Chapter 8
The makeover was as nerve wracking for Jackson as it was for Katie. He watched as Andrea directed a facial, a French manicure, a spray tan, a haircut with highlights and a new wardrobe. Jackson never liked shopping and he liked it less as Katie was pushed into purchasing some items that he was pretty sure she flat out didn’t like by the bossy Andrea. It was a good thing he was paying. Maybe they could return some stuff when Andrea wasn’t looking.
When she was finished, Katie looked gorgeous. Jackson had to grudgingly admit that Andrea might know what she was doing however now he was certain that Katie was going to draw a lot of male attention which he didn’t find himself to be too comfortable with that thought. He didn’t want other men looking at Katie.
Andrea treated them to lunch, picking up the tab. During the meal, she grilled Katie on questions and wrote down a number of talking points for Katie’s introduction speech. Andrea concluded that since Katie was the writer, she should be able to create a proper couple of paragraphs to memorize from the bulletin points. Jackson figured he could write something appropriate. He hoped that Katie would remember it when she stood in front of JD Emerson’s fans. Already, she was looking a little green at the thought of tonight’s gathering.
“Remember,” Andrea said as they left the restaurant. “Stand tall, shoulders back, eyes forward and project some confidence. If you don’t know why anyone should read your books, your fans won’t know why they should support you. I’ll see you tonight.”
Katie nodded, feeling overwhelmed. Jackson stood beside her as they watched Andrea walk away and bark something into her phone.
“She’s a bit different than I thought she’d be,” Jackson remarked.
“What did you think she’d be like?” Katie raised a now perfectly plucked eyebrow as she asked the question. She didn’t look like the old Katie that he knew and Jackson felt a little pain at that.
“I don’t really know,” he said ruefully. “I guess I just didn’t expect her to be so bossy.”
“Perhaps that’s what makes her such a good organizer,” Katie shrugged. “Should we practice so I get better at this? You’re paying me so I should try to do my best.”
Jackson nodded. He’d write her a proper introduction too. One that made Katie shine. Not because he wanted JD Emerson to make more sales but because Katie deserved it. They spent the rest of the afternoon at the hotel going through questions and her introduction. When it was time, they made their way to another larger bookstore chain in the city. There were twice the chairs and twice the women waiting to meet JD this time. Jackson waited on the outskirts of the crowd as Andrea called the crowd to attention and gave her quick intro about JD Emerson. Andrea then motioned for Katie to take the stage.
Katie tripped over the single step and fell with a squawk, the book in her hand flying. The paperback hit a lady in the front row in the forehead and Andrea dashed over to the fan, frantically asking if she was okay. Katie sat up and blanched as she saw who Andrea was fussing over.
Jackson could see her start to tremble and knew she was panicked. He grimaced and made his way to the stage as she looked at him pleadingly as she stood up. He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. It’s just a minor setback. You remember your opening line?”
“Minor setback,” she hissed. “That’s the congresswoman that I just nailed with a book!”
Jackson looked in disbelief at the woman Andrea was fussing over. Sure enough, it was the local congresswoman. He winced. “Andrea will handle it. That’s her job. You focus on yours, okay?”
Katie nodded. She looked a little frantic.
“Deep breaths. Nice and slow,” he coaxed her. Andrea finally stepped away from the front row and gave Katie a look of desperation. “I think this is your cue. Smile.”
Katie smiled and began her introduction as Jackson drifted off to stand at the back of the crowd again. Andrea joined him.
“Does this usually happen with her?” Andrea adjusted her jacket. “Is she always such a disaster?”
Jackson thought back to the keys in the dumpster and the many other times Katie had a propensity for getting in sticky situations. She was an adorable disaster in his opinion. “Pretty much.”
“I had to promise the congresswoman dinner with her favorite author as an apology,” Andrea grimaced. “Now we need to work that into the tour.”
Jackson was taken aback in a good way. “JD Emerson is the congresswoman’s favorite author?”
Andrea nodded and rubbed her forehead. “Yes. Plus, I still have to rebook the first event that JD missed.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll get it done,” he had every belief that she could do it. She seemed very professional about the whole tour.
“Honestly?” Andrea said. “This is my first big promo for an author and it’s got me in knots.”
“I would never have guessed,” Jackson frowned.
“Yeah well,” Andrea looked at his faded jeans, work boots and old coat. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”
Jackson found that a little amusing. He expected she wouldn’t suspect he was the real JD Emerson either.
