Page 92 of Blue Norther
“And like I said, I appreciated the apology, but it wasn't necessary. You were protecting Colt. Something I thought I was doing too all those years ago. Family stumbles sometimes, Beau. Doesn't mean I don't love ya like the pain in my ass little brother that you are.”
“I love you, too. Like a much older, not-much-wiser sister.” He winked at me. “And I'm happy everything's worked out for you both.”
I was just about to deliver a zinger of a comeback when I saw a flash of black pull into the driveway, and the conversation with Beau died on the tip of my tongue.
“Ryan.” I smiled as I opened the door, my business manager standing on the other side in a crisp suit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the man in a t-shirt and jeans, and that was just the type of guy he was. Type-A to a T.
“Well, well. If it isn’t my favorite romance author. Gone off to a sleepy little town and fallen back in love with her ex-husband. Instead of art imitating life, I see we’re letting our life imitate our art now.”
I wrapped my fingers around his outstretched hand and smiled as he gently squeezed me back.
“Come in. I’m sorry you had to drive out all this way. I know it was a trek, but with the baby, I just can’t really go anywhere yet.”
“An hour drive from the airport is nothing. I hit worse traffic at LaGuardia all the time. The weather’s getting a little tricky out, though.” He chuckled as I held out my hand to take his jacket. “And I swear it’s already dropped fifteen degrees outthere. I miss New York. This is for you.” He set a brown paper bag in my hand.
“Thank you?” I had no idea what could be inside, but it was sweet of him to bring something for me.
“It's that tea you were always drinking from your favorite little place around the corner from your apartment. Oh, this must be the infamous once-an-ex-but-an-ex-no-more husband?”
Beau laughed as he stepped forward, holding out his hand.
“I’m definitelynotthe husband.”
“He’s my ex-husband’s brother,” I explained. “Colt’s taking care of a family matter, but I know he’s going to try to get back here before you leave so he can meet you. Beau is here just to make sure Connor and I are…”
Ryan nodded. “Protected. I get it. It’s crazy to me that they haven’t caught the creep yet.”
“Yeah.” I shivered. I hadn’t had a single night yet where I hadn’t woken up breathless, convinced he was there, ready to snatch me away from my family.
“And this little goober must be Connor?” Ryan’s question pulled me back. I could feel Beau’s questioning gaze on me, but I didn’t have the energy to reassure him that I was fine.
“That’s him. The sweetest little blessing there ever was. Why don’t we go sit at the table? If you want to hold him, just wash up in the sink first.”
“Of course. You’re such a natural mom. I love it.” I knew he was teasing, but a warmth spread through my chest. “When is your dad coming to meet him?”
“In a couple of weeks. He’ll most likely stay over the holidays.”
“Oh, so he isn’t out here yet?”
“Nope, not yet. I wanted to have time with just the three of us. It was important to me.”
“And that’s why I’m here now, ready to talk over your breach of contract.” He winked, but suddenly my stomach clenched. “Lucy said if we had any questions to give her a call and she could hop on a video with us, but I told her this was all pretty standard stuff that I’d been through with another client of mine recently. So if you felt comfortable with me walking you through the matter, then we would only reach out if we absolutely had to.”
My agent was the best, but I couldn’t stand to see the disappointment in her face. And I knew she’d try to hide it, but I really did feel like I was letting everyone on my team down. Probably because I was.
I fiddled for a bit in the kitchen, getting two cups down from the cupboard. I filled Ryan's with coffee and excitedly poured hot water into mine, grabbing one of the teabags he gifted me.
“You know I don’t want to be insensitive, but we promised the publisher the manuscript would be ready last week. That was a firm deadline.”
“They liked the manuscript I sent.”
Ryan nodded. “They liked the direction the manuscript you sent was going in, but without your completed manuscript or any edits, they can’t move forward, and you know how slow this industry moves sometimes. It’s the author’s job to hit their deadlines. The publishers can change whatever they’d like to on their end, but you can’t.”
“That seems predatory,” Beau mumbled from behind his phone.
“That’s just how this business works.” Ryan shrugged his shoulders, his eyes momentarily dropping to his watch before returning to me.
“Listen,” I said, “I don’t blame them at all. I already was granted the extension and I blew it on this one. I might bow outand take a break for a while. Just while Connor is young, until I get my feet back under me.”
