Read Unridden: A Studs in Spurs novel for Free Online Page B

likely get all she needed tomorrow night at the rodeo. She hoped…
    “Yeah, I’m coming. I’ll meet you in the ballroom I guess.”
    “Are you getting dressed up? It’s cowboy-themed attire, remember.”
    God help her, why did every meal at these conventions require some sort of ridiculous costume on the part of the authors? Jenna spied the boots she’d thrown in her suitcase to wear to the rodeo, figuring she’d look inappropriate in high heels amid the cowgirls and cow dung. After checking in and unpacking, she had already changed into jeans from her traveling sweat suit. Those, combined with the boots, would just have to do.
    “Um, yeah. I’m dressed.” Put like that, Jenna didn’t consider it a lie at all.
    “Okay. Good. We’ll save you a seat at the table. You can’t miss me. I’ll be the one in the pink cowboy hat with a blond Dolly Parton wig.”
    Jenna giggled at that image. “Thanks, Barb. See you in a minute.”
    She reluctantly clicked off the television set just as the cowboy, Slade What’s-His-Name, hit the dirt.
    Slade… Good name. Jenna would have to write that down to use in her book.
    ———
    Camped out with the conference itinerary, Jenna slumped in a chair in the hotel lobby, her head spinning.
    Barb plopped down heavily into the chair next to her. “I’m exhausted already.”
    With a sigh, Jenna agreed. “I know. Do you think there’s coffee somewhere?”
    “There’s a break after the next session. Soda and cookies.”
    Jenna groaned. Great. Another conference where she’d come home heavier than she arrived. She dropped the itinerary into her lap, unable to look at it any longer. “Where are you going now?”
    “I have an editor appointment. I’m pitching them my new book. Hopefully, they’ll request the full manuscript.”
    “What kind of book is it?”
    “A multi-partner, dark urban fantasy.”
    Jenna raised a brow. “Really? You’re writing a threesome?”
    “Foursome actually, but only three of them are human.” She grinned. “What are you working on?”
    Next to Barb’s book, Jenna’s seemed downright boring. She felt embarrassed even answering the question. “Um, just another contemporary.”
    Barb shook her head. “Don’t say it like that. I loved your last book.”
    Tell that to my agent . “Thanks, Barb.”
    Barb pointed to the abandoned conference program in Jenna’s lap. “Where are you heading now?”
    Jenna sighed. “Good question. I’m torn between The Inside Scoop on Future Publishing Trends and Sex it Up—Adding Heat to Your Writing .” Sadly, it was apparent she needed both sessions equally.
    “My friend is on the panel for the future trends session. She gave me her handout. I’ll copy it for you if you want to skip that session and go to the other one. She said what editors are looking for nowadays is mostly cross genre. Nothing straight genre anymore unless it’s got some niche appeal.”
    “Hence the multi-partner, dark urban fantasy you’re writing.”
    “With a little bit of bondage thrown in.” Barb grinned.
    Bondage again? Shit . Jenna had better throw something extra into this cowboy book of hers or risk it being rejected. But what? She knew less about bondage than she did about horses.
    “My friend also said publishers want heat. The hotter the better. When you think there’s enough sex, add some more,” Barb added.
    With that, combined with her recent book review describing her too few sex scenes as boring, Jenna’s decision of which session to attend was made. “I guess Sex it Up it is then.”
    Barb laughed. “Let me know how that goes.”
    Jenna scowled. “Don’t worry. I’ll be taking notes.”
    “Oh, before I forget. One of the authors we ate breakfast with is local and she gave us the name of a great restaurant within walking distance of here. I have to call to make reservations. I figure we’ll head over about seven so we have time to change after the last session. You in?”
    The rodeo started at eight