Page 3 of Saving Ian Pope

“I haven’t for a while.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I came with my manager for the week, and he’s here to support a friend of his who’s on a panel discussing non-fiction, true crime books. It all got kinda gory for me, so I ducked out.”

“Uh oh.” I tapped the cover of one of my books. “I’m afraid there’s some blood and guts in my books, although nothing too gruesome.”

“Hi, Ivy. How’s the crowd? Did you give away many books?” Tessa Starr, one of the other romance authors signing today, peered over the top of the box wrapped in her arms.

“Here, I’ll take that.” Ian took the box from Tessa and lowered it to the ground as Tessa’s eyes rounded and her mouth formed an O.

She’d recognized Ian right away.

Tessa stammered, “A-are you...?”

I waved my hand. “Yes, this is Ian Pope. He’s helping out in the booth today, assisting with the setup, bringing in readers. He’ll even fetch water for you. And this is Tessa Starr, author of the very popular sci-fi robot romance series.”

Ian’s mouth dropped open. “You write books about people having sex with robots, or is it just the robots having sex with each other?”

“Human on machine. It sounds weirder than it actually is. It’s pretty hot once you get past the...mechanics.” Tessa grinned. “What’s Ian Pope doing in our romance booth, Ivy?”

“It’s a long story, but he rescued our Fabio out there, and I was able foist my books onto him. Are you taking my place at this table? The crowd’s been good, but I’m giving my books away. Are you selling yours?”

“I am.” She dug in the box Ian had set at her feet and popped up with a book clutched in her hand, a robot with a shiny six-pack and a busty woman with her hand on his chiseled, albeit metal pecs. “Twelve bucks—cash, Venmo, PayPal, credit card. You can have the physical book, or I can give you a code for a download.”

Ian’s mouth opened and closed for a few seconds, and then he dug into the front pocket of his faded jeans and pulled out a crumpled twenty. “I’ll take the book.”

Tessa twisted her mouth to the side. “I don’t have change, yet. Ivy, you have change for a twenty? I’ll pay you back.”

Ian waved his hand. “That’s alright. Keep it.”

Tessa squealed and plunked her book down on the table, grabbing my purple pen. She scribbled, what seemed like another chapter on the flyleaf, as I rolled my eyes at Ian, his arms crossed, his fingers drumming against his bulging bicep, his mouth quirked on one side. Ian Pope had a bulging bicep. Since when? I remembered him as a skinny teen with floppy hair in his eyes.

He was going to want to get out of here as soon as possible, before I subjected him to all the other writers signing today.

Tessa handed the book to him. “You don’t really have to read it, but maybe some lucky lady in your life would like it. Tell them the robots never get tired...if you know what I mean.”

While Tessa gave Ian a broad wink, he added the book to his growing pile of romance novels on the corner of the table.

“I’ll be sure to mention that to my...uh...mum.”

I giggled, and I hardly ever giggle. This was the most exciting book signing I’d had in...ever. “Okay, the table is all yours. I signed and stickered my leftovers, and I’ll put them in the rack with the other freebies.”

As Tessa started pulling her table items—stickers, bookmarks, pens—from the box and setting up, I pushed back from my chair and grabbed the empty soda can.

“Thanks for humoring us today.” I gestured toward the books now tucked against Ian’s side and whispered. “You don’t really have to read the books or even keep them.”

Hugging the books to his chest, he said, “Are you kidding? Now I have something to read on the flight home.”

As I filled the slots of the freebie rack with my books, Ian stayed put. I kept expecting him to wander away. Make someone else’s day.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Ian. You made my final minutes in the booth fly by.” I held out my hand to shake his and tried to swallow the little lump in my throat. He must make every girl alive feel this way. I’d definitely succumbed to his charm, his looks, his smile, his eyes...the little freckle on the side of his face near his ear.

He took my hand, and the current that charged through my body at his touch almost brought me to my knees. I managed to stay upright and even smile.

I tried to pull my hand back, but he kept possession of it, squeezing lightly. “My manager, Jack, is still hanging out with his friend, and they’re going to another author panel. Do you want to get something to eat with me at one of the food trucks? I-I mean if you don’t have a huge, muscular boyfriend or husband picking you up.”

Ian Pope stuttered and...blushed?

I held out my left hand and wiggled my ring finger, never happier at my single status. “No andno.”

“What a relief. So, lunch?”

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