Chapter 9
Nine
HAZEL
Turning sideways for what feels like the hundredth time I re-check my reflection in the mirror.
The wrap dress I’m wearing skims my curves in the most flattering way.
It's just the color that’s throwing me off.
I rarely venture out of dark colors, but Sierra convinced me to try this light dusty blue dress on because it matches the vibe of my book’s cover.
I thought my usual red lip might look out of place with the color of the dress, so I went dramatic with my eye makeup and neutral on my lips.
It’s odd to see myself look so much softer.
Tearing myself from the mirror, I walk over to my bag and decide the nude-colored pumps are the best choice for this dress.
I’m glad Jade offered to join me when I heard from Sierra that she has the flu and wouldn’t be able to fly out. As much as it makes me feel ridiculous, having someone I know with me is comforting. Just as I finish slipping my shoes on, I hear a knock at the door.
“You look gorgeous,” Jade says as her gaze sweeps my body when I open the door. “That color is perfect with your eyes.”
“Thank you.” I run a hand down my body. “I’m not used to wearing something so colorful and light.”
“Well, it’s stunning. You might need to add some of this to your wardrobe. The car is waiting for us downstairs.”
“Perfect.” I swing my bag over my shoulder and close the door behind me. “Thank you so much for coming with me. I was just thinking about how much it helps ease my mind to have a familiar face with me.”
“Of course, I’m so excited to see you in your element.”
We step onto the waiting elevator and hit the button for the lobby.
“This actually is so far from my element. I’m more of a corner coffee shop with headphones on type of girl. Sitting on stage and answering questions is such a surreal experience.”
“You earned it, babe. Make sure to enjoy your success.”
The elevator doors open, and we walk through the lobby to the waiting blacked out SUV. It’s much bigger than the two of us need. As soon as the driver opens the door, I see why. Tucked back in the third row is Stone with a dark baseball cap pulled low over his forehead.
“I hope you don’t mind if I join you,” he says once Jade and I are both seated. “There was nothing on my agenda tonight, and I wanted to see what a book signing was all about.”
“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind at all.” Lies. I completely mind. How am I supposed to focus knowing there’s a sexy as sin rock star watching me?
Adam turns from the front seat and gives me a wink. “We’ll stay out of sight, so the focus is on you.”
“I’m not worried about that at all,” I say with a wave of my hand. “I just hope it isn’t boring for you two.”
“Adam is actually a huge bookworm,” Stone says. “If he’s not watching my back, his head is stuck in a book.”
“I do more than read and work,” he says.
“I saw you last night backstage reading on your Kindle while I was in the greenroom.”
“What do you like to read?” I interject.
“Mostly science fiction. Some high fantasy.”
“I’m sure you guys won’t want to listen to the Q and A, you should hunt down some books while we’re here.”
“Oh, I’m listening. I won’t be sitting in the audience, but I’ll be watching,” Stone promised.
Fuck.
As if I wasn’t nervous enough. I’m not sure what to say to that, so I glance out the window. There’s a long line of people on the sidewalk.
“Wow.” Jade leans toward me to get a better look out my window. “Do you think they’re all for you?”
The line snakes all the way around the block.
“There’s no way,” I say with a laugh. “That line is huge, and this is a smaller indie bookstore.”
“Babe.” Jade pats my knee. “Half of them are carrying copies of your book.”
My head jerks sideways, and sure enough, I see dozens of them holding my book. Holy fuck. My body heats instantly as my heart begins to beat faster.
I freeze in place as the SUV pulls into a parking garage and stops in front of a door with the bookstore's name. Adam gets out first and puts a ball cap on. He opens the door, and Jade steps out.
I still can’t move.
I can’t breathe.
I feel like I’m going to pass out.
Someone says my name, but it sounds like I’m underwater. Who do I even think I am doing this? I wrote Maverick and Ice Man fan fiction in college because I was bored and Top Gun is my guilty pleasure. Now I’m an author? Me? How? Why?
“Hey, little Archer. Look at me.”
I feel a calloused hand on my cheek. My head is turned until my eyes lock on Stone’s ocean blues. He caresses my cheek.
“Take a few deep breaths with me, okay?”
I nod, and he takes a deep breath through his nose, exhaling through his mouth as soon as I follow his lead. We do it a few more times before he speaks again.
“Better?” he asks, his hand still cupping my face.
“Yes. But no. There’s so many people. I feel like a fraud on a good day. This is ludicrous.”
“You’re not a fraud.” He looks into my eyes like he can see straight through to my soul.
“I am. I’m an imposter.” I break his gaze, it’s too intense.
“Look at me.” The command in his voice sends a tingle through my body that pools between my thighs. “You are Hazel fucking Archer, New York Times best-selling author. Those are your fans, and they’re here for you because your book was there for them. Give them the show that they deserve.”
He’s right. Time to pull up my big girl pants and meet my incredible readers. “I don’t have fans, I have readers,” I say quietly. “But you’re right about everything else. I’m good.” I put my hand over his and squeeze it, barely suppressing the urge to kiss his palm in thanks.
What the hell is that about anyway? Probably just because he smells so good. And sounds so good.
“Okay.” He drops his hand and steps out of the SUV.
“Thank you.”
I take his offered hand as I get out of the car. Instead of letting me go, he links our fingers and follows Jade through the door, putting me nestled between him and Adam. Warmth rushes through me as I follow him.
An older woman greets us, introducing herself as the owner of the store.
She leads me out to an area in the center of the store with a table up on a small platform in front of dozens of chairs.
Several large piles of my book are off to the side.
After a few minutes of chit chatting, she leaves to open the doors.
“You good?” Jade comes over from the spot she claimed off to the side, just hidden out of view behind a shelf.
“I am.” Luckily there are two bottles of water on the table for when I inevitably drink the first one too fast. “Thank you for checking on me. Where’s Stone?”
“Right there.”
She points behind me, and I spot him hidden away in the row behind the table. His cap is pulled too low to see his eyes, but his lips are tilted upward in his signature smirk. It’s his rock star mask. I don’t understand how I know that, I just do.
“I’m nervous. I hope this gets easier as time goes on.”
“I’m sure it will.” She squeezes my shoulder gently. “I’ll make sure to get tons of content for you to post.”
“You don’t have to do that.” It’s so kind of her to offer.
“It’s literally my job.” She waves me off.
“Exactly. Something you should be paid for, and you’re probably out of my price range.”
“Don’t even worry about it. I’m just excited to be here.”
The bell to the front door chimes, and she uses my momentary distraction to step off to the side.
I’m completely taken aback by the number of people streaming through the door and filling the seats in front of me.
After a couple minutes I lose count of how many have filed through.
It’s all at once intimidating and exciting.
As soon as I get through the reading of the section I chose and begin answering questions, I fall into a comfortable rhythm.
There are so many great questions and comments from the audience that my earlier panic is erased.
Nothing brings me more joy than listening to readers who loved or were moved by some part of my story discuss it.
It’s not until the line for signing the books and taking photos begins to fully dwindle that I start to feel the crash I have coming my way.
The utter exhaustion from being an introvert forced to people too much, regardless of how lovely said people were.
As soon as the final patron finishes speaking to me and exits the store, the owner locks up and turns to me.
“That was fantastic. Thank you so much for coming here,” she says as employees begin folding up chairs. “I hope you’ll keep us in mind for future tours.”
“Absolutely.” I shake her hand. “It was lovely, and everyone who came was so nice.”
We exchange a few pleasantries, and then I feel it. The weight of a heavy stare, the heat of his attention. I turn to find Stone watching me, rock star smirk still in place as he leans against one of the bookshelves. Adam stands behind him, a bag with the store’s logo hanging from his hand.
Good. I was hoping he’d do some shopping while we were here.
“Not quite as exciting as performing for tens of thousands of people, huh?” I ask as I join the two of them.
He shakes his head. “I loved seeing you in your element.”
“That’s kind of you to say. Public engagements like this aren’t really my thing.”
“I couldn’t tell.”
I look at him out of the corner of my eyes as Jade motions for us to exit through the back again. He chuckles and bumps my shoulder when he notices my expression.
“I’m serious. You’re a natural.”
Jade steps in front of the door and holds a hand up to stop us. “Somehow the paparazzi found out you were here, Stone. There are some out by the SUV.” She looks at me. “Will you be okay?”
“Yeah, I’m sure they won’t even pay attention to me. They’re here for the rock star not the author.”
“Alright.” Jade turns and pushes the door open. “Stay close to me.”