“In town on business.”
Then it hits me.
Milo.
Milo Brooks.
From Stratton Publishing.
Oh my…Seriously?
Milo notices me. His eyes widen. “And you must be Chloe.”
My face is on fire. “That’s me. Chloe Dawson.”
He extends a hand. “Nice to put a face to the name.”
I shake his hand, still processing that Brody apparently knows my publisher.
He glances at his watch. “I’d love to stay and talk. But I’m meeting someone here—one of our authors. She should be here any minute. You probably know her, Brody—Everly Hart.”
What? I love Everly Hart. I have a shelf of her books.
Stay calm. Do not be awkward!
Brody nods. “Yeah, I know Everly. Assistant Coach Hart’s daughter. We met once at a Blue Ox event.”
The door opens again, and I practically leap from my chair to get a look. A woman walks in—late twenties, dark-auburn hair, confident stride, carrying a laptop bag. She’s pretty in an understated way, like she doesn’t try too hard because she doesn’t need to.
“Everly!” Milo says.
She sees him and then beyond him to Brody. “Brody Kane. I should’ve known you’d be here. Saw that Jumbotron kiss—very smooth.”
“Thanks.” Brody gestures to me. “Everly, this is Chloe. Chloe, Everly Hart.”
Standing to shake her hand, I say, “I love your books. The one about the cold-case detective—I stayed up all night reading it.”
“Thank you.” She seems genuinely pleased. “That’s always nice to hear.”
Milo gestures toward a table in the corner. “We should let you two finish your date. Everly and I have a series to discuss.”
I sink back into my seat, staring at Brody as they walk away.
“You know Milo Brooks,” I say slowly.
“I know Milo Brooks.” He’s suddenly very interested in his cookie.
“My publisher.”
“So it would seem.”
I blink at him, still reeling from the shock. “How? How on earth do you know Milo Brooks?”
Brody smirks, shrugs a little. “He’s my cousin.”
“Brody.”
He looks up. “If you must know, I called him. A few weeks ago.”
