve known you all forever.” She reached into the pocket of her “Long Island” emblazoned hoodie that Jeremy had bought her on their walk through town yesterday and pulled out the paper where he’d sketched every family member’s picture, labeled with their names and other details. “Of course, it helped that Jeremy gave me a character map.”

  “Let me see that.” Cassandra, sitting next to her, snagged the paper before she could respond with little more than a yelp.

  “Ooh, this one Jeremy wrote about me is spot on. It says, ‘Cass tells it like it is but has a heart of gold.’” The black-haired woman scanned the page with a manicured finger. “Aww. Look what it says about you, Bree. You’re the organizer of all-things family, an accomplished PT, married to Jake, and a devoted mother.” She turned the page around and pointed to the sketch. “This is too funny. It totally captures that ‘look’ of yours, my friend.” Cass smirked at Bree sitting across the table before passing the paper to Elena, who had to hold it high so her niece, Nadia, wouldn’t grab and tear it into pieces.

  As they drank their wine, each woman took her turn reading the descriptions, some aloud and some not. No one seemed upset. In fact, they seemed to appreciate Jeremy’s perspective. Finally, the paper made it all the way around the table and Jade handed it to back to her.

  Elizabeth tucked the folded sheet back into her pocket.

  “Be careful not to run that through the wash. It’s classic,” Cass said. “Besides, it may be a collector’s item one day.”

  Elizabeth sipped her wine and smiled. How nice that everyone in Jeremy’s circle had so much faith in his future as an author and illustrator.

  Elena handed off Nadia to the little girl’s mother, Kara, sitting at the far end of the table. “I’m curious, Elizabeth. How did you react when you learned he’s the incredible, new sensation in children’s literature, Jay Phillips?”

  Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

  “Elena,” Jade warned.

  Cassandra stared at her, wide-eyed. “You didn’t know? And you’ve been together for like, what, the entire summer?” In a softer voice, she added, “What did he tell you about his writing? How did you think he could afford that new set of wheels parked out front?”

  Elizabeth set her glass on the oak table. Her voice was quiet yet firm. “I know what Jeremy does. We’ve talked about his career. I’ve seen his writer’s office and I know he’s published his first book.”

  Couldn’t Jade stick up for her? No, she sat there, mute and frozen on her left.

  Bree’s voice was encouraging. “You saw his work. You had to recognize the sketches, thought about how familiar they appeared. Right? His work has been all over the news. I’m impressed how quickly his publisher sold the merchandizing rights for the story characters. Action figures and tee shirts are expected on the shelves by late October for the holiday season.”

  She shrugged. “I haven’t seen any of his sketches.” Her voice caught. “Other than these.” She patted her hoodie pocket.

  “I’m sure he was going to tell you, Elizabeth. He’s very methodical about things,” Jade inserted.

  Elena groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I can’t believe I was the one to say it.”

  “Yeah, it’s usually me with the big mouth,” Cass agreed, breaking the tension.

  Bree rose from her seat and moved to hug Elena. “Maybe it’s a blessing you slipped up. Who knows how long it would’ve been before Elizabeth learned the truth. We’ve known him his entire life and we had no clue he could cook or had a beautiful retreat of a home until a few weeks ago.”

  “He offered to tell me, on the way down here when we were talking about his writing, but I told him it could wait. I trusted him.” Elizabeth’s head began to throb and her stomach was doing those funny flips like she was on a roller coaster ride. Only she wasn’t laughing inside. How well did she really know him and how much would it take for him to trust her?

  Elena sighed. “Well, that makes me feel better. Just don’t tell him I stole his thunder.”

  The three older women entered from the den at that moment, and the conversation turned to the plans for Sunday.

  Elizabeth tried her best to focus, but the throbbing in her head became pounding torture. She pressed her fingers to her temples.

  “You okay, sweetie?” Bree’s mother, Enza, asked.

  “Uh, I think I may have gotten a bit too much sun today. Bit of a headache.”

  “Want pain relievers?” Kara asked, fishing in her purse hanging over the arm of her chair. “I know I had a bottle in here somewhere.”

  “It’s okay, really.” She smiled weakly at the faces staring at her with concern. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to head up to bed. I’m sure I’ll feel much better in the morning.”

  “If you’re sure…” Jade said, rising to join her. “Want me to get Jeremy?”

  “No.” She responded with a bit more force than necessary, immediately regretting
it. “I’m sorry, no.” She turned to everyone. “Enjoy the rest of your evening. If someone could let Jeremy know when he comes in, I’ll see him in the morning.”

  Out of respect for Charlie, an impressionable preteen, Bree had asked Jeremy and her if they minded sleeping in separate rooms. She’d been disappointed then but tonight was thankful for the solitude. She needed privacy to reflect on their relationship. What else was he holding back?

  *

  With a few dying embers left glowing in the fire pit, Jeremy accompanied the rest of the guys into the house. Once in the kitchen, each man headed for his significant other. He glanced around the table. Where was Elizabeth? Jade’s worried eyes met his. She whispered something to Ben and he nodded before moving. She rose from her chair and approached.

  He felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. “What’s wrong?”

  Jade took his arm. “Let’s talk in here.” She pulled him into the next room.

  “Jade,” Elena called. “Don’t you dare.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll explain.”

  “What’s that all about?” Scenarios raced through his head. “Did she insult Elizabeth?”

  “No, nothing like that. We love Elizabeth.”

  “Then why isn’t she in the kitchen with the rest of you?”

  “She had a bit of a headache, said to tell you she was going to get some rest and see you in the morning.”

  “There’s more going on here though than a simple headache. Why didn’t she come out and tell me she was going to bed?”

  “I think she may be a bit upset.” She wrung her hands. “You see, we were all talking about you after she shared the cute cheat sheet you’d made for her, and somehow we got around to your status as an up-and-coming celebrity.”

  “Did anyone tell her my name?”

  “Yup.”

  He slammed his fist into his other palm and cursed.

  “Why are you so pissed, Jer? Elizabeth said you’d offered to tell her your pen name but she hadn’t asked for it. If you were going to tell her anyway, what’s the big deal?”

  “I don’t know. I just, it’s not the way I wanted her to hear it. I wanted to wait until the next book release. Then if it did well, then I was going to tell her. Besides, what if things don’t work out between us? It was safer for her to be ignorant of the connection between Jay Phillips and me.” He wiped a hand across his face then stared at it, realized he was shaking.

  “It’s going to be all right. She won’t tell anyone about your pen name, if that’s what you’re worried about. She understands where you’re coming from and respects your privacy.”

  “How do I really know that?”

  “Because you trust her. You love her. Right?”

  He began to put his hands into his pockets for the coins, but that wasn’t going to be enough. He needed to touch Elizabeth, to know she was okay. “I just met her a month ago. That’s too soon to really know anyone. I need more time.”

  “Don’t make the same mistake I did with your sister.”

  He turned to see Ben standing there in the doorway.

  “We’re not like you and Jade. You two were best friends as kids, grew up in the same town. Elizabeth and I were complete strangers until a month ago.”

  “But you love each other. Grandma Bertie believes that, and so do I.”

  “You don’t get it.” When Ben and Jade stared at him like he had two heads, he explained. “Even if we did love each other, which we don’t, it’s far too soon, love isn’t always enough. We’re too different.”

  “You may not have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but you’ve worked hard and you’re going to do very well in your career. Telling her you’re Jay Phillips should give her the confidence you’ll be on equal financial footing.”

  “That’s just it. It doesn’t matter how much money I make or how many bestseller lists I hit. I’ll never be able to erase the fact that I’m a recovering alcoholic.”

  “That doesn’t seem to affect how Elizabeth views you,” his sister replied.

  “I’m gonna be meeting her family next week. Let’s talk after that and we’ll see who called it.” He crossed his arms.

  “You wouldn’t be committing to her family, but to her. Besides, they only need to know what she chooses to tell them.”

  “We’re in a small town. It will come out.”

  “You’ve no reason to be ashamed of the person you’ve become. Be honest and hold your head high. We can join you, if that would help. I’m sure Elizabeth would agree.”

  He shook his head. “If she and I are going to have a shot at making this relationship work, we have to face this as a couple. It’s just that…I imagine she’s started to wonder after hearing I’m Jay Phillips what else I’ve kept from her.”

  “Go talk to her. Charlie’s asleep by now. No need to worry about upsetting Bree and Jake that you and Elizabeth are in the same bedroom.” Ben clapped him on the back before giving him a nudge.

  “Yeah.” He glanced at the stairs.

  “Good luck, bro.”

  “Thanks. I may need it.” He padded upstairs to her guest room and rapped softly.

  *

  Elizabeth rolled over and gasped.

  Jeremy leaned over her, light spilling into the room from the hall. “You okay? You didn’t answer when I knocked.” He moved to turn on the bedside lamp before sitting on the bed next to her. “Jade said you were complaining of a headache.”

  She sat up and scrunched her nose at him while rubbing her eyes. “I’m fine.”

  “You sure you’re feeling better? You seem kind of out of it.” He sank onto the bed next to her, pushing her hair back from her face, his hand cool on her head. “No fever. That’s good.”

  “I took a few nighttime pain relievers. Guess they worked.” She smiled to reassure him then froze when she saw the bottle of pills in his hand.

  He peered through the clear travel container he’d taken from the nightstand, looking at the variety of pills inside.

  “You took some of these?”

  She nodded, stomach clenched.

  “How do you know which are which?”

  “It’s easy. The little round white ones are the regular ibuprofen, then blue oval ones are the nighttime pain relievers, and the red and blue capsules are—” She stopped, realizing she was on the verge of telling him. “Well, those are pills I won’t be using anymore.”

  Her hesitation must have caught his attention. He turned worried eyes to hers. “What are they for?”

  She lay back down and put a hand over her eyes. “It’s not important.”

  “Then it’s no big deal if you tell me, right?” His voice was quiet yet firm.

  “They’re diet pills, okay? I just took them for the week. I wanted to look my best when we went to the beach.”

  “Are you serious? Your body is rocking. Even if you were overweight, which you aren’t, I wouldn’t want you to take these. They’re not healthy for you.”

  “I know, but the exercise and cutting back on what I ate wasn’t working. I figured I needed something more.” She stopped, hating the desperation in her voice. She swallowed. “I know it wasn’t a good decision, but I’m done with them.” She looked away. “I can’t blame you if you’re angry with me. I know I am.”

  The bed shifted under his weight. “Look at me.”

  She dropped her hand, but stared at a point past his shoulder, wanting to hide under the covers but knowing she had to put on her big girl panties and face the truth. She’d screwed up.

  His eyes were kind. “Don’t knock yourself for one little slip-up. You’re strong.”

  She looked up and met his steady gaze. “My mother urged me to keep going to counseling, but I was feeling so confident. I haven’t been counting calories or over-exercising, but I know where that could lead.” She glanced at the container he’d returned to the nightstand before turning her focus back to him. “I have to stop. I will overcome this.”

  “Aww, bab
y.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up, molding his body to hers. “Like you said, we’re in this together.”

  Elizabeth unclenched her hands, wrapping her arms around his waist, the two of them sitting there on the middle of the bed. A trembling sensation bubbled in her chest, spreading outward until she was rocking in his arms, then weeping, crying until she let it all out. The guilt, the pain, the loneliness, the fear. He understood. He’d lived the obsession and embarrassment surrounding it. He didn’t judge her. He didn’t mock her for being weak. The man knew her deepest shame and still…he accepted her. He stroked her shoulders, her back, her hair, cuddling her until all the tears were gone. She took deep, cleansing breaths then listened to the quiet, the peace within her and between them that remained. They sat together, touching forehead to forehead and holding hands for what seemed to be an eternity.

  Eventually, she lifted her head. “You’re really Jay Phillips?”

  *

  “My middle name is Phillip.” Jeremy slid up the bed to lean back against the headboard. “It wasn’t much of a stretch.” He held out an arm for Elizabeth to join him, wanting the closeness they’d shared the past few minutes to stay with them. As she slid up alongside him, her face puffy and blotchy from her crying jag, his heart swelled. He’d never cared for her more than at this moment. He could even imagine himself loving her, if he knew they stood a chance in hell of overcoming all that stood between them.

  “I’m pretty impressed, but still a bit shell-shocked. I get why you didn’t tell me.” She was quiet as she rearranged the pillows behind her. “Do you think we have a future together?”

  He gazed at her. So, she was worried too, now that she’d had time to reflect on their differences. “If your family is like all the other families I’m used to seeing come up to Starling for the summer, then yeah, we have cause for concern. People like that don’t associate with us locals, unless they require some kind of service from us. Do you really think they’ll view me as an equal? They’re not going to see me as a New York Times Bestseller. They won’t be able to see past my hometown.”