“Well, I should probably get some sleep,” she finally said, noticing the time. “We’ve got a big day at the café tomorrow. Don’t forget about coming to dinner tomorrow night.”
“I won’t. Is there anything you’d like me to bring?”
“Just yourself and Trixie. Oscar wants to show her the picture he drew of her at school.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing it, too. Goodnight, Chloe.”
“Goodnight.” With a contented sigh, she ended the call. As she pulled Liam’s manuscript closer, she settled into the sofa, eager to re-read the chapter about Eleanor. Hopefully, over the next few weeks, they’d discover what had happened to the talented artist in the small Montana town.
The next day,Liam leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms overhead until he felt a satisfying pull in his shoulders. He’d just finished revising another chapter of his book. If he didn’t take Trixie for a walk now, they wouldn’t have time before they met Chloe and Oscar for dinner.
Thinking about them made him smile. Over the past few weeks, they’d grown closer, sharing meals, laughter, and stories. Having Chloe edit his manuscript had been amazing; she offered fresh insights and wasn’t afraid to suggest ideas to make the book better.
Just as he was about to shut his laptop, his phone rang. He picked it up to see his agent Mark’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hey, Mark! It’s been a while since we talked,” Liam said, tucking the phone between his ear and shoulder as he organized his scattered papers.
“How’s life in Sapphire Bay?” Mark’s enthusiastic voice boomed through the speaker.
Liam smiled. He’d known Mark for five years, and no matter how his agent was feeling, his extroverted personality always made Liam feel better. “It’s great. Staying here to finish my book is the best thing I could have done.”
“Glad to hear it,” Mark replied. “I’ve been reading the chapters you sent over, and they’re fantastic.”
Liam breathed a sigh of relief. He’d emailed Mark the first few chapters of his book yesterday. Regardless of how good he thought it was, Mark needed to be fully committed to it as well.
“Listen, I won’t take up too much of your time,” Mark continued, a note of excitement creeping into his voice. “I have an opportunity that could be a real game-changer for you.”
“Oh? What’s up?”
“You remember Jaxon Miller over at Wanderlust Publishing?”
Liam frowned. They were one of the publishing houses he’d contacted when he wanted to write a travel book. “I haven’t met Jaxon, but I talked to one of their acquisition editors.”
“Jaxon’s the editorial director. We had lunch last week, and he mentioned they’re launching a new global travel series called ‘Journeys Through Asia.’ They’re looking for talented writers to be the faces of this project, and your name came up.”
Liam sat up straighter. “Seriously? That’s huge.”
“It is,” Mark agreed. “This could be the beginning of your dream job—traveling to different countries, discovering diverse cultures, and sharing those experiences with the world.”
Liam knew that opportunities like this didn’t come along very often. “That’s... incredible,” he said, trying to process the news. “How does he know I’d be a good fit for their company?”
“I gave Jaxon some of the newspaper articles you sent me and a chapter of the book you’re currently writing. He was impressed.”
Liam’s mind raced with possibilities. “What’s involved in the contract?”
“It’s a comprehensive deal,” Mark explained. “They want you to travel to various countries across Asia, immerse yourself in the local culture, history, and hidden gems—then write about your experiences. It’s a blend of travel journalism and personal narrative.”
“It sounds like a dream come true,” Liam admitted, his heart pounding with excitement.
“I thought you’d say that. Plus, it’s a lucrative deal—they’re offering a generous advance, full travel accommodations, and creative freedom over your work.”
Liam looked down at Trixie as he thought about everything the job would mean. Without a doubt, this could be the big break he was looking for. “How soon would they need the manuscript?”
“They’re aiming to roll out the first batch of books by the end of next year,” Mark said. “They’ve already signed another writer, so they’d like to finalize things quickly. But they’re willing to work with your schedule, especially since you’re finishing up your current project.”
Liam nodded. “Can you send me the details? I’d like to look over the contract before making any decisions.”
“Absolutely,” Mark agreed. “But between you and me, I think this is the perfect fit for you. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.”
