A Lover's Dream Read Free Page A

don’t know you, introduce yourself.
    â€œI sent the proposal on Wednesday, got a response the following Tuesday,” she boasted, her rich brown gaze pride-filled. “I spoke with the admin director at the headquarters personally,” she added.
    â€œNow I’m suspicious,” Mick muttered, hooking a thumb through one of the belt loops on the hip-hugging black shorts she sported. “How could a simple proposal generate such an interest?”
    County gasped. “I do believe I’m offended,” she said, pouting.
    Mick rolled her eyes. “This is a powerful family, Count. They’ve remained out of the spotlight way too long to be taken in by a proposal from a Midwest publishing firm. No matter how impressive it is,” she added quickly for County’s benefit.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, Mick.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œ You were the proposal.”
    â€œWhat the hell are you talking about?” Mick demanded. Now both thumbs were hooked in the belt loops.
    County shrugged. “I based the proposal only on you and your work.”
    â€œYou what?”
    â€œOh, come on, Mick,” County snapped, fixing her friend with a weary glare. “The modesty is wearing thin right about now. Your reputation precedes you. Businesspeople love stories about other businesspeople. The rags-to-riches story will always be popular. You should toot your own horn a lot more, damn it. But if you won’t, then I guess I have to.”
    Mick folded her arms across her chest and decided it would be pointless to argue. County had always been her biggest fan, ever since she’d read Mick’s first short story. County, a business major in college, always aspired to become an entrepreneur. Still, an actual business venture had eluded her. That all changed when she discovered Mick’s talents. She decided to become a publisher, and a fine one at that.
    â€œJust accept the fact that my long shot paid off. The gods want to meet you.”
    Mick scratched her head. “Uh, don’t you mean the gods are smiling on me?”
    â€œUh-uh,” County retorted, with a wave of her bejeweled right hand, “it was no slip of the tongue. Ramsey Group’s admin director is a woman. When I asked who from the family we’d be speaking with, she said we’d be speaking with the gods themselves. Of course, I was stunned, but she assured me it was no exaggeration. The brothers were aware of the name and didn’t mind hearing it used.”
    â€œThe brothers?” Mick asked.
    County stopped just short of the patio. “Quest and Quaysar Ramsey run the whole shebang. Jasmine Hughes, the admin director, swears the whole family is filled with incredible-looking men, but those two head the real estate company. They rarely meet with anyone outside the business. I guess they save all that for their executive staff.”
    â€œAnd they’re called gods because of all this powerthey’ve acquired?” Mick asked, though she had a feeling she already knew the answer.
    â€œThey’re called gods because that’s what they look like. Two chocolate-dipped, sexy twins.”
    Suddenly, Mick burst into a fit of laughter. “You are not tellin’ me this admin director was that candid with a total stranger regarding her employers?”
    County shrugged. “From what she says, the vast majority of the employees would love to see a book done on their bosses. They believe the guys should be recognized for all they’ve done. Especially when most people believe Ramsey is run by white folks.”
    â€œMmm, and how do the twins feel about that?”
    County gave a quick toss of her heavy ponytail. “From what I gather, they don’t mind it so long as they rake in the cash.”
    Mick was still eyeing her publisher with unmasked suspicion. “I don’t know, County. What—”
    â€œWait. Just wait a minute,” County