“Dear Lord, someone who rejected youandleft you unsatisfied?” Emilytsked. “No wonder you obsess over her. You have a case of UST.”
“UST? No one says that, Em.” Toni rolled her eyes.
“Unresolved sexual tension,” Emily singsonged. “Better?”
“Not really.” Toni grinned, though. “Still rather unresolved a year later.”
“And yet you were chatting with her weekly.…”
Toni sighed. “I almost offered her a ticket to fly to LA or meet me on tour.… I mean, I had no idea she lived in the States now.”
Curiously, Emily asked, “Why didn’t you?”
“I was afraid of putting it in writing,” Toni confessed. “And I like her. What if she stopped talking to me once she found out about…” Toni gestured at the room and Emily. “The job.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “You’re a writer, not a contract killer.”
“I think you underestimate how vulnerable writing makes me feel,” Toni said levelly. This was the part she thoroughly failed at. Yes, writing was a dream. It also meant putting your raw heart on the pages and inviting the world to judge you. What if she wrote something that was accidentally revealing? She had one interviewer actually ask if there were “spicy” sex scenes ahead. Not that the Victorians were prudes, despite what the media often portrayed, but her character was single in the book.
“I didn’t want to tell her I was a writer and have her readThe Whitechapel Widow,” Toni finally said.
“Well, that ship has sailed.”
“No shit. She’s going to be the character in front of cameras, Em.” Toni stared at her best friend. “We’ll end up doing events together.”
“Odds are she’ll be at the Dove Manor show launch,” Emily slipped in casually. “They are looking forward to hosting after you couldn’t do a book launch event there.”
“There was a conflict—”
“Which you created,” Emily countered. “I’ve known you most of our lives, sweetie, so I can tell when you’re trying to con me.”
“Em…”
“You cashed the checks, and they were for the bookand promotion of it.So you will put on your big-girl drawers and be charming.” Emily’s tone was firm.
“I’m not charming,” Toni tried.
“Bullshit. Case in point, Adelaine, who has longed for you for a year over email.” Emily shook her finger at Toni. “You charmed her.”
“But… she heard me talk, and maybe she wanted sex or Victorian era consultation and—”
Emily laughed. “Toni, I met her. Trust me, she likesyou.Real you. If it was just sex, she wouldn’t have emailed for a year.” She paused and caught Toni’s eye. “Did you talk a lot about the Victorians?”
“No. Maybe the occasional question, but… no. That wasn’t it.” Toni couldn’t pretend that Addie was interested in that, and they’dnever even had phone or video sex—although Toni would’ve been more than willing—so it wasn’t just sex. “She knew about the book, though. Shereadthe book. I don’t sleep with fans.”
“Jesus, Toni. You hadn’t even sold it when you were with her.” Emily threw up a hand in exasperation. “I swear, it’s like you’re trying to talk yourself out of sex.”
“I’m really not. I just don’t want… drama,” Toni finished weakly.
“Go handle your hibernation issues with your friend who obviouslylikes youenough to stay in touch for an entireyear.” Emily stood and walked toward the door. “Seriously. You’re not hard to look at, and she’s into you. And you’ll be at events here and there, not just Cape Dove. Two problems, one subtle solution.”
“Subtle?”
“Friend with benefits,” Emily said casually. “It’s an easy solution. You aren’t her boss. You aren’t the one who gave her the role. She likes your book, but she obviously likedyoufirst since the books hadn’t sold yet. Easy friends with benefits setup.”
“You’rerecommending friends with benefits?” Toni echoed. “Is there something you want to confess about your life? That’s not a very looking-for-my-one-true-love comment, and you are—”
“Stop.” Emily’s features were pinched as she looked back. “Sometimes it’s about getting what you need right now. Less complicated.”
