Bachelor Untamed - Brenda Jackson [32]
Darcy didn’t say anything for a moment, and then said, “You know there is another option, don’t you?”
Ellie raised her brow. “And what option is that?”
“You can finish it.”
“What!” Ellie exclaimed, jumping out the chair. “Are you nuts, Darcy? There’s no way I can finish that book. First of all, I know nothing about writing a novel, and then, did you miss the part when I said that it’s a romance book, with plenty of sensuality and passion—two things I know nothing about?”
“Calm down, Ellie, and listen to me for a second, because I think you’re wrong. You can finish it. I think you owe it to your aunt to do so. You read what she wrote in that letter. It was her dream to get that book published. And you said there’re only a few chapters left. The only thing you need is to get romantically and sexually inspired, and we both know the person who can serve as some real-life inspiration.”
Ellie frowned. “Don’t even think it.”
“Sorry, too late. I’m already thinking it. I think it’s perfect. If the book is that good, then you owe it to Ms. Mable to finish it, even if it means that summer fling with Uriel to get inspired, to feel how sensuality and passion works hand-in-hand.”
Ellie rolled her eyes while shaking her head. “That doesn’t mean I would able to finish that book, Darcy. I’m not a writer.”
“But you are your aunt’s niece. Her favorite niece. Her only niece. You even got her name, Ellie Mable Weston. So, in essence, a Mable Weston would have written the book.”
“Jeesh” was the only comment Ellie could make, not believing Darcy’s logic.
“And I believe, once you start writing, that Ms. Mable will also inspire you with the right words to say,” Darcy tacked on.
Ellie didn’t say anything for a moment. Would her aunt do that? She didn’t necessarily believe in the paranormal, but if it was possible, her aunt would find a way to reach her. “But what about Uriel? He would never go along with being used that way,” she said.
“You’re talking nonsense now, Ellie. The man asked you to indulge in a summer fling. It’s all about sex, girl, so get real. If you agree to it, do you think he’d care one iota that he’s inspiring you or that you’re doing research for a book? In fact, why even bother telling him? The fewer details men know about certain things, the better. Uriel thinks your aunt was a sweet old lady. Do you really want him to know she was a hot tamale?”
“Darcy!”
“Sorry, but you know what I mean. Think about my suggestion. Your aunt was given until the end of the year to finish that book. If I were you, I would finish it and turn it in as soon as possible. If the agent thinks it doesn’t work she will let you know it. If it flows and turns out to be a good book, like I know it will be, at least there will be one book on the shelf written by Flame Elbam, and no one will know the truth but me and you. And if the agent wants another book, we can tell her then that your aunt passed away. We don’t have to tell her when.”
Ellie eased back in the chair and closed her eyes. Sometimes she actually thought that Darcy was in the wrong profession. She could plot deception too easily. “I need to think about this.”
“Then think about it, and if you decide to let Uriel be your inspiration, all you have to do is let him know you’ll agree to that summer fling. You don’t have to give him a reason. And then, who knows? In the midst of it all, Uriel just might figure out that you’re the best thing to ever happen to him, and you’ll cure him of his commitment phobia.”
Ellie used the rest of that day to pack up some more of Aunt Mable’s things. Around noon, she had stopped for lunch, and later that day she took a break for dinner. It was only later, when the sun had finally gone down that she decided to call it a day, take a shower and relax.
She sat downstairs on the sofa with a glass of wine and her aunt’s letter and unfinished manuscript, to ponder her options. She hadn’t called Lauren