Emily pulled up her current document, jokingly titled Thoughts Among Pillows. She had seventy-four pages of poetry written, and was currently working on editing/revising her work. Occasionally inspiration would strike and she’d add another, but she really wanted to get this as polished as possible so she could send it to an agent. She couldn’t wait to use the list Leo and Joel had put together for her. She’d already edited five times, but Emily was a perfectionist when it came to her writing, and though she liked her own work, she often wondered if it was good enough to cut it among the thousands of other amazing writers.

  “What are you working on?” Emily was startled and glanced up. She hadn’t realized Miles stopped his work and was staring over his screen at her and her computer. Emily flushed. The only two people who even knew of her poetry dreams were her uncles, but she should’ve expected this would be something Miles would ask about.

  “I’m working on a poetry collection,” she admitted. She lightly tapped her fingers on the keyboard; they rattled under the touch, soothing her in a way, though her touch wasn’t hard enough to type.

  “You write?” he asked, his brows rose almost to his hairline.

  “Don’t act so surprised,” Emily teased, rolling her eyes. “I dabble in some poetry when I have a moment, though nothing exceptional.”

  “I want to read it,” Miles said, already standing and coming around to Emily’s side of the table. Emily grabbed her computer screen and tilted it toward the side, away from Miles’s seeking face.

  “You can’t just come over and try to read someone’s poetry,” she said, aghast.

  “Why not? I’m a writer, you’re a writer. We both appreciate the craft,” Miles said. “I bet it’s amazing, and I’d love to see it. You don’t have to hide your screen like a guilty middle school kid.”

  Emily looked down toward the table and shrugged. “I’m not acting like a guilty middle school kid! It’s just . . . you’re going to think it’s dumb,” she said.

  “I won’t think it’s dumb. I doubt you could produce anything considered dumb, not after knowing you for only one day.”

  “You give me too much credit,” Emily said, though she realized his reassurance was working. Already her shoulders were relaxing and she was looking up again, looking into his eyes to gauge his sincerity.

  “I give you just enough credit,” Miles rebutted. “Now are you going to let me read your poetry?”

  “Ugh fine,” Emily conceded. “But I’m not going to be in the room while that happens.”

  Miles chuckled. He held out his hands for the laptop, wriggling his fingers for her to hand it over.

  “Here you go,” Emily said, pushing it toward him. She stood from the chair and went over to her bag, grabbing a change of clothes. “I’m going to take a scalding hot shower and then go to a morning panel while you pour over my embarrassing writing.”

  “So much drama,” Miles mused teasingly. He sat down in the recently vacated seat and pulled the laptop closer, eyes stuck to the screen. Emily flushed and hurried away, wanting to hide from any judgment she was sure would be forthcoming. Miles was so entranced by the words on the screen that he barely noticed as Emily came out and quickly made her escape out the door of their room into the greater hotel.

  Chapter 21

  Miles spent an hour scouring over Emily’s poetry and with every word he read, he fell a little more in love with the woman who could craft poetry that captivated him so completely. He was sure that a dopey smile covered his face, but he couldn’t help it, enchanted by the work that he was reading. Every few minutes he glanced at the door, expecting Emily to walk through.

  Miles frowned and decided to get up and get some work done. If he kept waiting around, he wouldn’t have enough time to get through his entire list. As he started to get items together he realized how much that extra hour had set him back.

  “I’ve got this,” he said to himself as he got into the work. Miles was lost in the rhythm of preparing attendee items for the next conference event. He started unpacking boxes and worked to put together packages that would go to fans who visited his table. Thankfully the books were signed from his time with Ben before the conference, but they didn’t have the time to put together the completed packages. Miles was lost in the repetitive work, though he occasionally glanced at the clock and furrowed his brow in concern as time dwindled. At this rate he wasn’t going to finish by the required deadline. If Mason had been in his place it would’ve already been done.

  Miles continued his packing, barely noticing when the door opened to allow Emily entrance into their shared space. He looked up and nodded before going back to his work. His face was set in a stressed frown. Each of those took much longer than he’d originally anticipated.

  “What are you working on?” Miles looked up, and Emily was standing in front of him after setting her bag by the door.

  “I have a signing later today that I haven’t finished preparing for,” Miles admitted. “I’m supposed to have these packets together for them really soon and delivered to the signing room.”

  “Would you like some help?” Emily asked.

  “I’d love some help if you’re willing,” he admitted. “I don’t think I’ll finish if I try to do it on my own.”

  “I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t willing,” Emily responded. She stepped up next to Miles and watched as he put a couple of the packets together then started grabbing different components and copying his process. The two worked side by side. Emily flushed as her hand pressed to his when they each reached for the same item, a common occurrence during the process. Miles didn’t show that he noticed, but he did have a permanent smile on his face as they continued working.

  “Thank you for the help,” Miles said as the work came to an end. “I was starting to think I wouldn’t be able to finish this.”

  Emily shrugged and paused her work long enough to smile up at Miles before turning her focus back to the packets. She worked quietly for several minutes before asking in a quiet voice, “What did you think of my poetry?”

  Miles pressed his shoulder against hers as he took a moment to think through his response. “I think it’s wild that you haven’t been published already.”

  “You’re not just saying that, are you?” Emily whispered. She glanced at Miles beneath her lashes, pausing her work.

  “I don’t say things just to say them,” Miles promised. He leaned in close, his forehead a scant hand width from her own. “Your poetry is rife with magic and feeling and I loved every second of reading it. I read that entire document from start to finish and I couldn’t bring myself to stop.”

  Emily flushed and turned back to the packet work. “Thank you,” she murmured. She dropped the book in her hand, flustered by the compliment, and picked it up again, getting into the flow of work once more. Miles was still for a moment before he picked up the pace beside her again. Emily kept sneaking glances at Miles, but he seemed as cool and unaffected as ever. She wished she could feel the same way.

  With both of them working together, they made good time and finished well before Miles needed to get them to his station. Once the last of the packets was placed into a box on a rolling cart set aside for this purpose, the two headed out the door to deliver them to his table so they’d be ready for the event.

  Miles and Emily came out of their door face to face with a tall man who was exiting the room across the hall from them. He had a broad grin on his face. “The man of the hour emerges!”

  “The man of the hour?” Miles asked. He wondered if this was a fan of one of his works.

  The man raised his eyebrows in response, “You know, when you were breaking beds the other night.”

  Miles let out a surprised guffaw, and shook his head, though amusement lit his eyes. Emily on the other hand was mortified, and her face flamed bright red, her mouth opened in shock and surprise.

  Emily grabbed Miles’s arm and dragged him to the elevator, getting as far from the other rooms and the teasing people within them as possible.

  Miles continued to chuckle. “Ready to break some more beds with me tonight?” he teased with a wink. He had no right to look that adorable or sexy while causing her mortification.

  “Are you ready to fall off the bed this time instead?” Emily responded, shoving his shoulder. He might as well be made of stone for all the shove actually did.

  “I’ll fall off the bed anytime this week if it means I started the evening sharing it with my lovely girlfriend,” Miles responded. He brushed a hand along her arm, sending tingles down her spine. Emily shook her head, trying to clear the fuzz from her thoughts. She wished he was calling her his girlfriend for real instead of for this silly ruse, but that was a foolish thought, and entertaining it was even more foolish.

  Emily and Miles continued down the hall and finally entered the conference room where the signing would take place. Fans weren’t allowed in the space yet, but the authors and personal assistants were abuzz, making sure that final touches were ready for one of the big signing events. Books were being placed on tables, signs hung up, and tablecloths smoothed out over the hard surfaces.

  Emily felt a bit star-struck as she followed Miles through the room. He had to stop her from running into more than one table as she got caught up in staring. Miles kept a hand on the small of Emily’s back, helping to steer her toward his own table where they’d get some of the work done.

  “I absolutely love Pippa Grant’s work,” Emily mused as they passed some of the contemporary romance and romantic comedy tables.

  “What do you love about her work in particular?”

  “Are you asking to make fun of me?” Emily asked. She squinted at Miles, attempting to discern his intentions.

  “I’m asking because I value your opinion,” Miles responded. “I’m not going to make fun of anything about you.”

  “You were a bit disparaging about romance that first day,” Emily said after a moment. “It also makes me wonder what you think about my poetry, because I write with a theme of love and romance.”

  Miles came to an abrupt halt, turning to face Emily. His eyebrows drew together and a frown deepened his usually serene face. He lifted a hand to Emily’s chin, his thumb brushed over her chin, and his pointer finger lifted her head so she was looking him directly in the eyes. Brown met hazel.

  “Your poetry is absolutely amazing, darling,” Miles whispered, staring into the swirling chocolate depths. “Know that I don’t think anything but the best of them, and the best of the person amazing enough to write such beautiful work.”

  “You really mean that?” Emily whispered. She brought a hand up, gently cupping his hand holding her chin.

  “I mean every word,” Miles responded. “I’ve been negative about romance in the past, and I’m sorry that made you doubt yourself, but you should know that talking to you and knowing you has helped me see life through a whole new lens, and I’d love to continue on that trend.”

  “I’d love to help you with that,” Emily admitted.

  Miles pulled away, sliding his hand along her cheek in a soft embrace before he was moving again, his arm slipping seamlessly into place around the small of her back to lead her once more.

  “So, Pippa Grant?”

  “Nobody does character building and humor as good as her,” Emily admitted. “Every story that she tells is so fun. I love each and every one of her books that she’s released.”

  “Maybe I’ll try one out,” Miles mused.

  Emily rolled her eyes.

  “Have you ever read any Tomlin Haverforth novels?”

  “I haven’t,” Emily admitted. “Why?”

  “Haverforth is another author who’s been in the conference and writing circuits for about the same length that I have,” Miles said. “We have a lot of history together.”

  “What kind of history?”

  “Well he was a track runner before he started writing, and in better shape than most guys,” Miles started.

  Emily blinked and stared at him in confusion. “So?”

  “So, that’s led to some uncomfortable situations for him, especially early in his career,” Miles continued. “When he first started, especially when there were summer conferences, Haverforth would dress for the weather in T-shirts or even tank tops, which showed off his body much better than other outfits did.”

  “He had people drooling over him and wanting photos?” Emily guessed.

  “Worse.”

  “What? Did they proposition him? Get a frantic proposal?”

  “You’re thinking too small,” Miles teased with a laugh. “You have to go much bigger than that.”

  “Well I can’t imagine they grabbed his dick,” Emily muttered.

  Miles’s mouth dropped open in shock. “I can’t believe that came out of your mouth, and absolutely not. A little too far, that time.”

  “You have to tell me,” Emily laughed. “We’re going to play this guessing game for all of eternity and I’m never going to get this right.”

  “It’s fun making you guess, though,” Miles teased. “But I’ll go easy on you. He had a fan come up to him the first day of the event, lift his shirt, and literally lick him from his navel to his nipple.”

  “No,” Emily breathed, staring at Miles in horror. She couldn’t imagine how violated she’d feel if some random person came up and did that to her. Now if Miles decided to do that it would be a different matter . . . She shook her head, trying to push those thoughts from her mind. It wasn’t the time or place for those thoughts. There actually was never an appropriate time or place for those specific thoughts with him.

  “Unbelievable, huh?” Miles asked. “If you went up to Haverforth he wouldn’t confirm it, but he definitely could.”

  “If he won’t confirm it, you’re definitely making that up.”

  “You calling me a liar? I’m wounded! I’m telling the truth. Scouts honor.”

  “You don’t strike me as a Scout, but I suppose I’ll believe you,” Emily chuckled. “I’d do everything in my power to forget an experience like that.”

  “Well, if a pretty brown-eyed brunette who writes poetry came up for an experience like that, I wouldn’t mind,” Miles said.

  Emily flushed and looked away. Her eyes wandered over the space, taking in the crowded room. As quickly as her face flushed, she felt herself pale as the blood rushed from her face when she turned and noticed the vivacious redhead making a beeline in their direction. Emily poked Miles in the side and gestured toward the redhead. If she wasn’t dreading this interaction she would’ve thought the annoyed resignation flashing over his face was funny.

  “Fancy seeing you here, Miles,” she said as she neared them. Emily noticed she didn’t acknowledge that Miles wasn’t alone.

  “Vanessa,” Miles acknowledged. “You know that as an author at the event I had to come and prepare my table. This is a regular part of my participation in these sorts of events. You’re in the same circuits.”

  Vanessa huffed. “Always so straight forward.”

  “One of the reasons that we didn’t make a good couple,” Miles agreed.

  “It was one of the ways we helped complete each other,” Vanessa argued. “Opposites attract, and we were the perfect opposites. We still are.”

  Miles crossed one arm across his chest and rested the other arm overtop, creating an angle, then he rested his face against his fisted hand, exasperation lining his face. “I’m with Emily now, my beautiful girlfriend who happens to be right here.” Miles tugged Emily into his side in a surprisingly gentle motion, despite his irritation.

  Vanessa scrunched her nose and looked between the two of them, eyes narrowed. “How did you even meet each other?”

  Miles and Emily looked at each other and then turned back to Vanessa, both speaking at the same time:

  “Well it started in the library . . .”

  “There was this crazy escape room . . .”

  Emily and Miles stopped and turned to one another with wide eyes. Vanessa narrowed her eyes and looked from Emily to Miles, “It sounds like you aren’t too sure how this all happened.”

  “Miles tells the story so much better than I ever could,” Emily admitted and turned to face Miles. He remained silent a moment and she jabbed an elbow into his side. She was vindicated by the grunt that action earned.

  “Right,” Miles said. “It all started at the escape room event the library was hosting.”

  “Yes,” Emily said, nodding her head. “We both signed up for the same event.”

  “And we were in the same group, solving the room. Emily was convinced that the escape room required a code from a rare book and we searched for two hours through some of the old tomes, which allowed us ample time to get to know each other.”

  “I was wrong about the clue,” Emily cut in with a shrug. “It turned out the clue we needed was hiding under a desk Miles found by chance, but he was such a good sport about the holdup that I offered to get him a coffee.”

  “Coffee turned into dinner, and dinner turned into dating, and the rest is history,” Miles continued. He bent down and pressed his forehead to Emily’s. Their lips were a breath away from one another.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Emily breathed, staring into the green flecks in Miles’s hazel eyes. She pulled away after a moment, aware that they had an audience, the whole reason they were putting on this show.

  Vanessa stood in front of them, arms crossed over her ample chest. She tapped her high-heeled foot and stared back and forth between the two before settling her attention back to Miles.

  “Miles, how about you come to lunch with me? For old times’ sake, you know. We could talk about your upcoming book and cover model needs.” Vanessa reached forward and laid a hand on his bicep, leaving it there.

  “That’s not a good idea,” Miles said, shutting it down, while shrugging his shoulder to dislodge the hand.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22