Cover Girl. Nic Tatano
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all night if you have to and read it. You’ll need a cold shower when you’re done.”
“That steamy?”
“That’s the amazing part. There are no sex scenes. It’s a sweet romance but an incredible turn-on. The hero is off the charts. He’s everything women want in a guy, and more. And the chemistry between him and the heroine is smoking hot. Plus, just like Rose’s books, it has an ending no one will ever see coming.”
Jill studied her face and slowly nodded. “First time I’ve seen you smile since…”
Keira bit her lower lip for a moment as her eyes welled up a bit. “Yeah, I know. But even Rose would admit this writer has an amazing voice. And the book has a really clever plot, just like her books did. Look, Bella gave us four days and I trust her, but I want to lock this up as soon as possible just in case this rookie author goes rogue and does something crazy like switch agents and hire an uncle. I want to present our best offer first thing in the morning.”
“You’re that sure?”
“Gretch read it too and she was all flushed like she usually looks after a Chippendales show. She just left for the bar downstairs to find the nearest breathing male she could ravish.”
“And… how does the good Catholic girl know how Gretch looks after a Chippendales show?” Jill raised one perfectly plucked eyebrow. “Hmmm?”
Keira blushed. “I, uh, ran into her one Saturday night when she was leaving the club. I happened to be out for a walk. On, you know, my way to confession.”
“Uh-huh.” Jill chuckled a bit. “Okay, I’ll read it tonight, but let me make a call first.”
“Jill, please don’t call the CEO. You know he’s a cheap bean-counting sonofabitch and doesn’t understand romance.”
“I wasn’t calling him. I’m breaking my dinner date.”
Jill handed Keira a contract and a check. “You think this is enough?”
Keira looked at it and smiled. “Yeah. No debut author is gonna turn down this amount of money and a three-book deal. Bella would never let that happen.” But one worry still ran through her mind. “You clear this with the CEO?”
“Nope. Thankfully he’s on vacation on a cruise ship the rest of the week and for whatever reason I was unable to reach him.” She shrugged as she flashed a wicked grin. “Those satellite phones are so damn unreliable. And, you know, since I’m in charge when he’s out of pocket…”
“This is exactly why I love working for you. He thinks there’s still a glass ceiling in this place and has no idea we broke it and installed a trick circus mirror.”
Jill’s face tightened. “Stop. The thought of him looking even fatter than he is will kill my appetite for the whole day.” She sat opposite Keira. “Well, when this book hits he won’t have a problem. You’re right, it’s incredible. So what time does Bella get in?”
“Nine. I already emailed her and told her I would have an offer at nine-oh-one.”
“Okay. Let me know how it goes. And look, if you need to sweeten the pot a bit, go ahead. You can go twenty percent more if you have to. More than that, call me.”
Alex Bauer looked at the grandfather clock in Bella’s office. The pendulum seemed to be swinging in slow motion.
Bella shook her head. “Will you stop checking the time? Trust me, when Keira says she’ll have an offer at one minute past nine, she’s not kidding. She’s as much a deadline nut as you TV people are. And by the way, don’t ever miss a deadline with her.”
“Never missed one in TV. Not about to start doing it now.”
“Good. Now please try to relax. Your life is about to change in an amazing way when that phone rings in two minutes.”
Alex released his white-knuckle death grip on the arms of the chair opposite Bella’s desk. “Sorry. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
“Trust me, I’ve seen that look before. And you can actually hear it over the phone if the sale isn’t done in person. Making the call is the best part of my job.”
“I can imagine. I’m sure it’s like playing God.”
“In some ways. I mean, I have helped change lives in a big way. But it’s still the author who has to put the words down on paper. Without the unique voice to sell, I’ve got nothing.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Shoot.”
“How do people change when they suddenly become bestselling authors and millionaires?”
Bella leaned back in her chair and folded her hands in her lap. “Interesting question. That’s one I’ve never had asked of me by a writer.”
“Well, I am a reporter.”
“True. Anyway, it runs the gamut. I’ve had some authors become huge egomaniacs and impossible to deal with. Some don’t change at all. A few turned out to be one-hit wonders, blew all their money and are back where they started. A writer can fall off the mountain a lot faster than it takes to get up there. So don’t go out and spend your advance on a Maserati.”
“Who the hell wants a car in New York City?”
Bella smiled and nodded. “That’s the attitude I need to hear. So, you figured out a plot twist to meet the redhead?”
“Well, actually—”
“Hi, Bella!”
Alex saw Bella’s eyes widen and turned around to see who had interrupted him. His eyes matched those of his agent.
It’s her!
I’m not ready—
Oh my God, she’s even cuter up close…
Bella shot Alex a quick look as she stood and moved around the desk to greet the editor. “Keira… I, uh, didn’t know you were actually coming by.”
“I figured for an offer like this I’d bring it by in person. And you know I’m an old-school face-to-face gal.”
Alex stood up and turned to face her.
Keira looked at him and smiled. “Bella, sorry if I interrupted a meeting. Rachel buzzed me in. I told her you were expecting me.”
“Not a problem,” said Bella.
Keira stuck out her hand toward Alex. “I’m Keira Madison, Senior Editor at Starstruck Books.”
And I’m star struck.
Think fast!
“I’m, uh, the author’s cousin, Alexander Bauer,” said Alex, as he shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you,” said Keira. “Is she not coming?”
Bella raised her eyebrows as she looked at Alex and folded her arms as if to say, okay, let’s see you wiggle your way out of this one.
His plan wasn’t completely formulated and his heart slammed against his chest, but he used his considerable television skills to wing it. “Well… she’s, you know, incredibly shy and actually borderline agoraphobic. Plus she, uh, weighs about four hundred pounds and is real sensitive about her appearance, so it’s all I can do to get her to leave the house.” He caught Bella rolling her eyes in his peripheral vision. “We share a place in the city.”
Keira shrugged as if it were no big deal. “Well, shy authors