Page 6 of One-Click Christmas
I lean back, muffin forgotten. “And after that?”
I swear I watch her heart pause.
“After that? You want to follow me after this?”
I nod. “Ideally I’d like to observe you on a date. I’d watch your reactions, study your body, learn more about your mind.”
“Really?”Her brows narrow dramatically as she leans forward, her full breasts now spilling out of the top of her dress. “I mean, I’m not complaining. That’s like a dream come true… but I’m really not that interesting.”
My gaze is locked on hers. “That’s exactly what someone interesting would say. Trust me. I’ve been trying to write thischaracter for months and I can’t seem to get her voice right, but when you talk… it’s like she finally speaks.”
She stares at me, uncertain but curious, like she’s trying to decide if I’m for real or just some crazy author playing games.
The front door clicks open, a gust of cold air sweeping through as someone steps inside, but Lana doesn’t look away.
“Okay. I’ll do it. You can follow me around.”
“Good.” I stand from the chair and reach out to shake her hand. It’s small in mine, still trembling, damp as though she’s nervous.
She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s already bleeding onto the pages, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Chapter Three
Lana
“He asked you to do what?” Holly stares toward me with wide eyes as Hunter finishes the last few signings of the day. The store has been a madhouse with mobs of people and little downtime. It’s the first second we’ve had to talk, and even now, hours later, I can barely contain my excitement. “Are you serious?”
“Totally. I… I don’t know how it happened. I mean, how do I act normal now? He wants this authentic version of a girl like me and all the sudden I have no idea how to be authentic.”
She pinches her lips together. “Girl, I am so jealous. Are you sure he isn’t looking for a curvy, cute, single mom for his next story?”
I smile and squeeze her hand. “Is it weird that I’d rather it were you? Seriously… I’m totally blanking on what I actually do with my life. Surely, he doesn’t want to watch me eat half a frozen pizza and watch reruns ofThe Golden Girls.”
Holly snorts, tossing her hair over one shoulder. “Honestly? That sounds like peak authenticity. Really, though, when was the last time you had a chance to do that? You’ve been so busy with your mom. How’s she feeling by the way?”
I shake my head, noticing that Hunter’s taking the podium for his reading. I’ve been nervous about this part. The momentwhere I listen to his deep graveled voice say all the filthy things I’ve been reading.
“She’s okay,” I manage, diverting my gaze back toward Holly. “My aunt agreed to go sit with her tonight so I could go out. I think this might be the first time I’ve left home for a place other than the bookstore, the hospital, or the market in months.”
“Just be yourself. That’s what he’s looking for.” She grins playfully. “You want me to come? I can be the over-the-top best friend. He must be looking for a side muse too, right?”
I laugh. “Sounds good. You can punch me in the leg whenever I start sounding like an idiot.”
“I wish! Kade has a birthday party on the other side of the mountain. I have to play nice with the mom. Did you know that parents stay at these parties now? What happened to just dropping the kid off and getting a second to yourself?”
I try to dial into what Holly is saying but there’s a panic in my chest that won’t let me focus. I’d have paid to spend time alone with Hunter Black yesterday. Today, it’s like a horror movie come to life. I mean, if I can’t even make conversation with the mail man, how am I going to make conversation with one of the top romance authors in the world, especially if he’s taken small talk off the table? I think my talks with people usually revolve around my dog or the weather. In my defense, Bailey is always doing something cute, and the weather is always changing around here.
“Why don’t you show him around downtown, maybe get some Christmas shopping done? Then you can go back to your mom’s place, and I don’t know, be normal. Or… erase all those ideas and go back tohisplace,” she winks, “and be all the muse he can handle.”
I roll my eyes, but the blush creeping up my neck betrays me. “You’re impossible.”
Holly grins, clearly pleased with herself. “I’m just saying, he asked for authenticity, not sainthood. You can be normal and still be magnetic. You’ve got that whole‘accidental enchantress’vibe going.”
I snort. “What are you talking about? I’m awkward as hell.”
“Exactly… that’s why the enchanting part is accidental.”
I’m still laughing when the soft tap of a microphone cuts through the buzz of the store. The crowd quiets, heads turning toward the podium. Holly nudges me with a knowing smirk just as Hunter steps forward, his presence commanding without trying too hard.
