She laughed. “That’s cute and would be fine if this were a dinner party. Honey, I’ll need about two hundred copies.”
He almost choked. “I thought you said the party was for your friends.”
“My friends, the press and the charity.”
“What charity?”
“The one that’s going to benefit from the signing.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m buying the books. You’ll sign them, and they’ll be given away in the goodie bags. Oh, plus I’ll need some press kits. I know we could do e-books, but a hand delivered, signed copy will make a better impact with the press.”
“How does the charity figure in?”
“They get the money from the ticket sales. This is a good way for people to get to know you. Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”
“Okay. This is your world.”
“Exactly.”
“I’ll see you at six thirty. Bye.”
“Bye.” He didn’t understand what Olivia was going to do, but he knew whatever it was, it was going to change his life.
GENERATIONAL CURSE
TRACY REED
Chapter 18
KYLA PROMISED HERSELF SHE WOULD never be like the other women in her family, dating a married man and settling for the pennies he doled out.
She’d always felt she was worth more. She met Eric at a fundraiser. He smiled, she smiled and after the cocktail hour, they found themselves seated next to each other. During dinner they talked and flirted and once the evening was over, he asked for her number. She declined and while getting ready for bed, she reached into her bag for her phone and noticed that she also had someone else’s phone.
She called the last number dialed and a vaguely familiar voice said, “I’ve been waiting for your call. So what time do you want to meet for breakfast so I can get my phone?” They both laughed.
They agreed to meet the following morning for breakfast. Two days later, they met again and included an extra slot for “therapy.”
Making love in the morning seemed so decadent. She didn’t think anything of it until she received her first black envelope a month later.
Eric said, “I’m tired of hotels. Rent a place and fix it up for us and keep whatever is left.”
“I’m not a hooker.”
“I didn’t mean any disrespect. I want to keep seeing you, but my neighbors are nosey.”
“Oh, you’re married.”
“No, I’m not. I just like my privacy. I like being with you, but—”
“I understand.” She dropped her head and quickly began getting dressed. “I don’t think this is—”
He noticed the change in her behavior and rushed to reassure her. “I don’t want you to think I’m ashamed of you, but I also don’t want you to think I’m monopolizing your time. You need your space and so do I. When we get together, it should be on neutral, comfortable ground and not some cold hotel room or a place filled with memories of past lovers.”
He wrapped his arms around her pulling her to him, gently stroking her hair, inhaling her neck and gently placing a kiss on her soft shoulder. She turned around trying to read the expression on his face. Looking into his eyes, she wondered how many more love nests he had scattered around the city. She pulled his face close to hers and covering his mouth with hers, kissed him passionately. She slipped her hands inside the front of his pants while sliding her tongue inside his mouth, exciting him to the point of arousal.
She pulled back and whispered, “Once more before we have to go?”