Page 33 of Long Story Short

The panel chair ended the session then. I listened to readers as everyone shifted and got ready to leave, and the comments were definitely more positive about Jake.

‘He answered those questions well.’

‘I like that he has supported other authors.’

‘God, now I really want to read the book he spoke about!’

‘I wonder when it’s out?’

When I heard that, I tapped the woman on her shoulder. ‘You should ask his publishers that on social media.’

‘Good idea,’ she said.

I smiled with satisfaction.

‘It’s gone really well,’ Liv said quietly to me.

‘I think so too,’ I said back. A little bit of hope returned to me that this trip wasn’t going to be a complete failure after all. I quickly typed out another email to Hayley to say the panel had been a success and things were improving and to look on social media. I was praying she would see we were working hard to make it right.

Davis turned to me then. ‘I can’t believe Jake’s managing to pull the wool over people’s eyes like this,’ he groaned.

‘If you hadn’t pushed him to say what he said, he wouldn’t have to try to save his career,’ I replied.

‘Aren’t you worried about what his big secret is?’ Davis challenged me. ‘How about we go for lunch and we can talk about it?’ He gave me a lewd grin.

‘I’m busy, I’m afraid,’ I replied shortly. I understood why he had pushed Jake that night to slag off romance books – he had an uncanny ability to piss people off.

‘Outstaying your welcome again, Mulberry?’

We turned to see Jake standing beside us, eyebrow raised.

‘Not at all – Freya and I have been having a delightful chat, haven’t we?’ Davis said, turning to me with a smile.

‘Yeah, right,’ Liv said with a snort.

Davis ignored her and carried on. ‘I’ve been explaining to her that just because you write romance novels, ladies shouldn’t expect any romance in real life from you. What was your longest relationship again – six weeks?’ Davis cracked, looking up at Jake smugly.

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair as Jake looked stonily down at Davis. The air around them was thick with tension.

‘Look, both of you, we’re in public and the two of you need to?—’

‘I find your obsession with me unsettling,’ Jake interrupted me. ‘Freya is right, though; you’re not worth interacting with. Freya, Liv, let’s head out and leave Mulberry to his own thoughts: the only person who cares to listen to him.’

I noticed Davis’s face turning red so I hastily jumped up before things got any worse. ‘Yes, we have work to do. Bye, Davis,’ I said quickly, before he could say anything else to Jake. The last thing we needed was the two of them getting into a fight and undoing the work we were doing to repair Jake’s opinion in the romance books community.

‘I need to get going for sure,’ Liv agreed, also getting up.

I took hold of Jake’s arm and steered him out of the room with Liv behind us, not hanging around to let Davis say anything else. I kept my hand on Jake as we hurried through the hotel lobby and out into the midday New York sunshine. Once outside, I let go of Jake and could breathe again.

‘I know, I know,’ he said, running a hand through his hair. ‘I need to stop letting Mulberry get to me.’

‘He’s a twat,’ I agreed.

Liv chuckled. ‘A very apt description, Freya. He enjoys getting a rise out of you, Jake. And seems to want to charm you, Freya.’

I grimaced. ‘Well, I wish he wouldn’t bother because I definitely don’t find him charming.’ I glanced at Jake, who was watching me intently. ‘Anyway, we don’t want anything to ruin our progress here. So, I suggest we all stay out of Davis Mulberry’s way for the remainder of the conference. And yes, I’m aware I’m being very bossy right now.’

Liv grinned at me. ‘Bossy women get stuff done as I’m always telling my boyfriend, Aiden.’ She looked at her watch. ‘Right, I need to meet my editor for lunch now so I’ll see you two later.’ She headed off with a cheerful wave.

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