by Ava Miles
“Too fake in the end. People know they’re being paid to act.” That tidbit from the research polls had surprised her, although it did cast some light on why people paid such attention to reality TV stars, God help her.
“Caitlyn, who are we talking about here?”
She tried to keep the glee out of her voice. “A musician. One of the world’s most popular stars who swings back and forth between country and mainstream. An All-American who’s the ultimate boy next door, yet you feel yourself melt when he sings and looks straight at you with those gray blue eyes.”
His brows winged up. “Gray blue eyes, huh?”
“You get the picture,” she said, clearing her throat. Okay, maybe she was falling into the fantasy herself a little, but that’s why she knew it would work. Michaela agreed, and even Flynn had claimed he’d do the guy if he were a girl. “The numbers don’t lie.”
She pulled out the bottom piece of paper under her report, something else she hadn’t included. He picked it up, his eyes widening in surprise.
“He hits all demographics,” she said, driving her point home. “From teenage girls to retirees. All the states and the big markets around the world, including Asia, which isn’t always an easy market to navigate.”
She let the words settle as he scanned the table she’d prepared.
“Quinn, he’s an international male phenomenon.”
He tapped the table. “You still haven’t told me who he is. I don’t have time for more guessing games, Caitlyn.”
Oh, he could be so stuffy sometimes. “Beau Masters.”
“Beau Masters? That’s the man every woman around the world wants?”
She nodded. Was he kidding? “And he’s single, which preserves the fantasy.”
“What if his marital status changes?” he asked.
“Wouldn’t matter,” she said, hoping she didn’t come off as a lovesick teenager. “Women would still fantasize about being with him.”
“And you think he’ll agree to be the spokesperson for our campaign?” he asked.
“Currently, his agent and business manager, who is his mother, has been shopping around for the right brand, but according to the reports I’ve read, Mr. Masters has been picky. He’s looking for something new, something elegant, something relatable.”
“And you think a farm-to-vanity table perfume is just the ticket?”
“His father was an alcoholic who died in a car wreck, so that rules out beer commercials and cars. No way he’s going to do insurance or pharmaceuticals. Too narrow an audience. Cologne is saturated with hot models, but this angle? No one is doing it.”
“That’s the part that worries me,” Quinn said. “There might be a reason.”
“Look, I’ve hired consultants who’ve worked with two of the major perfume houses, and they agree this will work. Plus, I’m going to hire someone special to make our perfume, someone fresh to the larger international market.”
“And who’s that?” Quinn steepled his hands.
“In a second. I’ll be using flowers from France in the beginning since it’ll give us a marketing boost, but the scent will be completely new because our mixer is an Egyptian who trained in both French and ancient ways dating back to the Pharaohs.”
Her brother’s brows shot up. Yeah, he was intrigued.
“He’s been creating some of the best perfume around at a boutique company. Couple that with the other aspects of my plan, natural flowers and Beau Masters, and we’re a slam dunk for big-time success.”
“The Egyptian will take the job?”
“I’m told he’ll be open to an offer since his current employer is content to remain small. He loves France and speaks the language fluently. Did you know they’ve found perfume in Egyptian tombs with the same strength as anything you’ll find in a department store? And that’s like four thousand years old.”
“Most of our customers don’t live that long,” Quinn said, pushing the report back at her. “It’s comforting to think our product would outlive them, I guess, but we need them to buy more than one ounce of perfume and use it in this lifetime to make a profit.”
She was losing him. “Let me do things right. Hire the right people to pull it off. Secure Beau Masters. That’s not negotiable.”
His eyes went flat. Time to talk turkey. “Run me through the numbers.”
These she had memorized. And dammit, she was thorough. In fact, when she finished presenting the capital outlay numbers, coupled with the expected profits minus employee compensation and marketing expenses, he was smiling at her.
“You did your homework,” he said.
Damn right. “So what’s it going to be?”
He tapped his hand on the table once, like it was a gavel punctuating his decision. “I’ll give you thirty million to start, and you need to land Beau Masters since he’s the make-or-break piece of your marketing campaign.”
Since she knew how tenacious and persuasive she could be, that condition didn’t bother her a bit. As for the money… She hadn’t expected one hundred million upfront—but you always shoot for the moon, their dad liked to say. She let her feet do her dancing under the table. “Thank you.”
He rose. “Keep me updated.”
Her brother loved progress reports like some people liked Haagen-Dazs ice cream. “Of course.”
She left, knowing he never did a sibling chitchat or after-meeting hug.
Michaela hugged her the moment she closed the door. “He said yes! I can see it on your face. Now what?”
She had to convince the world’s most compelling man to believe in her.
* * *
The exciting Merriam series continues… Caitlyn and Beau’s story is up next, so treat yourself to LOVE AMONG LAVENDER.
Interested in a mouth-watering scones recipe like the ones served in Becca’s bed and breakfast (oh, and Irish soda bread too)? Check out my fabulous cookbook, HOME BAKED HAPPINESS.
Wondering about Trevor’s brother, J.T., and his path to love with Caroline Hale? It’s part of my Dare Valley series in THE SKY OF ENDLESS BLUE, which kicked off The Merriams series.
Are you curious about what Arthur Hale was like when he was younger and first came to Dare Valley and worked with Emmits Merriam? If you haven’t read it, dive into THE TOWN SQUARE.
Can’t stop wondering about the Merriam kids’ grandparents, Anna and Noah, and their epic love story during WWII? Check out ALONG WATERS OF SUNSHINE AND SHADOW.
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Dear Reader,
This new series and the Merriam family have totally captured my heart, and we’re only on book one. Hah! And Arthur, Clara, and Hargreaves continue to keep me in stitches with their antics. I’m so happy Arthur talked me into letting him be in this new series after our Dare Valley series ended. What would we do without him?
Certainly, we have a lot of excitement ahead. Caitlyn and Beau’s story, LOVE AMONG LAVENDER, is turning out to be swoon-worthy and so funny. He’s a good guy trying to get his bad boy on, and in Caitlyn’s opinion, he’s awful at it. And in her French farmhouse, no less, where she’s creating her new perfume with a mysterious master blender. Beau needs to get on track as her celebrity spokesperson, and who better to help than Arthur and Clara? Except they’re matchmakers with minds of their own. What trouble could they all get up to while creating this fabulous perfume? Honestly, a lot!
Dare River fans will be happy to know that our favorite hero, Rye Crenshaw, is trying to talk me into letting him make a cameo in this book. After all, he was the original bad boy country music star. We’ll see.
I can’t tell you
how much fun I’m having researching flowers, scents, the process of perfume making, and Provence—one of my favorite places ever. I know you’re going to love it too.
Thanks again for embracing this wonderful new family, The Merriams, and for spending time with all of us.
Lots of love,
Ava
P.S. Arthur and Clara and the rest of the Merriam kids would love to hear what you thought of this book and the series, so please leave a review. Big hug and thanks.
P.P.S. I did the best I could with all things Irish in this book, so if I missed something, let me just say, oops. Also thanks to Kathy Kennedy for sharing some of her favorite things and insights about Ireland with me.
About the Author
International Bestselling Author Ava Miles joined the ranks of beloved storytellers with her powerful messages of healing, mystery, and magic. Millions of readers have discovered her fiction and nonfiction books, praised by USA TODAY and Publisher’s Weekly. Women’s World Magazine has selected a few of her novels for their book clubs while Southwest Airlines featured the #1 National Bestseller NORA ROBERTS LAND (the name used with Ms. Roberts’ blessing) in its in-flight entertainment. Ava’s books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year and Top Editor’s Picks and are translated into multiple languages.
Ava calls herself a divine rockstar, something she believes everyone is deep down. She’s a unique expression of love and joy in the world with her own special gifts: writing stories with uplifting messages, being an intuitive healer, inspiring others to uncover their authentic selves and their highest path in the world; and creating artistic masterpieces like pottery and sculptures. And then there’s the cooking… She used to be a chef and rocks food big time.
A global awakener at the core, Ava has dedicated her life to uplifting everyone on the planet. In her former career rebuilding war zones, she worked in places like Lebanon, Colombia, Pakistan, West Bank/Gaza, and Congo to foster peaceful communities. Now she’s sharing her stories of love, forgiveness, and empowerment around the world—pretty much still changing lives.
If you’d like to connect with Ava or hear more about her upcoming books, check out the links below:
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Copyright March 2019, Ava Miles.
ISBN: 978-1-949092-06-6
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means—graphic, electronic or mechanical—without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally.
www.avamiles.com
Ava Miles
Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Meet Arthur and Clara
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
Dear Reader
About the Author