Page 116 of Betting on the Bad Boy
Since I’d gone public as Chastity Austen, my book sales had exploded, and Steph was at auction for another multi-book deal with a couple of major publishing houses. I was eager to see where my writing career might go.
Surprisingly, my mother had come around and encouraged me to step back from teaching and work on my writing career.She’d also gently hinted that maybe somewhere on the east coast would be best. Her publicist was still working out how to spin the fact that her daughter was a bestselling novelist of erotic romance.
Clem wasn’t as openly supportive, though we’d had some constructive conversations. We might never see eye-to-eye, but he’d softened his stance on considering my work an assault on his personal values. For better or worse, we’d always be family.
Robin tossed her book down on the table. I stood and gave her a hug. “Thanks so much for coming.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it! I haven’t talked to you in so long. Have you figured out where you’re moving yet?”
I scrawled my signature again. “Not yet. I still have a month or so before my lease is up.”
“Wow. Living on the edge from the girl with the six-year plan. Who would have thought?”
I laughed. “Yeah, it’s a change for sure, but I kind of like it.” Worrying about what would come next had plagued me for so long that this freedom from planning was a welcome change. I only had one regret—Dante. I’d finally had the guts to admit to myself that I’d fallen for him—hard. If only I’d handled things differently. If only I’d been willing to admit that I’d had feelings for him all along—things might be different right now.
But I was starting a new chapter in my life, and he obviously didn’t want to be a part of it. How could I expect him to forgive me and give me another chance? I’d hoped he’d seen the episode air last week from Chicago. But it had been eight days and there had been no word. I didn’t blame him. If roles had been reversed and he’d been the one to let me down, I wasn’t so sure I’d be so willing to forgive and forget either.
I handed the book back to Robin. “Stick around if you want. I’m here for another fifteen minutes and then Jess wants to go out for one last drink before we all go our separate ways.”
“You got it.” Robin winked at me and moved over to where Jess stood, nuzzling into Jake. They were back on again… at least for the moment.
The next person stepped up and slid a hardcover copy in front of me. My eyes remained on the table.
Pen poised, I flipped open the first page. “Who do you want me to make it out to?”
“Asshole.”
“What?” My heart froze. All the blood drained from my face and pooled in my feet at the sound of his voice.
“I’ve been a real prick.”
My gaze traveled up to meet his. The air whooshed out of my lungs while my heartbeat thundered in my ears.
He held one hand behind his back and brought it around to set a long tissue-wrapped package on the table. With what felt like everyone else’s eyes in the entire bookstore on me, the only one I could see was Dante. I peeled the tissue away.
A bouquet containing every kind of flower imaginable sat in front of me. Red roses, orange Peruvian lilies, pink carnations, striped amaryllis, white calla lilies, lavender asters, ivory freesia, purple iris, yellow tulips, and white daisies—he remembered the daisies.
It wasn’t too late.
I looked up. Dante shrugged, then gestured toward the flowers. “I want it all, Faith. The love, the friendship, the loyalty. I’m sorry about?—”
His words were lost as I stood up and launched myself over the table at him to press my lips against his. His arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me into him. The crowd applauded and whistled as the kiss deepened and our tongues tangled.
He was here. I clung to his shirt, aware of the rock-solid feel of him under my hands. What did this mean?
Dante drew back and looked down at me, catching my gaze with his own. “We really did a number on each other, huh?”
I didn’t want to let go. “I never meant for this to happen. Everything got a little out of control.”
“A little?” He tucked me even tighter against him. His chuckle vibrated through his chest.
“Okay, a lot. A lot out of control. I’m so sorry. I should have been up front with you in the first place. And once I knew someone found out about my pen name?—”
“Murph.”
“You knew?” I pulled back to meet his gaze.
“Not until recently. We exchanged words. I don’t think he’ll be bothering you again. You should have told me.”
