Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“You can look at me all you want on the way there,” I say as I open the door. “We have to go!”
ten
. . .
Layla
“Where are all these people coming from?” I whisper to Jada as she drops another pile of my books on the table. There’s a lineup out the door!
I’ve been signing so many books that my wrist is aching. It’s every writer’s dream.
“I told you you’re a big shot,” she says with a grin.
I find that hard to believe.
We got here just in time and Eleanor seemed even more annoyed to see me than she was when I left yesterday. I think she saw that I hadn’t posted anything online about the signing.
“I’ll take all eleven,” the next woman in line says with a big smile on her face.
“Okay!” I say with my heart racing as I grab a book from each pile. “Have you read any of my books before?”
“Never,” she says with so much excitement bubbling out of her. “I just found out about you today!”
“How did you find out about me?” I ask as I open the cover of Midnight Garden and sign my name.
“From this guy!” She shows me her phone and my jaw drops. It’s a TikTok video of Oliver on the busy street outside. He’s shirtless with a big sign over his head that says: Who Wants Some Dirty Talk? Check Out Layla Maldonado’s books. Author Signing Over There!
“He’s going viral,” she says as she turns the phone back around and looks at it with a sigh.
Of course, he is. He’s gorgeous, shirtless, and romance readers eat that shit up. I do too if I’m being honest.
I turn to the line of excited women.
“Did anyone else come here because of that hot shirtless guy outside?”
They all nod and start talking to each other, giggling, laughing, and pulling out their phones.
“That was brilliant marketing,” the woman in front of me says. “Your books look amazing, I can’t wait to read them!”
I have to see this for myself.
“I just need two minutes,” I announce to the line. “I’ll be right back!”
I rush over to the window and look out at my crazy man. I shake my head and laugh as I see him going over to all the cars to talk to the female drivers. He points at the bookstore and most of them turn into the packed parking lot. This is wild!
He takes selfies and stops a group of women on bikes. He chats with them for a minute and they all turn toward the store. Seconds later, they’re in the store wearing their bike helmets and getting into the line for my books.
I can’t believe him. He’s incredible.
I’m smiling like a crazy person as I sit back down at my table and continue signing. In less than two hours, we’re sold out of my books and my wrist is on fire. I signed all three hundred of them.
“Come back anytime,” Eleanor says, smiling happily at me. “You have a standing invitation.”
“Thanks,” I say, beaming. I’ll just have to bring my shirtless mate along with me to drive traffic into the store.
Jada is taking orders for more books from the disappointed readers who came after we sold out. I promise them all to come back and sign them when they arrive.
Finally, there’s a lull in the store, so I head out to see my crazy man.
“What are you doing?” I ask with a big smile on my face as I walk up to him.
He’s grinning at me as he waves the sign over his head. His body is perfect. His abs look airbrushed. No wonder he got the attention of all those women.
“Trying to get you to move in with me.”
I shake my head and smile. “You’re going viral, you know?”
“How many books do you have left?”
“Zero.”
His brown eyes light up. “You sold them all?”
I nod.
“All three hundred?”
“All three hundred and I’m taking orders for more.”
He drops the signs and stares at me with an adorable hopefulness in his eyes. “So, you’re going to move in with me?”
I bite my bottom lip as I consider it. How can I say no to that face?
“I’ll move in with you,” I say. “Let’s do it.”
He lets out a scream of pure delight and then picks me up. I squeal as he spins me around, hooting like he’s never been happier.
This man is wild.
And he’s all mine.
epilogue
. . .
Layla
Three months later…
My hands are tingling with excitement as they fly across the keyboard. This is the best part of my job.
I have a big smile on my face and warmth is radiating through my chest the closer I get.
Finally, it’s here.
I type, The End.
“Yes,” I whisper as I lay back in my seat and stare at the two words that are every writer’s best friend. A sense of accomplishment fills me up as I run my eyes over each letter.