Page 24 of Holding on to Chaos
Her first novel, written under a pen name, found a tiny following that had grown with each successive release. Her modest living began to inch its way toward respectable, and when her monthly sales report hit the number she was looking for, she’d given her two-week’s notice at the firm she where she worked.
Her last book had caught fire, slowly at first and then each passing week drew more readers to her. She’d been inspired by Blue Moon when she arrived for Gia’s wedding to Beckett. The zany antics of well-meaning gossip mongers? It was irresistible. As were the delectable Pierce brothers and, of course, Sheriff Sexy.
Her E-book sales had exploded as had her Facebook following and newsletter list. She was finally making it happen. Readers were begging for more. They wanted a series, and Eva felt she could make that happen. Here in Blue Moon, she was practically smothered in inspiration.
And once she’d nailed her next goal—a bestseller—she’d break the news to her family. There’d be champagne and cake, and she’d give each one of them a signed copy. And everyone would finally know that she was okay, better than okay. She would be whole and worthy and pretty damn awesome.
Eva stared at the soft glow of her screen and flexed her fingers over the keyboard.
Her phone signaled a new text. She spotted Donovan’s name and frowned. She hadn’t given him her number, and she certainly hadn’t programmed him into her phone.
Donovan: “You abandoned me to a mob.”
She chewed on her lip and typed out a response.
Eva: “I know better than to get between a rock star and his rabid fans.”
Donovan: “Very funny.”
Eva: “How did you get in my phone?”
Donovan: “I found it in your pants.”
His follow-up message came a second later.
Donovan: “After the fire. You really should have a security code on it.”
Eva laughed.
Eva: “Thanks for clarifying. I couldn’t remember you being in my pants.”
She bit her lip and waited. Had she gone too far flirting with Sheriff Do Right? Donovan had pushed the limits by adding himself as a contact in her phone, but he hadn’t gone as far as she would have by giving himself a cutesy nickname. And now she’d pushed them into full-on sexting.
Her screen dimmed and then turned off. Another ten seconds passed before her text alert dinged.
“Guess I’ll have to make sure to be extra memorable next time.”
Eva blew out a breath and then kicked her feet against the floor in delight. He was flirting with her!Did that mean… Wait, what did that mean?Did he flirt with everyone? Or was there a slim chance that Donovan Cardona, god among men, was interested in actually getting into her pants?
Donovan: “Good night, Evangelina.”
Eva squealed in giddy, feminine delight. The popular boy liked her. Maybe.
Eva: “Good night, Sheriff.”
She thought back on her recent dating failures. None of them had made her feel this heady rush from just a text. None of them had made her feel much of anything.
She turned back to her screen, energized and let her fingers fly over the keys.
When her phone dinged again, she was still smiling. Until she looked at the screen and saw the text from an unknown number.
Unknown: “I think it’s time we have another talk.”
Anger flashed white hot. “Not this time,” Eva whispered to herself.
She blocked the number and deleted the text without responding.
“Not here. Not ever again.”
