Page 66 of Just for the Plot

I pull on the brim of my hat and mutter, “No fucking clue.”

Should have left the minute Bower showed up.

Gretchen starts typing away on her phone and says, “This is really, really good stuff and something we can use.”

“We’re not telling the public that I’m horny,” I say.

Gretchen winces. “Gross, Bennett. Of course we wouldn’t. People don’t need to know about your lack of sex life.”

“Extremely blue balls,” Bower says, a smirk on her face.

“Extremely is a bit…extreme,” I say. “Also, can we stop talking about my balls?”

“I’d prefer if we did,” Gretchen says as she finishes typing on her phone and then looks up at the both of us. “This is what we’re going to do. Bennett’s going to form a book club, we will create social media accounts for it, and you will start recommending two books a month to read and then discuss them with Bower on video.”

“She doesn’t need to be—”

“Oh my God, I’d love that,” Bower says, gripping my arm. “I’ve always wanted to start a book club. I thought it would be great to go with my book truck idea that will never happen, but at least I can cling to a book club.”

Book truck idea? What’s that?

“Perfect. It’s settled.” Gretchen starts to gather her things. “Come up with a name that I can approve, and the Kim Halpert Book Club is notit. I’d like to see this up and running in a few weeks. Once I see you have committed to this idea, Bennett, then I can reduce your time at the zoo. And when the time is right, I’ll involve Graydon and OC in the book club to spread the impact. This will be great to capture the female audience, especially since you’re such a heartthrob already.”

“Ooo, is he?” Bower asks, looking far too excited about it. “I bet you’re an inspiration for sports romance authors.”

“Most likely,” Gretchen says, looking between the two of us.

“Any chance we can secure some sort of shirtless campaign for him? He has amazing abs. Go ahead, Bennett, show her your abs.”

“I’m not showing her my abs.”

“Go ahead. Don’t be shy.” She turns to Gretchen. “They’re great. A set you can lose a finger in, the divots are so deep. Go on, Bennett, flash her.”

“I’m not flashing her,” I say, clamping down on my shirt. “We’re not doing a shirtless campaign.”

“Actually, a shirtless campaign is not a bad idea. Let me talk to some magazines and see what we can do.”

Bower claps. “They won’t regret it. Oh!” She holds up a finger. “Have we considered a dating show?”

“Oh my God.” I groan and then lift out of my chair, pulling Bower with me. “We’re leaving.”

I tug her toward the door, Gretchen chuckling as Bower calls out, “Consider the dating show. Women will be pleading at his feet to ease the blue balls.”

Jesus.

Christ.

CHAPTER 12

BOWER

I thread my arm throughBennett’s as together we walk along the streets of San Francisco toward our apartment building.

“A book club. That’s so much fun. We have to be thoughtful about what books we pick and should probably focus on sports romance since that ties in well with what you do. Maybe we can pick the books you’ve already read so there isn’t pressure to have to finish the books you choose that month and you can be ahead of the game.”

“Yeah, probably,” he says, seeming distant. It gives me pause.

“Is everything okay?”