“The bookstore we are going to has the room and were still willing to move things around for a better flow. I gave the okay to change the venue. If you are going to be mad at anyone be mad at me. However, I am not sorry for making sure you get the launch you need to get the attention you deserve.”
It’s so annoying when he gets all bossy, and it totally turns me on.
Eyeing the street as I step out of the car I see a news van from a local station on the corner. “I wonder what’s going on?”
“They are here for you.”
“What?”
“Well, this time they might be here for you and me. Miguel mentioned they called him yesterday and angled for an invite after confirming I would be here.”
I fondle the necklace at my throat. “Great.” This just went from nerve-wracking to terrifying.
“Deep breath, sweetheart, this is about you. You already did the hard part you wrote the book. Now it is time to take a victory lap, that is all tonight is.”
A little glow builds at how concerned he looks. It’s adorable when he’s trying to be supportive, what he said is hilarious, but I’m not going to laugh. I kiss his cheek. “If you say so.”
The door opens before we get to it. I don’t even hesitate to call the man Miguel. He’s tall and lean with the kind of tan that can’t be real in Chicago. His suit is almost as expensive as Leo’s, the first thought that comes to mind is dapper. With thick, dark, wavy hair controlled off his smooth forehead above a nose thin and sharp above pouty lips. I want to sigh, he’s so pretty. The suit is a dove grey silk the shirt is a raspberry pink, the bowtie is a paisley in dark grey and bright pink with a pocket square. I’m engulfed in a wafting scent of juniper and ylang-ylang, it fits him perfectly. He kisses me on each cheek.
“Gorgeous, I knew you would be for Leo to be so bewitched as if you put a spell on him. How adorable, you blush. Come, come, you must look over everything to see if it meets with your approval. Leo was here earlier, but this is your event. I want to know you are happy.”
“Hi, I love you so much.” And I mean it.
Miguel chuckles with a teasing toss of his head basking in my adoration. “I know, gorgeous. The feeling is mutual, read your books. Love. Them. The bags under my eyes have feelings for you, but they aren’t love.”
I shake my head. “How naughty you are, fishing for compliments when you know you make all the girls and boys swoon.”
Leo pulls me close, his arm tight around my waist. His breath hot in my ear. “Watching you flirt with another man, gay or not, is making me think of ways to punish you later.”
The promise in his growling words has me blushing to my belly button, I can’t wait.
Miguel laughs as he pulls me out of Leo’s arms. “Behave, Leo. I’ll give her back to you at the end of the night.”
“Just watch those hands of yours,” Leo grumbles as he lets me go.
I’m trotting to keep up with Miguel as he walks towards the back. I gasp, it’s amazing. There are tall tables that are chest high dotting the area and on them are luscious tidbits, the kind of appetizers that are too pretty to eat. In the middle of the tables are the prettiest centerpieces of roses, peonies, and hmm. “What are these flowers?”
“Dahlias, aren’t they lovely? The thing I love about Leo is he knows what he wants.”
“The flowers were Leo’s idea?”
“Most of everything you see was Leo’s idea.”
When I see the signing table, I can’t keep from running my hands over the cloth covering the table. It’s pale pink silk with threads of gold running through it. “Are you serious?”
“You like? It’s going into your kit, this will be a part of all your signings. I’m dying to take credit, but it was Leo’s doing. He vetoed the plain and usual for you. Just wait until you taste the champagne. It’s too die for, Krug. I warned Leo if there’s any leftover I’m taking a bottle home. Leo said if he likes the way everything goes, he’ll send me a case of it. So, tell me, tell me is there anything here you want to change? What do you love, what do you not love?”
“Um,” I look around. “Everything is perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Wonderful, so let’s discuss. There will be three newspapers here tonight, we have the Trib, the Sun-Times, and I did manage to get the New York Times although be warned they called me and asked if Leo was going to be here tonight before they confirmed.
“Tonight, you keep your responses light and teasing about staying where you are and your next book. You don’t give any details on even your next book. I met with Renee this afternoon for lunch, right now she has sniffs from two publishing houses. I’m of the firm belief after tonight you’ll have them all coming to sniff around.
“The plan will be for an hour of mixing and mingling then you’re going to do a reading. We have the highligh
ted copy you gave to Leo last week ready to go. You sign for an hour or so then the night ends when the champagne runs out.” His phone chirps and he checks it. “Great, Elise and Dmitri are running late, but they are coming. Now, this is a party everyone will be talking about.”
“Dmitri Markhoff?”