One More Heartbeat (The Carson Brothers #5)

1. Garrett

GARRETT

I reread the text while I wait in line at Picnic ours are brown.

“Maybe they would like to see me, but after what happened with the Annie Wilkes clone three years ago, I keep my face out of my social media posts whenever I can.”

“At least she wasn’t as crazy as that character in Stephen King’s Misery .”

“Yeah, Annie Wilkes 2.0 didn’t lock me in her house and demand I resurrect a character I’d killed off. But remember, she did stalk me and send insane messages, outlining our happily ever after together. She even showed up at all my book signings that year—including the ones overseas.”

Kellan grunts. “The beautiful ones are always the most dangerous.”

A laugh erupts from me. “I doubt Lucas and Troy would agree. Simone and Jessica are beautiful, and they’re far from dangerous.”

Even so, I know what my brother means. I’m not the only one who discovered the hard way that beauty doesn’t always reflect what’s beneath the surface. In Kellan’s case, the beautiful demon from his past cost him three years in prison.

“Anyway, most of my readers don’t give a damn what I look like. As long as the stories are exciting and well written, they’re happy.” Stories that I need at least nine months to write so the characters and plots are gripping and the books are impossible to put down.

My phone rings, and I glance at it. Maxwell.

“I’ve got to get this,” I tell Kellan, tossing him an apologetic look. “Hopefully it will be quick.” I accept the call, and Kellan begins stretching his legs, lunging his right foot forward. “Hey, Maxwell. What’s up?”

“I’ve got some great news…and some not-so-great news.”

“Okay. Hit me with the not-so-great news first.”

“You don’t get a say in the order.” If his tone could take human form, it would guffaw and slap me on the back.

“Okay, just tell me however you’d like.”

“I just got off the phone with Bethany. She sold the movie rights to your next book.”

Surprise sends my stomach into a backward flip. “Holy shit. She sold the rights to Unfallen ?”

This isn’t the first time movie rights have been sold for one of my books. But none of the sold rights have resulted in actual movies. It’s just been extra income. Nice extra income. Still, I’ve learned not to get overly excited whenever Max tells me news about movie rights.

“Not exactly.” His barely held-back excitement vibrates through the phone line, the emotion straining on an invisible leash.

“What exactly did she sell the rights to, then?”

“ Untold Mercy .”

“The book I haven’t finished writing?”

“That would be the one.”

“Okay, so what’s the not-so-great news?”

“Because of this movie deal, your publisher moved up the deadline for the book. They need the manuscript months sooner than what was originally agreed on.”

Months? Is this deal for real?

I always have words. But now? I can’t think over the explosive pounding in my ears.

Maxwell’s talking, but I don’t even try to listen. I’m only a third of the way done with the book. My synopsis is completed. I know where the plot’s going. But writing fast? Never done it.

I cut Maxwell off mid-monologue. “What did you say?”

“They have several actors in mind for William and Safina.” The excitement in Max’s voice is amped up, like a cheerleader on amphetamines. He throws out a few names I recognize, including two previous Academy Award nominees.

And it feels like I’ve walked into the path of a grizzly bear. That oh-shit moment when you haven’t had a chance to process the danger. Only this, what Maxwell just told me, isn’t dangerous. No, I must have misheard him. Misunderstood what he just said.

Because…what he’s saying…is big. Holy-fucking-shit big.

None of my other books have resulted in actual movies. But this deal? It’s the real freaking thing.

My book will be a movie.

With big names playing my characters.

HOLY. MOTHER-OF-GOD. SHIT.