Page 24 of The Billionaire's Second Chance
You’re right. Some of us read for fun, not just for work,I got back instantly. My eyes narrowed further.
Very funny.
What do you think?
Literary fiction,I guessed, thinking of his brother’s books.
I thought I already said I read for fun,he shot back immediately, and I smiled, thankful he couldn’t see my expression. Then, after a moment, another bubble popped up on my screen.You must be thinking of James. An easy mistake to make. The trick is he’s the rich Martin brother.I rolled my eyes–as if Charlie was broke–and then a third text arrived.And I’m the even richer one.
I laughed, despite myself. God, Charlie was annoying. I could just stop responding. At any time. Whenever I wanted to. But instead:Answer the question,I said.
Flora got me hooked on this werewolf duke,came his reply, and I stared at it until another text popped up.He’s pretty badass. I think I want to be one myself when I grow up.
Flora got me hooked on this werewolf duke, I reread. I knew exactly which books he was talking about–a romance series that Edie and Flora both loved–but… I put my phone down in my lap. Charlie Martin. Reading about werewolf dukes.
And sexy, wounded billionaires falling for their dog walkers.
You weren’t lying, you really did read my rom-com, I sent. I supposed stranger things had happened… but they were usually within the pages of the books I sold. Was Charlie–playboy startup founder, younger of the Martin brothers,New York Week’s most eligible bachelor–a secret romantic?
What, do you want a book report?
I huffed, once again thankful that he wasn’t here to see me.
I believe you.
The dots indicating he was typing appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared. I watched them for a long time.
That’s right,he sent at last.I know you, Samantha. And you know me: I don’t lie.
I wasn’t sure what this conversation was. We could hardly manage to get through a meeting with the bare minimum level of politeness.
But I was sure about the feeling in my stomach when I read the last sentence:And I don’t kiss and tell.
It was interest. A hot kind of desire that made my heart beat faster, even as my brain tried to slow down and think.
Because I was fairly certain that I did know Charlie.
And I knew, just like the first time–or rather, the second–that was an invitation.
* * *
“These are all romances?” Edie asked, eyes wide, staring at the stacks of manuscripts I had on my desk. “There are… somany.”
I nodded. “I know. It’s your fault,” I said, giving her an arch look. I hadn’t represented many romance writers before I sold Edie’s book. I was quickly becoming known for it. The aspiring authors who contacted me had seen Edie’s success, and flooded me with similar manuscripts. That was how the industry worked. I was thankful for the work, even if it meant my recent reading had been… monotonous. “The Edie Martin Effect.”
“Sorry,” she said with a smile. “Are they any good?”
I shrugged.Goodwasn’t what I was interested in. What I wanted my romances to be wasprofitable. “Well, none of them are loosely based on the true story of New York’s favorite playboy’s illicit romance with his former student, Edie, so…” I said, sitting back in my desk chair and giving her a look. She was a bold one, Edie. Not many women would dare sleep with one of the most infamous men in the city… and then write a fictionalized novel about it, and then publish it. No, none of the queries on my desk werequitelike Edie’s, despite their superficial similarities.
She still doesn’t realize what she’s done, I thought as she said, “James told me I earned out my advance.” She was blushing slightly.
“Damn him, I wanted to tell you myself,” I said. “Yes, that’s right. I know we talked previously about being realistic about how much we could get for book two without that killer backstory, but actually, I’m thinking we should ask for as much as we can. Take it to auction.”
Edie nodded, but bit her lip, looking away.
“Edie,” I said. “What, you don’t want to?”
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about today.” She met my eye at last, a strange expression on her face.
