6 Maple Leaf Hunter by Maddie Cochere Read Free Book Online Page B

heard him, or if he just happened to turn at that moment. Nate motioned for him to come back.
    Darby reached into one of the bags and pulled out a small object wrapped in white tissue paper. He pressed it into my hand and said, “I couldn’t leave without buying this for you to put in our collection.”
    I smiled. I knew what it would be, and it tickled me to see that the shot glass he picked out featured the Horseshoe Falls. Darby and I had a shot glass from every place we had visited together. I turned to Mick and asked, “Are we ever going to start a collection of our own? If we are, now would be a good time to start.”
    He grinned and said, “Let’s stick with photos for now. Maybe Lizzie can help us decide what to collect when she’s a little older.”
    Nate pulled a picture frame out of one of the bags. “Look at this,” he said. We all laughed. The frame had a cute moose in a humorous position sticking out from the top. He smiled at Alex.  “Get some shots of me and Darby. I want to frame the best one.”
    Darby moved to stand in front of a section of pretty flowers. He struck a pose worthy of a magazine, and I wasn’t surprised in the least when several girls stopped to watch Alex take his picture.
    Nate was like a kid who had overdosed on sugar. He was animated and hilarious as he contorted himself into unusual positions around Darby. I waited for him to put his fingers up in rabbit ears behind his head. I didn’t have to wait long. Darby simply held his pose and his adorable smile the entire time. It was a fun way to end our visit to the Falls.
     

Chapter Four
     
    “Are you sure you want to publish your book under your maiden name?” Amy asked. “Using Susan Hunter won’t keep people from finding out who you are if you’re wanting to use it as a pseudonym.”
    My agent had asked the question before, and I knew she was giving me one last chance to change my mind before I signed the contract on the table before me.
    While I gave the matter a last few moments of thought, I looked over to the glass wall, which offered a view to the hotel hallway. Nate stood there grinning like a Cheshire cat and waving like a fool.
    I almost choked trying to hold back laughter. Darby rapidly came into view, and in quick order pushed Nate down the hallway and out of sight.
    I knew the guys were excited to get on the road and head north to the lodge. Darby’s meeting with Buckets was obviously over, and I knew they were waiting for me to finish up with my meeting.
    We had arrived in Toronto early last evening. After a quick trip to the observation deck of the CN Tower, Nate dropped Mick and me at the Ritz-Carlton before setting off to find the campgrounds for the night.
    Rainbow Kids Publishing had delivered a fruit basket to our room, and Mick had arranged for chilled champagne and chocolate covered strawberries upon our arrival. I felt incredibly special.
    The room was lovely with a view overlooking Lake Ontario. We took full advantage of the large soaking tub, the comfortable bathrobes, and room service. The time spent with Mick was sensual, relaxing, and definitely rivaled our honeymoon in Paris.
    I was still walking on air when I entered the hotel restaurant to meet my agent, Amy, and the publisher’s representative, Joy.
    I had been nervous about meeting the women, but it was all for naught. Both women were friendly, and by the time we had finished talking about children, dogs, and holidays, it felt as if we had always been friends.
    “I’m sure about my name,” I said. “Mick and I have talked about it, and with Lizzie being so young, we think it might be in her best interest not to have her last name on the book.”
    Both women looked puzzled.
    “We feel good about the book,” I said. “And we think Stuck in the Bushes will be a success. Because she’ll be in school when the book comes out, we thought it would be best if we distanced her from answering questions about the author name and her name. We