‘Exactly, and I have been writing something different and it’s fun and new and exciting but it’s not what I’m contracted for and not what my readers are used to.’
He felt a chill and looked around the room. ‘It’s cold in here. I have to see about that heater.’ He paused. ‘If you would stay.’
Eve said nothing.
‘Perhaps you can read what I have written so far in both books and tell me if either one is worth pursuing?’
Eve took off her hat, which he took as a good sign, and she smoothed down her hair.
‘Why haven’t you shown Serena these?’
He sighed and clasped his hands. ‘Serena is a good operator and does tremendous deals but I’m not sure her editing eye has been a focus for a few years now. She seems to be interested in the business side more than the words.’
He looked for Eve to give him a clue about her opinion, but she didn’t flicker an eyelid.
‘Serena has a big job,’ she countered, and he wasn’t sure what she meant by the comment.
‘Would you read them? Please, Eve Pilkins? And then tell me if the words are worth staying for?’
Eve stood up and smoothed down her jacket. ‘Okay, but if you ever speak to me like that again, I will go. Even if I have to sleep in the streets of Cranberry Cross till the next bus comes.’
Edward wasn’t sure what it was about her in that moment that intrigued him but he found himself wanting her approval. Was it her disdain for him? Her self-respect? Her careful response about Serena? The way her hair fell forward even after she had tucked it behind her ear?
Was she twenty-five? Twenty-six? He was nearly forty, far too old for her, he thought and then he corrected himself. Why was he thinking about her in that way? She was a member of his publishing company; it was unprofessional and unethical to even consider her as something other than a conduit to him writing a great book.
He made a mental note to remind himself of this fact whenever his mind wandered to Eve. Professional standards always.
‘Come downstairs and meet my friends properly. I promise I’m not awful all the time. And they’re angry with me so they’ll be super nice to you and tell you embarrassing stories about me. It could be fun for you and hell for me? Come and have dinner with me.’
She was silent for a moment and then she looked at him. He could hear her stomach rumbling and she had to eat, didn’t she?
‘Okay, that could be good. Let me freshen up,’ she said. ‘I’ll be down in a minute.’
8
Edward left her alone and she went to the bathroom. She reapplied her eye makeup and put a little highlighter on her cheeks and added a slick of pink lip gloss.
She took off her jumper and changed into a pretty black knitted top with a bow at the neck and a high collar. It was both chic and professional and she knew it showed off her skin and hair.
A quick spray of perfume and she headed downstairs and into the library.
‘Eve, please, come and sit with me,’ said a woman with long dark hair. ‘I’m Sasha and I think you’re fabulous.’
Eve walked into the room and went and sat next to Sasha on the sofa.
‘This is my husband Sanjeev. He’s a psychiatrist and if you’re lucky he will tell you all about your childhood wounds after dessert – it’s his party trick.’
Eve laughed. ‘I can’t wait. That’s like the modern equivalent of the parlour séance from Victorian times.’
‘I like her,’ said Sanjeev to Edward. ‘Still not a fan of you though.’
Edward rolled his eyes and handed Eve a glass of wine. ‘I would have suggested this is for courage but it seems you don’t need any.’
Eve took the wine and gave him a wry smile. ‘I just don’t have a lot of patience for self-indulgence.’
‘Ouch,’ said the other woman who was standing by the fire. ‘Nice shooting, Eve.’
‘So you’re here to sort out Edward and his writer’s block?’ asked another man.
