Maverick shrugged. “Ms. Jeffries’ list of skills is amazing. Including her mathematic attributes. Let’s just say she showed me the light while counting numbers, something she can do in her sleep.” My goodness, the man could pass for an evangelist any day. A little scary if you asked me. Meanwhile, his gaze was completely electrified, but it was the tiny scar under his right eye that grabbed my full attention. The only imperfection on his otherwise flawless face. Every rugged story about him both intrigued and aroused me.
Carter’s combination of snorting and huffing was understandable. He offered a glare, which was met with a slick smile coming from my end.
“Okay. What terms are we talking about here?”
Wow. I hadn’t believed my little game would get this far. Why not take it out and see about snagging a homerun? “Two million per book as an advance with a twenty-one percent royalty share.” He immediately tried to jump in and I held up my index finger, shaking my head. “I’m not finished yet.”
Maverick could barely contain a laugh.
I merely lifted a single eyebrow indicating I’d not been flustered in any way.
“Plus, don’t forget about the audio rights. We need the audio books in production at the same time as the final edits for the new series. Speaking of which, we’ll need the artwork for teasers before the ink on the contact dries.”
“I can’t make all that happen,” Carter insisted.
“Then what are we paying you for?” I threw back. “You will or I guess I’ll enjoy spending the afternoon returning phone calls to the three literary agents begging to have Mr. Callahan as a client. I think there will be a bidding war. That’s entirely up to you how this goes. Unless you’re prepared to toss your career out the window. You might have your name on the main door, but you answer to your board of directors.”
Carter threw the most hateful glance toward Maverick I’d seen coming from a man. Meanwhile, the handsome former agent was eating up the attention.
“You knew about this?” Carter snapped.
“My attorney has a mind of her own and refuses to play by the rules. Something I’m working with her on doing. I can see additional punishment is needed.”
Our heated game continued.
Carter threw up his hands. “Fine. I’ll make it happen, but you better produce, Maverick. No more extensions. Do you hear me?”
“Loud and clear.” Maverick was thoroughly enjoying himself. I was glad I could elicit his amusement.
I stifled a playful yawn, prompting Carter’s eyes to bug out. “Now run along so I can have a nice chat with my client and I don’t want to be interrupted.” I moved closer to Maverick. “We need to have a long discussion,Mav.”
“I guess we do,” he offered, barely containing his amusement.
In acting as if I’d dismissed him, I didn’t need to see the irritation on his face. I could hear it clearly in his voice as he guffawed.
“This is my office.” The fact his tone had shifted, hesitation mixed with uncertainty was delicious. I was a very bad girl. Maverick brought it out in me.
“And your point?” If looks could kill.
Carter threw up his hands for a second time, exasperation written all over him. “Fine.” As he grumbled under his breath, he passed Maverick, stopping directly in front of him. “I don’t know why you needed to hire a ballbuster.”
“If you can’t figure that out then I hired the wrong man all those years ago.” Maverick’s tone was more gleeful than before.
Carter was beside himself, slamming the door behind him.
When the two of us were alone, I kept my place, lifting my head to ensure the two of us were on the same plane and indeed very much alone.
“You’re in the wrong business,” he told me. I did enjoy the level of appreciation in his tone.
“How so?”
“Are you kidding me? That is hands down the best contract that’s been negotiated for a single book since I obtained a publisher.”
“Then you’ve hired all the wrong people.”
I’d call the steps he took toward me more of a swagger. When he was only inches away, he shoved his hands into his jeans’ pockets. His eyes were twinkling more than the night before. He was enjoying the moment as much as I was, perhaps even more so. “Maybe so. Perhaps I’ll start calling you a shark from now on. That was… impressive as fuck.”
“Why, thank you. I’m glad I could help.”
