Total pages in book: 244
Estimated words: 236705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1184(@200wpm)___ 947(@250wpm)___ 789(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1184(@200wpm)___ 947(@250wpm)___ 789(@300wpm)
“Well, I’ll be damned. We had no idea you were once roomies,” Slade says.
“That’s how we met,” TJ says like he’s reminiscing.
“Sort of. Don’t forget TK Maxx,” I say, remembering that day fondly too.
“I haven’t. We hit it off right from the start,” he says, and for these few seconds, we’re not cold. We’re warm, stoked by memories.
Slade points at TJ. “And you always carried a torch for Jude.”
“I did. I was totally taken by him,” he says, sounding infatuated again, and I’m as toasty as the equator. Perhaps Olivia was right when she said he was crazy about me in London. Well, it went both ways.
“That’s absolutely believable. Say it just like that,” Slade urges.
“I will, because it’s true,” TJ says.
“The press is going to eat this up.” Slade grabs his tablet from the table and types on the screen. “Let’s just add a few layers.” He directs his gaze to me. “When you two met again in Los Angeles, you were so floored that TJ appeared at your show that you asked him to come backstage. You went out for drinks. And you two hit it off. But you lived on opposite coasts. So when TJ returned to New York, you stayed in touch via phone and text, getting to know each other,” he says.
We could have done that.
If only TJ had called me back. If only I’d had the chance to apologize.
I wither a little inside as he rewrites our story into what I wished we’d had in the months apart.
“And when Jude relocated to New York recently to begin work on Unfinished Business on LGO—bam!” Slade continues. “This was the perfect opportunity to really give it a go. You took things slow over the last several weeks, keeping it quiet and under wraps as you reconnected here in New York, learned all that chemistry from the texts and calls was real, and now you’re ready to share your romance with the world. How does that sound?”
Too good to be true. That’s the trouble. We were great in London. But terrible when we ended it in LA. I’ve got to be careful not to be seduced by the past.
Best to end this meeting fast. The longer I stay here, the stronger the lure of days gone by grows.
That’s dangerous for my heart and my head.
“Believable,” I say, then glance at the door, eager to get far away from my ex and the tempting memories of when we were good together. “So, we’re all set for our first public appearance then?”
Slade checks the screen on his tablet. “You have tickets Thursday for the opening night of the adaptation of Nick Hammer’s TV show into a musical. Damn, you lucky devils. I might need to score some tickets too for Adventures of The Last Single Guy in New York. Then, maybe some dart and pool with a couple players on the New York Leopards for a fun Instagrammable date. That team has some hotties. So we’ve got a little Broadway, a little hang with some out pro athletes. We’ve got some other events planned for you,” he says, then shares details of those—a film festival, as well as a press junket. “We even have a perfect breakup planned, but let’s get through your first event. And with that yummy backstory, I don’t want to wait to debut you two. We have a client who’s opening a new restaurant tomorrow. I’d like to send you to it.” There’s a question in his voice, but it’s clear the question has only one acceptable answer.
“Tomorrow?” TJ’s voice shoots up.
“Yes. Do you have plans to write or something?” Slade’s remark is cutting.
I glance at TJ. Did that tone bother him? Stoic, he shakes his head. “Tomorrow will be fine,” he says evenly, hard to read once again.
Our puppeteer gives us the details of the event, mentioning an interview and photos with a celebrity blogger, then adds, “And when you arrive, be sure to kiss each other on the cheek. I’d never ask you to do more, since that’d be inappropriate, but I think you can both handle some hand-holding and cheek kissing. Am I right?”
“I have no problem with stage romance,” I say since I plan to ace this role. The sooner I nail it, the sooner I can get away from the man who belongs only in the past.
“Same here,” TJ grits out.
“Excellent. Maybe practice real quick here, then?” Slade suggests.
If it gets me out of here sooner . . .
I lean in and brush my lips to TJ’s cheek, dusting my jawline against his. A hot spark skates down my spine. That’s inconvenient. But then, TJ’s breath hitches. Ever so faintly.
And I hate that I love the effect I have on him.
“Perfect,” Slade says.
“Perfectly hot,” a voice adds. It’s TJ’s agent. He’s popped into the doorway, and he’s beaming at my fake boyfriend. “Told you door number two was the solution.”