Page 124 of Foreplay on Words

“Come on. It’s not going to be that bad. I’ve met Di before. She’s the sweetest.”

“Why do we need public relations coaching?” Evan grumbled. The closer we got to the book tour starting, the more anxious he became.

“They want us to have a game plan in place for promotion. I’ve had to do this every time I have any kind of press coverage.”

“I’m kind of wishing I could crawl back into my hole now,” he sighed dramatically. His custom house on the lake was hardly a hole.

I laughed as I stepped forward and straightened the lapels of his suit jacket. We were already dressed for tonight’s party because our day would be too busy to have time later.

We met with Is and Adrian this morning. They’d be with us tonight but wouldn’t be on location again until we returned to the East Coast. They both had too many projects to spare three weeks out of the office. Their dedicated interns had been voluntold that they were coming with us.

“You do not. I know it’s making you uncomfortable, but I think it will be good for you to interact with your readers more. You’ve gotten too used to being ‘Mr. Famous Recluse’—time to get back on the book-tour horse.”

“If you weren’t here with me, I would have fled to Connecticut by now.” The sad thing was that I knew he wasn’t joking. I felt guilty for putting him through this, but he was committed.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m here.” I leaned up and kissed him softly. He gripped my hips and pulled me closer as he deepened it and took possession of my bottom lip.

I was having a hard time concentrating today. With the excitement of the book launch and Evan wearing his fuck-hot glasses, I was in cerebral overload.

“You two ready to stop making out in public places and get this over with?” Kristine sighed with exaggerated annoyance.

Sam frowned down at her and then smiled back over at us. “Kris, leave them alone.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. If you’d like me to pop some popcorn so you can watch, I’ll be right back,” she snarked as she elbowed him in the arm.

I smiled against Evan’s lips and leaned back slightly. He looked a little mortified but also turned on. Apparently, getting caught was something that excited him. Never would have pegged him for a secret exhibitionist. He continued to surprise me.

“Let’s go in with Di, and they can join us when they’re ready.” Sam nodded toward the conference room where our meeting was being held.

“We’re good. He’s a little nervous, and I was talking him through it,” I assured as I flashed them a bright smile.

“Sure. Talking...right. You were trying to swallow each other’s fricking tongues in a hallway, and it’s talking...”

“Leave them alone.” Sam rolled his eyes, pushing Kristine toward the open door with his hand on her back. “Come on.”

“Quit tugging on me, Spammy. They’re adults. They can take a little bit of teasing.”

“I told you to stop calling me that,” Sam said in a low voice, clearly full of irritation.

“Well, I would. But I know it irritates you, so I won’t,” Kristine replied smugly.

“Do we really have to spend the next three weeks with them?” Evan whispered in my ear.

I looked over his shoulder at Kristine and Sam standing together on the other side of the hallway. They were facing each other, and her hips tilted slightly toward him. There was some unresolved sexual tension going on between those two.

“Want to bet how many signings we can get through before we catch them making out in a hallway?” I whispered back, so the two potential love birds couldn’t hear me.

“I’m thinking LA,” Evan nodded.

“I’m betting on the first day in Denver. They’re about to jump each other right now.”

“You’re on,” Evan told me with a decisive nod.

“What do I get if I win?”

“A kiss,” he shrugged.

“Pfft. I don’t have to win a bet to get those.” He shook his head at my naughty smile while I eyed his full lips.

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