Chapter 13 #2
I was on a roll and couldn’t help turn my full if not brief attention to Maverick.
He might seem at ease to the naked eye, but I knew better.
Every gesture was precise, controlled, and deliberate.
Nothing in his life or with decisions he made was accidental.
That’s why he’d been considered the best at what he did.
Right now, he was enjoying how I was winging it, even gesturing with his eyes to continue.
“I don’t understand, Mav. We had a verbal deal in place.”
Maverick shrugged. “Ms. Jeffries’ list of skills is amazing.
Including her mathematic attributes. Let’s just say she showed me the light while counting numbers, something she can do in her sleep.
” My goodness, the man could pass for an evangelist any day.
A little scary if you asked me. Meanwhile, his gaze was completely electrified, but it was the tiny scar under his right eye that grabbed my full attention.
The only imperfection on his otherwise flawless face.
Every rugged story about him both intrigued and aroused me.
Carter’s combination of snorting and huffing was understandable. He offered a glare, which was met with a slick smile coming from my end.
“Okay. What terms are we talking about here?”
Wow. I hadn’t believed my little game would get this far. Why not take it out and see about snagging a homerun? “Two million per book as an advance with a twenty-one percent royalty share.” He immediately tried to jump in and I held up my index finger, shaking my head. “I’m not finished yet.”
Maverick could barely contain a laugh.
I merely lifted a single eyebrow indicating I’d not been flustered in any way.
“Plus, don’t forget about the audio rights. We need the audio books in production at the same time as the final edits for the new series. Speaking of which, we’ll need the artwork for teasers before the ink on the contact dries.”
“I can’t make all that happen,” Carter insisted.
“Then what are we paying you for?” I threw back.
“You will or I guess I’ll enjoy spending the afternoon returning phone calls to the three literary agents begging to have Mr. Callahan as a client.
I think there will be a bidding war. That’s entirely up to you how this goes.
Unless you’re prepared to toss your career out the window.
You might have your name on the main door, but you answer to your board of directors. ”
Carter threw the most hateful glance toward Maverick I’d seen coming from a man. Meanwhile, the handsome former agent was eating up the attention.
“You knew about this?” Carter snapped.
“My attorney has a mind of her own and refuses to play by the rules. Something I’m working with her on doing. I can see additional punishment is needed.”
Our heated game continued.
Carter threw up his hands. “Fine. I’ll make it happen, but you better produce, Maverick. No more extensions. Do you hear me?”
“Loud and clear.” Maverick was thoroughly enjoying himself. I was glad I could elicit his amusement.
I stifled a playful yawn, prompting Carter’s eyes to bug out. “Now run along so I can have a nice chat with my client and I don’t want to be interrupted.” I moved closer to Maverick. “We need to have a long discussion, Mav.”
“I guess we do,” he offered, barely containing his amusement.
In acting as if I’d dismissed him, I didn’t need to see the irritation on his face. I could hear it clearly in his voice as he guffawed.
“This is my office.” The fact his tone had shifted, hesitation mixed with uncertainty was delicious. I was a very bad girl. Maverick brought it out in me.
“And your point?” If looks could kill.
Carter threw up his hands for a second time, exasperation written all over him. “Fine.” As he grumbled under his breath, he passed Maverick, stopping directly in front of him. “I don’t know why you needed to hire a ballbuster.”
“If you can’t figure that out then I hired the wrong man all those years ago.” Maverick’s tone was more gleeful than before.
Carter was beside himself, slamming the door behind him.
When the two of us were alone, I kept my place, lifting my head to ensure the two of us were on the same plane and indeed very much alone.
“You’re in the wrong business,” he told me. I did enjoy the level of appreciation in his tone.
“How so?”
“Are you kidding me? That is hands down the best contract that’s been negotiated for a single book since I obtained a publisher.”
“Then you’ve hired all the wrong people.”
I’d call the steps he took toward me more of a swagger.
When he was only inches away, he shoved his hands into his jeans’ pockets.
His eyes were twinkling more than the night before.
He was enjoying the moment as much as I was, perhaps even more so.
“Maybe so. Perhaps I’ll start calling you a shark from now on. That was… impressive as fuck.”
“Why, thank you. I’m glad I could help.”
The sizzling tension was nerve-racking. I had a feeling the man could see right through me. Maybe the smug expression creating tiny lines by his eyes were the best indication I was right.
“Why are you here?”
“A couple of reasons actually.”
“Alright. It would seem I have all the time in the world. Spill it, little Miss Sunshine.”
“I never knew you have a comedic streak. Hopefully, you’ll keep my assistance and my obvious skills that you just touted in the forefront of your mind from now on.
” While he wasn’t trying to, he’d managed to make me very nervous.
Maybe it was the larger-than-life persona I’d established about him in my mind.
“Meaning what?”
“Didn’t your boy contact you? Oh, that’s right. His phone was taken away.”
He snickered. “My boy? At this point, I will admit I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
“You are a talented man, but you’re a terrible liar.
Big bubba type guy who doesn’t look very good in a suit or perhaps he needs to shop in the Big and Tall department.
As a private investigator, he truly sucks since I made him within minutes of him tailing me.
Forget about when he spent hours in the parking lot where I worked or when he pretended to have lunch at the same restaurant.
If I was an antsy girl or concerned about having a stalker, I might have contacted the police. ”
There was no sheepish look on his face or even an element of surprise.
He was somewhat smug, which accentuated the dimple in his chin.
“The man you’re referring to as my boy is a highly trained Marine whose specialty was reconnaissance.
Tony served in three tours in Afghanistan, retiring with full honors to then go to work for a security firm specializing in working with high-powered clients.
He’s been a good friend over the years, a man I can trust and who I was able to call last minute and he dropped everything to help in your protection.
” He crowded my space. “Since you’re standing in front of me, I’d venture a guess that you managed to ditch him. ”
“If you’re trying to make me feel in the least bit guilty, you’re failing. You had him follow me against my wishes. Remember?”
“Perhaps I decided playing it safe was the best option until we discovered the truth.”
So he did believe me, at least enough to hire someone to protect me. I wasn’t certain whether to be enchanted or continue with my irritation.
Somehow, the handsome bastard managed to turn the tide, forcing me against the wall while his massive presence hovered over me. A protective, unwanted, yet overtly sexy blanket.
“Is that what I’m doing? Using guilt as a form of keeping you obedient?” With methodical movements, he placed first one palm on the wall beside me then the other. The temporary barrier was his way of telling me there was no escape.
Obedient. The term both excited and floored me.
“Yes, you are. You made a promise. You lied to me. I don’t like liars.”
The mischievous look on his face was certainly unexpected.
Plus, he placed his hand on his heart as if I’d wounded him.
Pu-lease. I hadn’t thought of him as a playful man.
He’d been so serious about everything all those years ago, never smiling.
Not once. At least not that I could remember. “I never lied to you.”
Every aspect of his being could be considered oppressive from his size and extreme masculinity to the coldness often displayed in his eyes. Let alone his stealthy actions, like a tiger stalking. But to me, he was exactly what I needed, a perfect representation of both goodness and protection.
“Yes, you did. You specifically said you wouldn’t hire anyone to follow me.”
“Not true.” He held up his hand, closing three fingers and his thumb, leaving his index finger pointed in my direction.
The same look of ire danced in his eyes, especially when he rolled the tip down the bridge of my nose, tracing my lips then my jaw.
“I told you I wouldn’t contract my buddy at the police department. ”
I thought about what he had said and groaned, snagging his finger and squeezing. “You bastard. Using semantics against me isn’t very nice.”
“I never said I was a very nice man. Now, did I?”
“I guess you’re right.”
He took a deep breath, holding it briefly. A heat flash tickled my skin as soon as he exhaled. “However amazing the contract you secured for me is, that’s no excuse for your behavior. Tony was there to protect you. What the hell did you do with him?”
My shrug was casual. “He’s enjoying a drink with my bestie. Unless she’s already managed to drag him back to her apartment, which she’s been known to do. He seemed very interested in her.”
His entire jaw clenched. “What happened to being fearful of the person who contacted you?”
Every muscle stiffened again. “I’m still fearful, Maverick. I’m just being pragmatic. I can’t allow fear to destroy my life.”
The slow and steady shake of his head kept ripples of sensations dancing down my arms. “Not good enough.”