Page 27 of Flames of Desire

The only thing that might grow to be a problem would be if Colton somehow found out about us. I didn’t exactly have the best reputation in town, and I was sure Colton would rather die than allow Lily to be in a relationship with me.

But as Lily would say, ‘Fuck Colton.’

I laughed at the thought, watching as she came out of her house and walked toward my car.

“You ready for this?” I asked her, as she climbed into my car.

She gave me a weak smile before clutching her purse in her hand nervously. Her eyes wavered with uncertainty and determination. “Yeah. I think I am.”

“You’ll do fine, Lil. I promise. Just trust your gut and go with it.” I grinned at her, and she glanced at me, managing a small smile.

I drove off, keeping my eyes on the road as we headed to The Coffee Corner. It was a small cafe in the heart of town and also the scheduled place for the meeting. I could feel just how nervous she was, but I knew for a fact that she would do great. Her passion for books was infectious, and Richard Ginsberg, of all people, would see that.

We got to the cafe, and as I opened the door for her, I heard her gasp softly as she stepped inside. I looked in the direction she was looking, and my eyes fell on Richard Ginsberg seated at a table a few feet away from us, his eyes trained on the huge see-through window of the cafe.

He turned his head as we approached, a welcoming smile on his face. “Mr. Alex,” he greeted me warmly, standing up to shake my hand.

His gaze shifted to Lily, and he smiled, “And you must be Lily.” he shook her hand as well, “Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ginsberg,” Lily said, her voice a mix of excitement and nerves. We sat down, and I could see the determination in her eyes.

“So, Lily,” Richard began, leaning forward slightly. “I’ve heard quite a bit about your bookstore. Alex has been very enthusiastic in his praise.”

Lily blushed, glancing at me with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Mr. Ginsberg. It’s a small place, but it’s my dream come true. I’ve always wanted to create a space where people can find solace in books.”

Richard nodded thoughtfully. “I understand that completely. Books have a way of connecting us, don’t they?”

“Indeed, they do,” Lily agreed, her confidence growing. “And that’s why I’m so excited about the possibility of you doing a book signing at my store. It would mean the world to me and to the community.”

Richard smiled. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. Let’s talk details.”

“I’ve been thinking about some promotional activities leading up to the event,” Lily said, her voice steady and clear. “We could have a reading night where you read excerpts from your latest book. It would be an intimate gathering, just a few of your fans, probably create a sense of exclusivity.”

Richard’s eyes lit up. “I like that idea. It would give me a chance to interact with my readers on a more personal level.”

Lily nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. And we could follow that with a Q&A session. People love getting the opportunity to ask questions directly to the author. It would create a lot of buzz and get people talking about the event.”

Richard leaned back, clearly impressed. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?”

Lily smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes. “I have. I believe in the power of books and the connections they create. I want to bring that experience to our community.”

Richard glanced at me, then back at Lily. “You’re very passionate about this. It’s refreshing to see.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ginsberg,” Lily said, her voice softening. “Books have always been my refuge, and I want to share that with others. Your participation in this event would mean so much to us.”

Richard smiled warmly. “Please, call me Richard. And I’m more than happy to be a part of this. Your ideas are fantastic, and I’m confident this will be a successful event.”

Lily beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Thank you, Mr. Gins… Richard.”

Richard laughed softly and leaned forward like he was about to leave when Lily spoke up again. “I also had another idea,” Lily said, her voice shaking a bit.

Richard raised an eyebrow, settling back into his seat, “Go on.”

“I know that your books are currently published by a major firm, but I was thinking—what if we collaborated with the publishing firm where my brother works? It could be beneficial for both parties. Your books would gain even more publicity, and my bookstore would get the recognition it needs.”

Richard raised his eyebrow even higher, clearly intrigued. “That’s an interesting proposition, Lily. I’d be open to discussing it further. Do you think your brother would be on board with this?”

Lily nodded confidently. “I believe he would. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

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