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368 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2017
"Simply put, Evelyn Abbey is my former almost-girlfriend-turned-archnemesis-turned-tentative-ally whom I would now very much like to permanently seduce.”I loved both Evie and Carter so much. I think it was great to see this side of the corporate world. I loved how Carter saw some of the injustices and didn’t just roll with them, even though it could further him along with his job. I thought the plot was very well done. Evie and Carter had so much chemistry and the story had just enough steam.
“Evie’s in denial, trying to convince herself that she hates Carter.”
“Ohhhh. I like Carter…”
“You realize he’s my nemesis, right?”
“Hey, Evil,” he says, walking toward me.
It doesn’t feel weird to reach up and hug him.
He wraps his arms all the way around me, and I shiver a little when I feel the solidness of his body against mine.
“It’s so good to see you.”
“You too,” I say.
… I know how relationships work. My mom reminds me of this all the time, and of the balance it takes for two people to combine their lives into one. But I’ve always felt like it shouldn’t be work right away. Over time, yeah, I can see some effort needing to come into play when the honeymoon phase wears off… But initially, being with someone should feel like the best and most natural thing in the world.
I’ve never felt that chemistry before, but I definitely feel it with Carter. My blood hums just being near him, and I can’t stop grinning. He smells amazing and holds me so tight, squeezing a little more just before letting go.
Straightening, he gazes down at my face. “I think I forgot how pretty you are.”
“You know I’m hoping to kiss you later, no matter how many dorky pictures you show me.”
My heart takes off, a beating drum in the wild jungle beneath my ribs. “I’m older than you,” I blurt.
He just shrugs, like this was a completely normal thing to say. “So?”
“We’re in the same business.”
I watch him process this for a breath, and he chews on his lip before saying, “Maybe it’s not ideal, but it’s not worth staying away from you because of it.”
… “I’m notoriously married to my job.”
“That’s super convenient because so am I. It’ll be like we’re cheating on our jobs with each other.” He says this as if he’s just discovered some brilliant loophole.
“Simply put, Evelyn Abbey is my former almost-girlfriend-turned-archnemesis-turned-tentative-ally whom I would now very much like to permanently seduce...”
There is an unspoken pecking order in agenting, defined primarily by who brings in the most publicity and money — and this year, that is likely to be me.
But there are other factors, too. Such as: having a penis. Apparently that’s a big one.
“Carter, look at this from my side. No one ever told a guy he needs to be nicer at work to get ahead… I tried nice, Carter,” she says, “and here I am, fighting to keep my job — a job I’m more qualified for, if we’re being honest.”
"Simply put, Evelyn Abbey is my former almost-girlfriend-turned-archnemesis-turned-tentative-ally whom I would now very much like to permanently seduce."
I can't stifle the laugh this time, and it tears from me, surprising him as it does everyone who has ever heard it. I am small but my laugh is mighty.
He stares at me with a slow-growing amused grin. "Wow."
"Hi." I hold out my hand. "I'm Evie."
"Is that short for Evil?"
"It's short for Evelyn. The cackle is my gift. It keeps the delicate ones away."
"I'm Carter." He points two thumbs at his chest. "Not delicate. I promise."
"You give good shoulder."
"I...what?"
He nods to my dress. "Your dress. Your shoulders." Clearing his throat, he adds quietly, "You just...look amazing."
I whisper, "Thanks," and take a long drink of ice water to cool down the boiling just beneath the surface of my skin."So what's the latest in Caterland?"
He grins at my subject change. "Work. Dodging calls from my parents. Texting a cute agent down the road. You know."
"...but screw him and his perfect forearms and cute crooked smile and diva brother.
I'm so tired of wanting to shove him into the wall and then shove my hand down his pants."
"I might want to watch him suffer, but I don't want him to be miserable.
Because you like him, my brain teases in a sneering whisper. Really, really like him.
My brain is such an asshole."
"You're wound so tight," he whispers before bending to kiss my neck. "How do I make you unravel?"
"Evie has that way about her, as if she's not often noticed in a crowd - maybe intentionally - but to me, she's like a beacon. Small but mighty. Unassuming but poised. I really wish I could fucking see her without it feeling like I've had the wind knocked out of me. It would make feigning indifference so much easier."