The Author's Trap

By Alexandria Grant

Danette Lee is focused on her career for Ardor Publications. She's self-contained and reclusive, and likes it that way. However, she has just been put in charge of the difficult romance author, Yoichi Fasth. All she wants is to get this assignment over with so she can get back to her orderly world where she avoids others, especially men like Yoichi. Will she be able to resist this author's trap?

(EXCERPT) Before I could register the sound of triumph in his voice or understand what was going on his firm lips were on mine, blocking any further sound. Pleasure bloomed in me as warm as the first rays of the spring sun after a hard and cold winter. I was immersed in the passion I felt flowing from his body into mine until I was lost to the world around us. Hesitantly, his lips left mine. “Say something.” I blinked in confusion as I attempted to focus on his words. “I....I can’t. I don’t know what to say.” His pleading look gripped my heart. “Say you love me....please?”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alexandria Grant
• Release date: Aug 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301564415

Alexandria Grant

Quite frequently I can be observed grinning like a madwoman as my fingers move furiously over the keys on my computer. This is what I want for my readers. I want you to be able to sit, grinning insanely, at some hilarious or outlandish scene in my books. I want your heart to race with excitement, shudder with fear, stop with pain, and come to life with joy and love along side my characters. I want to give them life, through each of you.I work for an environmental group and am a full time mother and wife. I can be found in front of a computer when I am not spending time with my three kids and husband. I have, from a very young age, read anything and everything I could get my hands on- including users manuals for random things, when all else failed. I have a knack for dazing out and daydreaming at a moment's notice, and have chosen to put some of these daydreams down on "paper" for others to enjoy.If you would like to let me know what you thought of my works, you can email me at:[e-mail] please, if you have read one of my works, feel free to take a moment and rate it.

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The Author’s Trap

Alexandria Grant

Published by Alexandria Grant at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Alexandria Grant

Smashwords Edition, License Notes.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is intended for adults only and contains material not suited for persons under the age of 18, including mature language and graphic sexual scenes.

Chapter One

This isn’t what I had in mind when I accepted my original position and started working there Gina. I sighed before resting my forehead on my folded arms. Danette, you know that table cleanliness is highly questionable in fast food restaurants, right? I mean - reusing wash rags, contaminated water in the buckets, unwashed hands…I shudder to think what you are contracting by placing your head and arms on the table top. I rotated my head on my forearm to glare up at my friend. Gina Faith Barnes, if you bring up any more of your statistics today I just might have to commit amicicide. I watched as she rolled her eyes. Really? The killing of a friend? What are you doing? Reading the dictionary again? Clearly, she was unimpressed by the addition to my vocabulary; I should have known. Forcing myself back into a seated position I sniffed in false offense. What? I couldn’t just be a tad bit more intelligent than you give me credit for? Her steady gaze didn’t falter. Fine. It’s because of the work required by my new job description. The sarcasm in my voice might have been a bit thick, especially when used in conjunction with my hand movements, but I was annoyed that she had ignored my attempt at being depressed without the slightest hint of simpathy. I mean, I’m supposed to be negotiating contracts not babysitting problematic authors! What the hell?! Everyone knows I hate people.

Gina laughed. You don’t hate people, you just….don’t like them. Besides, you’re very detail oriented, able to multi-task, highly focused, self-motivated, and good at getting your way. I’m sure that’s why your boss assigned whoever it is to you. Besides, she can’t be that difficult. I lifted an eyebrow at her words. First, she is a he. Second, four of our toughest literary agents have quit just so they can get away from him. Lastly, his is not a genre that I read, care to read, or have any experience in. I winced at the gleeful squeal my soon to be former friend emitted. That can only mean one thing! He’s a romance writer! I rubbed my eyes as she continued on in an overly-excited tone. Maybe you’ll be able to finally learn something about how to attract the opposite sex from new duty of yours. You’re twenty-six, so I’d say it’s about time. I ignored her comically waggling eyebrows and frowned. You know good and well I’m not looking for a man. They get in the way and cause turmoil. My life is perfect the way it is. It was Gina’s turn to frown. Your life is perfectly placid and boring. I shrugged. That’s how I like it, so I see no down side here.

I watched as her hand fluttered erratically in front of my face as if I were simple. Only because you don’t know any better, hon. Now, tell me who this difficult author is. I leaned back in my chair as I worked up the nerve to answer her question. I knew the moment his name was past my lips it would be the end of any peace or support from her. Only romance can turn such a logical and rational person with an eidetic memory into a complete moron, Gina; which does not speak well for the subject, in my opinion. All I got for my barb was an impatient look. Alright, his name is Yoichi Fasth. I quickly clamped my hand over Gina’s mouth as she screamed. Glancing around at the curious looks being sent our way I whispered, I will take my hand away when you can control yourself. I do not need, or want, any more attention or theatrics today. Got it? At her exaggerated nod I cautiously pulled my hand back.

Oh this is good! This is so good! Yoichi Fasth is my favorite author! Plus, he is a righteous piece of beefcake! I huffed at her slang. Seriously, ‘righteous’ and ‘beefcake’? What decade are you stuck in? Gina stuck her tongue out at me. Shut up, I’m fantasizing here: 6’1, fawn colored skin, jade eyes, and thick obsidian hair; not to mention a body to die for. Yum! I knew my jaw was hanging open, but I couldn’t seem to snap it shut. I knew she was a fan of his, but…Damn, Gina. What’s wrong with you? You never talk like that. Her eyes took on a completely devious look. You have no idea, my friend. I know everything that’s been written about him. He’s Japanese and Swedish, hence the name. His dad met his mom when he was on tour in the military, and they fell madly in love and were married just four weeks after seeing each other. Yoichi was born in Sweden less than a year later, and is their only child. He graduated from Lunds Universitet with a Masters in Art and Humanities, and has been writing ever since. He was first published when he was 21 years old; that was 12 years and eighteen books ago. I looked at her with a gaze akin to horror. That’s creepy, G. You know you sound like a stalker?"

Oh, hush. You know it’s just because of my superior memory that I know all that. I widened my eyes and nodded in a thoroughly unconvinced manner. Uh-huh, right. Sure it is. I dodged her joking punch seconds before a smirk formed on her face and she settled back into her chair. I felt tension crawl slowly into my muscles at her evil leer, and waited for her to speak. One last bit of information before I have to go, Dani. It’s about his first name. Among the multiple meanings for ‘Yoichi’, one of them is ‘bewitching and seductive’. She winked at me. You know, just so you can prepare yourself. I shot her a frustrated look. I highly doubt that was what his parents were going for when they named him that, so just stop. Gina stood and grabbed the check from the table. We’ll see, now won’t we? Or, you will at least… Before I could think of a sharp retort, she was gone. Shit. I sat back, completely drained of energy; an occurrence that was not fully due to my whirlwind friend this time. What have they gotten me into?

Chapter Two

Tuesday, my personal doomsday, came all too quickly for me. I grudgingly shuffled into the office and made my way to my desk where my new job’s file was still waiting for me from the end of the prior week. I scowled at