Key. Chapter Twenty-five: Straight to Business

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Chapter Twenty-five: Straight to Business

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Jasper took time off so we could do the paperwork. We would get the keys from the realtor when we returned. The old owners needed to finish moving all of their things out, but it wouldn’t take that long. Once they did, they would have the place deep-cleaned, and the roof replaced for us.

We spent the rest of the afternoon celebrating with cake and champagne in bed at the hotel.

When we flew back to New York the next week, I was so excited. The pod was waiting for us when we arrived, only showing up a few moments before us. When we came back to Dallas, it would be sent to our townhouse. 

I grinned stupidly to myself when we stood in the doorway. We were even in the same one.

Everything seemed perfect.

Jasper was worried he would slip back into his depression when we returned to the northeast. But he didn’t. I was there to keep him safe from the night terrors while they did the final prep. He would be the first witness called to the stand, coming every day to sit and wait to be summoned. 

The idea stressed him out, understandably. He had done this before, but not for such a large case. Usually, he would only be there for his part. But that’s not what the FBI wanted with this one. They needed everything to go perfect, so they could fry King. New York had recently brought back the death penalty after not having it for years. Some were using Royce’s name as a reason. I hated that we couldn’t escape it. If I could, I would make it all go away. If I never had to hear it again, it would have been okay with me. My strong man felt as if he were reliving it for the hundredth time, and it hurt the same.

Jasper said he would rather get stabbed by a spoon a dozen times than see the pictures again. They were burnt into his brain, feeding his nightmares.

So, to make it a little easier, I decided to go with him. I thought of it as research. It could only improve my writing, especially if a publisher was so excited about my crime and thriller novels. Jasper didn’t want me to have it in my head like it was his, but I was stronger than what he gave me credit for. I knew I could handle it and give him the support he needed throughout the ordeal.

I wondered in what ways it would inspire me. It would probably be dark and twisted, to say the least. I had avoided writing anything serious since I finished the cop story. I needed fluffy light romance and dirty smut. My boyfriend didn’t mind at all. I kept all my websites up and was doing about as well as I had done in previous years.

Sam was happy to have us in Albany again. He only got two weeks of vacation to see his wife. I wasn’t sure how she did it, because I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t be away from my man that long. Selfishly, I was glad I met him after his stretch in the service. His year-long deployments would have killed me. I couldn’t have been a military wife. But in fairness, I don’t think Jasper could have been a military husband, either.

Coming back even saved Eric a trip to Dallas for a meeting he wanted to have with me about the books. As time went on, it all became so much more real. I had never expected to be published. Yet it would happen by the end of the year, from what he was saying. He seemed more thrilled than I was. I wasn’t sure how that was possible.

Jasper was working the Friday I went to meet with Mr. Yorkie, still doing prep. This time, he had selected a sweet little French restaurant for a late afternoon lunch. It was more relaxed than the places we had gone to before. He already had a table when I arrived, a bottle of wine waiting for me. It was the same kind I had ordered the last occasion we met, so he knew I liked it.

“Bella! It’s always such a pleasure to see you!” he said with a pleasant smile, giving me a friendly, lose-armed hug from the side. “Oh, your perfume is lovely!”

Giggling, I blushed at his praise. “Thank you. I get complimented on it a lot. Jasper got it for me with the help of my best friend. She’s got exquisite taste. She’s the one that set me up with him.”

“How sweet,” he chuckled as we both sat. “So,” he cleared his throat. “The trial is about to start?”

That wasn’t the question I was expecting from him, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. He usually worked in true crime. “Yes, it is. It’s so quick.”

He removed his jacket, getting a little more comfortable. “Whispers say his attorney is demanding to exercise his right to a ‘speedy’ trial.” He made finger quotes. “I think he’s hoping to rush them, so they miss something. Or rather, his team of million-dollar lawyers does.”

My nose wrinkled in disgust. “If they find more bodies, they can always charge him later. They have to realize there is enough evidence to convict him ten times over, though. That cabin was a goldmine for the FBI.”

“That’s why they’re pulling every trick that they can,” he answered smartly. “I guess they want to do whatever they can. His family has the money to waste, that’s for sure. But he’s going to spend a lot of time in prison for what he did to your boyfriend and that SWAT team member no matter what.” He sniffled, almost bored as he adjusted his tie.

“I hope so,” I breathed. I shook my head, trying to get a million thoughts out of it. “I’m ready for it to be over, so I guess it’s a good thing. It won’t matter. He’ll get what’s coming to him no matter what,” I repeated his words. “And Jasper will finally be able to heal. He acts so hard, but the toll it took on him was…” I trailed off and sighed. After a moment, I forced a smile. “Anyway, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Ah, straight to business,” he paused when the waiter put down a plate with a selection of meat. “Oh, I hope you don’t mind. I got an appetizer. I didn’t get to eat before. We can order something else.”

“No, this is fine,” I replied. He waved his hand over it in an offer. It all looked delicious. “Thank you.” I picked up a piece of the thinly sliced toast and some pate along with a couple of pieces of Jamon. It crackled when I took a bite, crumbles falling into my palm as I tried to catch them. He poured me a glass of wine as I did.

Eric had a quick nibble of a pickle, stuffing it to his cheek to talk. He smiled awkwardly. “So, we set a date for release.” He swallowed, then licked his lips. “It’ll be on September thirteenth, and pre-orders start Monday at midnight.” He picked out other things to try, popping an olive in his mouth.

My heart sped up as I gasped softly. “That’s my birthday.”

He lit up. Sitting back in his chair, Mr. Yorkie clapped his hands as his grin grew wide on his handsome face. His dark eyes crinkled around the edges. “That’s perfect! Well, happy early birthday, I guess. I’ll have to get you a gift,” he teased. 

I laughed quietly. “That’ll be enough. This is a dream come true.” My hand went to fidget with my lock and key. It felt as if my heart would thunder out of my chest.

Lifting his wine glass, we clinked cups. “It’s just the beginning. Cheers.”

“Cheers,” I whispered, taking a big gulp.

Grabbing a piece of bread, he covered it with some pate. He heaped it on and shoved it all in his mouth at once. “The second thing I wanted to talk to you about was to see if you’d be willing to do some interviews, maybe a reading or two. For marketing. We’ll pay for your hotel and food. It’ll be in New York City. It’ll be two days of hard work, but it’ll get your name out there.”

“Well, as long as I’m not on the witness stand, I can be there,” I assured him. I would do anything they asked to make it as successful as possible.

“Great! We’ll have our stylist come in and dress you and do your hair and makeup since we’ll be on television for some of them. And we’d like to take some pictures, too.” He wiped his face with a napkin to get some crumbs off. 

“How exciting!” I nervously giggled. “I can’t wait. It should be fun. I love talking about myself,” I lied.

Eric took a sip of wine before he tipped it towards me. “Then this will be a walk in the park for us. I’ll be by your side the entire time to help, though.” He winked, then popped a piece of meat into his mouth and chewed for a moment. “So, what are you thinking about for lunch?”

He was truly a man who thought with his stomach, and I could respect that.

It was a meeting we definitely could have had by email or telephone. Jasper had once complained about them, but I loved it. Not only did I get a free meal, but he gave me the best birthday present. It was beyond exciting, and I was so happy I could barely focus on eating. We shared two bottles of wine, though. It made me tipsy and warm. The entire ride back to the hotel, I lounged lazily in the taxi. 

I danced into our wonderful little hovel. My boyfriend was already home from work, his days seemingly shorter than before. He had told me he was just answering questions for the prosecutors repeatedly, clarifying any information he could. He looked up in confusion from his spot in front of the fridge. Jasper was in his sleep pants, even if it was only six. 

Mr. Yorkie talked for a long while about all the things I would be doing. Like what would happen during the interviews and the people I would speak with, too. There would be many magazines and newspapers I would sit down with for short spurts of time each. He said I would probably answer the same questions repeatedly. Just like Jasper, but a lot less important.

“They set a release date. Pre-sales start next week. It’ll be out on my birthday,” I declared as tears sprang to my eyes. My hand flew to my mouth, laughing to keep from crying.

“Yes!” He cheered, rushing over to me. I was in his arms in a second, being spun around. I squealed loudly with joy, holding on as tightly as I could. “It’s so soon! Jesus.” Grinning with his happiness, he cupped my cheek when he put me back down to my feet. Jasper bent down a little to look into my eyes. “Well, I know one thing we’ll be doing that day.”

“What’s that?” I teased, smirking up at him stupidly to flirt.

Gently, he rubbed his nose along my own before resting his forehead against mine. “I’m going to walk right into Barnes & Noble, and I’m going to buy the best book in the world. And then I’ll have the beautiful author sign it for me.” He grabbed my face with both hands and kissed me deeply. I smiled against his mouth.

“I’ll be in a real bookstore!” I declared in wonder. 

“Yes, you will,” he chuckled. “So, how many copies do you have to sell to become a best-seller? Do you know?”

He was so confident in me. I shook my head, laughing as I looked away. I kind of hated myself for knowing the answer. “To be considered a best-seller, it has to sell at least four thousand. To be in the top ten, I don’t know. I don’t think-”

“I do,” he breathed, smiling at me. Jasper lifted my chin so I would look into his eyes. “Mainly because I will tell every single person that I meet to buy it. Just fucking everyone. I’ll shout it at strangers.”

I pushed my face into his chest. “Oh, god. So will your parents. And Alice.” Suddenly, the tears that sat on the corners of my eyes came, moistening his shirt. All of my friends and my new family would be the first in line to order it, so to speak. The idea was so overwhelming. “This has been the best year. I’m so happy. Everything is going so well.”

Wrapping both his arms around me securely, he buried his face in my hair. “Yes, it has.”

“Thank you,” I whispered into his t-shirt.

“I had nothing to do with this. This is all you, darlin,” he answered.

“No, for believing in me. You make me feel like I can accomplish anything.”

His grip tightened. “You can.” He paused for a moment. “So, what should we do to celebrate?”

“Do you want to go to the Gavel for some drinks? I’m already half drunk. Why waste a good buzz?”

A wicked smile grew on his face. “Can I fuck you in the bathroom again?”

“Yes, sir,” I laughed. “Oo, I’ll go put on crotchless panties and a skirt while you get changed.”  

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Thanks to Gina for proofreading this chapter!

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