ELLIE
The day before her birthday, Ellie was at home alone, Harriet having dragged Frank off to Torquay to do some last-minute shopping for the party.
Ellie had printed out Amy’s manuscript again, this time complete with her own finishing chapters added and was out on the terrace giving it a read-through. She had an hour and a bit before BB came for coffee and wanted to check the chapters she’d added flowed seamlessly from Amy’s, before showering and changing into more respectable clothes.
The clanging of the house bell jolted her out of the story. BB already? Had she been so engrossed in the story that the time had just disappeared? She glanced at her watch. No, BB wasn’t due for another half an hour. If it was someone trying to sell something, she’d give them short shrift, that was for sure.
‘Miss Lewis?’
She eyed the man standing in front of her suspiciously as she nodded, aware that he was taking in every detail of her frayed cut-off jeans and the ancient camisole vest she’d flung on that morning. Dressed to receive visitors she was not. ‘You are?’
‘Nick Walters. We spoke on the phone about Cassandra James.’
‘Oh!’ This man’s voice over the phone hadn’t prepared her for how deliciously sexy he was in the flesh. ‘Oh!’
‘Lost for words? And you a writer. Tut-tut.’
A sense of humour to go with those sexy looks.
‘You could have phoned to say you were coming,’ she said.
‘Yeah, I’m sorry about that,’ Nick said. ‘Last-minute change of plan.’
Ellie opened the door wider. ‘You’d better come in.’
She led the way out to the terrace. ‘You can wait out here while I go and change into something … something else.’
‘Don’t change on my account. Looks fine from where I am,’ Nick said, laughing.
‘Five minutes. Sit. Admire the view.’
Ellie raced upstairs. She’d intended to wear one of her old office outfits when she met Nick Walters for the first time. Business-like and professional. Instead he’d found her looking more like a beach bum. No time for a shower but at least she could put on something less provocative.
She grabbed a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved pink shirt out of the wardrobe. Some lipgloss, a quick comb of her hair and she was ready to fight for her rights to the last Cassandra James book.
Nick Walters wasn’t admiring the view when she went back out to the terrace. He was busy reading the manuscript she’d left lying on the table. He looked up as she appeared.
‘You write the last two chapters?’
‘Yes.’ No way was she going to ask if he approved of them.
‘They’re good.’
‘Thanks.’
Nick put the typewritten sheets back on the table. ‘Do you have an agent?’
‘You told me not to talk to agents or publishers, so I haven’t. Yet.’
‘Good. In that case, meet your new agent. We’ll discuss the details over dinner tomorrow.’
‘Sorry can’t do that,’ Ellie said, keeping a straight face with difficulty while relishing a chance to tease him. ‘I’m busy tomorrow evening.’
Before Nick could say anything, the noise of the bell vibrated throughout the house.
‘That’ll be my friend,’ Ellie said. ‘I’ll just let him in.’
Walking back out to the terrace with BB, she said, ‘Nick Walters meet BB, a recently discovered American cousin many times removed.’
To BB she said, ‘Nick has just offered to be my literary agent. Isn’t that great?’
‘Congratulations.’
‘She’s turned down my dinner invite for tomorrow though, so I might take the offer back,’ Nick said. ‘Says she’s busy.’
‘It’s true,’ Ellie protested. ‘Tell him, BB.’
‘She sure is busy tomorrow night,’ BB said. ‘If you ask her nicely, she’ll maybe let you tag along.’
Nick looked at Ellie.
‘If you’d like to come to a birthday party here tomorrow night you’d be welcome. I’m sure we’d find a moment or two to discuss things.’
‘Thanks. I’ll look forward to it,’ Nick said, picking up the manuscript from the table. ‘I’ll take this and read it properly. Bring it back tomorrow with my suggestions.’
‘I wanted to edit it some more before I showed it to you,’ Ellie protested. ‘It wouldn’t need any suggestions from you then.’
‘Rule No.1: Authors listen to what their agent has to say, inwardly digest it, and then argue their case. After which the agent may change their mind but, mainly, the author bows to their superior knowledge. Okay?’
‘Are you going to be a bossy agent?’
‘Of course. Now, what time tomorrow night?’
‘About 7.30,’ Ellie said.
‘I’ll see you then. Nice to meet you, BB. I’ll find my own way out. Ciao.’
‘Ciao,’ Ellie muttered.
‘Think you’ve got yourself one sassy agent there, Ellie,’ BB said, laughing at the expression on Ellie’s face.