Page 56 of Where the Little Birds Are (Little Bird Duet 2)

“Eight,” I squeak out, feeling heat creep over my face from the mewled response. Clearing my throat, I wince when his gaze drifts toward me, brows raised.

“Eight?” he repeats. I just nod and swear he says huh before stepping back. He never pushed a second button.

We ride up the eight stories in silence, both our hands in our pockets. Once in a while I’ll sneak a peek his way, wondering why he’s going to Jamie’s floor. He could be another author. I don’t know everybody that the agency represents, so it’s plausible.

When the doors open, the same receptionist I saw before looks up at us. She smiles at me, but keeps her gaze locked on the man walking directly behind me. “Parker, Ms. Little—”

“Parker,” Jamie says from somewhere close by, coming out of one of the side offices near the elevators. “So nice of you to join us.”

The guy blushes. “Jeff told me I didn’t need to come in the usual time because there were meetings I wasn’t needed at, ma’am.”

Jamie walks over to us, one of her brows quirked in a way that says is that right? “Is Jeff your boss or am I?”

The guy, Parker, swallows. “You are.”

“Correct. Just because you’re in the publicist division doesn’t mean you can come in whenever you see fit. I’ll make sure Jeff knows as much before giving the interns free range. And what did I say about calling me ma’am? “

“Not to?”

“Correct again, Mr. Jennings.”

I shift on my feet, feeling uncomfortable bearing witness to this awkward exchange. Jamie doesn’t seem to care that she’s reprimanding somebody in front of me, but I feel bad for the guy. I wouldn’t want anyone seeing me get scolded if I were in his shoes.

She finally turns to me as I peel off my winter gloves and stick them in my pockets for safe keeping. “Kinley, I’m glad you could make it. I’m not sure if you’ve properly met, but this is our last remaining intern Parker Jennings. He’ll be with us for the next two years, isn’t that right?”

Parker glances at me while nodding.

“Parker, this is Kinley Thomas.” I do what I was taught and hold out my hand. For some reason it takes him by surprise because he stares at it before sliding his palm into mine and shaking. Heat blossoms back over my cheeks and nose over his firm grip, only relenting when we drop our hands and I stuff mine back into my coat. “She’s one of my authors who’s here to discuss the book I’ll be representing.”

His brows dart up. “Aren’t you a little young to be an author?”

Unable to refrain from frowning, I retort, “Aren’t you a little young to be a publicist?”

Jamie chuckles. “Parker is twenty-one and fulfilling his internship from NYU. He’ll be working here to gain experience.”

“Would you like anything to drink?” she asks me.

Before I can answer, Parker says, “I can make a fresh pot of coffee and bring you some if you’d like.”

My lips part. “Oh. Uh…” I force a smile and give him a tiny shrug. “I don’t drink coffee actually but thank you.”

“Hot chocolate or tea?” he presses, unbuttoning his peacoat.

I wouldn’t mind something hot to drink, and since he’s offering… “I wouldn’t mind a hot chocolate. Thank you.”

He nods and walks away, leaving just Jamie and me. She gestures toward her office. When we walk inside, she closes the door behind me and rounds her desk.

I take off my coat and sit down in the same blue chair as the first time. “It’s a lot warmer here than back home.”

“One of the many advantages of living in the city,” she remarks, moving some papers out of her way. “I’d like to talk about the revisions.”

My heart squeezes in a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. It took me two months to rework the entire thing. I started from scratch and copy and pasted bits and pieces from the original manuscript to formulate the new one.

“I love it.”

Eyes popping open, I can only stare.

She nods once, seeing my shock. “What made you choose to add the cheating element? It brings a new kind of depth that was missing before and brings these characters to life. You feel their pain, witness their shortcomings, and still cheer them on.”

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