Page 2 of Promise Me Never

“I read it. Ten rules to attract and keep your man. I already have someone in mind.”

Jessica smiled. “Atta girl.” She raised her glass to Savannah’s and they both drank.

| Three |

Bennett

Bennett Bryson hurried to the elevator, doing his best to avoid making eye contact with anyone. The last thing he wanted was to make small talk with some aspiring author who’d later try to hit him up for a blurb. That was one of the reasons he never came to these things. That and the fact that these conferences tended to be nothing more than a boozefest with everyone clamoring to increase their social status by befriending an author more successful than themselves. But this book had to kill it. Marion had twisted his arm, virtually forcing him to come. He recalled their conversation right after she’d finished reading the manuscript.

“It’s great! Even better than Promise.”

He’d heaved a sigh of relief until he heard what she had to say next.

“But it’s time to get out there again. After the last few books, the quality of this book won’t be enough. Not at first. The publisher wants to send you on an aggressive tour.”

“No.”

“Bennett. Seriously!”

“I have to get down to work on the next book. Are you forgetting you talked me into signing a two-book deal with a deadline coming up in six months?”

“No, but—”

“I’ll do appearances the first week. But after that, sorry, back to work.”

She sighed. “There is a way we can drum up a ton of sales with just one stop.”

That was when she’d pitched the conference. So here he was. The things he did for his career! Marion had also set up an offsite appearance where five hundred people had bought tickets. That was this afternoon and he was dreading it.

He escaped to his suite, thankfully avoiding any conference attendees. Walking to the windows, he opened the curtains and looked out at the city before him, thinking how he already missed his nearly fourteen acres in Bedford, New York, where the air was clean and he could go days without seeing another soul. He hadn’t always been a loner. He’d been a husband, but that had ended tragically with nothing more to show for it than a gold band. Poppy had captivated him from the moment he’d met her, and the spell had never been broken. She’d been so different from the others. Eleven months of marital bliss, and then she was gone.

He glanced at the Cartier watch on his wrist. His afternoon talk began soon. They wanted him there half an hour ahead of time, but that was absurd. He’d get there five minutes before. Marion would already be there, making sure everything was set up. He sat down and scrolled through emails on his phone before finally changing into a fresh shirt and pants. He assessed his image in the mirror. He looked damn good. Time to get his head in the game. He couldn’t let his fans see that this was the last place he wanted to be. He practiced his smile. The one that made him look grateful, amiable, then rolled his eyes. You can do this, he thought. Turning from the mirror he sighed and left the suite. It was a short walk to the venue, and he silently rehearsed his opening remarks.

Before he even got off the escalator, he saw Marion, standing, waiting for his arrival.

“Cutting it a little close, aren’t you?” she said. After ten years working together, they had an easy rapport.

He arched an eyebrow. “You’re lucky I’m here at all. I should be home writing.”

She looped an arm through his, steering him toward the makeshift stage, where two chairs were set up. A young woman sat in one of them. Bennett didn’t recognize her. She was clad in a bright red leather miniskirt, black boots up to her thighs, and a black Aerosmith T-shirt. The auditorium was full, and there were even people standing in the back.

“Who’s that?” he asked.

Marion’s eyes widened. “You’re joking, right? Lucy Love. She’s only been on the list for the past twenty weeks. Her debut is killing it. I thought it would be great to have you in conversation with her.”

“You know I don’t look at the lists. And she looks about twelve.” This was even worse than he’d imagined. He wasn’t completely honest. Of course he checked his own rankings. But he didn’t bother looking at who else was on the list. He competed against only himself.

“She’s young, but the hottest new name in horror. It wouldn’t hurt you to mix it up with some new blood.”

He groaned. Was forty now considered old? What was happening in the publishing world? “Okay, let’s get this over with.”

Marion nodded in the direction of the store manager, who picked up the microphone and began to read Bennett’s impressive biography. When she was finished, he made his way through the crowd, thunderous applause filling the room. He smiled as he took his seat, gave a brief nod to Lucy, and grabbed the mic from its stand.

“Thank you, thank you. I’m thrilled to be here.”

The manager returned his smile and began to speak again. “It’s such an honor to have Bennett here for his first appearance in several years! And we’re doubly honored to have Lucy Love, author of the bestselling novel The Echo Is Not Ours, in conversation with him.”

Lucy stood and took a little bow. Kill me now, he thought.