Page 71 of Fall I Want
“Plus royalties and distribution.”
“What’s your ridiculous dream price?” When the oven is preheated, I put the pizza inside.
She refuses to answer.
“Which piece of clothing are you removing?” My eyes slide over her, knowing she left her bra and panties on the floor of my closet. I saw them on her tiny pile of clothes.
She narrows her eyes. “You play so fucking dirty!”
“It’s a house advantage,” I state, leaning against the counter.
Autumn stands, twirling the hem of the T-shirt in her fingers and barely lifting it, showing her flat stomach. I wait, not taking my eyes from her until she pushes the material down.
“I don’t know if I can put a number on it because I don’t think I can deliver.”
“Ten million,” I offer. “You realize that’s an author’s dream advance.”
She gasps.
“We can make it twenty?” I shrug, glancing at my nails. “I have more money than any person should. That’s nothing.”
“Zane.”
“What if I said fifty million? Could you imagine selling your first publication for that much money?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“I have one stipulation, though. I wanteveryfucking detail of Mr. Dreamy.”
Her eyes are wide. “You’reserious.”
“I’ll put the funds in a trust for you this week. Oh, I’d also like it delivered in six months.”
“Don’t you think that’s strict?”
“Not for the price I’m paying. Actually, let’s make it before the new year. Up the ante a little.”
“Are you out of your mind? I have finished no projects since I graduated with my MFA a decade ago. You’re giving me fourteen weeks.”
“Exactly.”
She stares at me like I’ve grown a third head and then she scoffs. “You know what, I will take your offer.”
I hold out my hand and we shake on it. “Every. Detail.”
“It will make you blush,” she says. “And you’ll probably learn a thing or two.”
A roar of laughter escapes me. “I look forward to it, Pumpkin.”
When the word leaves my lips, she inhales and glances away from me.
“What other dreams do you have?”
“Well, I wanted to be married by thirty. No way you can make that happen, unless you have enough money to buy a time machine and we can go back three and a half years.”
“Ah, unfortunately no. But marriage by thirty isn’t a fail.”
“Considering who I would’ve married, I’d say you’re right,” she says.
