Letters From Will

Chapter Eleven

Percy

I must admit, flying is my least favorite part of these book tours. Especially when we are flying through horrible turbulence. At least after this, we only have one more flight, and that's home to New York.

Charlie hands me a pill and grimaces as the plane hits another pocket of displaced air. "Girlfriend, I might need one of those before we land."

I just nod and clutch his arm as the plane shimmies again. "Have I mentioned how glad I'll be to get home?"

He just chuckles and removes my hand from his arm, placing it on the armrest instead. "Alright, let's take your mind off the flight then and talk business. We are going directly to the hotel from the airport because I gave you the whole day off to relax. Tomorrow you have a book signing at The Last Bookstore. You're going to love that place. It's just eccentric enough to keep your interest." I grin at him before he continues. "After that, we'll head to the hotel and let you get changed for dinner. We'll be dining at Spago Beverly Hills tomorrow evening."

I lift an eyebrow at that. "Wow, swanky. I assume you and I will be traveling separately from the swells?"

He grins and nods. "You assume correctly. I don't know if they have anything planned for after dinner, but since it's a work day for them, probably not."

"Where are we staying this time around?"

"The Omni. You'll have your own smoke screen room like last time."

I nod, laying my head back on the seat. I can feel the Xanax kicking in and I'm starting to relax. "I think I'll take a nap. Wake me when we get there."

He nods and I close my eyes, thinking about what to wear to dinner.

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The Last Bookstore is everything Charlie said it was and more. The main floor is massive and meticulously organized by section, and the upstairs labyrinth and book tunnel is an otherworldly, mad spectacle. The tradeoff to the kind of space that's routinely included on lists of the world's most beautiful bookstores is that the labyrinth has - unsurprisingly - become a bit of a tourist attraction.

That's where I'm set up at present, upstairs at a table, signing books and chatting with my fans, the line stretching back down the stairs. Originally, I was to be here for two hours, but the line hasn't thinned out yet and I really don't like to leave people unsatisfied if I can help it. Two hours later, Charlie keeps looking at his watch and muttering to himself about reservations. Finally, he calls a halt to the signing, leaving a few people left in line, but promising that if they all leave their names and addresses with the store, we will send them a signed copy of the book.

By the time I walk into our hotel suite, I am exhausted but happy. Tom and Ben are still doing some interviews so I have time to relax before dinner. As I'm coming out of the en suite, I hear Tom telling Luke that he will see him in a couple of hours. I smile to myself as I walk out into the living area and stand against the door frame just looking at Tom for a moment. He hasn't seen me yet as he is fixing himself a drink. I study his profile, the way the light catches in his hair, making it look lighter than it really is, the way his face gradually relaxes along with his shoulders as he sips the scotch in his glass, sloughing off the day and coming to this moment. He turns away from me to shrug his suit jacket off and toss it over a chair, his tie coming next and I can't help but feel sucker-punched. I have feelings for this man. It's not just sexual attraction anymore. It's more, much more. Before I realize what I'm doing, I'm standing behind him and reaching up to rub his shoulders.