“My agent.”
“I thought Harry Roberts represented you?” said Max, frowning.
“He did. Well, he still does, technically. But as from January, I’ve got Brandon Smug-Arse lording it over me.”
Muse pricked her ears and hissed.
“You don’t mean Brandon Denning, by any chance?” asked Max, raising his eyebrows.
“Yeah, do you know him?”
“Only a little. He’s a brilliant agent, Jenni, he’ll get you the really good contracts. He can be a bit of a stickler, but he’ll do right by you.”
“I know that,” agreed Jenni. “I wouldn’t have signed with him if he wasn’t good. Doesn’t change the fact that he’s a complete twerp, though.”
Muse growled low in her throat and squinted towards Jenni balefully. Max took a large sip of wine to hide his laughter while Eleanor filled her mouth with a lump of cheese.
“Honestly, he’s a nightmare!” continued Jenni, oblivious to her friends’ amusement. “I don’t think he knows how to smile, and he walks around the place like a bear with a sore head. Do you know, he’s never actually spoken to me?”
“No, really?” said Eleanor, grabbing another wedge of cheese.
“No!” said Jenni indignantly. “He just sort of grunts at me occasionally. And glares. He glares a lot.”
“He does,” agreed Heather solemnly. “I’ve seen him do it. He’s quite menacing, actually. I’m glad he’s not my agent.”
“He’s good at what he does,” said Max soothingly. “You’ll soon get used to his ways, I’m sure.”
“He’s a complete monster,” said Jenni, shaking her head vigorously. “There’s no way I’ll ever get along with him, you mark my words.”
Muse brushed past Eleanor and caught her eye, winking slowly and baring her teeth in a cat-grin. Eleanor picked the cat up and held her against her face, allowing the cat to whisper without anyone else hearing her.
“There’s my damsel, right there.”
“You can speak?” whispered Eleanor with delight.
“My voice has returned, so this Fairy Godmother is back in business. I got me a Beauty and a Beast!”
Eleanor put the cat down gently and watched as Muse sauntered over towards her friend.
“Jenni!” she said suddenly. “How do you fancy cat-sitting for a few weeks?”
About the Author
Amber is from Cardiff, Wales, and lives with her husband, her two children, her cats, and two dragons (yes, dragons). When she’s not busy thinking up twisted fairy tale plots, you can find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-T-Smith/358024857544848; Twitter @Amber_T_Smith_; or at her blog, http://cardiffellanews.blogspot.co.uk/.
A Sneak Peek from Crimson Romance
(From Love, Lies, and British Spies by Selena Laurence)
London — six months ago
It must have hurt. She’d slammed her toe into the metal shelves so hard that they vibrated. He watched her pretty face crumple briefly; then her chest expanded as she inhaled and carefully schooled her features. Undoubtedly she didn’t want anyone to notice her clumsy path through the Tesco Market. He kept watching her as she limped very slightly for several more steps, tossing things into her trolley seemingly at random. She kept looking over her left shoulder as if expecting someone to come up behind her. That concerned him oddly enough.
He didn’t generally notice particular women out in public unless he was supposed to be looking for a contact. He’d trained himself years ago not to be distracted by long legs, shiny hair, or a great arse. He just couldn’t afford to spend his time idly checking out the world’s beautiful women. He got plenty of chances to check out the ones he needed to get close to for work. But he was on holiday for the next month. The first one he’d had in nearly a year, and so he’d let his guard down just enough to become fascinated by this slightly awkward blonde making her way through the store trying not to maim herself or damage merchandise.
He continued watching her as she travelled up the canned goods aisle, while he simultaneously skirted the end shelves, casually but efficiently taking items like cereal and tea and placing them in his trolley. He turned into the beverage aisle and headed north, just as she came down the same aisle going south. Three, two, one: he flicked his wrist slightly to the right, nicking the edge of her trolley just as they began to pass each other.
“Oh! Shit!” she squeaked just before she slapped her hand over her mouth, her blue eyes growing wide and her round cheeks turning a lovely shade of crimson.
He smoothed on his best “trustworthy guy” smile, the one he often used on female domestic staff when he was trying to gain entry somewhere he wasn’t welcome. “Completely my fault, love. Are you all right?”
She kept her hand over her mouth for a moment staring at him and nodding. Then, as if realizing how silly she must look, she pulled her hand down, stood up a little straighter, gave him a tightlipped smile in return and said in the flattest Yank accent he’d heard in ages, “Yes, of course, no worries, really.”
“You’re sure?” he said, his white teeth flashing in a smile of earnest concern.
“Um, yes … ” she replied, slightly star struck.
“I know this might seem rather forward of me,” he began, “but may I introduce myself?”
Her brows came together and she licked her lips nervously indicating she was unsure about this one, but he quickly moved to reassure her.
“I’ll tell you my name, but you don’t have to tell me your real name. Make something up! Just don’t forget what it is so that if I get so lucky as to see you here again and I call out to you, you’ll actually answer.”
She giggled at that and her whole body finally relaxed, as if she’d been holding it tensed in preparation for an impact or a shock.
Holding out a smooth white hand with long shapely fingers she smiled genuinely this time and said, “I’m Eva, and I haven’t ever shopped here before actually, so I’m not sure if you’ll run into me again, but it’s nice to meet you.”
He took the proffered hand and thought briefly that it might be the softest, sweetest thing he’d touched in a very long time. “Owen Martin, and I have to say with all sincerity, that I hope you’ll consider making Tesco a regular part of your life, as it’s the only place I ever shop when I’m in London and I would very much like to see you again, Eva.”
She blushed more, slowly removing her hand from his. “Well, I’ll certainly take it under consideration … Owen.” she said sweetly.
“Lovely.” He winked, and carefully maneuvered his trolley out of her way, whistling softly to himself.
He went to Tesco every day at the same time for the next week.
So did she.
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In the mood for more Crimson Romance?
Check out Urgent: One Nanny Required
by Olivia Logan
at CrimsonRomance.com.
If the Shoe Fits Page 18