A Novel Seduction

A Novel Seduction Read Free Page B

Book: A Novel Seduction Read Free
Author: Gwyn Cready
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
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novels bring to women’s lives,
Vanity Place
will open the flood gates.” He thought of the inspiration those warm, confident fingers had brought him under the table that night, and—like a bear roused from a long winter’s hibernation—his pecker slowly stretched to life.
    “What are you saying? That every woman will want to get their hands on one?”
    “God, I hope so,” he said, closing his eyes and remembering. “It would certainly make American men happy.”
    “Hm.”
    She was softening, unlike Martin, who would now have to cancel his nine o’clock meeting with the women’s health editor or risk another HR complaint.
    “The only problem is,” Bettina said, “a story like that would help every romance novel publisher.”
    “You’re sixty percent of the market, my dear. It might help every publisher, but you’ll be carrying the biggest bag of money to the bank. Just think of what it could do for
Vamp
.” He held his breath.
Vamp,
the love story of a vampirette who worked in a Pittsburgh steel mill during the day but danced at night to win the heart of an ancient vampire, had been the biggest book by far ever put out by Pierrot. The book had been a huge crossover hit, drawing in women readers of all ages and reading preferences, and had been sitting atop the best-seller list for months.
    “She’ll write about
Vamp
?” Bettina said in a small, hopeful voice.
    “Of course. Highlight of the story.”
    “Will there be pictures?”
    Black had been thinking more of a puff piece than a photo spread, but what the hell? “You bet.”
    “And are you absolutely certain she doesn’t want to do it?”
    “Yes, but you don’t need to worry. I’m
making
her.”
    Bettina made an “Mmm-mmm” of such length and satisfaction, Martin felt his balls begin to tingle.
    “Then it sounds
perfect,
” she said.

C HAPTER F IVE

     
    Ellery walked into her cube and threw her notebook against the wall, furious. “Shit.”
    “You okay?” Kate called lightly over the divider.
    “If you call writing a story about something you hate okay, then yes,” Ellery said, sinking into her chair.
    “There’s a reason they call it work, right? Say, I didn’t know you knew Axel Mackenzie.”
    Ellery’s heart leapt into her throat. “Oh, jeez, what did he tell you? I made him promise he’d never tell anyone—”
    “About the threesome?” Axel appeared over Kate’s divider, and Ellery winced. She’d thought he had left.
    “Blame Brad Pitt, not me,” he said. “That man does not know how to keep a secret.” He gave her a sympathetic look. “Tough meeting?”
    She growled.
    “What do you have to write about?” he asked.
    She wished she hadn’t said anything. “Romance.” “That shouldn’t be hard. I’m sure you know a lot about it.”
    The sound of Kate’s laughter floated up from her cube, and Ellery stuck out her tongue so that only Axel could see. She also moved closer to the divider because it was clear he wasn’t going to end the conversation and she was sensitive to the fact that Kate would be at a conversational disadvantage if she couldn’t see Ellery’s face. Unfortunately, Kate could sniff out a story better than any reporter when it came to Ellery’s love life, and since she was coming over to dinner, Ellery had better play it cool or the questions would be as thick as gunpowder smoke at the Civil War reenactments Kate participated in. Ellery thought she made a striking war widow, with her black dress, neatly pinned red hair and period-perfect wheelchair.
    The faint apple scent of Axel’s hair sparked memories that hit Ellery like a wallop. His clothes might be rumpled, but the man himself had always looked and smelled great.
    “I have to write an ode to romance novels and get it into the next issue,” Ellery said. “It appears our fearless leader is having a little something on the side with Pierrot’s Bettina Moore and has decided that romance novels are our new favorite literary genre

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