Page 75 of Long Story Short

We left a long pause. I could practically hear Davis’s rapid heartbeat down the phone line. Simon and I grinned across at each other, thoroughly enjoying winding Davis up a little bit. I don’t think anyone would have blamed us for having a little bit of fun with him.

‘Guys!’ Davis cried then, his patience evaporating.

Simon nodded then and I nodded back. We had to put him out of his misery. ‘Number one,’ Simon said.

‘It’s gone straight to the top,’ I added.

There was another silence.

‘I’m sorry, what?’ Davis asked, his voice quiet like he was far away. He sounded dazed. I understood the feeling perfectly.

‘You’re number one on theSunday TimesBestseller List,’ I repeated.

‘This isn’t a wind up, is it, Freya?’ Davis asked suspiciously. ‘Are you getting me back for everything that happened in New York? I won’t blame you if you are…’

I giggled. ‘No, Davis. Your editor should be emailing you the list right now so you’ll see it in black and white.’

‘Your first book to go straight to the top,’ Simon added. ‘Well done, mate. We all worked so hard on this; it’s a great result.’

Davis went quiet. I could hear a tapping sound. ‘He has just emailed… Oh my God. You aren’t winding me up. There I am.’ Davis whistled. ‘Who would have thought adding in some romance would have this effect?’

‘You take back everything you said about romance books then, Davis?’ I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He sighed. ‘I think I might have to. Jake’s just sent me his book to read and I’m kind of getting into it.’

‘Wonders never cease,’ I replied.

‘You two make a weirdly good team,’ Simon said then. ‘I know this agency will be in good hands when I retire,’ he added.

Pride swelled inside my chest. I knew I had a long way to go before I was anywhere close to Simon’s capabilities as an agent, he had decades of experience after all, but I was so keen and enjoying everything about my new job so far.

‘I wouldn’t be here without either of you,’ Davis said then. He coughed a little uncomfortably. ‘Now, I need to go and gloat on social media!’

‘There’s the Davis we know and love,’ Simon said as Davis hung up. ‘Well done, Freya.’

‘It was a team effort,’ I said but I smiled, pleased. My phone lit up with a message from Jake.

Just saw Davis say his book is number one. Congratulations baby!

My smile broadened. I loved how Jake supported me and my career, how we supported each other. I could never have guessed what a big part of my life he would become this year.

But like a good book, life was better when you had no idea what the next chapter might bring.

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER…

‘I can’t wait to tell Liv the good news,’ I said down the phone. I hung up and leaned back in my desk chair, swivelling it around to look out at the London skyline. I would never get tired of the view from up here. After a year working for Simon, I now had my own office opposite his and I loved it. I had signed Liv a year ago, the first author to my own client list, and her book contract with her previous publisher had now ended so I had been working the last few weeks on finding her the best deal I could elsewhere. I had grown to know the team at Turn the Pages really well – not only did they publish Jake but also Tessa, and Liv was best friends with Stevie, who worked as a publicist there so we all had hoped they might want to take her on. And now the official offer had come in from Gita, who was hopefully going to be her editor there. I knew Liv would be over the moon. They wanted four romance novels from her and had a great plan for making her a big success.

I sent Liv a message to ask her to come into the office tomorrow as I wanted to tell her face to face and go over the deal with her, ensuring it was exactly what she wanted. Then I turned off my laptop, grabbed my things and left work. Evening had fallen over the city and it had been a long, busy day so I was looking forward to going home. I took the Tube to Knightsbridge and walked to the Edwardian apartment block that I had fallen head over heels for. I had held out for as long as possible but Jake and I had spent so much time together here that it became crazy not to officially move in. I let myself into the flat and smiled when the smell of something delicious hit me.

‘I’m home!’ I called out, taking off my cowboy boots and putting my bag down on the console table. I let out a breath like I always did when the city was shut out, the work day was over, and I could come into this sanctuary.

I walked into the kitchen where Jake was stirring something on the cooker. Jazz music was playing softly in the background and he was bopping along as he stirred. Two glasses of wine were poured and ready on the island, and a Jo Malone candle flickered next to them, its fruity scent mingling with the smell of what Jake was cooking.

‘A woman could get used to this,’ I said as I paused to take in the scene. Jake looked as edible as what he was cooking in his dark jeans and shirt, glancing over his shoulder at my entrance, a slow and sexy smile appearing on his face. He was working hard on his next novel and was letting me read each chapter as he went along, and it was clear we were inspiring the characters and the setting too – he was writing a Christmas love story set in New York, and I knew it was going to melt every romance reader’s heart when it was finished. Just like he had melted mine.

‘Good. I want you to get used to it,’ Jake replied. He left the cooker and came over to drop me a kiss on the lips. ‘Mmm, you look lovely and smell good,’ he murmured, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his chest. This time, he gave me a longer kiss as I hooked my arms around his neck. ‘I missed you,’ he added, leaning back to look into my eyes.

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