“It’s better than okay. It’s a very good first book. With just a little polishing, there’s no reason at all why it shouldn’t be published. I think he has the beginning of a potentially successful mystery series.”
“Yes, so do I.” Gideon looked even more disgruntled as he made the admission. “You’re going to represent him.”
It wasn’t a question, but she waited a beat before replying. “No. I’ve spent the past couple of weeks making some notes for suggested revisions he might want to consider before sending it out again. I’m also sending him a list of reputable agents that I think might be interested in his work.”
She’d certainly gotten Gideon’s attention. He sat up straight on the couch and stared at her. “Why would you do that? We just agreed, the book’s good.”
“Yes, and normally I would be pleased to work with him. But in this case there seems to be a conflict of interest.”
“Me.”
She merely inclined her head. It had taken her nearly three weeks of internal debate before she had finally accepted that she couldn’t represent both Gideon and Dylan without eventually encountering problems because of it.
Gideon’s scowl had deepened. “You’re really turning him down?”
“You asked me to,” she reminded him.
He glowered at her a moment, then firmly shook his head. “You aren’t pushing this off on me. Dylan will tell everyone you turned him down because I was threatened by him. You’ve got to take him.”
“You’re the one who said you didn’t want me to represent Dylan,” she repeated.
“That was before I knew he was any good.”
“Gideon, you make me crazy.” She shook her head in exasperation. “You don’t really know what you want, do you?”
“I want you.” He was on his feet now, a look in his eyes that she knew very well. “And I owe you an apology for invading your privacy.”
She placed her hands in his outstretched palms and allowed him to draw her to her feet, but she couldn’t help pointing out, “We haven’t really resolved anything, you know.”
“Sure we have. I’ve agreed to stay out of your personal papers and your business.”
He probably
thought she would be pleased by that promise, but instead she found it rather depressing. It sounded so…detached. Neatly separating and compartmentalizing their lives.
He pulled her close against him when he kissed her, and she tried to find solace in the unmistakable evidence of his desire for her. She had never expected forever from him, she reminded herself as his mouth moved enticingly against hers. Even these few days together were more than she had expected when she’d left him in Mississippi five weeks ago.
She supposed she should be relieved that he wasn’t going to protest her representing Dylan, if she decided to do so. It was a very mature and professional concession, coming from Gideon.
So why did it feel as though they were moving even further apart?
Gideon woke in the middle of the night and found himself alone in Adrienne’s bed. It was a startling experience, because he was usually such a light sleeper that any noise or movement woke him. He must have been more tired than he’d realized.
Because he knew he wouldn’t sleep again until he’d made sure Adrienne was okay, he slipped out of the sheets and stepped into the jeans he’d left lying beside the bed. Following a faint trail of light, he padded silently into the living room, where he found Adrienne.
She sat in a chair with her bare feet curled beneath her. The only light in the room came from the lamp beside her. It gleamed in her auburn hair, glowed in the ruby satin of her short robe and glittered off the tears sliding slowly down her cheeks.
He took a quick step forward. “Adrienne?”
A sudden, bright smile belied her tears. “You changed the ending.”
Only then did he see the stack of papers lying in her lap. “My book?” he hazarded.
Setting the manuscript on the table beside her, she leaped to her feet, crossed to him and slid her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his bare chest. “It’s wonderful. I love it.”
His arms closed automatically around her. His cheek found a natural resting place against her soft, lush hair. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“When did you decide to bring Alanya back to life?”