The One Night Stand

Chapter 4

"... Catherine Stone author of The Housewives Guide to the Bedroom."

That was Cat's queue. Time to work, Cat thought told herself. She'd be mortified when her town car had pulled up at the book store. This was her biggest book signing yet, there were people lined up around the block. Cat gasped as she and her editor rounded the corner to see the sight of all those people here hear her do a read.

"They love it Cat, that book has made you into an overnight success. Catherine Stone is a hold name." Pamela Crawford of Crawford and Browne Publishing announced with great pride. She squeezed Cat's hand encouragingly as the author made her way to the stage for her reading. Catherine Stone was not a public speaker, but years of lecturing had given her a degree of professionalism, no one would ever suspect she was terrified of being on stage.

"Thank you to every one for showing up, every time I go to a book signing I always think 'why would anyone show up to see me?' and each time I am overwhelmed by the response. I dedicate this book to you, my loyal readers..."

The speech was short and sweet. She read 3 chapters of her new book, to her appreciative audience. The crowd cheered her enthusiastically, as she looked at the faces, she was happy to see an eclectic mix of ages among them. Women young and old, and surprisingly more men than she had ever expected.

When it was time for the book signing, she sat behind a small table, flanked by her publisher and her publicist, as they began leading people on stage. The first ones in line were an American couple. They each wore a t-shirt with 'THANKS CAT' printed across the front. The catchphrase was her publicists idea, it never failed to amuse Cat, especially when she saw it on a London bus when the book was first released.

"Cat, may we call you Cat?" The man asked, his thick American accent was unmistakable.

"Of course you may." Cat smiled at the couple, who could barely keep their hands of each other, the sight was every relationship counsellor's dream.

"Cat, we just want to thank you for the book, we were on the verge of a divorce, and we'd been to counseling, many times, but we just never got the right advice until we read your book. It opened our minds, and rekindled our relationship, in every way possible..."

Cat listened as person after person had similar stories. She had never been prouder of herself. And to think the book was almost never written, she thought sadly. After about an hour of signing, Cat's fingers were beginning to cramp up. She was looking down at her fingers, wiggled them trying to work the blood back into them, smiling when she heard his familiar voice.

"Hi." She looked up so quickly she almost cramped her neck.

"Tom? What...how?" She was speechless. Standing before her was the main reason for her smile. He was wearing a pale blue shirt, blue jeans and a hat. Smiling that crooked boyish smile at her.

" I hope you don't mind me coming to your book signing, but you forgot to leave me your number when you left this morning." Cat blushed profusely, worried someone would over hear the conversation despite the fact that Tom was speaking quietly, everyone's eyes were already on her and the handsome man. She composed herself and took the book he was holding from his hand. She quickly jotted down her number and handed it back to him.

"Thanks for coming..." she said, immediately regretting her choice of words. Tom bell laughed, looking down at his feet playing the shy artistic guy to a tee.

"The pleasure was all mine..." His shy smile changed into a devilish grin, "meet me after this for a drink...?" It was clear to Cat he refused to leave until she accepted his offer. The impatient woman beside Tom sighed loudly. He ignored the woman and waited for Cat to answer.