Page 44 of One-Star Romance

“ ‘Exacting’ is the perfect word,” Zuri said. “You should see him try to make a simple cup of coffee. It requires just the right bean, a precise amount of grinding time.”

The two women shared a smile, one that seemed genuine. Rob tried not to be too offended that it had come at his expense.

“And can you even taste the difference?” Natalie asked.

Zuri looked at Rob, then said, loyally, “Yes.”

“Well,” Natalie said, and tucked her hair back behind her ears, “I’m not supposed to be broadcasting my involvement in the book. So please don’t put this conversation all over social media.”

“Don’t worry,” Zuri said. “We don’t do social media.”

“A really cool thing about it is that we got to meet Tyler!” Jeff said. “Well, Natalie spends a lot of time with him, but he took us both out to dinner. And let me tell you, he is fun. Super-nice to everyone.”

“Yeah, he’s a wonderful guy.” Natalie paused. “Definitely required a lot from his ghostwriter, but wonderful.”

“So handsome too. I almost felt a little jealous, Natalie hanging out with him every day,” Jeff said in the hearty, jokey tone people tended to use when something wasn’t quite a joke at all.

“Don’t worry,” Natalie said. “He’s only into supermodels.” Jeff blinked, and she quickly went on, “And I’m only into you.”

Thankfully, at that moment, the ushers at the church indicated that guests should find their seats.

“Well, goodbye,” Rob said, then took Zuri’s hand and began to power walk toward the pews, hoping that the crowd would separate them quickly enough from Jeff and Natalie. Still, he couldn’t help listening in as, behind them, Jeff nudged Natalie, handing her his phone. “Look at this. This is Drew’s place, the one I was telling you about. Exposed brick. And there’s enough room for my bike in the hallway!”

“Oh,” Natalie said. “It’s a little expensive, isn’t it?”

“You’d think so, but we can get it without a broker’s fee, so that’s huge. I ran the numbers, and it saves us hundreds of dollars a month.”

“Hm.”

“We’ve just got to let him know by tomorrow, because otherwise his landlord wants to list it.”

At that moment, Rob spotted an opening, a pew with only two seats left, and beelined in. Zuri settled beside him as the crowd carried Jeff and Natalie over to a different part of the church. Finally, Rob exhaled.

“Well, that was awkward,” Zuri said, opening up her program. “No way for you to know about the book, though.”

“Mm.” Rob stared up at the front of the church. “That Jeff guy is irritating, isn’t he?”

“In what way?”

“He just kept talking. And talking.”

“I think he was a man meeting new people, trying to make conversation.”

Rob harumphed.

“I love you, but you were not giving him much to work with.”

“You shouldn’t set traps for people like that. Just say that Natalie ghostwrote the book.”

“It’s fine. I’m sure she doesn’t particularly care what you think. Why would she?”

“Authors can be sensitive.”

“Well, maybe she’s not one of them. Besides, she’s not really an author, is she? She’s a ghostwriter.”

“She is an author.” Rob’s voice came out louder than he’d intended, and Zuri raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“I didn’t realize. Good for her.”

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