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Angela practically jogged into Jabberwocky; she was so excited to show Kieran the progress she had made on Los Leones in the last week.
When he called her yesterday, she’d just completed a writing sprint that had helped her finish her first rough draft. He asked her to come to Jabberwocky saying he had a proposal he wanted to discuss. It was the perfect opportunity to show him the new book.
She walked into Jabberwocky and found Kieran talking to a customer, an attractive woman, about the same age as him with a casual, blond ponytail. Angela slowed her pace to watch them.
The woman kept snorting at Kieran's jokes, throwing her head back and then bringing it down low to look up at him through lowered lashes. As if to emphasize a point, the woman reached out to put a hand on Kieran's forearm and even wrapped her fingers around his arm.
Angela arched a brow. She didn’t want to be caught staring, so she walked into his office to wait for him. She took a couple of deep breaths as she laid the manuscript out on his desk. She paged through the book as she waited for Kieran.
The door burst open as Kieran walked through. “Angela, why didn't you tell me you were here?” he asked as he scooped her up into a big bear hug.
Were they are on hugging terms now? He barely touched her at the club last week—in truth, he seemed friendlier with Therese and Dalia—then again, she had been nestled up against his chest, with nothing but a whisper of a t-shirt between her and his bare skin, the last time they were alone together.
A warm flush traveled up her body from her feet to her scalp, tingling as it went.
She sighed. Nothing about Kieran seemed to make sense.
And why did he have to feel so good? His scratchy beard and campfire smell could have been a turnoff, but unfortunately they weren’t.
His eyes twinkled brightly as he smiled at her, giving her his full attention. His dimples mocking her with their cuteness.
She attempted to smile back, but the image of the blond customer touching his arm returned to her and she was suddenly irritated.
“You looked busy. I didn't want to get in the way of your important conversation,” she said through tight lips, unable to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
Kieran arched an eyebrow at her. “What's wrong?”
Angela was surprised at how easily he read her. She forced a smile on her face and took a deep breath. “What? Nothing’s wrong. I'm just a little tired. I’ve been putting in too many hours on the new story and I still don’t feel fully settled-in back at home.” Eager to deflect, she pointed to the manuscript on his desk. “But look at what I’ve got. I think I can get this book together a lot faster than the first one.”
He started towards the desk. “Oh cool.” He flipped open the first page, read a couple of lines and then looked up. “Sorry. I was already getting engrossed. Can I get you some tea while I read it?”
She had been staring at his fingers as they ran across the words of the page and was startled by his voice. “Oh yeah. Sure.”
“Your usual?” He grabbed his cell from his back pocket and started to dial.
“Yes thanks.”
At some point Kieran had memorized her order of chai tea, extra spicy with almond milk and honey.
He called the coffee shop down the street, placed his order for delivery, and hung-up.
The coffee shop didn't usually deliver, but Kieran was an excellent customer and was the type of guy that people went out of their way for because they knew he would do the same for them.
He sat down at his desk and began reading her manuscript.
She put her bag on the floor, grabbed a book from the stack she knew to be his “under consideration” pile, and sat in his club chair. She tried to concentrate on her reading but couldn't help looking up as Kieran hhhmmmm-ed, laughed, or huh-ed his way through her manuscript.
His dual degree in English Literature and Philosophy not only gave him a great theoretical foundation in writing, but five years of running Jabberwocky had also given him a keen sense for what sold.
His every sound made her wonder what he was thinking.
The fact that the story was so intensely personal also added to her nerves.
He was so absorbed in his reading, she was able to study him without reservations. His left hand held his dark curls out of his face, his right hand was poised like a viper above the paper, ready to strike with its venomous red pencil at an offending word, photograph, or punctuation mark.
She enjoyed watching him work. His eyes were like lasers, focused with concentration. His brow and forehead wrinkled with concentration.
Kieran looked up, his eyes drawn by a motion in the store, behind Angela. He caught her gaze and held it briefly before smiling gamely. “See something you like?” he asked smirking at her mischievously.
Angela narrowed her eyes at him as she felt her body temperature rise.
He raised his hands in surrender just as there was a knock at his office door.
Angela jumped at the sound. She turned and saw a young, pretty brunette enter with two to-go cups.
Angela swore under her breath. Get a grip. She was on eggshells today and she wasn’t sure if it was just because he was reading her new story.
“Here are your drinks Kieran.” The brunette was dressed in provocative goth attire, and fluttered her eyelashes at Kieran as she put the drinks down on his desk.
Angela rolled her eyes.
Kieran stood up and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. He pulled out some bills and said, “Thanks Lila,” as he used one hand to hold her hand and the other to press the bills in, giving her hands a squeeze as he turned her back to the door.
The girl practically swooned at his attention, keeping her eyes trained on Kieran as she walked away. She almost walked right into a bookcase.
Angela had been right; Kieran did have a gaze that could explode panties.
Before she knew it the words were out of her mouth, “Kieran, why are you single?”
Kieran looked up at her, as amusement and then surprise flitted across his face. “What?” He handed her tea to her.
Although she wished she could stuff the words back in her mouth, she knew he would never let her off the hook. Besides, part of her really wanted to know the answer. “Why are you single? Clearly the ladies adore you,” she said, gesturing in the direction of the recently departed Lila.
“Not the right ladies,” he mumbled as he took a sip from his coffee.
What does that mean? She gave him a questioning look.
“Don't worry, as soon as I find someone I like, I'll be sure to get myself tied down,” he said in a tone full of regret and resolution, without his usual levity or teasing. He looked back down at his desk. “Can I keep reading now?”
She nodded, but inside she was still mulling over his answer and wondering why it had her feeling both sad and relieved.
Kieran read a couple more pages and then looked up, his eyes full of wonder. “Angela, this looks great; really amazing. I’m super impressed. No one would guess that this is only your second book. It’s going to be amazing, especially since the location is a lot closer than your first one, so it will be easy for us to get all the shots we need. Speaking of which, you are going to Barcelona soon to take the food pictures, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that brings me to why I asked you to come in today. There are a handful of photos in The Festival that could be stronger. You've refined the text so much, that now some of your early photos no longer fit as well as they used to. So I think you’ll need to take some other pictures while you are there besides the ones you had planned.”
“Sure, that's easy, what do you have in mind?”
He hesitated a moment. Was he nervous? Angela wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him look nervous before.
“That’s the thing. It would be impossible to explain what I have in mind. Since I’m your publisher now, I think I should just come to Barcelona and art direct. That way we can knock it out quickly.”
Her heart fluttered. “You want to come to Barcelona?”
He straightened his shoulders. “Yes. I think it’s best for the book. I'll pay my own way. In fact, if you need me too, I’ll pay for yours as part of your advance—”
“That’s not necessary. Soren’s paying for my ticket.”
“Oh. Okay.” Kieran cleared his throat. “Look, I have very specific suggestions about the subtle tweaks we should make: angle, time of day, composition. It will just be easier if I'm there.”
The silence stretched between them as she considered his idea. On the one hand, it would be great to have Kieran there. Her book would be better because of it. On the other hand, she wasn’t sure what Soren would think of this arrangement.
Kieran started tapping his pencil against his desk.
Angela sighed. “Okay. It's not as if I can keep you from going. You are my publisher after all. Besides, you have a very good eye and I want to get this book just right.”
Soren will just have to understand. It’s just business.
Kieran smiled big as he stood up. “Great, just send me the dates and I'll make my arrangements. Once we have the new photos in place we’ll do one more quick edit and then it’s off to the printers,” he said with excitement, running his hand through his hair.
Angela stood up too. She checked her desire to run into his arms and hug him. Last time she did, all hell broke loose. Instead, she opted for what she hoped was her biggest smile, and took both his hands in hers and clasped them emotionally. “Really? Oh my God Kieran, thank you so much. This is really a dream come true. I can't wait to see it on Jabberwocky's shelves.”
“Don't forget the release party we are going to have here. I’m thinking mid-October, just in time for the holidays.”
“Right! I can't wait.” Angela felt the need to leave before she said, or did, something she regretted. She grabbed her bag off the floor.” Okay, I'm going to go. See you later.”
She waved awkwardly as she closed his office door behind her.
Kieran watched as Angela walked away from his office. He could still feel the warmth of her hands in his own and the glow she cast with her magnificent smile. The rich scent of roses perfumed the air where she had been standing, sending an ache through his heart as he slumped into his old, leather desk chair and held his head in his hands.
“I am so fucked.”
He sat in silence for a few moments and then dialed a number on his cell phone. “Hey Dalia, it's Kieran. Something has come up.”
He and Dalia had spoken a few times ever since that night in December when they agreed to help each other. He knew this was a development she would want to know about.
They spoke for a few minutes, Kieran telling Dalia how he would be going to Barcelona, and one important task he wanted to accomplish while he was there.
By the time they got off the phone, Dalia had formulated a plan: she was going to go to Barcelona too. Kieran was going to need her help to pull off his mission. She could run interference.
But she was going for another reason as well.
Now that she’d seen Angela and Kieran together more than once, she no longer thought he was a good love interest for her friend just because he was in L.A.; she honestly believed they were a good match.
Much better than Angela and that up-tight Danish guy. Dalia rolled her eyes.
If Angela was going to act blind, then she was going to have to insert herself into the picture. A little competitive jealousy always helped stoke the fires of romance.
Dalia had noticed how Angela had acted at The Room. Even if Angela wouldn’t admit it, it drove her crazy when Dalia paid attention to Kieran, and even crazier when Kieran paid attention to her. She would be happy to pretend a little longer if it helped Angela realize how she really felt for Kieran.
Besides, it was Barcelona. Who doesn’t want to go there?
She dialed Angela’s number.
“Hey Dalia, what's up? I'm driving.”
Dalia had to play this just right. Angela needed to introduce the topic first or she might get suspicious. “Nothing much. Just taking a break from work. The tech markets are going crazy. What's going on with you?”
“I just left Jabberwocky—”
“And it's hunky owner?” Dalia cut-in, baiting her friend.
Angela sighed loudly. “Seriously girl, you have a one-track mind. Besides, I thought you said he wasn’t your type.”
Dalia smiled to herself. “A girl can change her mind, can’t she?”
“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you know how I’m going to Barcelona to reshoot some of the pictures? Well he is coming to art direct the shoot.”
This was her chance. Dalia said playfully, “I want to come too!”
“What?!” Angela said, clearly surprised. “You want to come to Barcelona?”
“Sure, why not? I haven't been in ages, I love it there. The nightlife is amazing. There are few things in life that can't be solved by a night of dancing in Spain. Wouldn’t it be fun to be in Spain together?”
“Yeah, that would be fun,” Angela said slowly.
Dalia could tell Angela was considering it. She knew just what would seal the deal. “Besides, I bet it will be a lot less awkward for you to tell Soren about Kieran if you tell him that I’m coming as well.”
Angela inhaled sharply. “Good idea. Let’s do it. I'll email you the dates.”
