Page 7 of Double Obsession
It was as if what little life there was left in her exited with awoosh. Jenna’s shoulders caved, and her gaze landed on the table. “After Matt screwed around, my ability to create any kind of hero dried up. How in the hell do I write a romance novel when I can no longer create a likable male lead?”
“You could try a sapphic romance. I hear they’re super popular right now.”
Jenna sucked at the empty straw in her full cup. “But I have no idea what it’s like to be attracted to a woman.”
“I did it with a woman once. Just to see what it was like. Maybe I could help you write down the details.” Stacie looked into the past and smiled. “There’s something about a girl’s kisses.”
Jenna blew a breath over her top lip. “Thanks. But I don’t think that’ll work. I’m contracted for anotherDesirable Dukebook.”
“You need a muse,” Stacie declared.
“What are you talking about?”
“You know, a hot dude who gets your juices flowing.”
“Where am I going to find one of those? And don’t you dare say Josh. The circumference of his biceps is larger than his IQ.”
Stacie plucked Jenna’s phone. “You don’t have to actually talk to the dude. That’d ruin the fantasy, since you’re in a man-hating phase.”
Jenna laughed for the first time in weeks. “And again, since I’m too brain dead to write him, where am I going to find a fake guy that I don’t actually have to deal with?”
“Let me show you the pecs I follow.” Stacie pushed a few buttons on Jenna’s phone and frowned. “Did you change your password?”
Jenna attempted another slurp. “Yep,deadduke.One word, no caps.”
Stacie smiled as her fingers and eyes busied themselves. “Here we go. Check out this guy. He’s one of my favorites—an underwear model. Look at that six-pack.”
Jenna leaned across the table to study the muse in question. She shrugged. “He’s gorgeous, but I don’t know.”
“Doesn’t dampen your panties?”
Jenna’s cheeks burned as she scanned for eavesdroppers.
“Don’t worry. There are a million guys on here. How about him?” Stacie held the phone three inches from Jenna’s face.
Jenna’s nose wrinkled and she shook her head.Slu-urp—extra-long unsuccessful suck.
“Fine. I’ve got more.” Stacie remained absorbed in Jenna’s phone for the next ninety seconds. Eventually, her twisted grin morphed into a frown. “Hey, Jenna, have you checked your DMs lately?”
“No, I haven’t been on social media in forever. Berta’s on me to message my fans, but who has time? I’ve got kids, a separation, an unfulfilled contract, Dad’s upcoming shoulder surgery, and a writing slump to deal with.”
“Dad’s gonna be fine and I’ll babysit the kids tonight so you can write, but you need to deal with this. You’ve got dozens of messages from an @ABCannon.” Stacie shivered. “This person seems deranged.”
“That’s why I don’t check my feed or respond.”
“ABC is following about ten thousand people and hasn’t posted anything on their page. The profile pic is a cat.”
“What do you call people like that? Isn’t there some social media term?” Jenna asked.
“The term is psycho nutjob stalker when they say things like, ‘@JennaGibsonauthor I love you with all my heart. Why won’t you respond?’ and ‘@JennaGibsonauthor RESPOND or else. This is important!’” Stacie waggled a finger. “Dad and I both told you to use a pen name.”
“You guys don’t get it. It’s hard to manage it all.” Jenna held up a hand to tick off her laundry list. “The writing, the book tours, the edits, the social media, the promo, the kids, a cheating ass of a husband. A pen name just added another level of confusion. I can’t even manage being one person.” She moaned. If she could go back in time, she’d change her decision. “I had no idea anyone would read my books.”
“Fussy McFuskins much.” Stacie’s furrowed brow relaxed, and she grinned. “Fucking A. Take a look at him.”
This time, when a shirtless man popped into Jenna’s view, she did a double-take.
She grabbed her phone from Stacie and scrutinized the photo to ensure she had seen it correctly. The dark-haired man had sapphire eyes, a smile that reached her soul, and dark pubic hair peeking out from the towel wrapped low around his waistline.
