Change Of Plans (New Adult BBW Romance) Read Free Page B

not
you,” Callie sneered. “Why don’t you tell me who you paid to write this thing
for so I can offer them a contract instead?”
    Something flashed in Brendan’s pale blue
eyes, and he frowned a little. “I didn’t pay anyone to write that book, Callie.
I penned every word.”
    Callie scoffed. “When, during your long
rides on the tour bus?” She picked up a tall, untouched glass of ice water and
took a long drink. The icy liquid sliding down her throat seemed to ground her
a bit more. “You’ve always been about the music, Brendan. I don’t know how you
could have found time to write a novel when you never even had time for me.”
She picked up the portfolio on the table and rose just as the waiter started to
head their way. “I’ve had enough of this bullshit. I’m leaving.”
    “Callie, wait.” Brendan grabbed her arm.
“Please, just sit down, have some food, and listen to me. Things have changed a
bit.”
    Callie wrenched her arm from Brendan’s
grasp. “Like what?”
    “The Strong Arm Giants,” he said. “We
broke up.”
    The world seemed to fall silent around Callie
as those words echoed in her head. We broke up. The Strong Arm Giants
were gone? She felt like her world was tilting on its axis.
    “Madam?” The waiter’s rich
French-accented voice interrupted her mini-freak out. “Do you need more time to
order?”
    “Huh?”
    “Yes, Francis, please.” Brendan gave the
waiter a million dollar smile, then gently grabbed Callie’s wrist again,
tugging her back down to her seat. “We just need a few more minutes.”
    Feeling boxed in, Callie took her seat,
then reached for the menu, using it as a shield as she tried to figure out what
to order while questions whirled through her head. Did she want the pan-seared
sea bass or the Quebec suckling pig? And what did it mean for Brendan that the
Giants had broken up? She’d never imagined it would happen; those four boys had
been closer than brothers, bonded by their love of music as well as each other,
and their grunge-rock band had been extremely successful.
    “I’m guessing you didn’t hear about it in
the media?” Brendan asked. “The band breaking up?”
    Callie shook her head. “I made it a point
not to follow the music section of media.” It had been too painful after a
while, seeing pictures of Brendan on the stage, rocking out as groupies and
fans waved their hands in the air, the closer ones trying to touch him. She’d
been sure he was doing just as much fucking as he was rocking, and he was doing
it all without her.
    She’d have followed him to the ends of
the earth at one point, if only he would have let her.
    “I see.” Brendan sounded like he was on
the verge of adding something else, but then the waiter came back, ready to
take their order. Callie decided to go with the suckling pig, and Brendan
ordered the duo of beef. He took their menus, and Callie stared down at her
silverware, feeling naked without the vinyl and plastic folder to separate
them.
    Oh for fuck’s sake. Would you stop being
such a baby? This isn’t about the two of you; it’s about business, and when it
comes to wheeling and dealing, you’re a fucking tigress.
    Straightening her shoulders, Callie
lifted her head and looked at Brendan directly, trying not to get lost in his
eyes. She’d always loved how dreamy they were, rimmed with eyelashes so black
and thick they should have been in a L’Oreal commercial. In the end, it didn’t
matter who Brendan was. The fact was, if he was telling the truth, he was
holding the next New York Times Bestseller in his hot little hands. And she wanted
to be the agent who got it published.
    “Tell me,” she said, “Did you come to me
for representation because you want me back, or because of my reputation?”
    “Both.” Brendan gave her a crooked smile
as he brought his glass of wine to his lips. He took a sip, looking cool and
collected as Callie’s heart practically jumped into her throat at the sight