Page 53 of Two Times the Mountain Men
“I’m going to cut to the chase, Genevieve. We love your book. We love it so much that we’re willing to give you a sizable advance and will be putting a lot of marketing money into promoting it. We’re talking book signings, conventions… If this book gets as big as we think… No… We know, it’s going to get big and then you are going to be a superstar in the literary world.”
Excitement raced though me, making my stomach flutter. This was the big time. Everything I dreamed about. Here was the problem: Despite the great news all I could think about was how excited Tyler and Brock would be when I told them.
Or should I?
Shit… I groaned inwardly. I just didn’t know what to do or think. My dream was here and happening now.
I wasn’t sure what else was said throughout the meeting if I were to be honest. My body was present but my mind was on auto-pilot as I thought about the past couple of weeks and what could have been had I stayed.
“I’m so glad that we’re all on the same page here. Congratulations, Genevieve.”
“Huh?” I snapped back to reality and smiled. “Thank you again for the opportunity and your faith in my work. I truly appreciate it.”
“I’ll have Gretchen get everything in order and send you a list of your bookings when we get it all organized.” Vincent stood and Gretchen and I followed suit. We shook hands once more and Gretchen led me to the exit.
As I stepped out into the cool New York street, I looked around me. New York City had been my home for a very long time—all my life. But was it truly where my heart was now? The question was rhetorical, and I knew the answer. It wasn’t.
Fuck… What do I do now?
~*~ TT ~*~
Tyler
“There’s more fish in the sea, man.” I gave Brock a pat on the back as I handed him a beer and then flopped down into the rocker recliner that Genevieve had claimed as her own while she’d been here. I swear I could smell her perfume on it still.
“Yeah, I know. It’s not like I was in the market for a relationship anyhow. I mean, seriously, us sharing her. What kind of craziness is that?”
“It was crazy, I’m with you there.”
Brock brought the open bottle to his lips and took a long drink, downing nearly half of the beer. “It’s been four days and she hasn’t contacted us at all. You’d think she’d at least check in to see how things were going.”
I shrugged. I’d admit I was very much feeling what he was feeling right now. I just didn’t want to join his pity party. We’d only known her for a couple of weeks for Pete’s sakes! You couldn’t possibly get to know someone in such a short period of time, let alone fall in love…
The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks and I nearly dropped my drink as I considered the crazy thought that crossed my mind. I loved her. Lifting my gaze from my beer I looked over at my partner.
“Hey Brock. Are you in love with her?”
Brock frowned as he stared at me for what felt like an eternity. “Why are you bringing this up now? Does it really matter?”
Leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees, I asked a second time. “Because it does matter. Just answer the damned question man. Are you in love with her?”
“For fuck’s sakes. Yes, are you happy now?” He took another long drink of his beer emptying the bottle. “Yes, I love her, but she made her decision. We told her we wanted her to stay and she left anyhow and haven’t heard from her since. We may want her, but face the fact buddy… She. Doesn’t. Want. Us.”
“What in the hell?” Headlights appeared through the night sky coming down the road toward the cabin. A truck.
“Huh?” Brock turned to look out the window and stood as he noticed the lights that were rapidly becoming brighter as they neared. “Who’d be coming out this time of night?”
I looked down at my watch. It was nearly midnight. After the incident with the fugitives, I wasn’t leaving anything to chance. Rushing over to the gun rack, I unlocked it and grabbed a rifle for myself and passed one to Brock.
“Just in case buddy. Better safe than sorry.”
“Got that right,” he agreed, accepting the gun and ensuring it was loaded and ready to go, determination in his expression. Whoever it was they had better be ready for a fight of a fucking lifetime.
~*~ TT ~*~
Genevieve
Travelling this road at this time of night was a bad idea. A very bad idea, but once I had my mind made up that I wanted—no, needed—to see my men, the devil himself wouldn’t have been able to stop me! And I had my gun on the seat next to me so I was ready for whatever could be thrown at me.
