Page 29 of Double Obsession

“Me too.” Jenna swirled her wine. “Hey, Berta?”

“Is there something else?”

“Do you think I’ll have any say over the cover art?”

“No idea. Is there something specific you want on the cover?”

“I might have an idea. I’m not sure.”

“I’ll ask McMurry if we can negotiate with Holmes-Colsen.” Berta tapped the computer lid. “But you’ve gotta finish pronto. And you need to keep up this chemistry between Rosalyn and Edward.”

Jenna ran her finger around the rim of her glass.

“You want to fill me in on what your idea is?”

Jenna picked up the drink and gulped. “Do you remember that young model they hired to do the first Duke book? Maybe we could change his wig and use him.” The prong of her fork stabbed a tomato. “My daughter mentioned that she read the book because he was on the cover, so I thought putting him on another might sell more copies. Maybe even bring in a younger audience.” Tomato juice flew from Jenna’s bowl and splattered on her cheek. Her napkin dabbed at the blood-colored gunk. She didn’t give two hoots about a younger audience; she was blabbing out of needy desperation.

“Well, we can ask. But you don’t need a cover model to sell your books. You have an extremely loyal fan base of your own.”

“But a great cover can’t hurt, right?” Now she was simply being pathetic.

“Sure. It never hurts. But you know those cutesy cartoon characters are all the rage right now?” Berta motioned for the snot-ass waiter and handed him her credit card.

No way did Jenna want handsome Edward turned into a Charlie Brown or Scooby-Doo look alike. “I was thinking of keeping the room for the weekend since Matt has the kids.” She avoided Berta’s gaze. “I think a change of scenery might help me write. Maybe I can even finish a draft this weekend.”

“That would be great.” Berta sucked on the inside of her cheek as she tapped her card on the table. “Young man?”

The waiter held out his hand.

“I’m normally overflowing with patience. But I fear you have used more than your fair share.”

The twig responded with a scowl.

“Look around,” she said.

He took his time perusing the crowd. Once his gaze fixed back on Berta, she placed the card in his palm, but pulled it back quickly. “You just fucked with the biggest tipper in the room.”

From behind his spectacles, his pupils grew three times their original size. Berta relinquished the plastic, then scooted him on his way with a wrist flick.

Jenna chuckled.

“Now, let’s talk about your new look.”

Jenna’s cheeks grew hot.

“If you’re getting a little somethin’ somethin’ right now, thank the lucky man for me. He is doing your writing a world of good.”

Thank goodness the waiter returned quickly, saving Jenna from having to explain that her masturbation sessions didn’t equate to a lucky guy.

Berta grabbed the card and stood. “See you bright and early, dear.”

Jenna waited until Berta exited the bar before taking out her phone to check her DMs. She giggled like a fool because Hunter Stone had finally responded, and he was on his way.

She flagged down the waiter and ordered another drink.

Chapter Fourteen

Hunter always underestimated the time it took to navigate the traffic from his apartment in Brooklyn to the center of Manhattan. He was shaking off his frustration when a waiter wearing a shit-ton of aftershave brushed up against him and said, “Hey.”