Teacher: Act Two (A Hollywood Rock n' Romance Trilogy Book 2) (21 page)

“He is well. He’s still there at that place every day for lunch. Even though he sold it, he still goes in and entertains the guests, drinks with his old buddies. I guess it’s what keeps him young. Your Gran goes with him most days. You’ll likely see her there if you go.” Danny nodded, drinking his tea. His father turned his attention to me. “So, is Jesse short for Jessica,” asked Mr. Black.

My cheeks flushed a little at the question. “No. My father was convinced I was going to be a boy. When he learned I wasn’t, he was too used to calling me Baby Jesse to make a change.”

Fiona laughed and Danny smiled appreciatively.

“And what does your father do, Jesse?”

“He’s a custodian for the Fremont School District,” I answered, wondering what kind of response I would get.

He nodded, thoughtfully. “And your mother?”

“She was a ballerina. Now she does volunteer work.” I felt a bit scrutinized under Mr. Black’s attention. Fiona must have sensed my discomfort.

“A dancer! How wonderful! Did she perform locally?”

I nodded. “She was with the Oakland Ballet for part of her career and then she danced with a couple of travelling companies. She was quite sought after.”

“I wonder if I ever saw her! Daniel and I used to attend the Oakland Ballet, didn’t we dear?”

He nodded. “Yes, Fiona has always been fond of the ballet. Are you a dancer as well?” He certainly had questions. 

Danny squeezed my hand and said, “Jesse is an accomplished dancer. She teaches at a local studio in addition to teaching with the High School Independent Study Program.” I smiled at his praise.

Fiona’s eyes lit up. “I would love to see you dance sometime! Do you perform with a company?”

“No,” I admitted, preparing for the inevitable questions. “I gave up ballet as a young person and focused on Broadway Tap and Jazz. I danced professionally for a few years, but I don’t perform any longer.” I had wanted to avoid the topic of my health. Luckily Jane jumped in with a much-needed diversion.

“Jesse is going to take me to her Jazz class starting in September!”

Fiona gushed over her at that point and started asking her about her horse riding. Danny also told Fiona he was starting to teach Jane guitar and piano.

Fiona got a proud look on her face. “It’s about time. I was surprised you didn’t start her earlier.” She smiled conspiratorially at Danny and he shrugged.

“She is my daughter, Ma. She had to do it in her own time.” They exchanged a loving smile. I could see just how much Danny loved his mother.

“Dancing and music are all well and good, Jane, but how are you doing in school,” Mr. Black asked.

Jane beamed. “I was on the honor roll this whole last year and I won an award for science!”

“That’s as it should be,” he remarked. “Are you still planning to become a veterinarian?”

“Yes, sir. I even got to meet a vet last week when Jesse and I took our new puppy, Legs, in for a checkup. Dr. Santillan let me come in the back and help!” She told them all about the visit and how the vet told her she knew a large animal doctor Jane might be able to visit with.

“A puppy,” Mr. Black huffed. “Never understood the desire to have livestock. They’re nothing but trouble.”

Jane frowned. “Grandpa, Legs is not trouble! She’s really good! We’ve started training her and everything.”

He shook his head and smiled at her, patting her on the knee. “I suppose you’ve got to get some practice in if you are going to be working with animals.”

The conversation covered several bland topics until a knock at the door interrupted. Fiona got up to let in the guests, who turned out to be Mr. Black’s brother, Simon, and his son, the infamous Seamus. Other guests who joined us included two other families the Blacks had been friends with since Danny was young. Danny introduced me to everyone and we made small talk until dinner. Jane and I went to wash up together. Once in the bathroom, she made a face in the mirror.

“Gah, I didn’t know these dinner parties were so boring.”

I giggled. “You’re doing a great job of hiding it. Your father, however, might need a good kick under the table if he lets out anymore huge sighs.”

She laughed. “You’re really good at showing interest.”

I shrugged. “Everyone is really nice. I really like your grandmother.”

Jane nodded. “She is so sweet. I’m so glad I got to see her.”

“We’ve got to get her down to visit your father. She is so proud of him and I don’t think he even knows.”

We finished up and made our way to the table. Fiona cooked a huge meal of roast, rice pilaf, asparagus, sourdough bread, salad, and for dessert, she made a decadent cheesecake. Dinner conversation settled on Seamus and his growing practice. Apparently he performed LASIK surgery on all the Silicon Valley bigwigs and made a very good living. Danny’s sneer had me thinking there was definitely some rivalry between the two.

“Danny, you should let me do your surgery. You still wear contacts, don’t you?”

Danny took a drink of wine and said, “There’s no way I’m letting you mess around with my eyes, Cousin. I know where your hands have been.”

Seamus lifted his glass at Danny and smiled wickedly. “Touché,” he said and took a long drink. Danny did not appear to be amused. What the hell was going on between these two?

“Danny, you’re being silly. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have surgery. Aren’t the contacts a pain,” his father asked.

He shook his head. “Nah. I don’t mind it.”

His father grunted and said, “You always have been too stubborn for your own good.”

Fiona frowned and I grabbed for Danny’s hand under the table.

“Speaking of stubborn, Aunt Fiona says you finally got around to finishing school. Congratulations,” Seamus said.

Danny thanked him and said, “It’s been a great experience.” He winked at me and I felt my face flush.

Seamus picked up on Danny’s look. “That’s right! That’s how the two of you met. How lucky for you, Danny. Seems you found the perfect woman. Smart, beautiful, and willing to put up with you.”

Danny tensed next to me. I nudged him with my foot.

“Danny worked really hard all summer. I’m confident he passed his exams. He’s got a great brain.” He continued eating, his jaw muscles working overtime.

Jane wiped her mouth with her napkin and added, “Yeah, he worked night and day to finish before the exams. It was really hard, too, because he couldn’t talk for most of the time.” Danny gave her a look and her eyes grew wide..

“Why couldn’t you talk, Danny,” Fiona asked, concerned.

He finished chewing and took a drink of wine. “I had throat surgery a few months ago to remove a nodule on my vocal chords. I’m fine.”

Fiona’s face paled even more. “Danny, why didn’t you tell me?” She spoke in hushed tones.

He smiled reassuringly at her. “It was no big deal, Ma. I’m fine.” Her expression showed she didn’t believe him. I couldn't believe he hadn’t told his mother.

Mr. Black shook his head. “That was bound to happen with all that screaming you do. Can’t be healthy.”

This conversation was going to from bad to worse. I prayed someone would jump in and change the subject. Thankfully Seamus’ father, Simon, started asking Danny about the band. He seemed to be a pretty good guy, not stuffy like Mr. Black. He appeared genuinely interested in what Danny had to say.

“We’re in the studio now. Our new album should be finished in a couple months and then the whole cycle starts again.”

Simon asked if Blackened would be playing in the Bay Area and Danny laughed.

“You just tell me what show you want to come to, Uncle Simon. I’ll hook you up with tickets.”

He lifted his glass to Danny and they joked some more.

After dinner the group broke up into smaller conversation groups. Danny led me out onto the patio. Jane wanted to show me the garden, so the three of us stepped outside and down a few steps. The Black’s house had a hill behind it, and cut into the side was a stone staircase. It led up to a second level that was gated. Danny opened the latch on the gate and we were surrounded by the most aromatic roses I’d ever experienced. The garden was breathtaking. I could see why Jane was so in love with it. There were lots of nooks and crannies to hide in and she was exploring them all, despite wearing a dress. Danny watched her with a smile and I wrapped my arms around his waist.

“You are amazing, my love.”

He frowned at me. “What do you mean,” he asked softly. There was pain in his voice.

I held his face in mine. “You are amazing because you made it through that meal without losing your temper. Despite the lack of support from your father, you’ve become a wildly successful man who is a sensitive and loving father.” I ended that diatribe with a kiss, catching him by surprise. When I stepped back, he was blushing.

“Seamus was right,” he whispered. “I did find the perfect woman.” I grinned back at him as Jane came bounding out of the flowers.

“You just about ready to get out of here,” Danny asked her..

“I’m dying to get out of this dress. It’s pretty and all, but I really don’t like wearing dresses. No offense, Jesse. I know you like them and you look awesome in them. But they kind of suck.” I laughed with her and Danny stepped away.

“I’m going to go talk to my mother for a few minutes. I’ll meet you both inside?” We nodded and he stalked off.

Jane frowned. “I don’t like the way Grandpa talks to Daddy. I think he hurt his feelings.”

I hugged her to me. “I think you’re right. Your daddy is pretty sensitive. I hate it that his father doesn’t appreciate him.” She sighed and we walked carefully down the garden steps together. Seamus was on the back patio when we came down smiling like a cocky bastard at us.

“Enjoying the roses? Aunt Fiona should be featured in a gardening magazine. She does a lovely job.” I nodded curtly at him, hoping to avoid conversation. As I went to step past him, however,  he lightly touched my arm.

“Jesse, can I talk to you for a moment,” he asked.

Jane looked confused, so I reassured her. “It’s fine, sweetie. Why don’t you say your goodbyes and I’ll meet you and your dad inside?” 

She nodded, looking suspiciously at Seamus.

He laughed. “I just wanted to tell you how nice it was to meet you. I know Danny’s had a rough time of it. It’s nice to see him happy.”

I wasn’t sure where he was going with this. I stepped back from him. “We are very happy.”

He smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets. “So it’s pretty serious then?”

I frowned and took another step back, my arms crossing. “Yes. I’ve just moved in with him. Why do you ask?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Just curious. Danny and I don’t talk much. I was just wondering if he was ever going to get over Brooke and move on with his life. I guess he has.” So that’s what this was about.

“I guess he has. Look, it was nice to meet you, but I have to go find Danny.”

He started to speak as I turned around and ran smack into Danny. His eyes were on Seamus as he wrapped me in his arms.

“We’re leaving, Cousin. And yes, it’s serious, so you can back the fuck off. She’s not like Brooke.” He took my hand and led me inside with a tug.

“I’m sorry," I whispered.

He shook his head and led me to the door where Jane was saying goodbye to his parents.

“Jesse it was so wonderful to meet you. I hope to see you again soon,” Fiona was saying as she hugged me, kissing my cheek.

Mr. Black shook my hand again, lingering. “It’s been enlightening, my dear. Please come again,” he said.

I definitely did not have a good feeling about Danny’s father, but I made sure I was polite. “Thank you for having us. It was very nice meeting you both.”

Danny kissed his mother, nodded at his father and Jane gave them each one more hug. We passed Simon getting into his car. Danny hugged him affectionately.

“Come see us in L.A. if you make it down for that conference,” Danny added. He hurried us into the car and pulled out of the driveway. He didn’t speak on the way back to the hotel. I prayed he wasn’t angry with me about the conversation with Seamus. I hadn’t said or done anything to make him upset, but now I knew why he was so sensitive about him.

The valet took the car and we trudged up the steps and into our suite. Jane wanted to take a shower before bed so we said goodnight and went into our room. Danny took off his coat and hung it up in the closet, his posture looking weary. I stood watching him as he took off his cufflinks, putting them carefully into a box. Then he took off his belt, rolled it up and stuffed it into his suitcase.

“Danny,” I said quietly. My heart was pounding. I felt terrible for how the night went for him, but was worried anything I said would make his mood worse. He leaned forward on the dresser and put his head down. I stepped over to him and put my hand tentatively between his shoulder blades. He looked up at me in the mirror, his face with that disgusted look. “Baby,” I whispered.

He continued to look at me in the mirror. He finally let out a shuddering breath and turned, leaning his hips against the dresser, his hands dropping to his sides. I stepped in front of him and put my arms around his neck, still worried he would lash out at me. It was not unlike the feeling a lion tamer must get when entering the cage. He didn’t move for a moment. Feeling brave, I let my body press against his and I kissed his neck. I felt him take in a sharp breath and his head fell back. I nibbled his jaw and ran my fingers through his hair. I tugged his hair gently and I felt him moan.

“I love you, Danny,” I said against his lips.

His eyes found mine and his hands gripped my waist, but he didn’t kiss me. He tugged me closer, his eyes full of emotion. He gently pulled the pins out my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders. He was still tense. I smiled tentatively at him, desperate for him to let me in. I reached up to unbutton his shirt. He made no move to stop me, but his eyes were wary.

“Are you attracted to him,” he finally spoke.

I blanched. “Who? Seamus? Are you kidding me?” He grabbed my hands, halting my unbuttoning. I let him hold me like that knowing I had to be really cautious. “Danny, I am not in the least bit attracted to your pompous cousin. Did I lead you to believe that I was?” I prayed his answer was no.