Page 55 of Paper Hearts & Plot Twists

“I was planning on it. It’s the last event of the conference, so I wanted to take advantage of my last chance to see different authors and pick up some books.”

“You don’t have to feel obliged to say yes, but if you’re willing and want to do it, I’d love some help at my table during the signing,” Miles babbled.

“I’d love to help,” Emily exclaimed. “It will be nice to spend a bit more time together, and I had a blast helping your brother during the last signing.”

“Lucky for you, I’m the more entertaining twin, so you’ll have more than a blast when you’re at the signing with me.”

Chapter 40

The signing room hadn’t changed since the last time that Emily was there, but there was electricity in the air from the connection she felt to Miles. The last time she was here it wasn’t with Miles and it was before everything had changed.

“Miles!”

Miles and Emily turn toward the shout, spotting Aaliyah Berry making her way toward them. Aaliyah was the conference manager for Cupid’s Quill Symposium, and several other popular book signings as well. Aaliyah was a tall, gorgeous woman with dark ebony skin and a thick black afro complementing her sharp suit jacket, pencil skirt, and high heels.

“Aaliyah! I was wondering when I’d see you. I can’t imagine a conference going by without at least saying hello,” Miles said as he walked up and pulled her into a side hug, which she reciprocated.

“You’ve been difficult to catch,” Aaliyah said. “I was at several events where I expected to see you, but you weren’t anywhere to be found.”

“It’s been an interesting weekend,” Miles hedged.

“Does this interesting weekend have anything to do with the lovely lady you have with you?”

Miles turned to face Emily, and before Emily knew what was happening she was tucked under his arm against his side. “This lovely lady has everything to do with it,” Miles admitted. “Meet Emily, my beautiful girlfriend. Emily, this is Aaliyah, who’s the conference manager and a longtime friend.”

Emily looked at Miles, conflicted. She loved to hear Miles call her his girlfriend, but now that they’d been intimate, she felt so confused. How much of this was real, and how much was still the fake dating act?

“Emily, it’s so nice to meet you,” Aaliyah exclaimed. “Miles is a great guy, so it’s awesome to see him looking so happy with someone.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Emily responded, holding her hand out to shake Aaliyah’s firm grip.

“The three of us need to do lunch at the next conference. Time got away from me this weekend, but we have another later this year,” Aaliyah said with a welcoming grin. She glanced over to the side and grimaced when she heard some arguing. “Sounds like a manager kind of situation. Lovely to see you guys.”

As fast as she’d come, Aaliyah disappeared, stalking down the walkway as though she weren’t wearing six-inch heels.

“She’s a bit of a whirlwind,” Emily said, staring after Aaliyah’s striking form.

“Runs this program with an iron fist, an amazing woman,” Miles said. “She saved me from some crazy fans back in the day.”

“You can’t say something like that and not tell me the story,” Emily said. Miles started moving again, leading the way toward their conference table. Emily followed at his heels.

“The craziest was probably the woman who was adamant that I was her soulmate and we needed to get married,” Miles admitted.

“Reminds me of a scary ‘Misery’ situation,” Emily murmured.

“I could see it going that way without intervention,” he replied with a wince. “She started screaming and shouting when I rejected her and eventually tried to attack me. Thankfully Aaliyah stepped in with some police help and banned her from future events.”

“What a warm welcome into writing,” Emily teased.

“The warmest. Makes me want to come to these conferences every time.”

Miles and Emily turned the corner and finally arrived at Miles’s conference table. Emily replaced some of the empty packages from the last signing and filled the table.

The two of them did some last-minute tidying and prep around the table. Emily set her purse under the table and smiled as she watched Miles get into the zone, such a different Miles than the one she’d grown to care for.

A bell dinged and the large double doors opened. Immediately a chaotic surge pressed into the room, hundreds of people frantic to find their favorite authors.

Miles turned on his PR smile like pressing a button, and within moments there was a line of people in front of his table, waiting their turn to meet him. Emily went to the swag bags and handed them out to fans as they approached the table. She helped them find books they pre-ordered before the event, and sold additional books to those who asked.

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