“Club soda with lime.” He didn’t think his stomach could handle much more than that. He’d barely been able to choke down a meal since he’d left Kincaid in that apartment. Everything he ate tasted like dust.

Alice smiled at the waiter. “Make that two.”

The waiter hurried off, and Alice folded her hands on the table, her short blond hair glinting in the bright light of the restaurant. “It’s great to see you, Ash. I didn’t realize you were back in New York already.”

“Just got back,” he said, trying to sound upbeat and failing miserably. “Thanks for being willing to meet with me on such short notice.”

“Not a problem. We’ve got lots to discuss.” She pulled out a Moleskine notebook from her bag. “Did you enjoy your visit back home?”

“It was fine.” If fine was getting your heart thoroughly broken and your guts dug out with a rusty spoon. “Visited family. Got some writing done.”

She nodded, warmth there, and he settled some. He could do this. He could pretend to act like a normal, functioning human for a little while. He and Alice had always had a great working relationship. Just because his last book hadn’t sold as well as they’d hoped didn’t mean she didn’t want to ever work with him again. Publishing was a business. They both had the same goal—sell a lot of great books. “So I hear. Your agent sent me your most recent pages. It’s quite a shift from your previous books.”

He sat up straighter in his chair, worried the hammer of a big, fat no was about to come down on him. “I know it’s pretty different from what I’ve written before, but—”

“I loved them,” she said, saving him from his rambling.

Ash let out a breath of relief. “Really?”

“Truly,” she said with a nod. “I’ve always been impressed with your fast-moving plots, and I never see your twists coming, which is why I bought your first series in the first place.” She accepted her drink from the waiter. “But these new pages… The characters really leap off the page, especially”—she checked her notes—“Katherine. She’s a really strong partner for Gideon, challenges him. I’m rooting for her. Readers will, too.”

His neck muscles seemed to be unlocking one by one, his shoulders sinking down from their tight position by his ears. He couldn’t get his life right, but at least he could still write a story. He’d try to ignore the fact that Katherine was one hundred percent inspired by Kincaid. “Thank you.”

“And I understand why you set it in a small town,” she went on. “I’m sure you picked up a lot of the local flavor back home, but…” She tipped her head slightly side to side as if weighing her thoughts. “I think that location may be too big of a jump from what your readers will be looking for. Your audience loves to travel with you, explore a setting they’re not familiar with. That’s what makes you stand out.”