Chapter 26
TOM
Someone better be on fire.
Snatching my phone from my pocket, I scan through the messages before swiping at the screen and calling Royce.
“What’ve you got?”
“No sightings of a dark sedan or anyone lurking in the area around the little libraries on the days Kat or Colt posted.”
Of course not. “What else?”
“I sent Ozzy to check something out at Hazel’s place. Comments and accounts started going crazy after the award announcement, but the negative ones didn’t really start filtering in until the book signing was over.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I want to see what Ozzy finds first—there are a lot of accounts and I’m just trying to see if I can separate out where they’re coming from.
Also, the ex-boyfriend also chimed in on a couple of posts, but Colt got wind of that and he’s pissed.
Roan is involved and now management is too.
As far as I can tell, he’s not Kat’s stalker, at least not the one who set her books on fire. ”
“We’re still on Hazel, the aunt, and the local author? Have we found her yet?”
“She’s on vacation with her family but should be arriving home on Sunday. I thought you and Grimm could go pay her a visit. She posted some bullshit narrative about Kat winning the award because of her connection to Colt rather than her own merit.”
“Anyone believe that?”
“She has a hefty following of haters, but as far as I can tell, Dahlia doesn’t ask or imply people should boycott Kat. She just bitches about her. There’s also three new accounts with no posts or followers bashing Kat across several platforms in the comments.”
“When were they created?”
“After the signing.”
“What about for Sloane?”
“Everything is fairly status quo at the moment.”
Pacing around the kitchen, I pause, leaning my hip against the edge of the white countertop as I let my eyelids flutter shut.
Today was full of noise, and even though it’s a challenge, especially with thoughts of Kat clouding my vision, I can finally see more pieces of the puzzle falling into place.
“Where is she on the release schedule for the final book?”
“Uh,”—the sound of rustling papers fills the line—“she told me it’s finished but she hasn’t announced it yet.”
“What do you think about teasing the book tonight with a release date? Or at least tease that a release date will be announced soon.”
“Why tonight?”
“I want to see if it will garner enough attention to flip from bashing Kat to Sloane. So far there hasn’t been much overlap, and I want to push the envelope. The award announcement gives us the first piece, then this will be the second.”
“I’ll work on it.”
“You want to announce the final book tonight?” Kat’s lips are pulled into a frown.
She’s changed from her dress into leggings and one of those oversized sweatshirts that seem to be back in style.
For the briefest of seconds I want to know how she’d look in my shirt.
The damn thing would probably be a dress, but the caveman in me likes that idea.
But there’s no time for that.
“I thought you were going to rest.”
She yawns but shakes her head. “I’m too keyed up from this afternoon. Is that Royce?” she asks, pointing to my phone, and I nod as I put it on speaker and hold it out to her.
“Hey, Kat. Congratulations on your award today.”
“Thanks. It was an incredible surprise. But listen,”—she bobs her head back and forth—“are you prepared for the shitstorm that will happen if I make the book announcement tonight?”
“I can handle it on my end, but do you have enough time?” he asks and I’m thankful he’s here to rein me in.
“I’ll have to email the girl who does my social media now and tell her we’re teasing it. We had everything ready to go; all the promotional materials are ready. I just spiraled under the pressure and pushed off the release.”
“Is this going to screw with how you wanted to launch this book?” I ask, ignoring her bare feet and pink toes and focusing on the businesswoman before me.
Lifting one delicate shoulder, she lets it drop. “I had a plan originally but that went out the window when everything happened. I think as long as we keep it vague and push the date out enough, I can make it work.”
“All right,” Royce confirms. “Kat, go take care of the social media piece. Schedule it for later tonight and I’ll handle the rest.”
“What does that mean?” she asks, and I smirk knowing this is one of Royce’s favorite parts of any job.
“It means he gets to be obnoxious,” I offer and Royce scoffs.
“You mean brilliant.”
“I said what I said,” I mouth to Kat, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
“Royce!” she whines and it’s his turn to laugh.
“When your post goes live, I’m going to launch it into the stratosphere. I’ll forward, email, and blast it anywhere and everywhere. Kind of like one of those confetti bombs— seemingly harmless until you open it and then you’re finding little sparkly flecks for the rest of your life.”
“Personal experience?” she asks wryly.
“No, but I’ve heard about it happening to other people.”
“Let’s keep it that way,” I tell him. “Especially while you’re in my house.”
“Come on, Uncle Tommy, where’s the fun in that?”
Kat’s eyes are wide with interest when they turn on me.
“Uncle Tommy?” she mouths.
I shake my head and she grins wider, that sassy little mouth so damn tempting.
“No,” I whisper.
“But maybe,” she whispers back.
“No.”
“I think I like Thomas better anyway.”
“Okay, well, I’ll just get to it then,” Royce interrupts. Kat startles and I internally curse because dammit, this has to stop. “Kat, text me when your post is ready.”
“Sure thing,” she squeaks just before he ends the call.
Tension is still thick between us, the pull I feel toward her absolutely maddening. I’m more than a decade older than she is but that doesn’t seem to matter.
I want her.
And that can’t happen…for my sake and hers.
“Pizza?”
“And breadsticks.” At my quirked eyebrow she adds, “What? I like to celebrate with carbs.”
“As you wish, Miss Harrington.”