Harlequin Desire January 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 by Maisey Yates (inspirational books .TXT) 📗

curious as to what she had in mind. “What are your thoughts?”

“The Amanda story arc needs an overhaul.”

“Overhaul?” He’d expected a tweak here and there, not an overhaul. “Are you sure?”

“She’s either rebelling against her father, competing with her brother or reacting to Luke. She needs an arc independent of the men in her life.”

“How about you write a monologue to address this?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “You’d have her stand on a mountain and preach the gospel of feminism?”

“I see your point.” Amanda was the lead, and he wanted her role to be as strong as possible. He wouldn’t want to be accused of failing another female character. On the other hand, there was a risk that pulling on one thread could unravel the whole story. “You think it’s possible to undertake a massive overhaul with our time constraints?”

“I’ll work within the frame of the story,” she said. “Nothing else has to change. I know your vision, and I respect it.”

“It’s still a lot of work. I’d have to bring you on as a partner and give you on-screen credit. That’s how it works with original screenplays.”

She fidgeted with a matching salt and pepper shaker set. Julian wished she didn’t look so nervous. He’d agree to anything if it meant they could work together. Their long discussions into the night, debating ideas, meant something to him. That was a revelation to him. He’d been so protective of this project in the past.

“Screenplay by Julian L. Knight and Nina Taylor,” he said. “Don’t you like the sound of that?”

“Please don’t think I’m trying to hijack your project.”

“I don’t,” he said. “You, on the other hand, may want to overthink this. Do you really want your name linked to mine?”

A crease forged between her brows. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Julian’s gaze fell to the counter, catching the flecks of gold in the earth-toned granite. “I don’t expect the critics will be lining up to applaud my efforts. They’re going to trash it.”

She inched closer to him. Their heads were nearly touching. “Not if it’s good. They may never gush over it, but they can’t trash it if it’s good.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Is it…good?”

She twisted her lips to one side. “As it is? Pretty good.”

That wasn’t good enough. “If we partner up, I’d have to pay you more.”

“I’m not in it for money.”

Julian sipped his vodka. “You’re more principled than I am.”

He wasn’t expecting to make any money from his first film. Breaking even and a few positive reviews were the best he could hope for. He considered it an investment, a way to reset his image and establish himself as a serious filmmaker.

She took his glass from him, raised it to her lips and sipped, her expression vacant. “I went to Miami to fulfill one of my mother’s dreams. Doing this sort of work fulfills one of my own.”

It made sense. She loved cinema. She loved writing. Here was a chance to combine those two loves.

She took another sip and set the glass down. “You know what?”

“What?”

“I’m in it for money, too. I want to partner with you, and I want to get paid. This is a business.”

Now they were on the same page. “I think we’re going to work well together.”

Her lips curled in the sort of smile she saved just for him. “How would you feel if I stuck around during production? I’d love to see the director at work.”

“Is it okay if the director rests his head on your lap when he’s losing his grip?”

She circled the breakfast bar and hugged him from behind, resting her cheek on the space between his shoulder blades. “Don’t worry. You can do this.”

“We can do this.” Did he have to remind her that she was in this up to her teeth?

“Yeah, yeah,” she said, and returned to her packing.

Julian followed her into the bathroom. It was a decent size by New York standards. It did not compare to the marble and brass sanctuary they’d left behind. There was only one sink, and the walk-in shower wouldn’t fit two. It had rained earlier, and the streetlights bled into the small water-stained window.

“Are you almost done packing?” he asked.

“Nowhere close.” She opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out an assortment of vials and jars. “You keep me busy, Mr. Knight.”

“Would you like to stay one more night? There’s no rush.”

“You…wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all.” Spending time away from the hotel was good for them. It took them out of the fantasy and put them squarely in real life. “Plus, I should keep an eye on Ted.”

“Someone has to,” she said. Earlier, she’d showed him a social media post that had them both in stitches. Is that #JLK hauling a pink couch into my BFF’s building…or am I still drunk?

“So, it’s settled.”

She opened a drawer and pulled out a strip of Trojans. “Should I pack these, too?”

“Sure.” Julian reached out and tugged at her T-shirt. “Consider leaving this behind, and any other of your former lovers’ clothing.”

“But the cotton is so soft!” she protested.

He gathered the hem of the tee and gently tugged it over her head. Her past lovers could choke on their misery. Those breasts, those hips, that body and all that soft skin were his.

She touched the tip of a finger to his chin. “I love the way you look at me.”

“I’m not thinking loving thoughts,” he warned.

“Good.” She ripped off a condom packet from the strip. He tried to take it from her, but she was too quick. “Oh, please. Allow me.”

Earlier, they’d played and teased each other. This time, Julian cut out the superfluous. His desire filled him with urgent need. He slid her thin panties down to her ankles then turned her around. She tilted forward, pressing her palms to the wall.

They really did work well together.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The simplest and most pleasurable way to rouse Nina from sleep was to press kisses to the back of her knees. It was daybreak in Miami, and the