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?“Well, not immediately,” I reassured.
?Jeff reached past Mark and took my hand to shake it. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Homes. My only regret is that I didn’t sign you before you hit it big.”
?“Well, I haven’t really hit it big. I mean, not like Mark.”
?“You’re represented by Gloria Hastings, right?”
?“Yes, I am,” I told him as I tried to give a winning smile.
?“I hear she’s planning to retire,” Jeff mentioned, looking serious.
?“I’m afraid she is. I am currently looking for representation.”
?“So give me a call,” Jeff volunteered, and handed me his card. “Maybe you two could do a collaboration.”
?Mark blinked and then looked at me.
?“That might be fun,” I chuckled.
?“My best to Marsha,” Mark mumbled, as Jeff went to the corner to grab a cab.
?I watched Mark as Jeff’s cab pulled away.
?“Well?” I teased with a glance to Mark.
?“What?”
?“It could be fun.”
?“A collaboration?” Mark grunted. “I can’t believe Jeff would even suggest such a thing.”
?Mark started to walk in the direction of the hotel, while I stayed planted in one place and felt my anger rise. “Oh, so my books suck so much—”
?Mark exhaled in anger and stopped to face me. “Your books don’t suck at all! I just have never…done…a collaboration.”
?“What about all those anthologies you edited—”
?“Edited, that’s the key word,” Mark defended. “I got stories from other people, and in a few I wrote my own stories as part of the anthology. But I didn’t write with someone else.”
?“Maybe that’s what you need to get you started again.” I started to walk, and Mark hurried along to keep up.
?“I think we should drop this,” Mark suggested testily.
?“If that’s what you want,” I replied purposely using a snotty tone.
?“I do.”
?It’s amazing how I can adore this man one moment, and be annoyed by him the next. We trudged on in silence while both of us fumed. I pulled out my notebook once again, and began to review my notes.
?After about half a block, Mark spoke up. “So, we were going to question Candy Poole—”
?“Not anymore,” I shot back grimly.
?“So, where to now, Homes?”
?“Any answers must be at the conference,” I told him and glanced at my watch. “We should check on a few things.”
?I went back to my notes.
