I earn a low chuckle and I really do love that sound. It’s representative of the easygoing nature that makes him so appealing.
Sam digs in, making a sound of pure pleasure.
“Did Derek get in okay?” I ask, grabbing a cup and pouring him some coffee.
He nods. “He did and he’s raring to go. We’re going to work at my house until I can get him checked in at Millie’s.”
Sam had told me a little bit about his agent, including a teasing description of a city boy who will most likely scream if a bug lands on him.
“And what was his first impression of Whynot?”
Sam snickers. “He’s blaming the humidity for killing his will to live and he’s offended I didn’t have bottled water in my truck for him.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Poor man. You better get him a fan and a large glass of sweet tea before he withers away.”
“I’ll put it on my list.” He hesitates, fork tapping against the plate. “So, uh… big news. That’s really why I’m here. That Raleigh signing I told you about?”
“Yeah,” I drawl.
“Sold out,” he says, and I can’t tell if he’s excited or terrified. “Three hundred people.”
I gasp so loudly, Ruby’s head snaps my way from clear across the room. I lower my voice and lean closer toward Sam. “That’s incredible! Give your agent a raise.”
He shrugs, but a slow, bashful smile spreads across his face. “Yeah. Derek says it’s the beginning of everything. I think it’s the beginning of a panic attack.”
“Hey.” I lean further across the counter, my elbows resting near his plate. “You’ve got this. You deserve this.”
He finally looks up at me, and for a heartbeat, the world feels small and very still. “You really believe that?”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t. You’ve worked hard for this. You’re stepping into who you’re meant to be. And if anyone can charm a crowd, it’s you.”
He smirks faintly. “You haven’t seen me try to small talk.”
“I’ve seen you try to flirt,” I tease. “You’ll be fine.”
That gets a real laugh, and it hits me low in my belly.
“So, what’s next after the signing?” I ask, still smiling.
“Eventually, a press tour after my next book comes out at the beginning of July,” he says.
I consider these changes to his life and I’m hit with a swell of sympathy. “Life as you know it will never be the same.”
Sam puts his fork down. “It would be different if I lived somewhere else.”
“How do you mean?”
“Like, from a more metropolitan or progressive area. Like Chapel Hill. I wouldn’t think twice about being a public romance author if I lived there. It’s all so…”
“Liberal minded?” I guess.
He nods with a grim smile. “I went by my parents’ place a bit ago to try to tell them.”
“Try?”
He sighs. “Yeah. I chickened out. Walked in ready to tell them and found my mom baking cookies for her church group. When I asked her the occasion, she said they were getting together to organize a petition to ban a list of books at the library.”
“You’re kidding,” I exclaim.
