disbelievingly. “I already told you, Ben. A date is not. Going. To. Happen.”
“You can’t blame a guy for trying,” I said nonchalantly even though her words were a blow to my ego for sure. “How about a drink? I have it on good authority that you’re hanging with the VIP right now and all my drinks are free.”
“That’s quite all right. I couldn’t take your drinks. Besides, I’m not planning on drinking anyway. I have an early morning flight home tomorrow.” She popped a cube of cheese in her mouth before grabbing another one and following suit.
“If you don’t want to go to dinner then why are you eating cheese like it’s your last meal?” I asked when she popped a few more cubes.
“Ugh. Stress,” she muttered in annoyance before eating a bite sized sandwich.
“I hope you aren’t lactose intolerant.” I motioned to the new pile of cheese she added to her plate.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.” She rolled her eyes and picked up a glass of water.
“What has you so stressed?” I inquired.
“Nothing you’d care about,” she muttered.
“Try me. It’s a known fact that talking about whatever is worrying you helps to put it in perspective.”
“I’m sure it does, but I’m not talking about this with you. You’re practically a stranger.”
“I respect that. If you’re that stressed though you should have a drink. It will relax you and I promise not to let you get out of hand. I’ll cut you off if you start to get tipsy.” I crossed my fingers over my heart and gave her an endearing smile.
“I’m not much of a drinker. Not lately anyway. I think I’ll hold off. Thank you though.”
“It’s an open ended offer, so let me know if you change your mind.”
“Deal.”
I glanced around noting that several authors weren’t there yet, including Meredith. Not that I was going to complain about having Rissa all to myself for the time being. “So where’s Meredith?”
“She isn’t feeling well. I think it was the sushi she ate. She might come down for a little while later.” Her phone started ringing in her purse. She dug it out and scowled at the screen. “I need to take this. I’ll see you around.”
I watched her move away hating the fact that yet again, I had barely gotten to spend any time with her.
“Hey, Ben. Let me get you a drink,” Cassandra, the author who sat next to us earlier that day, said as she walked by me on her way to the bar.
Cassandra had hair so black it was nearly blue. She was tall and lithe with exotic eyes. Not only was she beautiful and classy but she was cool as shit too. It was refreshing after all the women eyeing me and making advances towards me.
I followed Cassandra to the bar where she ordered us each a bottle of beer. I tipped my bottle and winked in thank you.
“This was your first signing, right?” she asked, making small talk as we stood off to the side of the bar sipping our beer.
“Yeah. I’m filling in for my brother Tanner. I’m a little out of my element,” I confessed sheepishly.
“Please. You’re doing better than some people. You were completely professional today. What the models do is a direct reflection on the author they’re with. Whereas a few authors thrive on the craziness that might come with traveling with one of you guys, some of us appreciate keeping things drama free. Some activities should be kept on the down low. You know what I mean?”
I nodded my head and gave a noncommittal sound. She obviously hadn’t witnessed my less than stellar behavior the night before. Nothing about being with those girls was on the down low.
“Where are you from?” I asked in an effort to change the subject.
“Denver. You?”
“Central New York.”
“I’ve never actually been to that part of New York.”
“You aren’t missing too much. So what are your books about?”
I listened to Cassandra describe her books while I finished my beer. Her enthusiasm and passion for her art was contagious. She almost had me
“You can’t blame a guy for trying,” I said nonchalantly even though her words were a blow to my ego for sure. “How about a drink? I have it on good authority that you’re hanging with the VIP right now and all my drinks are free.”
“That’s quite all right. I couldn’t take your drinks. Besides, I’m not planning on drinking anyway. I have an early morning flight home tomorrow.” She popped a cube of cheese in her mouth before grabbing another one and following suit.
“If you don’t want to go to dinner then why are you eating cheese like it’s your last meal?” I asked when she popped a few more cubes.
“Ugh. Stress,” she muttered in annoyance before eating a bite sized sandwich.
“I hope you aren’t lactose intolerant.” I motioned to the new pile of cheese she added to her plate.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.” She rolled her eyes and picked up a glass of water.
“What has you so stressed?” I inquired.
“Nothing you’d care about,” she muttered.
“Try me. It’s a known fact that talking about whatever is worrying you helps to put it in perspective.”
“I’m sure it does, but I’m not talking about this with you. You’re practically a stranger.”
“I respect that. If you’re that stressed though you should have a drink. It will relax you and I promise not to let you get out of hand. I’ll cut you off if you start to get tipsy.” I crossed my fingers over my heart and gave her an endearing smile.
“I’m not much of a drinker. Not lately anyway. I think I’ll hold off. Thank you though.”
“It’s an open ended offer, so let me know if you change your mind.”
“Deal.”
I glanced around noting that several authors weren’t there yet, including Meredith. Not that I was going to complain about having Rissa all to myself for the time being. “So where’s Meredith?”
“She isn’t feeling well. I think it was the sushi she ate. She might come down for a little while later.” Her phone started ringing in her purse. She dug it out and scowled at the screen. “I need to take this. I’ll see you around.”
I watched her move away hating the fact that yet again, I had barely gotten to spend any time with her.
“Hey, Ben. Let me get you a drink,” Cassandra, the author who sat next to us earlier that day, said as she walked by me on her way to the bar.
Cassandra had hair so black it was nearly blue. She was tall and lithe with exotic eyes. Not only was she beautiful and classy but she was cool as shit too. It was refreshing after all the women eyeing me and making advances towards me.
I followed Cassandra to the bar where she ordered us each a bottle of beer. I tipped my bottle and winked in thank you.
“This was your first signing, right?” she asked, making small talk as we stood off to the side of the bar sipping our beer.
“Yeah. I’m filling in for my brother Tanner. I’m a little out of my element,” I confessed sheepishly.
“Please. You’re doing better than some people. You were completely professional today. What the models do is a direct reflection on the author they’re with. Whereas a few authors thrive on the craziness that might come with traveling with one of you guys, some of us appreciate keeping things drama free. Some activities should be kept on the down low. You know what I mean?”
I nodded my head and gave a noncommittal sound. She obviously hadn’t witnessed my less than stellar behavior the night before. Nothing about being with those girls was on the down low.
“Where are you from?” I asked in an effort to change the subject.
“Denver. You?”
“Central New York.”
“I’ve never actually been to that part of New York.”
“You aren’t missing too much. So what are your books about?”
I listened to Cassandra describe her books while I finished my beer. Her enthusiasm and passion for her art was contagious. She almost had me
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