AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’darched an eyebrow at her, a gesture that always made her melt. “Ithink we should be upfront about what we want to do.Betterto know that the answer’s no forty pages in rather than four hundred.”
“Butif it’s no…” she’d trailed off, the fear and anxiety she’d managed to keep at bay over the past few days popping back up to the surface.
“Thenwe’ll figure it out,” he’d said, a slow, sweet smile spreading across his face.
Shesighed, leaning back against her wicker chair in the sunroom at the inn.Itcreaked softly beneath her shifting weight.Outside, aV-formation of geese flew by, heading south for the winter.Thecolors on the trees were even more intense, and after a few days of gloomy weather, the sun was shining brightly, making everything look golden and soft.Agentle, sepia-toned world.
Adamstepped into the room, and her heart did its usual gymnastics at the sight of him.Heheld two steaming mugs of coffee in his hands, and he set one down beside her before dropping into the wicker seat across from her.Hischair protested louder than hers had, and her entire body warmed at the memory of his weight above her, so solid and warm and—
“Why,MissWoodward, are you mentally undressing me right now?” he asked, and she laughed, her cheeks warming.
“Iadmit nothing.”
Heleaned forward, arms braced on the table.Hewas wearing an emerald-hued sweater that made his eyes look more green than hazel.Acurled lock of hair fell forward onto his forehead and she felt her heart give a happy, wondrous sigh. “Haveyou written the email yet?”
Shebit her lip and shook her head. “No.I’mstill agonizing over what to say.”
“DearAlex,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee. “I’vemet the world’s most talented writer, and between screaming his name and coming on various parts of his body, we’ve decided to co-write a book.”
Hazelalmost choked on her coffee, pressing a hand to her mouth. “Yes.That’sexactly whatIshould write.Howcould anyone say no to a request like that?”
“Tellme what you’re worried about,” he said easily, taking another sip of his coffee.
Shesighed. “ThatItellAlexand he says no.ThatAlexsays maybe andSethsays no.ThatSethsays maybe and the legal department says that my contract says no.”Shepushed her glasses up onto her head and rubbed at her eyes. “I’mtired of everyone making decisions for me.I’mtired of jumping through hoops, having big success, and then still being told it’s not enough.”
“Whathappens if they do say no?”
“ThenI’mright back whereIstarted, struggling to write, which will be even harder now thatIknow exactly whatIwant to write and whoIwant to write it with.”
Hepursed his lips, his brow furrowing.Itwas a look that she already knew meant he was writing in his head.
Hecrooked his fingers at her, gesturing for her to pass him the laptop.Shedid, spinning it around and sliding it carefully across the table to him.Hestarted typing, his fingers moving across the keys in smooth, practiced movements.
God, even the way he typed turned her on.
“Does…does the fact that we’d have to work withSethbother you?” she asked.
Hestopped typing and took a breath, his chest rising and falling. “It’snot my favorite thing in the world, butIcan handle it.”Hesaid it easily, and she knew it was the simple, honest truth. “ButI’mnot jealous if that’s what you’re asking.He’syour ex for a reason, and you woke up in my bed this morning.Theonly reasonI’mwary is that from everything you told me, he sounds like a massive asshole, andI’vehad my share of publishing assholes.”
“Ha, that makes two of us.MaybeSethwon’t like the fact thatI’mwriting with someone thatI’min—”Shecaught herself.Itwas too soon to think about giving voice to the bubbling joy inside her.Toosoon to bring it into the light and really examine it, because that would make it real, and real was still a little scary. “ThatI’minvolved with,” she finished. “Maybehe’ll actually let someone else edit this book.”
Adamtilted his head, considering. “That’sa definite possibility.”Hiseyes dropped back down to the laptop and he resumed typing.Whilehe drafted an email that might change everything, her gaze drifted out the windows again.Agust of wind rushed through the trees, sending yellow and orange leaves soaring through the sky, scattering them across the field.Afast-moving cloud blocked the sun for a moment, shifting everything into a darker shade of gold for a moment before everything burst back into vibrant color.
“Here,” he said, passing the laptop back toward her. “Tellme what you think.”
Shestarted to read, cradling her warm coffee mug in her hands.Thephone at the front desk rang, andAdamleapt up out of his seat to answer it.Autumnwas off-site, picking up a vanload of fall mums to decorate the hotel with.She’daskedHazelif she wanted to come with her, and whenHazelhad declined, saying she had work to do,Autumnhad sent her a knowing smile.
Shecould hearAdam’sdeep voice in the background as he spoke on the phone and she returned her attention to the email.
HelloAlex,
Ihope this email finds you well.Ihave some unexpected news for you, butIpromise that it’s not bad.Ihave about forty pages of the book drafted, and it’s taken a different turn.I’vedecided to write a different story, inspired by my recent stay inGossamerFalls,NY.I’vealso started working on it with another author, and we would like to co-write the book.Let’sset up a phone call to discuss.
Best,
Hazel
“Heregoes nothing,” she whispered, and then hit send on the email.Noteven three minutes later, her cell phone started ringing from where it lay facedown on the table.Thenoise was so loud in the peaceful quiet of the sunroom that she jumped, then fumbled to answer it.Alex’sname flashed on the screen. “Thatwas fast,” she muttered.
