Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

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Friends are the greatest gift.

Paige barely had time to finish getting ready by the time Jack knocked on her door. She was in an A-line emerald green dress with a sweetheart neckline. The dress stopped just above her knees.

“Is this okay? You didn’t tell me what the dress attire was.”

Jack nodded. “It’s perfect. Thank you for coming with me tonight. I needed the new director of romance to come so people knew you were real.”

“I’m very real. And very excited. Thank you so much for this opportunity, Jack.”

Jack’s driver was waiting for them with the door to the limo open.

“You went after what you wanted and what you believed in, Paige. And in turn, you’ll make me a lot of money. But you also shook up what I thought about romance, love, and friendship. Now, enough about that. I’ll deny I ever said it if you tell anyone.”

“Because you’re the wolf of the publishing world?”

Jack gave her a very wolfish grin. “Damn straight I am.”

The Grandeur had several ballrooms of various sizes. Jack passed by the large one and instead opened the door to the ballroom that could fit around a hundred people.

“And raise your glasses,” the second-in-command at Griffin Publishing said from the stage. “To Paige Turner, our new Editorial Director of Griffin Romance!”

A glass of champagne was handed to her and it was then that she realized it had been Eli that had handed it to her. All around her were people from Griffin Publishing, agents, and, most importantly, her friends.

People clapped and cheered as the next hour was a whirlwind of Jack introducing her to anyone and everyone in the publishing world. “Run along, little one. Your friends are waiting. Congrats, Paige. I always knew we’d do great things together.”

Before Paige could run to her friends, a large shadow blocked her way. “There’s my girl!”

“Fraser! What are you doing here?” Paige asked as Fraser handed her a bouquet of flowers. He looked divine in a dark suit that made the colorful roses pop. “Your friends called to tell me the good news and invite me to your celebration.”

“Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

Paige glanced at Jack and saw his attention was behind Paige. His lips tilted up into an amused smile, causing Paige to get a little worried. When she turned, she saw why. Fraser was now frowning because Max had just joined them.

“Congrats on the promotion, Jailbird.” Damn . Max Caldwell in a suit was a sight to behold. “This is for you, but you can open it later.”

“Thank you, Max.”

Fraser, Max, and Jack stood side by side. Three completely different men. Three different futures. Three different availabilities. Suddenly, Paige didn’t want to think about it. There was no real decision to make. Jack had mommy issues. Max was taken. Fraser was married to his work. Yet, she could see herself with all of them if that’s what she wanted. Her mind instead went to Paris. To the excitement of that night. To her adventures.

“Come here, girl!”

Griz and Roman rushed past the three men and hugged her tight. Griz lifted her feet off the ground in a bear hug and Paige laughed. The world had spoken. Now was the time for adventure.

Her friends had tired of waiting and joined them too. Moxie stood next to Jack. Felix was looking at Fraser with suspicion. Roman was talking to Max. Leah and Noah were talking excitedly about ideas for publicity for the romance line. Amelia and Eli were talking to Gina, and then everyone fell silent as Nikolas Luciano and Rocco walked over to join them.

Max instantly drew to attention, his hand moving to his waist as if he were still carrying his gun. Maybe he was. Even Jack began to look a little nervous. Paige wasn’t sure anyone else knew who he was, but they could all sense the danger.

“Excuse the interruption, but we’re leaving for a quick business trip and didn’t want to miss you.” Nikolas didn’t look sorry at all. “We heard the good news, little bird. Congratulations.”

Rocco handed her a bag. Paige nervously looked inside and then smiled. “Cannoli!”

“My aunt made them for you in hopes of you giving her the maple cookie recipe. We all loved them,” Nikolas confided in her.

“I’ll make her a batch and drop them off along with the recipe this weekend.”

Nikolas took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips for a quick kiss. “Until next time, little bird.”

“Thanks for coming,” Paige called out as the two mobsters strolled out of the party.

“How the hell are you friends with Nikolas Luciano?” Max growled, and it wasn’t the sexy romance growl. It was one straight from one predator about to go after another predator.

Paige decided to defuse the situation. She took out a cannoli and waved it in front of him. “We met in the elevator at Jack’s and became friends.”

“He’s dangerous, Paige.” Max looked ready to explode. His face was red and he was fisting his hands.

“Not to me.” She reached out and patted Max’s arm. “Trust me.”

“Always, but . . .” Max took a deep breath, “just be careful.”

“I will. Now, let’s get a drink. I’m ready to celebrate!”

The night was perfect. She got one dance with Fraser in before he was called off to a family thing. She danced with Roman. She danced with Jack. She danced with Eugene from accounting. She danced with Kendrick. And she danced with all her friends. The party didn’t last too late since everyone had work in the morning, so it was perfect for a bookworm like her. She would get home with enough time to read a couple of chapters before bed.

“I have to get going,” Max said, approaching her as she waited for a cab with Leah. “Congratulations again. Call me if you need anything. And for the love of all your books, stay away from mob bosses.”

Paige laughed and hugged Max. Her heart caught. Her lungs froze. Goodness, he smelled good. His body was so big, so strong, and she fit just so perfectly in his arms.

“Thanks, Max.”

“Cab’s here,” Leah said softly as if not to startle Paige from where she was watching Max walk down the street.

Leah chatted with Paige the entire ride home. Paige was lost in thought, and she was pretty sure Leah knew so she just talked about the night, allowing Paige to zone out.

“Goodnight,” Leah said as they stopped on her floor. “I’m so proud of you. You’re doing it. Your resolution. And it’s marvelous to watch you grow.”

“Thank you. I couldn’t do it without my best friends.”

Leah hugged her tight and then took off down her hall.

Paige made her way to her apartment and set down her gifts. They’d all been opened. Except one. The gift from Max. She took a seat on the couch and pulled out the tissue paper. She reached inside, felt the familiar feeling of a book, and smiled. She smiled more when she pulled out a hardback copy of Sale by Authoress X. Paige opened the book and gasped. It wasn’t just a hardback. It was signed! Holy bookworm!

To Paige. May you always live adventurously. Authoress X

Paige closed the book and hugged it to her chest. This was the best gift ever. The knock on her door had her running to answer it. It had to be Leah and she couldn’t wait to show her friends the signed book.

Paige opened the door and it took a second to realize it wasn’t just Leah. Paige tossed back her head and laughed as Leah, Eli, and Amelia stood there in pajamas, holding up various snacks and drinks.

“Celebratory sleepover where we actually sleep since we all have to be grown-ups tomorrow,” Leah said as they all came into her apartment.

Three mocktails and the entire plate of cannoli later, Paige’s phone rang at eleven thirty while they all discussed which trope Paige should tackle next.

“Jack? Is everything okay?” Paige asked as her friends all quieted down.

“I need you to do me a favor,” Jack told her. “I was supposed to go to Rome for a publishing conference, but I can’t make it. I need you to go for me.”

“Me? Go to Rome for you?”

Eli squealed.

“Yes. I’m sending over a courier right now with all the information you need on who you’re meeting, what your goals are, and your travel information. You leave in an hour.”

There was a knock on the door and Amelia answered it and signed for the package the courier handed her.

“You leave now, and you’ll be gone for a week. The conference is four days, but I thought you might want a couple of days to celebrate. I saw you rarely take any days off, so consider this a gift. Report back to me after each meeting. Arrivederci .”

The line went dead and everyone looked at her with excitement.

“You’re going to Rome? When?” Leah asked.

“Right now. Oh my gosh, what do I pack?”

Leah began pulling clothes. Eli began pulling books.

“This one is about a woman on vacation who has a passionate affair with a local who turns out to own a famous vineyard,” he said, stuffing it into her luggage.

“Don’t forget this one,” Amelia said, grabbing a book at tossing it to Eli. “It’s about a woman who falls in love with an Italian winemaker while she’s trying to learn how to make wine.”

Leah ran over to her bag and pulled out her own book. “Italian mafia boss . . . who also owns a vineyard,” she said, adding it the pile of books that was now getting bigger than the amount of clothes she was taking.

Another knock sounded at the door as Paige was pulling on her pants. It was the driver ready to take her to the airport. Eli grabbed her purse. Amelia grabbed her carry-on. The driver grabbed her luggage. Leah promised to feed and play with Monty, and then Paige was in the back of the car on her way to Italy.

The airport was surprisingly busy for almost one in the morning. Paige looked at her ticket and couldn’t believe it. She was in first class. She’d never been in first class her entire life. Was this really her life now?

Paige entered the plane, was shown her seat, and pulled out her diary as she waited for the plane to fill.

August 31 st

I can’t believe this is my life. I’m in first class, flying to Rome, and representing Griffin Publishing. I’m staying at a fancy old hotel in the heart of the city, have my own car service, and have the job of finding new Italian publishers to partner with.

Then there’s my resolution. Could I really find someone for a whirlwind romance in Italy ?

“ Mi scusi .” Paige looked up from her journal into the smiling face of an Italian businessman. “I dropped my pen and it rolled under your feet. Do you mind?”

He gestured to her feet and that was when she saw the pen. “Of course not.”

He bent down, his hand brushing her leg as she moved it and plucked his pen from the floor. “ Grazi . I’m Dario,” he said, taking his seat right across the aisle from her. “What brings you to Roma ?”

“Work. I have a publishing conference. Are you going home?”

“Yes. To my vineyard just north of Roma . Would you like to try some of my vino ?”

Paige closed her journal. It was time for an adventure. “Paige,” she said, holding out her hand for Dario to kiss. “And, yes, I would love to try your wine.”

The year is coming to an end. Will Paige fulfill her resolution and what will she discover along the way? Find out in The Adventurous Bookworm, the final book in the Paige Turner Series!