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Chapters (61)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. EPILOGUE
  55. THANK YOU!
  56. MORE FROM VICTORIA WALTERS
  57. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  58. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  59. ALSO BY VICTORIA WALTERS
  60. Boldwood Ever After
  61. About Boldwood Books

‘But what you overheard might have ruined his career for good,’ Liv said, eyebrows raised. ‘What could have been that important to keep hidden?’

I was just as surprised as Liv sounded. It seemed like Jake had let Kelly publish that article because he was trying to hide something else. He had risked everything to protect something, or someone.

But what?

12

An hour passed but there was still no sign of Jake at the party. I was on my third glass of sparkling wine, and feeling slightly light-headed. I went for a bathroom break and when I returned, I couldn’t find Liv where I’d left her talking with Tessa.

As I searched the room for them, I was accosted by someone I really didn’t want to have to talk to.

Davis Mulberry blocked my path. He wore an expensive-looking suit and held a glass of sparkling wine too. ‘Looking for a new job after today, Freya?’ He chuckled at what I assumed he thought was a good joke.

My eyes narrowed. No wonder Jake was wound up by this guy. He just oozed arrogance. ‘Why are you so obsessed with Jake?’ I fired back, the wine having loosened my tongue much more than it normally would. I knew I should just walk away but it had been a very long day.

Davis scoffed. ‘I think it’s the other way round. He’s always felt embarrassed by the fact he writes romance books. As he should be. It’s not very manly, is it? I mean, would you be impressed if you were chatted up by a man who admitted he writes soppy crap like that?’

‘Soppy crap?’ I repeated, anger rising inside me at his attitude. Over his shoulder, I caught sight of Jake then, walking through the room. His eyes met mine, then he saw Davis and he stopped walking. It took me a second to look back at Davis, Jake’s gaze having the usual effect: like he was looking right into my soul or something. It almost made me forget what was happening for a moment. ‘Romance books are not soppy crap. Jake’s books are beautiful. I, however, have never read one of yours,’ I told him shortly.

Davis moved a bit closer to me and leaned down. ‘I can give you a signed copy of mine and convert you to the darker side of books and…’ his eyes dropped to the neckline of my dress. ‘The darker side of life,’ he added, his tone suddenly low so only I could hear. ‘I think you’d enjoy it. Don’t you?’

‘I don’t think Freya would enjoy anything you have to offer.’

Turning, I saw Jake suddenly appear beside me, his tone sharp, stepping so close that Davis took an instinctive step away from me.

‘Isn’t that up to Freya to decide?’ Davis pointed out, glaring at Jake.