Page 67 of Threat of Danger
“No. But I appreciate the offer, Diane.”
“You’re not going to turn into one of those recluse authors who are impossible to promote, are you? Like go and live in a cabin in the woods?” She sucked in a quick breath. “Oh God. Vermont. You’ve already moved to a cabin in the woods!” She groaned. “James Patterson lives in New York. Just saying. I think you should think about a move. Be in the middle of the action.”
Derek leaned back in his chair. “I’ve already been in the middle of the action.”
“Right. War. Sorry. I’m ...”
“Don’t worry about it.” He smiled at the honest distress in her voice. “I know what you meant.”
He looked through his office window, toward the Taylor place. Somewhere inside the farmhouse, Jess was probably cleaning and organizing for her mother’s eventual homecoming.
“I like it here,” he said. “I’ll do all the online promo possible for this book, and then I’ll do the full promo circuit with the next book. I promise.”
“Our PR people could have gotten you on the morning shows.” The mournful tone crept back into Diane’s voice.
“Under different circumstances, I would have loved to do them. I appreciate all that you do on my behalf. I really do.”
A long-suffering sigh on the other end. “At least tell me you’re not going to be late with the next book.”
“So far so good, but I can’t promise.”
“Hit the number one spot on theNew York Timeslist and they all become prima donnas,” Diane muttered on the other end.
Derek laughed. “If I’m late with the manuscript, I won’t betoolate.” And because he really did appreciate her, he added, “How about I throw in some bonus content? Cut scenes on the website, or a little short story for the end of the book?”
“And that’s why you’re my favorite author.”
He wasn’t anyone else’s favorite at the moment. Jess had been avoiding him all morning for some reason. She wouldn’t talk to him past courtesies on the ride back home from the hospital when he’d picked her up and dropped off Zelda again. Jess had barely looked at him when he’d offered to drive Kaylee and her back to the hospital after school. She would take care of it, she’d said.
Diane was asking, “Are you sure you can’t do the book tour?”
“I’m sure.”
“Is this about a woman?”
“Yes.”
“Dare I hope for a shocking relationship with a prostitute that’ll be picked up by the tabloids and give us a ton of free publicity? Hollywood is remakingPretty Woman. We could do some newsjacking.”
“I’m sorry to be a disappointment.”
Diane scoffed. Then she asked, “Is it true love?”
“Yes.” How little he had to think about it surprised him.
“Fine.” Diane drew a long breath on the other end. “Balance sheets be damned. Do what you need to do. Full speed ahead, sailor, and release the torpedoes. Or whatever they say in the navy.”
Derek couldn’t help a smile. “Thank you, Diane.”
By the time he hung up with his editor, the clock on the wall showed noon. Zelda had told him she had lunch in the fridge and he should go up to the house and eat, so he went downstairs and drove over.
He knocked but received no answer. He opened the door and walked inside. The school bus hadn’t come yet, so he didn’t expect Kaylee there, but he couldn’t see Jess either. Then he stepped farther in and realized that the lump on the couch was Jess, and not just a rumpled quilt.
Her golden hair was spread out on the pillow. Lines formed between her eyebrows, and her lips were pursed. She was frowning in her sleep. He leaned over to pull the cover higher on her shoulder.
Jess was back home, back next door again.
The thought was still a surprise, every time he saw her. Like when he’d been ten and he’d wanted a laptop for Christmas so much, he didn’t dare to ask for it. And then he went downstairs in the morning, and his brand-new laptop was waiting under the tree, courtesy of his grandparents. Every time Derek looked at Jess, he felt exuberant joy mixed with disbelief. Like he should pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
