Page 62 of The Ruse of Romancing
“Do you love Dani?”
The question caught me so off guard, I nearly fell out of my office chair.
“Is this a trick question?” I asked slowly, confused why Avery would be asking me this now.
“No tricks. I just want an honest answer. Do. You. Love. Dani?” This time, she said each word distinctly, as if I were a child.
“Yes, I love Dani.” It was the type of declaration I probably should have made to Dani and not her sister, but at this moment, I didn’t have much of a choice.
“And are you willing to do anything to make this right?”
This time I didn’t hesitate in my response. “Absolutely.”
“Then here’s what you’re going to do.” Avery’s voice had taken on a clipped, all-business tone and, for the first time since Dani left, I felt hope.
Chapter 34
Dani
Herriman, Utah
Iwasgoingtokill my sister. And probably all of the cousins, minus Chloe, just for good measure. And the only reason Chloe wasn’t on my hit list was because she was currently living in a different state. If she still lived locally, she’d also be in my bad books.
Because, despite my heartbreak of the last few days, my family had decided the best way to celebrate me finishing the first draft of the sequel toOf Curses and Pomegranateswas to host a formal party at my townhome clubhouse with family, friends, my publishing team, and an assortment of bookish influencers.
So, now, instead of celebrating by wearing sweats and wallowing on my couch with Hercules curled up next to me, Iwas dressed to the nines in a tight-fitting black dress Avery had picked out for me with my hair curled and full makeup on. I hadn’t put this much effort into my appearance since I’d worn my Doris Day dress to dinner with Mason, and I was hating every second of it.
Spotting the refreshments table, I snagged a plate and began loading it up with finger foods. If I was going to be forced to socialize with dozens of people, at least I could do it with food in hand. And maybe if I was eating, it would discourage people from talking to me.
Just as I was about to find a table to hide at with my food, Avery’s ex-fiancé cornered me.
“Dani, we’re so glad to have you back. How was Oregon? It must have been great, since you finished the book! I can’t wait to read it. Avery said something about the ending needing some finessing, but I expect it’ll be pure gold by the time editing team is done with it.” Eric gave me a too-wide, too-white smile and I resisted the urge to simply walk away without saying a word. He did own half of the publishing house that had made my career possible, and I needed to at least be civil. Even if he was faker than the plants dotting the clubhouse shelves.
“She hasn’t said anything to me about the ending. I’ll have to talk to her,” I said with a forced pleasantness that was the exact opposite of how I felt.
I knew what Avery’s issue with the ending was, and I was going to stick to my guns with this one. Or at least try to. After getting home from Oregon, I’d channeled all my emotions into the stunning conclusion to Hypatia’s and Petros’s story. And it was one that would definitely leave a mark. And much like I had with the bookstore scene that unlocked my writing and cured my writer’s block in Oregon, I’d decided to pull inspiration from real life because sometimes happy endings were just unbelievable.
I could still picture the final battle I’d written, Hypatia choosing to sacrifice herself and return to the underworld rather than allow her enemies to take over the human realm. As a result, Petros’s memories were erased, leaving Hypatia alone to remember their epic love and wonder what could have been.
It was how I imagined my perception of things versus Mason’s. Given his history, I figured it wouldn’t take him long to move onto the next female to stay in the unit next door. Or at least that was what I told myself to make the separation easier. A small voice in the back of my mind tended to argue with me, pointing out how Mason had gone out of his way to spend time with me and make me feel special, actions that he wouldn’t have taken if he was simply looking for a quick fling.
Eric continued babbling beside me—going off about print costs and page counts—and I only half-listened as I scanned the room, taking in the folding tables covered in white tablecloths with floral centerpieces in vibrant hues that reminded me of an Oregon sunset. Avery must have hired someone or recruited the cousins to turn my normally bland clubhouse into a welcoming party.
As if sensing my need for escape, Avery called the room to order. She stood at the front of the room where she’d set up a projector and screen. The room was filled with family members and Rose & Quill Publishing contacts. I’d also spotted a few local authors, many of whom I knew Avery was trying to woo over to Rose & Quill. It was a small group, but the energy was high as everyone turned expectantly to listen to what Avery had to say.
“Welcome everyone! Thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate the next big reveal for Rose & Quill Publishing.”
Polite applause filled the room along with a few whistles, and Avery paused, waiting for everyone to quiet down before she continued.
“Now, I know this is a bit unorthodox, but we’re so excited about the release of Dani’s next book that we decided to do a surprise title and cover reveal here tonight. Please keep in mind, this is for your eyes only until the social media reveal. This cover is an interesting case because we had to switch designers, with our previous designer’s blessing of course. We miss her talents and can’t wait for her to return from time with her family. That being said, we’ve hired a very special, new designer, and his work truly deserves a crowd.”
I forced down my emotions at the mention of a new cover designer. Not too long ago, I’d hoped my designer would be Mason. Days later and I was still having a hard time with the truth.
“And to make things extra fun, nobody but me has seen the cover. Not even Dani.”
I pasted on what I hoped appeared to be an excited smile as all the eyes in the room turned to me. I was puzzled at the unique approach to my cover. Last time, Avery had asked for some cover suggestions and sent me a few renderings for feedback before the cover was finalized. Being shown the final cover, just days after I finished drafting the novel, without having given any suggestions had me more than a little concerned.
Weren’t they rushing the cover a bit? What if I hated the design? Though I guess it didn’t really matter. As the publisher, Rose & Quill could do what they thought best, and I’d go along for the ride.
