Page 183 of His Reckoning

I pick up the top book with the sticky note.

Here are the drafts. Let me know if the cover feels right.

This is your best book yet. The writing is beautiful.

I stare at the note for a second.

Then back at the stack. Drafts.

Unease slips in immediately. Kayla never mentioned getting copies. She said she sent it to her editor, but that was, like, a month ago.

She didn’t say anything about this.

A small smile pulls at the corner of my mouth anyway.

Of course she didn’t. She’s probably waiting to show me when it’s perfect.

That sounds like her.

I pick up one of the books and flip it over in my hands.

The cover is clean and professional. Better than anything I expected.

“Not bad,” I mutter.

I head into the living room and drop onto the couch, flipping it open.

I’m not planning to read the whole thing. Just skim to get a feel for it.

The first few chapters are what I expected. A good setup of the characters. The hero is a billionaire who is controlled and reserved.

I smirk slightly—predictable. Though I thought she said she didn’t write billionaire romances because they didn’t make good heroes.

I turn a few more pages, and something catches my attention.

A line.

I read it again.

He doesn’t like it when anyone touches his back.

My fingers still against the page. It’s probably a coincidence.

I flip ahead, skimming faster now. Another scene where the heroine notices the way he tenses when she gets too close.

My jaw tightens slightly.

I keep reading.

The hero doesn’t sleep well. Avoids staying in bed with anyone overnight.

My chest feels tighter now.

I turn another page.

Faster.

The words blur together as I scan.