HH02 - A Reclusive Heart (3 page)

think that he was upset on their behalf? That was just sad.

"That's fine. Meeting's adjourned," Rick said, grabbing his files and heading for the door. "Miss. Harris?" Rick said to the

nervous little recluse who looked like she was about to crawl beneath the table and hide.

"Yes?" she said nervously.

"Why don't you join us?"

If Rick thought bringing the woman into the meeting was going to keep him on his best behavior then he really didn't know

him at all.

**********

of the leather chairs.

"Would you like something to drink?" Rick asked pleasantly.

"No, no thank you."

No, she wanted to get this over with and retreat to her new office and get to work and forget those hostile looks for a

while. She knew from what Rick said that some people would be upset with this agreement, but she hadn't expected them to

become angry like Mr. Quinn obviously was as he paced the office.

"Nick, why don't you have a seat?" Rick suggested as he sat down across from Jamie.

With a tight nod, Nick took the chair facing both of them. Jamie kept her gaze averted from the man, but knew he was

looking, more like glaring at her.

"Look, Rick, this agreement isn't going to work out," he announced.

Rick leaned back in his chair, getting more comfortable. "Oh, why not?"

"Well, to be honest she doesn't have what it takes."

That surprised her. She'd been doing pretty darn well over the past five years. She started her company from scratch and

made a name for not only herself but for her clients as well.

"I would have to argue that," Rick said, earning her undying gratitude. "She took a bunch of unknown authors and signed

them. Under her guidance many of them have outsold printed authors in the same genre. I have no doubt that she'll be able to do

the same here."

"E-books, Rick. She managed these people by phone and e-mail. She's never had to deal with promotional issues, venders

or a thousand other issues a book in print brings up."

"She'll learn."

It was starting to disturb her that they were talking about her as if she wasn't in the room, but she kept her mouth shut. She

hated confrontation, which could explain the whole ex-almost boyfriend/new brother-in-law thing.

"So, she's supposed to learn on the job? How is that fair to her clients,
our clients
now? They've signed with us expecting

a certain level of professionalism and we're giving them a trainee? It's not going to fly. What about J.L. Lewis?" At the mention

of that name Jamie cringed. Rick sent her an amused look before giving Nick back his attention.

"J.L. could very well be the next Dana Pierce." That made her puff up a bit. She knew J.L. was decent, popular even, but

as good as Dana Pierce? That was unexpected.

"If we leave J.L. with a trainee she'll never go anywhere and we'll have missed a golden opportunity. Come on, Rick.

Don't do this. It's not fair to any of the authors or the company."

"What makes you think she can't do this?" Rick asked and she had to admit that she wondered the same thing.

"Besides a lack of experience in promoting and handling a book tour, not to mention conventions? Well, I would have to

say she's too shy, quiet, can't make eye contact, she dresses like a bag lady with jury duty. She needs a haircut and some make-

up wouldn't exactly hurt. Her glasses belong on Erkel. She doesn't have the killer instinct to get the job done. For Christ sakes',

Rick, she just sitting there meekly while I'm tearing her apart and you think she can handle someone like J.L. Lewis? She'll

wreck her career in record time."

Miss. Harris gave him a shocked and hurt look. Damn if he didn't feel like he just kicked a puppy, but she needed to hear

the truth.

"That was uncalled for, Nick," Rick said, trying to hand Miss. Harris a box of tissues. She shook her head, averting her

gaze.

"It was dead on and you know it, Rick. If you want to train her go for it, but don't leave J.L. in her incapable hands."

Rick sighed. "I wasn't going to, but you didn't exactly give me a chance to discuss it with you."

"You weren't?" he asked, sounding surprised.

"No. Some things are going to be changing around here. For you at least."

Jamie bit her lip to stop herself from protesting. This guy was a...he was....a jerk! Did she really trust him to handle J.L.'s

career? No, but she didn't have a choice anymore.

"What do you mean?" Mr. Quinn demanded.

"What I mean is you will be training Miss. Harris. You will help her get the look she needs as well as the skills."

"Rick, that's not-"

"In return you will also get to sign J.L. Lewis as your client. As well as oversee the rest of her clients."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"That's great! I already made some contacts. I think if we get her face out there and get her to do a few interviews before

we start the book tour for her new book that we'll be able to count on huge sales for the printed book as well as the e-book."

Jamie cringed further into herself. Interviews? Book sales? Could J.L. do this?

"Before you get too carried away, Nick, you should probably know something," Rick said.

Jamie couldn't help but glance at the man from the corner of her eye to see his reaction. She didn't want to, but she found

herself helpless to do anything else.

"If you have a problem with Miss. Harris then you're not going to be too happy with J.L.," Rick said carefully.

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm J.L. Lewis," Jamie answered softly.

Chapter 3

This was definitely one of those "oh, shit" moments. He just insulted the woman he was dying to sign. Granted he thought

he was insulting the hermit standing between him the author he wanted to sign.

Ah hell, there was nowhere to go but forward with this one.

"You're J.L. Lewis?" he asked in what he knew was his most charming tone. Apparently the little hermit didn't know that

because she only nodded.

A thought occurred to him. "Rick, how exactly is she supposed to represent other clients if she is busy writing and

promoting her own work?"

"She won't be. Her job here is strictly editing. She's easily one of the best editors I've ever come across. Her clients trust

her and we can work with that. They know their books will be handled by others and they're fine with that as long as Jamie

gives their books a final look over before it goes to print."

"So, her job here is just to give the final editorial approval before a book goes to print?" Nick asked.

Rick nodded. "That and to write and promote her books. You're right about her potential. I really think she'll reach Dana's

level with the right help."

He'd heard of pampering authors before, but this was ridiculous. They created a job for her to keep her happy? It was

ridiculous to pay her as an editor when what she really was a proof reader.

"These authors need someone to work with. A proofreader isn't what they need. Who's going to promote their work or

organize book signings?" he asked.

She frowned. "I'm not a proof reader."

"No, you're not," Rick agreed, to keep her happy? Nick wasn't sure.

Rick turned his attention on him. "I've decided to let you have first pick. The rest of the clients I want you to assign away.

What I suggest is that Miss. Harris get the manuscripts right before they're ready to go to print."

Nick frowned. "So, you're making us proofreaders?"

"Only on these clients. It's what they want. She's known for having a sharp eye and good taste. She never takes out too

much and she has a hell of a knack for detail. Other than that I want you to handle her. I need you to get her ready and start

promoting her books. I want her to go on tour with a few lectures, book signings and interviews. I want it at the same level we

give Dana, but unlike Dana we don't have to hold back because of the kids. I trust you know what to do."

He caught the panicked expression on Miss. Harris' face, but ignored it. He had more important things to focus on right

now like not doing a touchdown dance then and there. It would probably come off as unprofessional. He'd save it for his office.

Shit.

There was so much to do. He needed to call the printers, get a decent picture on her book, set up interviews, book

signings, book tours and a convention or two wouldn't hurt. His eyes drifted towards the little recluse. First they had to give her

a makeover, nothing major. Just her hair, her eyes, makeup and good god those clothes had to go. If they could make her look

more nerdish or even plainish that would be preferable over hermit.

He couldn't help his shit eating grin that seemed to make the little hermit more nervous. He knew just the women to handle

this little overhaul.

************

still the world's biggest pushover or doormat. Really, labels didn't matter at the moment because her life just plain sucked.

How pathetic does someone have to be to just sit there and take it politely while someone trashed everything about her?

Pretty darn pathetic. Instead of putting her foot down and demanding a different agent to handle her career she was in a car with

a big jerk who wouldn't stop smiling smugly even though he was having a conversation with someone on his cell phone. He'd

been on that thing since they left Rick's office, setting up this or that.

She really wished she knew where they were going. Call her crazy, but it would have been nice to have been told,

correction, asked to go wherever it was they were going. She was pretty sure he hadn't said one single word to her since they

left Rick's office. As soon as the door closed behind them he attached a hands free piece to his ear and began his marathon of

calls. It wasn't until she sat down at her new desk and logged onto her computer to start editing Margo O'Malley's latest book

that she realized he'd followed her. Without a word he picked up her bag and handed it to her, gesturing for her to follow him.

Well, it was just one more person to add to her list that knew she didn't have a backbone. This was just super, she thought

dryly as they pulled into a long driveway of a huge white one story house.

Finally Mr. Quinn ended his call and got out. Obviously he expected her to follow after him like a puppy. Deciding

against sitting in the car, mostly because it would look like she was pouting, she followed him to the front door.

"Um, where exactly are we?" she asked.

He looked over his shoulder at her and ran his gaze over her, making her feel like a bug under a microscope. Finally he

looked at her face and sighed as if it pained him to speak with her. "We're here because you need a complete overhaul and I

don't have the time to do it. So, I'm going to ask a friend of mine to do it for me."

Fire scorched her cheeks as embarrassment once again won over frustration. She knew she wasn't exactly a prize, but

would it kill the man to sugarcoat it for her? Perhaps a few white lies here and there?

"Oh," was her only response.

The front door opened to reveal a man with more muscles than any one human needed. He looked Nick over and nodded

his acknowledgement before turning his gaze to her and frowned.

A bodyguard? What kind of friend that would help with her appearance needed a bodyguard? Then it hit her. He was

bringing her to one of his many lady friends. A model perhaps? She'd heard about him. Heck, she saw the man operate a month

ago when she attended that meeting. He seemed to hit on every waitress at the restaurant. It was kind of insulting to say the

least.

"Who exactly are we meeting with?" she whispered, feeling suddenly nervous under the bodyguard's glare.

"Dana Pierce," Nick said casually as if he were ordering a burger.

Her brows shot up and her heart practically leapt out of her chest. He brought her to the home of Dana Pierce! Was he

insane? The woman was a world famous author and actress and did she mention the woman had been in Maxim magazine a

total of five times? Nope. She couldn't and wouldn't do this. Next to Dana Pierce she would look like dog food.

She turned to leave only to have the back of her coat grabbed. In seconds she was being dragged inside a house that had a

surprisingly down to earth feeling to it.

"Hey! Let me go!" she hissed.

"I don't have time for this, Miss. Harris," Nick said unapologetically.

"Uncle Nick!" several small boys yelled excitedly.

He released her, causing her to stumble. With the help of the bodyguard she avoided going head first into the front door.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

"You're welcome, ma'am."

Jamie brushed her coat down and turned around to see two little shirtless boys around four years old happily latch onto

Nick's legs. An older boy, also shirtless, who looked to be around eight or nine, hugged Nick, careful of his smaller brothers.

There was no doubt that they were brothers. She would have known that instantly even without knowing Edward and Dana

Pierce had three sons and one daughter. They looked exactly alike and exactly like Edward. That was kind of interesting