Teacher: Act Two (A Hollywood Rock n' Romance Trilogy Book 2)

by Merrill, R. L.

  “I’m gathering that,” I said with a laugh to hide my anxiety.

  Danny came in then and said, “Hey, honey! I want to introduce you to some people.” I looked to Nora and Connie for help, but they just shook their heads. I put on my best performance smile.

  “It would have been nice if I changed clothes for this. I have Legs' hair all over me from the vet!” I looked down at my semi-wrinkled long skirt and hoped for the best.

  “You look gorgeous, honey. C’mon,” he said, tugging me out of the room. The ladies just laughed at me and I knew I was in for it.

  The folks I hadn’t met yet consisted of Patricia’s husband, Max, who also worked at Slade. He shook my hand enthusiastically and congratulated us. Patricia asked to see my pendant and leaned in close.

  “It turned out perfect, Danny!”

  I turned to him and he was grinning. “It looks gorgeous on her, doesn’t it? Patricia helped me order it. I was so glad it was ready in time. That’s where I went while you were with Connie the other night.”

  “I love it,” I whispered to him and he kissed my cheek. Patricia congratulated me on not strangling him while we did our schoolwork and reminded me of our shopping trip Saturday.

  “I know just where to go and what to get,” she said excitedly.

  I gave her my best smile and said, “It will be fun. Thank you for taking me.” She said it was her pleasure and Danny gave me a knowing look.

  Next he led me over to meet Ron, the producer, and his wife, Shirley.

  “I’m so glad Danny will be bringing an actual date to the wedding,” Shirley said.

  Alex was nearby and said, “What do you mean? I thought we were going, bro?”

  Danny slapped him on the back. “Dude, she looks so much better in a dress and while I love you, I’m not in love with you. It’s time we move on.”

  Alex faked looking crushed then recovered. “I was bringing Rebecca anyway, smartass.”

  Ron thanked me for all the hard work I put in with Danny. “This diploma means a lot to him. He’s been talking about it for a long time. I’m glad it worked out.”

  I nodded. “Me, too. He did all the hard work, though.”

  He raised an eyebrow at Danny, who gestured innocently to me. “She’s the boss! Whatever she says goes, man.”

  I also met Julian and Bronson’s parents, Alex’s sister Rebecca, and a few other people from Slade that I couldn’t remember their names. The Mannings were high class. Mrs. Manning was polite, but I got the sense she found me lacking. I didn’t take offense. I was used to people looking down on me for my profession. I wondered if she would receive me differently if she knew about my dance career, if I still had one. Not that I wanted to fit into her world, but I certainly didn’t want Danny getting any flack about me.

  Everyone stood around chatting and snacking. Jane made the rounds and told everyone about Legs, who was being fussed over in the kitchen by Rebecca. She was probably the most down-to-earth person I’d met so far and I looked forward to hanging out with her again, apparently at the wedding.

  A few people asked Jane about her mom. She handled their questions well, I thought, but I could see she was uncomfortable.

  “Hey Jane, why don’t we see if Legs needs to go outside,” I offered, to save her from a grilling by the Mannings. She looked relieved as she took my hand.

  “Thank you,” she said as we hooked on Legs’ leash and led her out back. “Mrs. Manning is really nice, but she’s kind of nosy. She really likes my mom and is always hoping my parents will get back together.” She shuddered. “As if!” We both giggled and laughed at Legs sniffing around for the perfect place to pee.

  It was early evening by this point and the temperature was perfect. I noticed Jane looking longingly at the pool.

  “It certainly looks inviting,” I whispered to her. She pouted up at me and I put my arm around her. “We’ll have time later, don’t worry. Remember, it’s your pool now, too.” She beamed up at me and I gave her a squeeze.

  We stayed out there just long enough to be missed, apparently. Danny came outside with a frown and said, “I wondered where my girls had gone to.” He put his arms around us and kissed us both.

  “We were just thinking about a swim,” I said and his expression turned serious.

  “That does sound good. Let's kick these freeloaders out of here and get down to it."

  We followed him back in to find that the majority of people were already on their way out. We said our goodbyes, shook hands, kissed cheeks until all that was left were "the guys," Connie, and Nora. They agreed with us that swimming sounded great so we all went to change. I learned that "the guys" had their own closet at the house for when they crashed or came over to swim.

  I went into the spare room and got dressed. There was a knock at the door as I was tying the back of my suit. I found Danny there, ready to go in his trunks. His smile dropped when he saw me. He quickly came in and closed the door.

  "Fuck me, Jesse! How am I supposed to be around you in front of others when you look this fucking edible?" He turned me around and I blushed at his compliments.

  I was wearing a two-piece that I thought covered me well enough, but as long as I am, there is always inevitably a lot of skin showing.

  "I'm sure you'll behave," I mocked him.

  He grabbed my hand and held it to the front of his trunks. I gulped at what I found there. "You sure about that," he said. He leaned towards me and kissed me lightly, teasingly.

  I moaned against him. "Danny," I whispered. "It's just a bathing suit."

  "It is not just a bathing suit. It's the most beautiful woman in the world standing before me in a few tantalizing scraps of material." He pulled at his lip. "There are so many things I'd like to do to you right now that don't involve being social with other people."

  "There's time for that later, naughty boy. You still have celebrating to do." He nodded, seemingly transfixed by my lack of attire. I frowned. "Baby, is this going to be a problem? Would you rather I don't swim? I can get a one-piece..."

  "Don't be ridiculous. I just have to get past the fact that the guys are going to drool all over you. Can't be avoided. Shit, you could be wearing a muumuu and would still cause me to tent my fucking shorts."

  I giggled at his crassness and kissed him one more time. "Alright, let's go, perv."

  The pool lights were on and the music was turned up. The guys, Connie, and Jane were all in the pool, while Nora sat on a lounge chair with Legs. We came outside and Alex shouted.

  "Now we know what took you so long."

  Danny told him to fuck off and jumped in the pool to chase after Jane. I walked around to the shallow end and sat on the edge with my feet in the pool. The water was perfect. The temperature was perfect. It had been such a great day.

  Bronson floated over to me on his back. He told me he was glad I was feeling better and thanked me for all the support I’d given Danny.

  “It was my pleasure, Bronson. Your parents seem excited for you guys! That’s great that they are so supportive.”

  He shrugged and closed his eyes. “They mostly care that we’re in the spotlight. They still think our music is shitty noise.” I laughed and he opened an eye, his face turning serious. "I apologize if my mother was not quite welcoming. She's had it in her head that Danny and Brooke would get back together, just loved the whole storybook actress-marries-bad-boy romance. She adores Brooke. Doesn't matter to her that she's a bitch and she royally screwed Danny over."

  I glanced around to make sure Jane wasn't in earshot. "It’s fine, I’m a big girl. I can't do anything about any of that, but it bothered me that she was pushing Jane for details. You might want to let her know that Jane is a little sensitive about her mom right now and would rather not talk about her."

  He snorted. "That would only egg her on, unfortunately. But I'll say something. Jane seems so happy right now, I don't want that messed up."

  I agreed with him and then stood up to wade further in the water. I
could feel eyes on me and I turned to see Julian talking to Danny, who was staring at me with a hungry smile on his face. I winked at him and he went back to his conversation.

  "So Uncle Bronson, how come you can't still dance like Uncle Julian?" Jane had wandered over to us and I had to bite my lip to stifle a laugh.

  Bronson rolled his eyes and ducked his head back under the water. "Did he say that? Listen, I can dance just as good as him. I just gave it up earlier to focus on music. That's why I'm the lead guitarist and he plays bass."

  Julian turned on him and splashed us. "Is that right? I think it has more to do with the fact that I have a much better natural rhythm than you. You quit because you knew I was better."

  "Wow, sibling rivalry much?" I hoped this wouldn't escalate. "Maybe we should have a dance off," I offered.

  Danny stepped in. "Now honey, not the night before we go into the studio. Can't have these clowns falling and hurting themselves." He swam around behind me and pressed against my back.

  We stayed in the pool for another hour and then Bronson and Julian left because they had dates. Alex and Connie had been chatting the whole time off by themselves. If I wasn't mistaken, it was not merely a platonic exchange. When they both got out together and went in to change, Danny and Nora exchanged a laugh.

  "Did I miss something?"

  Danny pulled me away from Jane a little and whispered, "He's been trying to get Connie to go out with him forever and while she likes him, she doesn't want to just be a fling."

  I watched them walk through the house toward the back, smiling at each other. "I could see that. I could definitely see them hitting it off."

  Then I turned to see Nora toweling off Jane. "How about Nora, Danny? Why is she still single?"

  He pulled me close and kissed my shoulder. "Nora has been on her own for a long time and says she's happy that way. I know she was in love once and that she got burned. That's about all she'll ever say. I try to spoil her. I want her to be happy."

  I turned to face him and said, "You make everyone happy, Danny. What makes you happy?"

  He pulled me in close, wrapping my legs around his waist. "This. You here with me. Jane here. Legs here. My career on track and my voice working. But mostly, it's you, Jesse. I love you so fucking much."

  I giggled as his hands started to roam and I cleared my throat. "I think you'll have to curtail that activity," I whispered as Jane walked up next to us on the walkway.

  "Legs and I are going to bed now. I love you, Daddy! I'm glad your voice is working."

  He pushed up on the side of the pool and gave her a kiss.

  "Goodnight, Jane! We'll finish our plans for the weekend after your dad leaves tomorrow."

  Danny looked down at me with a frown. "Plans?"

  I nodded, pushing away from him. "Mmmm hmmm, girl stuff. Top secret girl stuff."

  He growled and came after me, but I was already climbing out of the pool. Jane laughed and went in the house, calling goodnight over her shoulder.

  Danny hurried past me and picked up a towel to wrap me in, then he dried himself hurriedly. "So you guys are scheming already and I'm not even out of the house?"

  I nodded. "Naturally. We can't wait! We need to be ready to go as soon as you're gone!"

  He actually looked worried.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and said, "Relax, Daddy. We're only talking pre-teen girls having pizza and a pool party. She mentioned she was missing her friends, so I was going to ask you if we could have a couple girls over one afternoon."

  He gazed at me in wonder. "You are so good at this shit. I can't believe I didn't think about that. Of course, she's got to be missing her friends. I've met a couple of kids, but I’m not really sure who she hangs out with." He ran his hands over his face and started pulling at his lip.

  "Danny, you've been a little preoccupied! Don't worry! It's fixable! We'll have us a little girl party, ain't no thang. You just go concentrate on that amazing voice of yours." I smiled shyly and whispered against his ear. "You sounded like perfection this morning. It had quite an effect on me."

  I felt him suck in a breath. "An effect, huh? Why don't you come take a shower with me and show me this effect?"

  My smile dropped a little. "Maybe we should wait ‘til Jane's asleep?"

  He studied me for a minute. "Ok, if that would make you feel better."

  I took his hand and led him over to the fire pit. He turned on the fire and sat next to me, throwing his arm over the back of the couch.

  "I can't tell if I'm not being sensitive enough or if you're being extra sensitive. Jane knows we love each other. She knows we're adults, and probably even knows a lot about what adults who love each other do when they are alone together."

  "Yeah, but Danny, we're not married. I want to set a good example for her. I don't want her to think I'm a booty call or some kind of slut."

  Danny was pissed. "What the fuck are you talking about? She doesn't look at you that way!"

  "I hope not, and I don't want her to! Just because she knows what we do doesn't mean we have to do it right under her nose!"

  Danny leaned forward and laced his hands between his knees. He was quiet for a minute and I really hoped I hadn't just majorly screwed things up on what was supposed to be such a great day. When he started speaking again, his voice was low and strained.

  "I came from a traditional home where my parents never showed any affection toward each other, and my father cheated on my mother regularly. Then I got married, ended up in a loveless relationship, and got cheated on. Now I find you, I'm totally fucking crazy about you, and I feel like finally I have the kind of relationship that is a good model for my daughter. I want her to find love like we have, Jesse. I want her to end up with a guy who will love her as much as I love you, and I believe she sees that in how we are around each other. And yes, that means we have sex! We're adults in a loving relationship! That's what we're fucking supposed to do! To hear words like 'booty call' used in reference to what we're doing bothers me. I would never treat you like that and I would certainly never bring someone like that around Jane."

  He was right on so many levels. I was just not used to any of this.

  "I'm so sorry, Danny. I just worry about her. She’s at such an impressionable age. I don't want to be the cause of any discomfort on her part."

  He looked over at me and took my hand in his. "I appreciate it so much that you are concerned about her. But don't hide behind that. If it’s the marriage part, let's do it! I'll fucking marry you right now!" He must have felt me tense up because he exhaled a frustrated breath and pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry, too, Jesse. I'm being pushy. I just feel like everything is almost right in my world and I don't want anything to jeopardize that. I told you I'd take it easy, so I'm trying."

  I smiled at him and snuggled closer. "I don't want you to stop talking like that." He pulled back suddenly, looking down at me as if to be sure he'd heard what he thought he heard. "I love it that that's where your head is at, baby. It's scary for me, but it's not because I don't want the same thing. Just give me a little more time to get used to the idea. Today was pretty heavy, and honestly, it’s a little intimidating knowing that there are still some folks who have been hoping you and Brooke would get back together."

  He jerked back like he'd been slapped. "Are you joking? Who?"

  I hoped I wasn't opening a can of worms here. "Apparently Mrs. Manning has quite the Brooke fan club going. I tried to get Jane away from her before she really started digging, and then Bronson mentioned it as well. He doesn't agree with her, by the way, and had some colorful words for Brooke."

  Danny shook his head and mumbled, "You think she'd have figured out that after four years it wasn't going to happen. Yeah, Bronson is not a huge Brooke fan. They've traded words on a few occasions."

  Ugh, I hated all this ugliness seeping into our world and I told him as much. He took me in his arms and held me against his chest.

  "Then let's go shower and let me
get back to those thoughts I was having when I first saw you in this suit earlier. You can show me just what an effect I had on you this morning. I'll sing for you if necessary." He waggled his eyebrows at me and I was just so damn happy to be with him in this moment that I vowed to let the other shit go for a while and just enjoy our time together.

  Our shower was heavenly and he didn’t need to sing to have an effect on me. He took his time untying my strings, kissing his way around the seams of my bottoms. But his patience was short-lived. We made love frantically against the wall. Then we slowed down, washing each other, kissing each other and just enjoying each other’s bodies. When we finally made it to his bed, we collapsed in a heap and just held on. We talked about everything and nothing. It was one of the most peaceful times we’d ever spent together. Around three a.m. he pulled me close again and we made love reverently. My heart was spilling over with love for this man. I thought I could never be happier than I was at that moment.

  “Danny,” I whispered. He snuggled close to me and was starting to breathe evenly. “Danny, I’m going to go to the other room.”

  He opened an eye and pouted. “Please, Jesse? I just want to hold you tonight. It’s been a nearly perfect day, let it end that way, too?” I felt the same but was still worried. I climbed out of bed and he cried out, “Don’t go!"

  I snickered. “I’m just grabbing a t-shirt. That way,if we get caught, at least one of us has clothes on.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “You’re killing me, honey. Get your fine ass back in my bed before I spank it.”

  I slid in next to him and he pulled said-ass tight up against him. “Mmmm, now it’s a perfect day. I love you, Jesse. Now get some rest. You’ve got a big weekend ahead. And you better get some naps in because I’m going to want you in my bed when I get home.”

  “Yes, Mr. Bossypants,” I murmured against his arm and I swear his last words were, “Damn right.”

  Chapter Eight

  Danny didn’t leave for the studio until around noon. He said it was pointless because Julian and Bronson never woke up early for any reason. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. Jane wandered in after ten, and she asked him about inviting her friends over.