Page 2 of Tricking an Introvert

Tessa blinked, at a loss for words.

He kept going, “It's my first year.”

So, he was talking to her, because…?

"Tessa." Her answer came with a full minute of delay before she finally said it. "And I can't remember why I laughed. One of the voices in my head, I guess."

Instead of calling nice people in white and locking her up, he grinned and gleaned, "You're an author? My authors keep going on about the voices."

His author? Rather than asking what he meant, Tessa shook her head. “I’m an artist. I have zero cool excuses for the voices. I’m just plain old crazy.”

That was his cue to walk away, just in case her crazy was contagious. Instead, he stayed, leaning on the bar and lifting his hand to call for the bartender's attention. "What are you drinking?"

"I don't know, but can I have it without a hallucinogen this time?" She didn't have any other explanation as to why he'd be here. She was clearly just dreaming the whole thing.

He frowned in concern. "Do you think your drink was doctored?"

Tessa shook her head. "Sorry, no. Again, half of the conversation happened in my head. I was just thinking tonight's weird, that's all."

He glanced behind his shoulder. "Tell me about it. One of my most nightmarish authors is buying me drinks. It's like The X-Files or something."

"Your authors," she echoed, this time daring to engage him. "You're an agent?"

"Publicist," Cole corrected. "I used to work in-house for one of the big five, until one of my friends self-published a couple of years back. He offered me better pay for half the work, so I started to just do it on my own. I only keep half a dozen authors at a time. It's pretty cool."

Tessa could relate. "I used to work nine to five for a toy company. It was lovely, actually, but being able to do my work in bunny PJs, with a tub of ice cream on my lap, is definitely a step up."

"Bunny PJs always win," he concurred.

Tessa wondered whether she'd hit her head on her way up to her room. She had a concussion. Why else would Dark and Handsome be talking to her about bunny PJs? Dark and Handsomes never encountered bunny PJs.

The bartender walked to them, and Cole ordered himself an Old Fashioned. "And whatever the lady will have."

Tessa had only planned on finishing this second flute of champagne and heading back up to her room. She hesitated for all of ten seconds. "Why the hell not?" It was probably a dream anyway, which meant she wouldn't get a hangover. "Another flute of Moet, please?"

It wasn't often that men like Dark and Handsome Cole gave her the time of day. She knew a few of them: Carter Harris, her ex-boss, now married to one of her closest friends and clients.Bennet McFinnley, Trick and Finn Johnson, Wren Richards, the Wolf twins. Every single one of them were either her friends or dating one of her more confident, worldly girlfriends. Considering Tessa couldn't guess why Cole Westbrook bothered with her, she'd enjoy it for a little longer.

In her life, people fell into two different categories: those who drained her mental energy and those who didn't. There were people she adored, but one hour with them and she wanted to run back under the covers for some me-time. They had big personalities, the sort of presence that blinded and exhausted her. Others—who could be strangers, people she disliked, or even her annoying little brother—just weren't that much mental effort.

Surprisingly, Cole was behind door two. She didn't mind speaking to him. And apparently, nor did he her, because when she'd finished her third flute, they were still talking. About his clients and hers. About the convention—he inquired about the attendance the previous year and the table setup.

"Another drink?"

Tessa shook her head. If this really wasn't a dream, three was her limit, or she'd suffer for it in the morning. "I'd better crash. Long day tomorrow."

The polite thing was to pretend to regret leaving a conversation, and Tessa was well versed in the art of faking it.

Tonight, she didn't have to.

As she left the bar, she turned around to glimpse Cole one last time. He was looking at her, so she waved.

What an odd guy. Tessa hoped she'd see him again next year.

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