Page 6 of A Reclusive Heart

Rick sighed.“I wasn’t going to, but you didn’t exactly give me a chance to discuss it with you.”

“You weren’t?” Nick asked, sounding surprised.

“No. Some things are going to be changing around here. For you, at least.”

Jamie had to bite her lip to stop herself from saying something. This guy was a jerk. Did she really trust him to handle J.L. Lewis’s career? No, but she didn’t have a choice anymore.

“What do you mean?” Nick demanded.

“What I mean is that you will be training Miss Harris. You will help her get the look that she needs as well as the skills to do this job.”

“Rick, that’s not-”

“In return, you will also get to sign J.L. Lewis as your client. As well as oversee the rest of her clients.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Good because I’ve already made plans for her. I think if we get her face out there and get her to do a few interviews before we start the book tour for her new book that she’ll be able to hit all the lists in the first week.”

Jamie cringed further into herself, wondering if she was really going to be able to do this.

“Before you get too carried away, Nick, you should probably know something,” Rick said as Jamie couldn’t help but look up to see his reaction.

“If you have a problem with Miss Harris, then you’re not going to be happy with J.L. Lewis,” Rick said carefully.

“And why’s that?”

“Because I’m J.L. Lewis,” Jamie admitted, wondering how she was going to get herself out of this mess.

CHAPTER 4

This was definitely one of those “Oh, shit” moments. He’d just insulted the woman that he was dying to sign. Granted, Nick thought he was insulting the little recluse standing between him and the author that he wanted to sign.

Ah, hell, there was nowhere to go but forward with this one.

“You’re J.L. Lewis?” Nick asked in what he knew was his most charming tone. Apparently, the little recluse didn’t know that because she only nodded.

A thought occurred to him. “Rick, how exactly is she supposed to represent other clients if she’s busy writing and promoting her own work?”

“She won’t be. Her job here is strictly editing. She’s easily one of the best editors that I’ve ever come across. Her clients trust her and we can work with that. They know their books will be handled by others and they’re fine with that as long as Jamie handles the editing and advises them on their online strategy.”

“So, her job here is just to give the final editorial approval before a book goes to print?” Nick asked.

Rick nodded. “That, and to write and promote her books. You’re right about her potential. I really think she’ll reach Dana’s level with the right help.”

He’d heard of pampering authors before, but this was ridiculous. They created a job for her just to keep her happy? It was ludicrous to pay her as an agent when all she really was doing was proofreading.

“These authors need someone to work with. A proofreader isn’t what they need. Who’s going to promote their work or organize their book signings?” he asked.

She frowned. “I’m not a proofreader.”

“No, you’re not,” Rick agreed, to keep her happy? Nick wasn’t sure.

Rick turned his attention to him. “I’ve decided to let you have first pick and assign the rest. What I suggest is that Miss Harris gets the manuscripts first.”

Nick frowned. “So, you’re leaving us at the mercy of a recluse?”

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