“Has he suggested you go indie?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact.”
“Don’t you dare listen to him. He might be happy you’re a writer and his precious chain is intact, but he doesn’t want to take a chance that you’ll eclipse him the way Desiree has.”
“I figured out that was his motive.”
“And dismissed the idea of going indie, I assume.”
“I did. More or less.” With an emphasis onless.
“More or less? C’mon, Rance. You said you trust my judgment and I predict you’ll go far in this business. You have bestseller written all over you.”
“Must have happened in the wash. I knew I shouldn’t have thrown a dictionary in with my clothes.”
“Very funny. Seriously, you have the potential to make theTimeslist, see your books face-out in the front of the store, maybe even getTequila Shotsoptioned for a movie.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“It will be. You’re a marketer’s dream — good-looking, quick with a joke but not full of yourself, and?—”
“Don’t go overboard, Lani-lou. I seem to recall you telling me to my face that I’m full of myself.”
“That was before.”
“Before what?” He couldn’t resist teasing her. He also wanted to derail this bestseller talk.
She flushed. “Before I saw the real you.”
“Naked, you mean.”
“Not just that… well, kind of that, but really it was?—”
“The mind-blowing orgasms. You can say it. We’re totally alone in here.”
“Rance! I’m trying to convince you not to listen to Irving. This book combined with your cowboy persona will take you far. You’re the whole package.”
“I love it when you talk dirty.”
“Okay, you don’t want to get your hopes up. That’s understandable. Publishing’s not an easy business, but you have a much better chance than most to make it big. Don’t let Irving spook you.”
“I promise I won’t.”
“I take it he’s still here?”
“Sure is. He wanted to come to the meeting today but Mom said no and Andy’s gonna make sure he doesn’t crash it.”
“Andy’s her knight in shining armor.”
“He sure is. He’s on guard for all of us, when it comes to that.” He parked Thunder beside Nancy’s new yellow truck.Once she’d seen what the Armstrongs bought, she’d had to make a change.
Now three Wenches drove vehicles that matched their color. The purple custom paint job on his mom’s F-350 was on purpose, but Jess had a green SUV before she was invited to join the group.
Cindy was saving for a metallic blue one and Colleen was determined to find a good deal in red. Teresa said it’d be a cold day in hell when she bought an orange truck. Practical Annette had driven her beige pickup for years and wasn’t about to search out an indigo replacement.
He'd known all the Wenches except Jess since he was a baby. And now he was counting on them to save his butt.
Lani waited for him to help her out, which was nice. She kept hold of his hand once she had both feet on the ground. “Are you nervous?”
