Page 31 of Read Me, Baby
I roll my eyes at Jay’s question. “You’re too much with this matchy match shit.”
He grabs me pulling me close “Let me remind you. When you said yes to me you said yes to every idea I have going forward.”
“Ha!” I laugh out loud “No way is that in the contract!”
He shakes his head. “You're wrong, Nina. It's all part of the contract. If I had known that just three weeks earlier I would have been professing my love to my girl in front of the town, maybe I would have added in some extra clauses. You have to know though, after making a public declaration, anything I do now, becomes a ‘we’ thing and you’re indebted to me forever.”
“Mmhmm.”
“I bet Wes and Hazel are wearing matching costumes,” he says.
“I don't think they have a choice now.” Giving him a sly look. “What about Maverick? What’s he wearing?”
Jay laughs, “Who’s the guy with the black mask?”
“Zorro?”
He laughs. “No, the lover of all women. Casanova!”
“Casanova didn’t wear a mask.”
“He didn’t?” Jay looks confused as he turns his head like a puppy.
“No, no mask for Casanova. Pretty sure his pretty face was what attracted the ladies.”
“Then that’s exactly who Maverick is.”
“I feel like there’s a joke here about him and Goose.”
“Top Gun is where it’s at, but he’s definitely not Val Kilmer.”
“Val was too suave for his own good. Maverick? Not so much.”
“And this is why he needs Bella’s class.”
There were a few sparks flying at the National Read a Book Event between Maverick and Bella. After the reading, we went to Deja Brew and shared some coffee and laughs. I got the feeling Bella is a lot like me. Not used to the crowds, but showing up because people love it. So, it was nice to sit quietly together and chat.
Until Maverick showed up. He was like a police dog, sniffing out the beautiful girl. He sat right next to her, dropping one-liners left and right, flirting up a storm and being his genuine silly self. She entertained his humor, even said she was writing a few of his lines into her next book, but I could see she was eager to move on from him.
Two weeks ago, Jay surprised me with a trip to Colorado to see Bella at a signing. I was shocked she remembered us but soon found out Jay had been in contact with her and was planning a surprise proposal right there at the signing.
It was perfect and brought our love story full circle.
Once we came home, we found a website online that Bella and her author besties had started while at that signing. It’s a class on how to be a ‘book boyfriend’. We didn’t think twice before we were signing Maverick up for the classes.
Of course, he thinks the whole thing is a joke but I can’t wait to see how his first class goes next week.
EPILOGUE 2
BELLA VALENTINO A/K/A AVA COSTA
This was not a good move.
Maverick McKinney entered my office like a bull in a china shop.
After speaking with Nina, I went through the list of guys that applied, reading their bios and trying to find a good fit for everyone. I narrowed it down to three that live within a fifty mile radius. I was scanning the list to find a name that looked familiar. Not that I know their friends well, but I did meet a few at the National Book Event.
Two of the men sound super sweet. Almost too good to be true but they listed their ‘dating downfalls’ as too nice and too eager. I don’t see a problem with that but if they want to come and listen to me spout off about being a possessive man, then so be it.