Once Upon a Date - Susan Hatler Page 0,33
me another publisher was interested in your book.”
I waved a hand dismissively. “I sent out a few queries the night of the masquerade ball. That’s why I brought my laptop with me that night.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” he said, looking upset.
“Why does it matter? Are you able to match their advance? Their offer is almost double, so I felt bad asking you . . .”
“I don’t have any more authorization than the advance I offered,” he said, his face going white as he cleared his throat. “Look, Michelle, I’ll honor our agreement and publish your book, but I think you should take the other deal.”
“Why?” I asked.
“It’s more money,” he pointed out.
“But I’d rather work with you,” I said, even though I did like the fact that Jodi thought my book was perfect the way I wrote it. “And I gave you my word.”
“You always do this . . .” His voice trailed off and his gaze couldn’t quite meet my eyes.
I reached out to take his hand, but he pulled it out of reach and let it drop into his lap. I frowned. “Do what?”
“Make bad decisions because of me.” He cleared his throat again, and his entire demeanor had changed. He looked cold and distant, as if I were sitting across from a stranger now. “Look, I don’t think it’s a good idea to mix business with pleasure. I’ll publish your book but I don’t think we should see each other anymore, except on a professional basis.”
“I . . . I don’t understand,” I said, shaking my head, which had gone pretty dizzy. “Why on earth shouldn’t we date?”
“You’re choosing the worse deal for your book and you’ll blame me later when you regret it,” he said, firmly.
“No, I’m making the decision that feels right to me.” I racked my brain trying to understand why he had pulled away. It felt like there was a gulf between us now, but the reason certainly couldn’t be about something as shallow as money. “I don’t know what’s really going on, but don’t push me away.”
His expression flickered for a moment and he seemed to waver. But then his brow wrinkled. “You’re making a mistake and I won’t let you do that.”
“So, that’s it? I have no say?” I asked, watching him stand, as if to signal this meeting was over.
“Now that we’re through, you have no reason to feel obligated to Prince & Company. You should take the offer from the other publisher. It sounds like it will be much better for your career, Michelle.”
“Are we really back here again?” I asked, as tears sprang into my eyes. “No, Brooks, I won’t accept their offer. I want you to publish my book. You. My boyfriend. You’ve been on this journey with me from the start and it’s only right that we—”
“Boyfriend? I just said we’re done,” he said, holding up his palms. “Real life isn’t like your fairy-tale book, okay? It sucks and it’s unfair and it’s cruel, but that’s just the way it is.”
“But, everything you said on our dates . . .”
He looked away. “Those dates were all part of the bet, Michelle. You knew that. Look, it’s all over . . . you, me, and the contract. Go to Paradise Bound and get your better deal, and you’ll soon forget about Prince & Company.”
“And you?” I asked, my heart clenching.
“And me,” he said, his tone firm.
With that, he held the door open. My hands shook and I couldn’t believe he was doing this to me again. After I left his office, I wasn’t sure if the sound I heard was the door clicking shut, or the sound of my heart breaking for the second time, but it hurt—it hurt so much.
Chapter Thirteen
The sound of a whistle being blown greeted me as I opened my front door and walked inside. Krista and Missy were watching women’s soccer on TV. As usual, Krista was extolling the virtues of the game to Missy in an attempt to get her to sign up for the local team. She’d tried recruiting me many times to no avail.
“It’s way more social than going to the gym, Missy. It’s so much fun!”
“I rarely go to the gym. I just go running in the mornings with Michelle. Hey, speak of the devil . . .” Missy laughed and moved over on the couch so I could sit down next to her.
“C’mon, you’re not going to tell me that running from A to B is