Page 30 of The VIP Doubles Down
“Have you read the new author’s book?”
“Yes, I gave it an enthusiastic cover blurb.”
Her lips curved in a soft smile. “You’re very generous.”
“I was a debut author once.” He remembered the nerves before his first book signing and the fear that no one would show up. That’s why he’d agreed to help out. “Jaros will pick you up. I’d do it myself, but I have to be there an hour early, and I won’t subject you to that boredom.”
“I’d be honored to come.” She gave him a pointed look. “But I’ll take the subway.”
“No subway.”
She considered his command for a moment. “How about a compromise? You can send your car for me to come to work, but I’ll get to the book signing on my own. It’s not that far from where I live.”
Other than muttering, “Stubborn little cuss,” he stopped arguing. He was too shocked by the flood of gratitude and relief that flowed through him when she had agreed to come.
Allie checked the numbers on the nearest buildings as she came up out of the subway and turned left. She strode along the narrow sidewalk until she spotted the blood-spattered sign for Murder Unlimited.
The bookstore was in a turn-of-the-century building with a cast-iron facade. Tall windows painted rectangles of yellow light on the cracked sidewalk, and a crowd of people milled around inside. She took a deep breath and pulled open the door, the quiet hum of voices contrasting with the city street noise. A sign with Gavin’s head shot and a photo of a studious-looking young woman announced a book signing tonight.
Excitement fizzed through her at the thought that Gavin wanted her here. She couldn’t wait to see him in his element, surrounded by books and adoring readers.
As she hesitated on the threshold, a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses, skinny jeans, and electric blue wingtips greeted her. “Welcome! The coatrack is over there. The wine is in that corner. And the line for the signing begins by the bookshelf with the large yellow arrow on it. Get your books signed and then bring them to the register.” He gave her a well-rehearsed smile. “We trust our readers to pay after they play.” He leaned in. “So are you here for Gavin Miller or Kendra Leigh?”
“Both. Gavin told me how great Kendra’s new book is.”
The clerk raised his eyebrows. “You know Gavin Miller? Then let’s take you to the head of the line.” Without waiting for her response, he grabbed her elbow and began edging through the crowd with a tap on one shoulder and a nudge to another.
Allie tried to stop him, but her escort was on a mission, and soon they had cha-cha-ed to within sight of the signing tables. “Okay, I’m good here,” Allie said when her guide paused for a second.
She ducked behind a bookcase and stripped off her unfashionable quilted winter jacket, stuffing it on top of a row of Agatha Christie paperbacks. She hadn’t worn a hat so she wouldn’t have hat head, but she ran her palms over her hair, just in case.
She hoped her attire was appropriate for a book signing. She’d chosen black pants and kitten-heeled leather ankle boots, topping them with a funky gray-and-black geometric-print tunic she’d bought from an artist friend. For once, her hair’s gaudy color looked sophisticated, adding a splash of drama to her monochrome outfit.
Sidling around the bookcase, she watched Gavin scrawl his name in four books for one customer, chatting and smiling the whole time.
He looked the part of a thriller writer, with his longish dark hair combed back from the striking angles of his face and a leather jacket slung over the back of his chair. He wore a black silk shirt open at the collar. Her pulse did a little tango as she thought of what was under the silk.
At the table beside Gavin’s, Kendra Leigh tugged nervously at her brown braid when a customer approached her. She pushed her glasses up on her nose and gave her new reader a hesitant smile before she carefully wrote in the paperback.
Gavin should give her some lessons on charming the clientele.
As the enthusiastic fan stepped away from his table, Gavin glanced around and caught sight of Allie. The smile that flashed across his face hit her like a medicine ball to the stomach. It wasn’t the author smile he’d had on earlier. It was an I-am-over-the-moon-glad-to-see-you smile. She pressed her hand against her chest to slow the crazed flipping of her heart. His gaze flicked down to register her gesture while his smile took on a wolfish edge.
He beckoned her toward him before saying something to the customer standing in front of him. As Allie walked forward, he pushed back his chair and stepped away from the table. At the same time, a tiny blonde woman in a crimson sheath dress approached him and put her hand on his arm. Allie hesitated, but Gavin once again waved her nearer as he and the blonde moved away from the crowd into a private space between the bookshelves.
“You’re here,” he said. His green eyes skimmed over her and lit with something stronger than gratitude. “Your hair is glorious.” Then as if he hadn’t just said something personal, he glanced back at his table. “It’s a bit of a madhouse right now, but don’t leave. It will die down.”
Allie considered the line snaking through several rows of bookcases. “In about three hours.”
“You don’t give me enough credit. I’ve done a few of these before.” He turned her to face the blonde. “Jane, this is the brilliant physical therapist you sent me. Allie, Jane.”
“Ms.Dreyer,” Allie said, offering her hand and a smile of gratitude. “Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work with Mr.Miller.”
The agent shook Allie’s hand, her stack of gold bangles chiming softly. “Gavin says you’ve worked miracles, so I want to thankyou. Since Gavin’s tied up at the moment, let me get you some wine.”
“Oh, gosh, I’m fine.” Allie didn’t want to bother Gavin’s agent.
“I insist. I want to hear about how his treatment is progressing. We can talk in the VIP room in back.”
