BECKY
　　She stretched her arms over her head when she woke, her body deliciously sore from the previous night.
　　Jack’s bedroom was dark, the only illumination coming from the blue light he’d installed over the window that peeked into the Hudson River.
　　She turned over and watched him sleeping.
　　He was a looker, all right.
　　Strands of dark hair fell over his face. His eyelashes were long and full, the kind that made women green with envy.
　　The small lines around his eyes and lips were relaxed. And if he were to smile now, she knew his dimples—the ones that made her weak at the knees—would appear just above his chiseled jaw.
　　She hadn’t had sex like that in a fucking long time. The way he’d handled her, like shewas a piece of meat he was tenderizing for one of his elite dishes, had blown her mind.
　　Remembering her own brazenness made her blush.
　　Unbidden, Barnes & Noble, flashed through her head.
　　“Shit!” she swore, scrambling out of bed.
　　Frantically, she searched for her clothes and dressed hastily.
　　Dead. That’s what she was. Mervyn and Steven were going to kill her.
　　“Shit, shit, fuck.”
　　Jack’s digital clock read eight-twenty. The signing was at nine.
　　“Please tell me you aren’t trying to sneak out.”
　　Pausing, she smiled. “I’m not, I promise. I have a signing at Barnes & Noble in half anhour.”
　　“A signing? Hmm.”
　　“I swear, I’m not making this up.” She jammed her feet into her Converse.
　　She headed to the bed and gave him a quick kiss. “I would do anything to stay right here and recover from whatever you did to me last night.”
　　He laughed. “We can always have an encore later.”
　　“My flight leaves at five.”
　　Jack grunted.
　　“I have to go.”
　　“I’ll pop around in a bit and say hello.”
　　“You better.” She grinned, then slipped out of the room and ran upstairs, at the same time Mervyn and Mona came barreling down them.
　　“Sorry,” both apologized at the same time.
　　“It’s like eight-fucking-thirty,” Mervyn yelled.
　　They stopped in their tracks, looking at her closer.
　　“What the hell, Becks?” Mervyn grazed his fingers over her face where the door had hither last night.
　　“Ow,” she hissed. “It was an accident.”
　　“The guy is going to fucking break you.”
　　Becky tittered.
　　Mona gave her a knowing smile.
　　“Don’t look at me like that. I’m a grown woman.”
　　“One who has to spill the beans.”
　　“We need to get out of here,” Mervyn barked.
　　Just then, Jack walked out of the kitchen in nothing but a pair of pajama bottoms slung low on his waist.
　　“Oh, fuck,” Mona and Mervyn said.
　　“Morning,” Jack greeted with a dashing smile.
　　“Can you please put your damn clothes on?” Becky teased.
　　“What? I love walking around like this. It’s freeing.” He opened the door.
　　“Thank you for last night, Jack,” Mervyn said.
　　“Oh, it’s my pleasure, Mervyn.”
　　“Yeah, I’m sure it was. Just a warning…” Mervyn’s voice became serious. “That is Rebecca Finlay. If you break her heart, the whole world will hate you.”
　　Smiling, Jack shook his head.
　　“Oh, shut up and go get the car,” Becky scolded.
　　Mervyn ran down the walkway that led to the Boathouse.
　　“See you later, I guess,” Mona said, running to catch up to Mervyn.
　　“Does it look bad?” Rebecca gestured to her face.
　　“No.” Jack wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. “I’m sure Mr. Fancy Pantscan fix it.”
　　“I’m late. I’ll see you soon.” She kissed him on the lips and pried herself out of his arms.
　　“Enjoy the signing.”
　　“Funny,” she called over her shoulder and ran to Mona’s car. She climbed into the backseat next to Mona, and Mervyn drove off. He hated having anyone else drive him, except for limos or Ubers, of course. He’d taken an Uber to the Boathouse yesterday.
　　“Momma scored last night,” Mona teased.
　　“I really don’t know who scored, to be honest. I’m seriously not fit for that man.”
　　Mona’s eyes grew wide.
　　“You have to tell,” Mervyn begged.
　　“No, I don’t.”
　　“Be like that.” Mona folded her arms. “I guess we’ll just have to read it in the bookshe’s going to write about him.”
　　Rebecca shook her head as her agent and assistant burst into a fit of giggles like two teenagers.
　　She hadn’t felt the way she was feeling right now in such a long time—stuck somewhere on cloud nine.
　　JACK
　　Jack’s phone rang as he sat down to breakfast. He sighed when he saw his mother’s number flash across the screen.
　　His watch said it was just after nine.
　　“Yes, Mother?”
　　“Don’t be rude, Jack. I raised you better than to answer the telephone like that. Thank heavens Lilly takes the bookings for the Boathouse.”
　　Despite himself, Jack smiled at his mother’s reprimand. “How can I help you, Mother?” he asked.
　　“Much better. I need a favor.”
　　“What is it?” he asked reluctantly. He’d hoped to see Becky before she took off tonight.
　　“I need you to come with me to Rebecca Finlay’s book signing. She’s back in town and Iknow she will remember you. You must introduce me.”
　　Jack laughed. His mother would die a thousand deaths if she knew Rebecca had been in his bed last night.
　　“Please, I’m begging you.”
　　“She’s just an author, Mom. Not Jesus.”
　　“Don’t invoke the Lord so lightly. I know she is, but I really want to meet her. You and April have. Please, Jack.”
　　“Why don’t you ask April? She’s great friends with her.”
　　“Don’t be smart with me, boy. The woman took a photo with you.”
　　And had me inside of her. He chuckled silently to himself.
　　“Fine, fine, I’ll go with you.”
　　His mother shrieked, and he could just envision her doing her happy dance.
　　“What time?”
　　“Half an hour?”
　　“Okay, I’ll meet you there.”
　　“Thank you. Love you.”
　　“Yeah, yeah.” He disconnected the call.
　　Shit, he’d have to find a way to warn Rebecca against telling his mother about whateverwas going on between them. His mother could not find out. Not while he was still trying to figure it out himself.
　　She wanted him there, that much he knew. She’d told him he’d better be there.
　　He called Mervyn—he still didn’t have Rebecca’s number.
　　After five rings, he answered. “No, no. You are not going to talk to her now. She’s busy.”
　　“I know. I need you to relay a message for me.”
　　“What message?” He sounded unsure, which brought another smile to Jack’s face.
　　“I know it’s going to sound crazy.”
　　“If you’re asking for money—”
　　“What? No. Jeez, do people do that?”
　　“Some, yes. Rebecca has had a few one-night stands who were fucking jerks, if you get my drift.”
　　The smile turned into a grimace. “Right. I don’t want to know.”
　　“She’s not like that, but she does have needs. Don’t crucify her over a couple of one-night stands.”
　　“Sure. I get it. And no, I’m not calling to ask for money. My mother wants me to introduce her to Rebecca. She’s sure Rebecca will remember me.”
　　Mervyn laughed. “Oh, I take it mommy dearest doesn’t know about last night?”
　　“Are you fucking insane? She would take over the book signing if she knew. Please, justtell Becky to pretend that she hasn’t seen me since the incident at the Boathouse. I’mdoing her a major favor by warning her, trust me.”
　　The smirk was audible in Mervyn’s voice. “I cannot wait to meet your mother.”
　　“Please, Mervyn.”
　　“Okay, Jack, I’ll tell her.”
　　“Thank you.” He blew out a breath. “And tell her that position she—”
　　“Shut up!”
　　Jack laughed. “Just kidding.”
　　“I will give her your number. She can decide what she wants to do with it. Give me your URL for your Facebook profile, so she can add you there too, if she wants.”
　　Jack hesitated. “I’m not on Facebook. Or, like, any social media sites.”
　　There was a weird little beat of silence. “You’re an odd bird, you know that? Well, she’ll have your number, anyhow. She’ll get back to you if she wishes.”
　　“Thanks, Mervyn.”
　　“I’m so accommodating.”
　　Chuckling, Jack cut the call.
　　He only had time for a quick shower before he was due to meet his mother at Barnes & Noble.
　　He couldn’t wait to see his barefoot angel again.
　　While showering, he made a mental note to pick up condoms. He refused to continue using the ones she carried.
　　Fuck, thinking back to what Mervyn told him worried him. Was her life really like that?
　　People could be such fucking jerks.
　　He shook his head, replacing that thought with other, sexier images.
　　Images from last night flashed through his mind as warm water rushed over his head and down his back.
　　The way she’d felt around him. The sounds she made. She’d been so loud, he’d worried her moans would drift up and wake Mervyn and Mona.
　　The way his skin felt when she kissed him, the way she felt in his arms.
　　And how much he wanted to repeat last night with her.
　　He was getting hard just thinking about her.
　　Damn.
　　He couldn’t walk around sporting an erection all day. Especially not with his mother around.
　　He shut off the hot water and stood under a spray of icy water to cool down.
　　His phone rang again. He quickly got out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and rushed out to his room, hoping it was Rebecca. No such luck. It was Adrian.
　　He couldn’t talk now.
　　“Later,” he answered, cutting the call before his brother had a chance to say anything.
　　He got dressed in a pair of shorts that reached below his knees and a Levi tee. It was, after all, only Barnes & Noble. He slipped on secret socks and his Nikes, then grabbed the keys to his SUV.
　　He hoped the signing didn’t last all day as he wanted to spend some private time with her before she returned home.
　　Music blared from his speakers as he drove, stopping at the corner bodega for condoms before heading to the bookstore.
　　His eyes widened; a line snaked from the front door all the way past the building next door.
　　What the fuck?He truly felt for her.
　　He found parking a block from the store and had to walk, and once he got there, he couldn’t even get in.
　　Irritated, he called his mother, who told him she was already inside, which further frustrated him.
　　“Mother, I can’t get in.”
　　“Of course not. It’s Rebecca Finlay, darling.”
　　“It’s insane. These fans are insane. You are all insane. If you knew I wouldn’t be able to get in, why did you ask me to come in the first place?”
　　“You’re crafty. Just push through. In about twenty minutes I’m going to reach her table, and if you are not at my side by then, so help me…”
　　He sighed. He wanted to tell his mother that Rebecca would probably have coffee with herif he asked, but he didn’t want to share that just yet.
　　“I’ll see what I can do.” He called Mervyn the second he got off the phone with his mother. “I’m outside. This is fucking nuts.”
　　“Go to the back entrance behind the store. Someone will open the door for you.”
　　“Thanks.”
　　He doubled back and rounded the corner, walking down an alley filled with high piles of boxes, and the faint but unmistakable odor of urine.
　　A door on the right was emblazoned with ‘EMPLOYEES ONLY’ in big white letters.
　　Within three minutes, a woman opened the door and told him to follow her.
　　Mervyn was waiting right around the corner.
　　“Did you relay the message?”
　　“Yes, I did. She thought it was funny.”
　　“Good.”
　　“Is your mother here yet?”
　　“Yeah. She said she’ll reach the front in about twenty minutes.”
　　“Such a shame you don’t know Rebecca Finlay that well,” he drawled.
　　“This isn’t a joke, Mervyn. My mother would turn this into a bigger mess.”
　　“Babe, this is no mess. It’s a typical Rebecca Finlay signing. She’s used to it by now.”
　　“Poor woman.”
　　“I’m sure you will rub her back afterward.”
　　“Not just her back,” Jack joked.
　　“Spare me the details, Jack.”
　　Jack roared with laughter and parted ways with Mervyn, so his mother wouldn’t see him being all friendly with her favorite author’s agent and start sniffing around.
　　He couldn’t even see Becky’s table.
　　His eyes scanned the crowd until he spotted his mother and headed over. He gave her an incredulous look when he saw his sister standing right beside her.
　　His mother beamed. “You made it.”
　　“April is here. Why do you need me?”
　　“Because you took a selfie with her and I didn’t,” April snapped.
　　“Hey, she shared secrets with you, didn’t she?”
　　“Ha-ha,” April said dryly.
　　“Mother, did you have to bring allyour books?” He pointed to the wheelie bag behind her.
　　“Yes,” she said.
　　“That poor woman. You do know she doesn’t use a stamp, but actually signs every book by hand. Can you imagine how painful it must be signing books for all these people? And here you are with a bag full.”
　　Two women ahead of them, and the older couple behind them, chuckled at their quarrel.
　　“Don’t make me feel bad, Jack. I’m her biggest fan.”
　　He shook with laugher. His mother would be wheeled out on a gurney if she knew the truth.
　　“It’s not funny. I’m serious.”
　　“No. What you are is crazy.”
　　She looked past him and tapped her foot impatiently. The line wasn’t moving at all.
　　“I guess you’re not the only one who brought bags full of books.”
　　“They’re idiots,” his mother said.
　　“And you’re a hypocrite, Mother.”
　　She pinched his arm. “Shut up.”
　　“You’re in an excellent mood, Jack,” April said suddenly. “Are you and MJ back together?”
　　It was a reasonable question. MJ had kind of been a fixture in the hazy months—no, years—since Kate. When had he and MJ made it official? Now that he stopped to think about it, he couldn’t call up a single clear memory of them deciding to be a couple.
　　He shook off the thought of Kate. “Hell, no. I actually broke up with her for good.”
　　“Finally saw the light!” She patted his face, as if he were the younger sibling.
　　Yes, the Rebecca Finlay light.He shook his head.
　　His phone vibrated in his pocket, and when he pulled it out and looked at the screen, there was a text from a number he didn’t know.
　　This is Mervyn, not Rebecca, but it’s her phone. She says hi.
　　He smiled. She wanted him to have her number. So much, she couldn’t even wait until her event ended.
　　You really want to play the middle man here?
　　Fuck, no. But it’s my job whenever she wants to talk to someone when she’s busy.
　　Oh, she wants to talk? I don’t.
　　Don’t be a jerk.
　　“I mean, I’m not in the mood for talking, Mervyn. I’m in the mood for another kind of connection.”
　　Please! Give me strength.
　　Just kidding. How’s her wrist?
　　At his chuckle, his mother demanded, “Who are you talking to?”
　　“None of your business, crazy woman.”
　　“I’m not crazy. I’m your mother. I have a right to know. Is she new?”
　　“I am an adult. Who I see is none of your business.”
　　His phone vibrated again.
　　Oh, the wrist is fit for this kind of job. She’s a machine. It’s someone else she has to get fit for. I can’t believe I just typed those words. I hate my job.
　　Jack roared with laughter.
　　“Who areyou talking to?” his mother insisted.
　　“Nobody.”
　　Mother is getting nosy. Tell Becky I’ll see her in fifteen.
　　Thank heavens for dear old mother.
　　He slid his phone back into his pocket. “You are so nosy.”
　　“I just want to know who’s responsible for my son’s great mood.” She smiled.
　　“Wait in line and leave me alone. Can I go to the coffee shop?”
　　“No. You stay right here.”
　　The people within earshot snickered.
　　Jack put two fingers to his neck, mimicking a gun, and pretended to pull the trigger.
　　“I think it’s sweet you’re here with your mom,” said the older man behind them.
　　“See?” his mother said. “He is my lifesaver,” she told the stranger, grabbing Jack’s chin. “Even though he has no idea how big this author is.”
　　“She’s not big,” Jack quipped. “She’s actually quite small, if you ask me.”
　　April laughed. “Big as in famous, Jack.”
　　His phone buzzed again.
　　Rebecca says she has a position for you on her staff.
　　As what, her friend with benefits?
　　Jack, you swine.
　　He smiled. They were close now; he could hear Rebecca’s laughter.
　　She says she’ll pay you if you continue to entertain her fans.
　　How does she know it’s me?
　　Your name came up.
　　In that case, I want a 401(k), health insurance, a dental plan, housing, and travel expenses.
　　“You are driving me batty with that texting.” His mother attempted to grab his phone, but he held it in the air out of her reach.
　　“Down, lassie,” he said.
　　A chorus of laughter rippled down the line.
　　Addressing them, he announced, “Please do not take this as an example on parenting. This woman is off her rocker.” To his mother, he said gravely, “Madam, I will alert the authorities that you kidnapped me thirty-two years ago. I swear.”
　　“Jack! Seriously. Stop embarrassing me.”
　　“Oh, I’m embarrassing you?”
　　They had almost reached the front. He could just make out Becky’s arm and hear her sweet voice.
　　His mother did her happy dance as they moved a couple steps forward.
　　“Don’t embarrass me, Mother,” Jack hissed.
　　She stopped her dance and stared at him with a peculiar expression.
　　“Hi,” Rebecca said brightly to the couple ahead of them. At some point, she’d changedinto a simple dress and someone had caked makeup over her bruised face.
　　Jack pretended to shoot himself again as the women heaped praise on Rebecca.
　　April suppressed laughter when his mother slapped him hard in the stomach.
　　“Is everything okay?” Becky asked.
　　“The guy behind us deserves a big kiss or something. He’s so entertaining. And he camehere with his mother.”
　　“No, please, no kissing. My mother will tell everyone she’s my girlfriend.”
　　Mervyn roared with laughter and everyone who could hear him sniggered.
　　“Something tells me that’s definitely not what he wants,” Rebecca said.
　　She looked at him and he winked at her.
　　“You’re embarrassing me,” his mother complained.
　　“Then let me leave.”
　　“No, you are staying right here.”
　　“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
　　At last, it was his mother’s turn.
　　“Deal,” Rebecca said softly.
　　Jack squinted. Then he remembered the last text he’d sent.
　　“What’s a deal?” his mother asked.
　　“Oh, for crying out loud. My business is not enough for you, now you need to know her business, too?”
　　“Jack,” his mother scolded.
　　“Sorry. Hi.” He leaned on the table and stared at her.
　　“Hi,” Rebecca replied with wide eyes.
　　“I don’t know if you remember me, but my mother thinks because we took a selfie together that you might, and now she’s dragged me here to introduce her to you.” She is crazy. He mouthed the last part.
　　“I saw that, Jack.”
　　“It’s the truth, though.”
　　Rebecca chuckled.
　　“Do you remember me?”
　　She swallowed her laughter and frowned. “Mervyn,” she called, not taking her eyes off Jack.
　　“See, she doesn’t even remember me, Mom.”
　　“The Boathouse. You tipped all his staff members a large sum of money,” his mother said for clarification.
　　“I do that a lot. Sorry.”
　　He couldn’t believe she was going along with his request in pretending she didn’t remember him.
　　He looked down at his mother. She seemed so hopeful. Sighing, he looked at Rebecca. “Paul, the jackass?”
　　“Oh, you’re Lilly’s boss. Now I remember you.”
　　“Thank heavens. Okay, this is Fiona, my mother,” he introduced. “And my sister, April.”
　　Rebecca looked at April. She smiled. “Oh, my secret keeper! How are you?”
　　“See, she remembers me better than Jack. I didn’t need a stupid selfie.”
　　“I’m out of here,” Jack stated. “Enjoy signing a bag full of books, Miss Finlay.” He raked his gaze over what he could see of her body, then pierced her with a stare, hoping it conveyed every ounce of desire he felt for her.
　　“Yes, go.” His mother shooed him away.
　　“I actually do remember him,” Rebecca murmured as Jack walked away. “I just pretended not to. Nice meeting you, Fiona.”
　　His mother was no doubt gloating over her hospitality.
　　He stood at the coffee counter and watched them from afar.
　　Becky took a photo with them, and when they were done, his mother and sister traipsed over to him, smug expressions adorning their faces.
　　“I’m sure she needs a break after that.”
　　“She’s used to all these book signings.”
　　“So, what did you talk about?” He was afraid she might have let something slip.
　　“Not about you, that’s for sure,” April said.
　　He sighed in relief. “Thank heavens. Just imagine if she were my girlfriend. Poor woman.”
　　His mother finally laughed. “But you love me so much. Thank you for the entertainment, darling.”
　　“I had to do something. Do you guys want anything to drink? I’m starving, actually.”
　　His mother turned brisk. “Just coffee. We need to get going.”
　　“Let’s get a table.”
　　April whined, “Do we have to?”
　　“She is not going to finish her book signing and stick around to talk to you, April.”
　　“One can hope, asshole.”
　　He smiled at his sister as she gazed longingly at Rebecca’s table.
　　Oh, man, Rebecca will probably run as far she can now that she’s met these two.
　　“Thank you, darling,” his mother said, as the waiter took their order.
　　His phone buzzed.
　　Don’t order food.
　　Jack frowned and glanced over at Mervyn.
　　Why?
　　Rebecca’s taking a break in five minutes. Just pretend you’re going to the bathroom. This is mortifying.A skull-and-crossbones emoji accompanied this.
　　Jack smiled at the message, a sense of giddiness spreading over him.
　　“You ready to order breakfast?”
　　“No, thanks.” He closed the menu.
　　“Darling, you just said you were hungry.”
　　“I did, but I’m no longer hungry. What can I say?”
　　“All right. You are so weird at times. Adrian is so easy to figure out. But you’re the complete opposite.”
　　“Is that how you tell us apart?”
　　“One of the ways.”
　　His phone rang. Adrian. For the second time that day, he ignored the call.
　　“Are you two fighting?” his mother asked worriedly.
　　“No, but I don’t want to talk to him right now.”
　　Three minutes.
　　“I’m going to the bathroom. If I’m not back when you want to leave, here’s some cash for the bill.” He dropped a few notes on the table as he got up, then leaned down to kisshis mother’s forehead.
　　“What, are you going to take a dump?” April asked.
　　“Yep,” he said casually. “I got diarrhea standing in that line.”
　　“Mom’s right. We have to meet whoever put you in this good of a mood.”
　　He flipped her off as he walked away.