Yes, I want to be invested in a hot, wild love scene, she continued. I want to feel just as turned-on as they are when I read the characters actions. But unless I care about them, unless Ive already developed a connection to them, its justwell, bodies. Often messy, rarely appealing.
So what youre saying is you want emotionally driven love scenes when you read? Sean, the epitome of the all-American boy grown up, asked as he shifted in his chair.
Im saying all stories, to really draw in the reader, benefit from an emotional depth the reader can empathize with, Delaney clarified.
While Sean tugged his bottom lip and nodded, she shifted in the hard wood chair, wishing she could take a deep breath. She assured herself it wasnt nervesafter three shows, she had to be getting over those by now, didnt she?but it was just the bite of leather where her belt snugged around her waist. Why couldnt fashion and comfort be synonymous? According to Mindy, her skirt was the latest fashion, which apparently meant uncomfortably short and tight.
Tell me the truth, Delaney, Sean said with a schmoozy smile, leaning toward her like an old friend about to share a secret. Do you really buy in to all that romancestuff?
Delaney grinned at the last-second correction. Halfway through her first segment, she and Sean had gotten past the formal Q&A theyd started with, and relaxed into a casual conversation. Used to his technique now, she knew this was the sign to wrap up the chosen topic for this weeks segmentthe romance genre.
Romance is what makes the world go round, she paraphrased. The excitement of falling in love in all its varieties, the quest for happily ever after.
You really believe that? That romance has that much of an impact on the world?
Relationships, by whatever terms they are defined, are what drive literature. Both period and modern, Delaney said, warming to her subject. Jane Eyre, Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, theyre all examples of romances that have strongly impacted our literary history.
Caught by something offstage, Seans eyes went wide.
Delaney noted the muted explosion of murmurs and rustles. Well used to impatient students, she continued her lecture on romance novels through the ages without a hitch, but let her gaze shift to the ruckus on the main set.
Oh. My. God. Could a woman have an orgasm at just the sight of a man? Delaney tried to catch her breath, but she couldnt stop her racing thoughts long enough to remember how. Gorgeous. Pure male perfection.
Midnight hair, so black there were hints of blue from the bright studio lights, waved back from a face that would do a romance writer proud. Piercing eyes, a clear blue that made her feel as if he could see through her carefully applied mask all the way to her squirming insecure soul, narrowed when they met hers.
Delaney swallowed, sure the zap of sexual energy was just some weird reaction to the camera and lights. Or maybe an allergic reaction to the makeup. Did gel bras have a toxic effect when the skin got overheated?
Well, well. With a quick look at the producer, Sean gave a little nod, then said, We have an unexpected guest joining us today. Ladies and gentlemen, Nick Angel.
Delaney barely kept her jaw from dropping. Her gaze shot back to the hunk joining them onstage. She stifled a little gasp as his eyes met hers, energy zinging between them like lightning.
No, she assured herself. Not between them. It had to be just her reaction. Men never got zingy around her.
When he joined them her stomach took a nosedive. All the zing on her side or not, it still scared the hell out of her. She had no idea how to channel this level of sexual attraction.
So she fell back on the tried and true, and pretended her body didnt exist. Shifting into brainiac mode, she processed his appearance, which consisted of jeans, a dress shirt and a black leather jacket, his attitudedefiance wrapped in charmand his body language, which suggested watch out, someones gonna get it.
Damned if she didnt wish it were her.
3
DELANEY MENTALLY RECITED the works of early American poets to keep from drooling at the sight of Nick Angel, master of erotic suspense, just inches from her. If shed thought he looked hot across the room, he was an inferno now. The pure masculine sexuality called to her like nothing shed ever felt before. She wanted to peel his clothes off with her teeth. An image flashed through her mind of the two of them, a few feet of rope and a tub of double chocolate fudge ice cream.
Nick, Id like you to meet the newest addition to Wake Up California, Delaney Madison. Delaney, I believe youve read Nicks work.
Visions of ice cream melted as Delaney met Nicks piercing blue gaze. She froze at the look in those intense depths, then reminded herself this was the new Delaney. The made-over, sophisticated, worthy-of-attention Delaney.
Even if his gaze said he knew what she looked like naked, she was only imagining that he knew how nervous she was. Dont let them see you sweat, Mindy had lectured. Delaney recalled all her friends advice on handling the on-air nerves and figured it applied even more now. As long as she kept her polished mask in place, shed be fine.
For a woman who worshiped the written word, meeting an author was always a pleasure. To meet the author responsible for her last orgasm was both fabulous and a little embarrassing. Especially since the look in his eyes, that dark and sexy consideration, made her wonder if he knew hed given her such pleasure. Probably. He had that much self-assurance.
The old Delaney would have been humiliated to face that considering look. Shed have run, no question about it. But the new Delaney? Delaney Madison, Super Reviewer? She drew back her shoulders, showing her gel-lifted breasts to their best advantage in her red silk blouse, and lifted a brow in challenge.
Its a pleasure, she said, proud of her smooth tone. Ive read all of your books.
Have you, now? He arched one perfect brow, his smile predatory. Like a sexy, charming sharkready to take one huge bite out of her ass. And what did you think of them? Oh, wait, I think Ive read your opinions already, havent I?
Not sure how to respond, Delaney licked her lips, disconcerted to see his eyes narrow as he followed the movement of her tongue. After a heartbeat, he raised his gaze to meet hers again. The dark heat of his look made her stomach clench.
From the look on your face, Nick, youre not a fan of reviews? she commented, falling back on her debate training to hide her nerves. Or is it just reviewers who say things you dont want to hear?
She watched with fascination the expressions shift on Nicks gorgeous face, from shock to amusement to appreciation.
I have no problem with reviewers, or their reviews, Nick said, his voice rich and deep. Delaney knew shed be hearing it in her sleep. Its when they interject their unfounded prejudices into the review that I take issue.
Such as asking for emotional depth from your stories?
Thatd be a good example.
But thats what your readers are asking for.
They werent until you stirred them up, he pointed out.
Oh, please, she scoffed, nerves forgotten. Youre giving me credit for the readers demanding emotions in your books? You think my one comment turned the opinion of thousands of readers?
Thatd be a good example.
But thats what your readers are asking for.
They werent until you stirred them up, he pointed out.
Oh, please, she scoffed, nerves forgotten. Youre giving me credit for the readers demanding emotions in your books? You think my one comment turned the opinion of thousands of readers?
Thousands?
I get mail.
So do I.
Did you want to compare sizes or something?
Sean visibly choked back a laugh. Delaney saw him and the producer sending subtle, off-camera hand signals back and forth. Sean waved his hand to indicate heat, the producer indicating he wanted it fanned higher. Delaney smothered her panicked giggle. Higher, her ass, if things got any hotter in here, shed melt all over Nick Angels very muscular thighs.
Nick snagged her attention again, his grin quick and appreciative. She couldnt stop her answering smile.
Seriously, Delaney said, leaning forward to emphasize her point. His gaze dropped, just for a second, to the view highlighted by her V-necked blouse. She gave a brief thanks for gel-bra enhanced cleavage and pretended she wasnt turned-on when his gaze returned to hers. Dont you feel an obligation to your readers? So many Ive heard from are clamoring for emotions to go with the wild ride you take them on. Doesnt that influence you at all?
I give them plenty of emotions. Fear, adrenaline, lust. Until youd stirred this up, my fans were plenty satisfied. Especially with the sex, Nick declared. He paused and considered, then added, A review before yours once said the only way someone could be dissatisfied reading my work was if they were sexually dysfunctional.
So youre saying the only way someone would hate your work is if they had a sexual dysfunction? Delaney let out a baffled laugh. Youre kidding, right?
Of course not. I never kid about sex. His words were teasing, but the underlying intensity proclaimed that he did, indeed, take sex very, very seriously. Delaney shifted in the hard chair, trying to ignore the damp warmth in her panties.
Thats why I stopped by, Nick continued. Since I happen to disagree, strongly, with your view of how I handle sex, I figured wed discuss the matter.
You mean youre here to try and change my mind?
Or you can try and change mine.
She pursed her lips, trying to see the trap. There was one, she was sure of it.
Chicken? he murmured in a low, husky tone.
Hell, yeah. Delaney stared into his cocky face. Hed known shed be intimidated. Hed come here with his sexy self, his arrogant attitude and his challenge, all with one intention. To intimidate her, make her look stupid.
She narrowed her eyes. He probably figured if he made her look dumb, hed be able to refute her comments from the Risqué interview.
Actually, no, she said slowly. Ive complete confidence in my evaluations. After years of reviewing, I believe the opinions I share generally reflect the public consensus.
Youre claiming to speak for the average reader?
She considered that. Shed never been average anything, so the concept was intriguing. But she had consistently seen her reviews reflected in sales numbers, to say nothing of the mail she received. After a few seconds, she gave a slow nod.
If you use the definition of average as the consensus of readers of the given genre, then yes. Im comfortable saying that my reviews tend to fall into the norm.
His brows drew together in a frown. Delaney wondered if shed stepped too far over into brainiac-land. She wet her suddenly dry lips and hoped she hadnt blown her cover.
Having anyone connect Delaney Madison, makeover winner and popular fiction reviewer with Dr. D. M. Conner, Associate English Professor, aka the invisible woman, was definitely not acceptable.
She had the feeling that whatever game Nick was playing could seriously jeopardize her anonymity and quite possibly ruin her shot at the promotion.
But she wasnt about to back down. There was something about the man that demanded she stand firm, give one hundred percent. She wished she could figure out what it was. That way she could figure out how to ignore it.
If youre so sure of yourself, Nick drawled with a satisfied smile that told Delaney rather than stepping into brainiac-land, shed actually stepped into his trap, how about we place a little bet?
NICK LEANED BACK in his chair, ignoring the heat of the camera lights, and grinned. As hot as the lights were, they had nothing on Delaney Madisons glare. The angry look suited her flame-colored hair, bringing a sweet flush to her porcelain skin. Huge doe eyes dominated a face that was all planes and angles, sharp rather than curved.
A man who prided himself on doing research, hed been surprised at his misconception about the hot little reviewer. Hed read all her book reviews, and both her Risqué interview and the magazines makeover feature.
Apparently hed missed a few details. Number one, the woman was razor sharp. Number two, and definitely more important, she was sexy as hell. Her before shots had been mousy, but that was obviously part of the magazines bid to play up the makeover. Ms. Madison was clearly one of those über-sexy ladies who had done the makeover thing to mix things up. Hed known plenty of women like hereasily bored, always looking for change. Their looks, their job, their men.
What kind of bet did you have in mind? the slick blond cohost asked. Nick could see the guys mind working, trying to find a way to turn this into a ratings-buster event. Fine by him, the more people watching his triumph, the easier job Gary would have telling editorial to ditch the push for emotional crap in his books.
Im of the opinion that despite her obvious appeal, Ms. Madison doesnt speak for the average viewer, Nick restated. He didnt understand the surprise in her gaze, but her furrowed brow made it clear she disagreed with something hed said.
Over the past few weeks weve polled viewers on Wake Up Californias fabulous interactive Web site, www.wakeupca.com, and Im sorry to say they dont seem to agree with your assessment. Delaney has a growing fan base, the cohost, Sean Something-or-other, challenged with a gleeful smirk.
Nick gave the host a long, dark look that had the guy visibly swallowing. Reminding himself why he was there, he barely managed to rein in his impatience. The last thing hed planned was to give the hottie reviewer from hell any further ammunition to support her claims about his work.
Thats all well and good, for what its worth, Nick said in a tone that made it clear how worthless he considered their little poll.
I can understand your disquiet with my comments about your book, Delaney mused, her lips in a contemplative moue that reflected the bright lights. His gaze traced her lower lip, the full cushion of it inviting small, nibbling bites. Nobody likes to have their intimacy issues brought to public attention. Then again, you dont seem like an insecure kind of guy whod worry about that.
She shifted in her chair, her body language screaming challenge. The sweet curve of her breasts pressed against her silk blouse, showing the lace outline of her bra. But it was the expression in her eyes, that look of intelligent curiosity, that was the major turn-on. Nicks body reacted in tried-and-true fashion, desire spiking through his system.