Page 77 of Lucky Shot
“He stole your book?”
She shrugs.
“That’s awful. What happened when the publisher found out?” That twisting sensation in my gut intensifies.
Her expression alone gives me my answer, or at least that the answer is nothing good.
“They didn’t believe you or you didn’t tell them?”
“How was I going to prove it?” she asks, voice wavering. “I had no way to verify when I’d written the pages or even that they were my ideas.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Fuck. That’s…awful. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
I can’t believe someone would do that. Let alone to her. What a fucking prick. God no wonder she’s had writer’s block. That would mess with anyone’s head. I suddenly feel a thousand times worse about my reaction when she showed up. She was coming off something awful and I acted like an asshole.
I stand and walk over to her. She looks up, confusion marring her brow.
I take the laptop and set it on the ground, then pull her to her feet and hug her. She squeaks her surprise and then slowly wraps her arms around my middle. The way she fits there is nice, my chin resting on the top of her head, and I inhale that coconut and strawberry scent. Fuck, I really like her.
“Nick?” Her voice is small.
“Yeah?”
“Are you trying to squeeze all the air out of my lungs?”
I loosen my grip. Shit. “Sorry.”
There’s a distinct possibility that I just channeled all my rage into that hug.
She laughs. “Don’t be. Actually…”
Her grip tightens around my waist for a few seconds, then releases. “That’s not a bad way to work out my frustration either.”
A laugh slips from my lips. “I’m at your service, Red.”
19
RUBY
A knock on the cabin door pulls me from my edits. I put my laptop on the coffee table and stand.
Nick is on the other side of the door wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. His dark hair is wet like he might have showered recently. I just saw him yesterday morning, but wow, every time it’s like a shock to my system.
“Hi,” I say, happy to see him but surprised all the same. “Did I forget about something we had planned?”
“No.” His rough laughter skates over my skin.
My body relaxes and I step back to let him inside. “I just finished writing the first hockey game scene.”
“Yeah?” His expression morphs to something full of excitement and maybe pride. “Can I read it?”
“Soon,” I promise. “I need to triple-check all my hockey facts, so you don’t think all this research has been for nothing.”
His grin widens. “In that case, I know just what you need to celebrate.”
“What?”
