across his shoulders. “And?”
“No one by the name of Lara was invited.”
“No.” Knowing what he knew now, that didn’t surprise him. “Did you check for Matilda?”
“Yes, boss. No Matilda, either.”
So what did that mean? Chase strolled the length of his office, his mind working. Had she crashed the party? Was that why she wasn’t answering the email? She was embarrassed because she wasn’t supposed to be there that night?
He ran through his options. He was living in a city of several million people, most of whom he’d be happy neverto see again. The one person he wanted to see, he couldn’t find. His desire to be anonymous had backfired in spectacular fashion.
What was he supposed to do? Hire a private investigator? Roam the streets of Manhattan like a crazed lunatic?
He kept telling himself that it was just one night and that he should let it go, but how could he? It was just one night, but he wanted something from her that he’d never wanted from a woman before.
M ATILDA WALKED INTO the foyer of the old brownstone that formed the headquarters of Phoenix Publishing. Her knees were shaking, and her palms were damp.
The email had landed in her inbox two days earlier, which meant only one thing. Chase must have passed the manuscript she’d left in his apartment to his brother.
She wondered if he’d done it personally. Had they actually had a conversation after all these years? She really hoped so. She couldn’t think of anything worse than losing touch with a family member, and she didn’t want to think of Chase lonely and missing his brother.
The short, polite email had come from an editorial assistant, with a request that she call to set up a meeting.
It was the last thing she’d expected. Why would they want to meet her?
Presumably it meant they liked the book, but why not just say so over the phone or by email?
“Miss Meadows? Mr. Adams will see you now.”
But not the right Mr. Adams, she thought sadly. Funny how a few weeks ago the only reason she’d wanted to meet Chase Adams was to try to get to his brother, and now she was about to meet his brother, all she wanted was Chase.
She walked into the room, saw a shimmer of dark hair, and for a moment her heart skipped a beat.
Then the man looked up.
Not Chase, but Brett Adams looked sufficiently like his brother to make her insides turn over.
She missed him so much.
How was it possible to miss someone you’d known for only a night?
There was a hollow ache in her chest and, whether she had her eyes open or closed, all she saw was his smile, the way he listened so attentively. The way his hands and mouth had touched her—
It was something she might have written in a book, but her books weren’t real life.
She hoped he was all right. She hoped he was happy and not working too hard.
She hoped some unscrupulous woman wasn’t sleeping with him for his money and influence.
“Miss Meadows? Have a seat.” Brett waved a hand, sending papers and files scattering. He made a grab for them and sent her a smile of boyish charm. “Sorry. Despite appearances, I know the identity and whereabouts of every piece of paper on this desk. I read your book.”
Trying not to think about Chase, Matilda sat on the edge of the chair. “I didn’t expect you to read it personally.”
“Normally I wouldn’t, but as it came direct from my brother I jumped straight on it. It had been sitting on my desk for a few days because I’ve been out of the office. London Book Fair.” He said it in a tone that suggested she probably knew all about it and Matilda tried to look sophisticated, as if the London Book Fair was somewhere she often frequented whenever she was in England.
Having never traveled farther than New Jersey, it sounded dizzyingly unreal to her.
He reached for a file on his desk. “I enjoyed it. Needs a few minor editorial changes, a little more emotional depth in a few places, but nothing structural. In a moment I’ll introduce you
Amy Bourret
L. E. Newell
Brad Cox
Rachel Wise
Heather Bowhay
Johnny B. Truant
James Roy Daley
Linda Nichols
Marie Sexton
Cynthia Eden