Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 145123 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145123 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“I love you, Brooke.”
Chase’s smile is so bright, I’m afraid if I don’t do something to smother it, all the planes going to JFK are going to start to divert toward us by mistake just from catching a glimpse of it through the window.
“Yeah,” I reply with a wink. “I’m pretty into you too.”
We’re still giggling and kissing when his assistant clears her throat from behind me to get our attention.
“Dawn!” I say with a yell, spin-diving into her arms and almost taking her off her feet. Chase pulls the two of us to a steady position again, and Dawn wraps me in the kind of genuine hug I’m convinced only someone like her can give. For most people who work at my publisher, this kind of behavior would be a little too much, but not for Dawn.
My first impression of her was right. She’s the bee’s fucking knees. I’m pretty sure I have a girl-crush on her.
We hug and sway for a long minute before separating, at which point Chase leans in to give her a light, professional hug, with back-patting and everything.
It makes me laugh so hard I snort, and that, of course, is the moment my agent, Wilson Phillips, approaches. “Well, I guess that rules out my theory that making the New York Times list multiple times would somewhat calm your personality.”
“Oh, Wilson, come on, now! ‘The Dream Is Still Alive’!” I hoot with a fist pump. “We’ve got many years to come together and, hopefully, many best sellers. There’s still ‘A Reason to Believe’!”
Chase smiles, pulls me into his side, and adds, “I know she’s ‘Impulsive,’ but ‘In My Room’…” He turns to look at me, “‘Ooh, You’re Gold.’”
“It never ends.” Wilson groans, turning to Dawn with the hope of camaraderie. “Can you believe these two?”
Dawn just smiles. “I’d ‘Give It Up’ if I were you. At this point, it’s in their ‘Flesh and Blood.’”
“I should’ve known,” Wilson huffs and eyes me pointedly. “I should’ve fucking known you’d manage to turn them against me, too.”
“It’s only because I love you, Wilson,” I reply. “I don’t tell you this enough, but you’re ‘Everything I Need’ in an agent.”
Chase attempts to cough through his laughter. Dawn pretends to choke through hers. And I’m holding my giggles in so tight it’s making my cheeks puff out like a blowfish.
“Yep. That’s my cue to mingle. Far, far away from you three.” Wilson takes off before we can toss another song reference at him, heading in the direction of the open bar, and the three of us are left laughing so hard, I have to bend over and hold my stomach. “I don’t know why that’s so funny, but it really, really is.”
“It was fun,” Dawn agrees, almost sheepishly. “I wish I’d have thought to do this to him a long time ago.”
“Listen, feel free to do it every time you talk to him from now on, okay?” I nod with wide, you-should-totally-do-that eyes. “I think it’s good for everyone involved if we spread this as far as possible.”
“You got it,” Dawn agrees, leaning in to give me one more hug. “Congratulations,” she whispers sweetly in my ear. “On the book…and the man. I am so happy he found someone as great as you.”
A little bit of a sting hits my nose unexpectedly, and Dawn winks as she shoves Chase in the shoulder gently and then steps away.
“Proud of you, baby.” Chase presses a soft kiss to my forehead.
“Like, how proud?” I question, batting my eyelashes at him and dropping my voice so only his ears can hear me. “Like, ‘I could hug you all night’ proud? Or ‘I want to do dirty, wild, sexy things with you when we get back home tonight’ proud?”
He smirks down at me, his eyes heating in a way that makes a thrill of excitement run up my spine. Lips to my ear, he whispers, “All of the above, baby.”
Yes, please.
I’m just about to open my mouth to keep this conversation going, but our alone time is cut short by more people stopping by our little circle to offer their congratulations.
Frank and Regina, two of Longstrand’s other senior editors.
A few of Longstrand’s other authors I’ve become friends with over the years.
Several employees in the marketing department I’ve worked closely with on the Shadow Brothers and now, Accidental Attachment.
And then, the big man, Jonah Perish himself. He almost feels like a movie character, he’s so perfect for his role.
“Well, Dawson, you were right about this one. I really like when someone I believe in lives up to my expectations.”
Chase’s smile is huge, and it should be. Frankly, he deserves all the credit for getting this book to the number one spot on the list. I may have written it, but Chase Dawson is the one who believed in it.