“I want to see if it will garner enough attention to flip from bashing Kat to Sloane. So far there hasn’t been much overlap, and I want to push the envelope. The award announcement gives us the first piece, then this will be the second.”
“I’ll work on it.”
“You want to announce the final book tonight?” Kat’s lips are pulled into a frown. She’s changed from her dress into leggings and one of those oversized sweatshirts that seem to be back in style.For the briefest of seconds I want to know how she’d look in my shirt. The damn thing would probably be a dress, but the caveman in me likes that idea.
But there’s no time for that.
“I thought you were going to rest.”
She yawns but shakes her head. “I’m too keyed up from this afternoon. Is that Royce?” she asks, pointing to my phone, and I nod as I put it on speaker and hold it out to her.
“Hey, Kat. Congratulations on your award today.”
“Thanks. It was an incredible surprise. But listen,”—she bobs her head back and forth—“are you prepared for the shitstorm that will happen if I make the book announcement tonight?”
“I can handle it on my end, but doyouhave enough time?” he asks and I’m thankful he’s here to rein me in.
“I’ll have to email the girl who does my social media now and tell her we’re teasing it. We had everything ready to go; all the promotional materials are ready. I just spiraled under the pressure and pushed off the release.”
“Is this going to screw with how you wanted to launch this book?” I ask, ignoring her bare feet and pink toes and focusing on the businesswoman before me.
Lifting one delicate shoulder, she lets it drop. “I had a plan originally but that went out the window when everything happened. I think as long as we keep it vague and push the date out enough, I can make it work.”
“All right,” Royce confirms. “Kat, go take care of the social media piece. Schedule it for later tonight and I’ll handle the rest.”
“What does that mean?” she asks, and I smirk knowing this is one of Royce’s favorite parts of any job.
“It means he gets to be obnoxious,” I offer and Royce scoffs.
“You mean brilliant.”
“I said what I said,” I mouth to Kat, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
“Royce!” she whines and it’s his turn to laugh.
“When your post goes live, I’m going to launch it into the stratosphere. I’ll forward, email, and blast it anywhere and everywhere. Kind of like one of those confetti bombs— seemingly harmless until you open it and then you’re finding little sparkly flecks for the rest of your life.”
“Personal experience?” she asks wryly.
“No, but I’ve heard about it happening to other people.”
“Let’s keep it that way,” I tell him. “Especially while you’re in my house.”
“Come on, Uncle Tommy, where’s the fun in that?”
Kat’s eyes are wide with interest when they turn on me.
“Uncle Tommy?”she mouths.
I shake my head and she grins wider, that sassy little mouth so damn tempting.
“No,”I whisper.
“But maybe,” she whispers back.
“No.”
“I think I like Thomas better anyway.”
