Page 29 of Wanted

Writing sucked. Being a writer sucked. Who even read anymore? People wanted pictures. That’s why porn was so popular. Men had the right idea. It was a lot less work.

She sighed and reached for her glass of soda. Another thing? She didn’t drink coffee, and from the sixteen writers’ blogs she’d read this morning while waiting for inspiration to hit, she needed to. Unless she gave up her soda habit for java, she’d probably be stuck staring at this empty page from now until forever.

The one thing she liked so far was her title.Keeping The Motor Cranked:Tips, Tricks and Advice From The Frontlines of the Women’s Orgasm Movement (WOM).

She could picture the merchandising now. Hats, jackets, cute little tank tops all emblazoned with the acronym WOM in a bright red lipstick font. This book was her ticket to self-satisfaction and monetary security, she just knew it.

If only she could make it to page two.

Her cell phone went off and she grabbed it like a drowning woman when presented with a life preserver. The outside world! Someone to save her from this stinking shitpile of a non-book. Thank God.

Seeing Tony’s name, she smiled wide enough to make her cheeks hurt. “God, Tony, I’m so glad it’s you.”

“Marsh?” Worry immediately crept into his tone. “What’s the matter? Are you okay? Did something happen? Should I come home?”

Her smile turned into laughter. Damn, she adored this man. More and more by the hour. “No, sweetie. Everything’s fine.”

“Do you not feel good? I could bring home soup. You know The Daily Bread’s always got a great lunch special.”

Yep, he was a prize all right.Herprize, and she wasn’t giving him up. Sure, he could get a little fretful at times but at least she knew he cared. He wasn’t one of those strong, silent types who wouldn’t reveal emotion unless someone put a gun to their head. Someone like her father, for example, who hadn’t given her mom even one anniversary card in forty-two years of marriage. Or Spencer.

Or Cale.

Yeah, Tony definitely had his good points.

“I’m perfectly fine, I swear. Not sick. Just a little tired and stressed out. You were right. I can’t write a book.”

“I never said that.”

“You implied it, and you were right. It’s beyond me. I’m meant to sell books, not write them. I just can’t get it together enough to get words on the page.”

Tony’s string of muttered curse words made her blink. “You can do anything you put your mind to. Do you hear me? Lately you’ve been putting yourself down too much. It’s not like you. What happened to my girl that could take on the world?”

Good question. Whathadhappened to her? Somewhere between quitting her job and deciding to write this book, she’d lost her belief in herself. Maybe it was just a natural consequence of being at a crossroads in her life. Or maybe she was just getting older and reality had become more of a bitter pill than she’d been prepared to take. Whatever the reason, she didn’t like this new wishy-washy version of herself.

Last night she hadn’t had any insecurities at all. How could she, when faced with two incredibly sexy men who ravished her with their eyes every time she walked into a room?

Cale doing that was a recent development. But Tony had been appreciating her for years. All of her. Her looks, her personality, her mind. In his eyes, she could do no wrong.

God, she hoped she deserved him. She still wasn’t sure she was worthy of Tony’s adoration. But she’d make him proud—and in the process, herself too.

Dammit, she would.

“Marsh? Do I have to come home and put you over my knee?”

Yes, please.She smiled so hard that tears popped into her eyes. When Tony used that stern tone of voice, there was no arguing with him. Not that she wanted to argue this. Ever.

“Thank you.” She cleared her throat and hoped he couldn’t hear how soggy she was getting. Not yet. But soon. If he kept being so damn nice to her, she’d probably lose control of her ducts and go to town.

“Nothing to thank me for,” he said gruffly. “Takes some time to ease into something big like writing a book is all. You haven’t done any sprints and now you’re trying to run a marathon.”

“You’re right.”

“Yeah, I am. Why don’t you take a break from the screen and go for a walk or something? Better yet, why don’t you come down here and give me a big ol’…” He paused and she grinned, wondering exactly how he’d finish that sentence. “Kiss.”

“Kiss? Jeez, in the old days you would’ve asked me to liplock other, more needy parts of your anatomy.”

“Didn’t specify where, now did I?”

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