Love on the Sound

by Matthews, Jamie

  Despite the kids’ talent, and the way their enthusiasm lent a certain charm when lines were flubbed, Amy still found her gaze drawn again and again to Ben. He gave each kid a high five as they came off the stage, his smile a mile wide. He whispered notes into Nathan’s ear before he went on, straightened costumes, moved scenery and seemed to be everywhere at once. His love of the kids, the play and the theater lit him up, made him come alive in a way she hadn’t seen before, and it hit Amy hard—this was his passion. He may have turned his back on his calling temporarily, but his talent and commitment came through so clearly. No way would he leave that life behind forever.

  She sighed and leaned her head against the curtain. And, of course, it would follow that she liked him even more after seeing him devote himself to these kids and take their theater program seriously. The unpleasant thought occurred to her that Ben’s eventual departure might be a lot harder for her to endure than she wanted to believe.

  Amy set it aside, reminded herself to take each moment as it came. When the play ended, she had no time to think before kids swarmed around the stage, yelling with delight. Ben gathered them up in a huge group hug and announced that, continuing with the tradition Jonah had started, he was taking them out for pizza. Amy found herself busy helping the kids put away costumes, cream off makeup, and reunite with their parents.

  At the pizza parlor, Ben had reserved the party room and stood, smiling and shaking hands as parent after parent came in and congratulated him on the performance. The couple from the front row approached him and introduced themselves as Nathan’s parents, Tom and Kelly.

  “He’s been into acting for years,” Tom said, draping an arm around his son with pride. Amy noticed the kid, now back in his goth attire, rolled his eyes, but didn’t move away from his dad’s embrace. If she had to guess, she’d put money on the slight flush on his cheeks being from pleasure.

  “I kept tearing up, because I knew he was talented. But, seeing this…” Kelly trailed off. “I realized he’s meant for bigger things than our quiet island.”

  “Aw, Mom.” Amy was glad to see that Nathan, even though rolling his eyes again, grabbed a napkin for his mother to dry her tears and gave her a quick hug.

  “Nathan is very gifted,” Ben said with a smile. “There’s a number of college theater programs that he’d benefit from, many of them with scholarships. I’ve given him my e-mail—once he decides where to go, he should let me know. I remember what it was like, having to scrape together scholarship monies here and there. I might be able to pull some strings.”

  “Oh my goodness.” Kelly stepped forward to give Ben a huge hug. “Aren’t you just the sweetest man?”

  It could have been awkward so easily, but Ben hugged her back as if he hadn’t just met her five minutes ago.

  “Mom, seriously.” Nathan shook his head. “Chill out.”

  Kelly transferred her hug to Nathan, holding on tight even when he squirmed, a smile fighting to get free at the corners of his mouth. “Nope. Not going to chill. Not even one little bit.”

  Tom shook Ben’s hand. “We’ll let you go. There are other parents who want to talk to you. We just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all the extra work you took on to help Nathan.”

  “It was absolutely my pleasure. Please, keep in touch,” Ben urged Nathan.

  “Watch out, your big softie side is showing,” Amy murmured as the family walked away.

  “Amy, seriously. Chill out,” he responded in a dead on imitation of Nathan’s bored drawl.

  She laughed. “Let’s get some pizza. I’m starving. Who knew children’s theater could be such hard work?”

  Ben sighed with exaggerated exasperation. “What have I been telling you the past few weeks?”

  They each grabbed plates and slices of pie and joined the group at a long communal table. Conversation flowed loud and excited around the room during dinner, and every single parent, as far as Amy could tell, made sure to pull Ben aside and tell him how much their child had enjoyed the play. The only bittersweet moment to the evening came when people started leaving, and the kids said goodbye to Ben. They hugged him, some of them outright teary, others cajoling him into staying for the spring play. Ben hugged each of them back, holding on tight, seemingly as reluctant to say goodbye as they were.

  On the ferry ride back, Ben draped an arm around Amy’s shoulders and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder and yawned.

  “You were amazing today. Did I mention that?” he asked, stroking her hair.

  “Me? What about you? You had those kids in the palm of your hand. I mean, I know there weren’t any red carpets, limos or tuxes, but you seemed to have a great time.”

  “It was the best premiere I’ve been to in…a long, long time. Maybe ever,” Ben said.

  Amy snuck a glance up at him and realized he was serious.

  “And afterward, all those parents thanking me. It’s the first time that I can remember where people have gushed over me for something good that I did, rather than just because I’m Ben Morrison, Hollywood star.” Ben sighed. “I felt like I should be the one thanking them—those kids were incredible. I had the time of my life.”

  “You’re a natural director,” Amy said. “At least, it seemed so to me. Maybe you should consider that rather than acting.”

  “I’m done with all that.” Ben took her hand and helped her up when the ferry docked. They walked hand in hand off the boat and got into Ben’s car.

  Amy stayed silent as he navigated the road that led up to On the Sound. “Are you, though?” she asked finally, when he pulled into the inn’s parking lot.

  “Am I what?” He turned off the car and faced her in the growing darkness.

  “Done with all that Hollywood stuff? Because…” Amy hesitated, then pushed forward. “You’re writing the screenplay, directing a play, and you said you even mended fences with your old agent—and all of those things seem to bring you happiness. You may have run from Hollywood, but not very far.”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?” Ben asked. He smiled, but she sensed seriousness behind his question.

  “Of course not.” She brushed a hand across his cheek. “I just don’t know if you should give up on—what is it you called it? Your craft.”

  “It hasn’t been a craft for a long time. Crap, yes. Craft, not so much.”

  “What I saw tonight was talent. Joy. Both in your face and the faces of those kids. You have a gift, Ben. Are you throwing that away?”

  She couldn’t read his face well in the dim evening light, and when he didn’t respond, she wondered if she’d gone too far. After all, who was she to presume to know what decisions were best for him? A few orgasms….okay, a ton of orgasms…didn’t make her the expert on his life.

  “Here’s the only thing I know,” he said finally, leaning over and holding both her hands in his. “I love what I’m doing now, which yes, may be related to acting and movies and all that. But, I’m doing it for myself. For, like you said, joy.” He brushed his lips gently over hers. “I know that I’m happy here, on this island. With you.”

  He deepened the kiss, took her under until her head swam, and her limbs felt loose and heavy. “Tonight, it’s just you and me. This is what’s real, right here, right now.”

  It was all too easy to agree, to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him back. Reality would intrude soon enough, she thought when he pulled back, and they got out of the car.

  When she rounded the hood, Ben took the keys from her hand and swept her up into his arms, carrying her towards the door. She giggled, then moaned as he took her earlobe between his teeth and bit gently. He managed to get the door open and carried her into the house to the sitting room, where he laid her on the couch.

  “I believe we have some unfinished business here,” he said with a wicked grin. He grabbed a condom from his pocket and set it on the coffee table.

  In response, Amy reached for him, but he had already walked away to the fireplace
, where he touched a match to the kindling and logs that were already set up. As flames began to catch and crackle, he moved around the room, lighting the candles she had placed here and there, before turning off the light.

  He knelt on the floor before her, the flickering candlelight throwing shadows across his face. Slowly, he eased off her shoes and socks, massaging her feet with those strong, sexy hands. When he pressed his thumbs up and down the length of her arches, she sighed with pleasure.

  Time seemed to stop as they undressed each other, one piece of clothing at a time, stopping here and there to caress, explore, kiss. Amy’s desire grew steady and slow, like the flames licking the logs. She gave herself over to this man, who she hadn’t thought could be sexier. The sight of the firelight playing over his skin, the muscles rippling underneath as he slid down her body was one of the most beautiful things she’d seen.

  Amy reached down and cradled his face in her hands, kissing him while his fingers slid into her hair, and he cupped her head. She drew in his breath, tasted his tongue and drank him in like wine. When they finally parted, she pulled him on top of her on the couch, limbs limp and heavy. He whispered her name as he entered her. She lost herself in the sea of blue that was his eyes, as he moved in and out with slow, easy strokes. His gaze never wavered as he began to move faster, and her breath began to quicken.

  “Come for me,” he whispered, and her body responded immediately, pulsing in waves that had her head falling back, had her gasping for air.

  The shockwaves still ebbed through her when she lifted her head and met his eyes.

  “Come for me,” she demanded, and he moaned, pistoning his hips. He shouted her name as he came, and she orgasmed again around him, fast and hard.

  They lay, panting, on the couch, bodies slick with sweat. Amy watched the candles cast shadows on the wall and nestled back against Ben when he slid out of her and pulled her against him. He grabbed the throw off the back of the couch and wrapped them up.

  Amy lay, her head on Ben’s chest, and listened to his steady heartbeat. Her eyes grew heavy, and the last thought she had before she drifted off to sleep was she had thrown her arm across his chest, as if to hold him in place. As if to keep him there, forever.

  Chapter 21

  Amy’s eyes popped open at 6 a.m. the day before Thanksgiving, right when her alarm shrilled. Ben groaned and buried his face in his pillow. Normally she would agree, but today, her to-do list began scrolling through her mind. Prep the stuffing. Get the spare tables out of the garage and clean them off. Put up festive lights along the front walkway.

  “Stop that,” chided Ben, his voice muffled. He rolled over and draped his arm around her. “You’re thinking too loudly.”

  Amy sat up, the covers falling away. “I have to get up.”

  “Nope. Not right this minute.” He reached up and kneaded the tight muscles in her neck, and she sighed.

  “You have about an hour to stop doing that.”

  He laughed and pulled her back down, rubbing her back with lazy strokes. “Talk to me about why you’re so nervous. It’s your friends and family. They love you. Everything will be fantastic.”

  Amy laid a hand over his heart and took comfort in the slow, steady beat. “Exactly. Family. My parents have been up here to visit just once a year since I moved up here. My sister, twice in the last four years. Kevin’s parents have never been here since I’ve reopened On the Sound. They still have such a hard time on the holidays.” She paused. “I just want things to be perfect.”

  “Do you? Have a hard time on the holidays?”

  Amy gave his question some thought. “No, not any more. I actually feel comforted—surrounded by family and friends and like Kevin is looking down on me from wherever he is, wishing me well.”

  Ben ran his hand down her hair. “That’s a nice thought.”

  She propped herself up on her elbow. “What do you usually do on Thanksgiving? Not be with family, I take it?”

  He grimaced. “That’s a definite no. Lucas and Steve, they’re family. Sometimes I’ll go hang with one of them. But the last few years, I haven’t made it—Steve’s divorce, Lucas and Mary were recovering from the miscarriage, or I was in the middle of a film. Didn’t really want to spend it with any of my showbiz friends, which tells you something about what great friends they were. It was just me and my Chinese takeout.”

  “Sounds lonely,” murmured Amy, brushing the hair off his forehead.

  He smiled at her. “Not this year. But, if you feel sorry for me, I know how you could make it better…” He guided her hand down lower.

  She laughed and scooted away. “Always tempting, but no.”

  When he got out of bed and started toward her, she held out her hands in protest. “Seriously. Stay away from me. Go to your own room and shower. I’m putting you to work.”

  “We could shower together.”

  She couldn’t help but smile at the hopeful look on his face. “And, then it would take an hour instead of 10 minutes. Go away, and stop tempting me.”

  Amy heard him sigh and gather up his clothes. She turned when she reached the bathroom door and waited until he glanced up, then ran her hands down over her breasts and licked her lips.

  “I’ll give you something to be thankful for later,” she said, loving the way his eyes darkened.

  “It’s a deal.” He crossed the room in two strides, hauled her up against him for a rough kiss and then left. Amy took a deep breath and had to hold herself back from running after him. God. No one had ever been able to rev her up from nearly zero to 60 so quickly before.

  After showering, she headed downstairs to make breakfast and ate one handed while adding to her to-do list. When she was done, Ben grabbed the list and scanned it.

  “I’ll get out the tables and scrub them down.”

  Amy made a face. “Are you sure? I meant to get them last weekend—they’re pretty cobwebby.”

  A knock at the front door had her checking her watch. “That can’t be Jack and Deb. It’s way too early.”

  “We’re early,” began Jack when she opened the door. Amy took one look at his short, stocky frame, gray hair, adorable goatee and twinkling green eyes and threw her arms around him. He held on tight and rocked back and forth a little.

  When they pulled back, Amy saw that he, too, had tears in his eyes.

  “It’s been too long,” he said, shaking his head. “Too damn long.”

  “I hope we’re not too early.”

  Amy turned her attention to Deb, who, at 5’4”, clocked in a full inch shorter than her. She’d gained a few more pounds since Amy had seen her last, and her curly hair was cut shorter and had turned completely silver. Her big blue eyes widened at the sight of Ben, hovering discreetly in the hallway.

  “You’re always welcome here, Deb, no matter the time.” Amy hugged her, relieved when Deb hugged back. “Come on in, both of you. Where’s your luggage?”

  “I’ll get it.” Ben smiled and stepped forward. “I’m Ben. I’m a guest here, and today, head table cleaner.”

  He and Jack shook hands, and Jack led him to the car to grab their bags.

  Amy blushed when she realized she was ogling Ben’s ass as he walked away, but when she snuck a look at Deb, she noticed the older woman doing the same.

  “Oh my.” Deb fanned herself. “He’s just as delicious as he is on screen, isn’t he, honey?”

  Amy hadn’t heard Deb crack a joke in the last four years. She grinned and offered up thanks, yet again, for Ben’s excellent ass. Then, she took a deep breath and tackled head on what would surely be evident soon.

  “He is. In fact, we’re kind of….” Amy trailed off. “Dating. I mean, not seriously. He’ll go back to Hollywood in a few weeks. We’re just, um.” She forced herself to stop talking before she blurted out to her former mother-in-law that she was just having awesome sex.

  Sadness flitted into Deb’s eyes, then away. She patted Amy’s hand. “Looks like you hit the jackpot, my dear.”
<
br />   Amy laughed, still nervous. “I didn’t want it to be awkward.”

  Deb tilted her head. “Amy, it’s been four years. No one, least of all me, is going to judge you. Now. Let’s take a look at the place. Why, it’s been at least seven years since I’ve seen it.”

  Amy took Jack and Deb on a tour of On the Sound. She started with their room, on the other side of the inn from Ben’s, which shared the same sweeping ocean view. In contrast to Ben’s room, light blue paint graced the walls, echoing the sky and sea. A local artist had fashioned a chandelier out of driftwood, and the bleached blonde wood on the rustic bed frame echoed the seaside theme. Seashells filled clear glass vases. Rather than generic pictures of the beach, however, Amy had chosen different black and white shots of On the Sound through time, with the ocean in the background. As luck would have it, she’d found a shot of Jack, Deb, Kevin and his brother when both boys were young. The family posed behind a sand castle listing to one side, On the Sound standing tall in the background. Jack and Deb beamed, each with a hand on their boys, who grinned, all mischief.

  Jack and Deb zeroed in on the photo right away and stood in front of it for a long moment. He reached over to take his wife’s hand, and she leaned against him.

  “I framed you a copy.” Amy indicated to the wrapped package on the bed. “You probably already have one…”

  Jack cleared his throat. “No. No, we don’t.”

  “Remember Amelia taking that photograph?” Deb smiled and touched the glass with a finger, across Kevin’s childish face. “Jeremy stomped on the sand castle right afterwards, and Kevin screamed and screamed.”

  “Then they threw sand at each other, and some of it got in Jeremy’s eye.” Jack chuckled. “Amelia grabbed them both by the ear—she’s the only person I’ve ever seen actually do that.”

  “Hauled them both to the water and dumped them in. She was amazingly strong,” marveled Deb. “The boys thought that was the funniest thing ever.”

  “She told us to get ourselves to the porch and grab ourselves a big glass of wine. She let them play on that beach all afternoon, screaming like hellions, while we sat back and just watched.” Jack pressed a kiss on Deb’s head. “We stayed away from this place for too long.”