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Authors: Ginny Baird
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logically—”
“Hunter attended some of those celebrations,” Jill surmised.
Morgan’s expression brightened as her notion picked up steam, and she continued dreamily, “When you and Hunter saw each other again—I mean from the very first time—it was like… bada-boom… chemistry! Fireworks! Maybe he even swept you into his arms and kissed you!”
“What?”
“Okay,” Morgan conceded. “Perhaps that’s carrying things too far. Nobody’s that irresistible.” She studied Jill sympathetically. “Sorry, hon, not even you.
“My point is,” Morgan continued. “Sometimes these things happen. It’s not your fault or his. You didn’t even know you’d be desperately attracted. But…maybe… There had been some kind of never-forgotten fling in high school?” She tried to read Jill’s eyes. “Yes?”
“No!”
“Then why are you fanning yourself with my proof copy of Fated Flames: Long-Lost Lust ?”
Jill looked down to find the paperback edition waving furiously back and forth in her hand. She quickly stopped the motion and put the book down. “I just think you’re blowing things up a bit, that’s all.”
“Nonsense! They have to be big. Bigger than big. Enormous! And…” She set her elbows on her desk and leaned forward, raising her eyebrows. “Dramatic, romantic…glorious! Don’t you see? Your affair will capture the world’s imagination!”
Jill nodded with understanding, once again sensing Morgan’s genius. “And this will help me sell books.”
“Of course. Every woman on earth knows there’s nothing more challenging than transitioning from insta-lust into a real relationship. That’s what book three is about! Married Love: Keeping Those Home Fires Burning. Naturellement! ”
“Naturellement,” Jill repeated, the entire scheme taking root in her mind. Morgan was right; this was perfect. Even if Hunter Delaney proved himself to be a perfect pain in the neck, no one would fault a girl for having the hots for him. He was successful and gorgeous…with the worst sort of reputation any guy could have! “What about Hunter’s well-known standing as a womanizer?”
“You’ll be the beauty that tamed the savage beast. Women everywhere will stand up and applaud you!”
Jill glanced at her doubtfully. “You’re mighty sure of this.”
“Look, Jill. I don’t know much, but I do know two things: I know books, and I know the public. Between those two I can create a package that sells. If the numbers on this book break where I think they will, you’ll never have to worry about your grandpa’s comfort again. He’ll be well taken care of, and you’ll be set for the long haul too.”
“Even after my…” Jill stumbled on the word. “…divorce?”
“Now, hush your mouth, and let’s not go there! For heaven’s sake, we haven’t even gotten you married yet.”
Brad sat next to Hunter at the sports bar. Both were positioned on stools, strategically close to the televised ball game. “I’m not saying I don’t believe you,” Brad said. “I’m just a little stunned she didn’t put up more of a fight.”
“Oh, she fought, all right.” Hunter chuckled into his beer. “Seems like she’s pretty used to winning too.”
Brad eyed his friend. “I’m guessing, so are you.”
“I’d be lying if I said it’s all ironed out, because it isn’t. There are still a few things to get straight, like where we’re going to live.”
“I thought you were dead set on staying in the condo?”
An evil smile creased Hunter’s lips. “That’s what I told Jill.”
“You mean, you honestly don’t care?”
Hunter shrugged. “Why would I? As long as I can bring my stuff with me, I’m cool.”
“That’s not what you told Jill, is it?”
Hunter nursed another sip of his brew. “Nope.”
“Why not?”
Hunter met his buddy’s eyes. “She needs to want this as badly as I do. If Jill wins the battle over our living situation, she’ll feel invested. Stay
“Hunter attended some of those celebrations,” Jill surmised.
Morgan’s expression brightened as her notion picked up steam, and she continued dreamily, “When you and Hunter saw each other again—I mean from the very first time—it was like… bada-boom… chemistry! Fireworks! Maybe he even swept you into his arms and kissed you!”
“What?”
“Okay,” Morgan conceded. “Perhaps that’s carrying things too far. Nobody’s that irresistible.” She studied Jill sympathetically. “Sorry, hon, not even you.
“My point is,” Morgan continued. “Sometimes these things happen. It’s not your fault or his. You didn’t even know you’d be desperately attracted. But…maybe… There had been some kind of never-forgotten fling in high school?” She tried to read Jill’s eyes. “Yes?”
“No!”
“Then why are you fanning yourself with my proof copy of Fated Flames: Long-Lost Lust ?”
Jill looked down to find the paperback edition waving furiously back and forth in her hand. She quickly stopped the motion and put the book down. “I just think you’re blowing things up a bit, that’s all.”
“Nonsense! They have to be big. Bigger than big. Enormous! And…” She set her elbows on her desk and leaned forward, raising her eyebrows. “Dramatic, romantic…glorious! Don’t you see? Your affair will capture the world’s imagination!”
Jill nodded with understanding, once again sensing Morgan’s genius. “And this will help me sell books.”
“Of course. Every woman on earth knows there’s nothing more challenging than transitioning from insta-lust into a real relationship. That’s what book three is about! Married Love: Keeping Those Home Fires Burning. Naturellement! ”
“Naturellement,” Jill repeated, the entire scheme taking root in her mind. Morgan was right; this was perfect. Even if Hunter Delaney proved himself to be a perfect pain in the neck, no one would fault a girl for having the hots for him. He was successful and gorgeous…with the worst sort of reputation any guy could have! “What about Hunter’s well-known standing as a womanizer?”
“You’ll be the beauty that tamed the savage beast. Women everywhere will stand up and applaud you!”
Jill glanced at her doubtfully. “You’re mighty sure of this.”
“Look, Jill. I don’t know much, but I do know two things: I know books, and I know the public. Between those two I can create a package that sells. If the numbers on this book break where I think they will, you’ll never have to worry about your grandpa’s comfort again. He’ll be well taken care of, and you’ll be set for the long haul too.”
“Even after my…” Jill stumbled on the word. “…divorce?”
“Now, hush your mouth, and let’s not go there! For heaven’s sake, we haven’t even gotten you married yet.”
Brad sat next to Hunter at the sports bar. Both were positioned on stools, strategically close to the televised ball game. “I’m not saying I don’t believe you,” Brad said. “I’m just a little stunned she didn’t put up more of a fight.”
“Oh, she fought, all right.” Hunter chuckled into his beer. “Seems like she’s pretty used to winning too.”
Brad eyed his friend. “I’m guessing, so are you.”
“I’d be lying if I said it’s all ironed out, because it isn’t. There are still a few things to get straight, like where we’re going to live.”
“I thought you were dead set on staying in the condo?”
An evil smile creased Hunter’s lips. “That’s what I told Jill.”
“You mean, you honestly don’t care?”
Hunter shrugged. “Why would I? As long as I can bring my stuff with me, I’m cool.”
“That’s not what you told Jill, is it?”
Hunter nursed another sip of his brew. “Nope.”
“Why not?”
Hunter met his buddy’s eyes. “She needs to want this as badly as I do. If Jill wins the battle over our living situation, she’ll feel invested. Stay
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