The blood drains into my skull and dizziness swirls, heels high above me resting against the wall of my editor’s office. “Can I stand yet?”

“No! Not until you appreciate the world from a fresh perspective.”

From my headstand, Gary appears slightly crazed, fingers laced on the desk above his head, eyeballs where his chin should be.

“If I stay like this much longer, you’ll be finding yourself a new bestselling romance author. I’m about to pass out.”

“Such a baby,” he mutters. “Fine. Down you get.”

I kick away from the wall and flop over onto my knees, vision complaining as the room stabilises. Pins and needles prickle my extremities.

Eventually, I stand and massage my temples. Gary raises his eyebrows. “Well?”

I screw up my nose and shake my refunctioning head. “Nope.”

“Nope?! Two days, Frank. I need this last chapter.”

“I know, I know. Not like you haven't been calling every day to remind me.”

“Get it done then.”

I toss him an exasperated stare. “I’ve not written a word since Trudy left. And you stressing me out isn’t helping.”

“Gimme a break. How do you normally cope with deadlines?”

I shrug. “Make a sacrifice to the gods. Go for a run. Sink some pints. I've tried them all. In varying orders.”

“Do something different then. Get it out of your system.”

“How?”

“Dunno. Scream into a pillow. Swear. Release some tension.”

My turn to raise an eyebrow. “You know I don't swear.”

He runs a hand through his black crop of mildly receding hair. “Maybe you should. Here.”

Reaching behind him, he tugs the cushion free and slides it across the desk. Nods.

“What?”

“Go on. Put it over your face. Yell. Swear.”

“No.”

“Jeez, Frank. Help yourself, yeah?”

I flick my eyes alternately between the cushion and him. “It's ridiculous.”

He points at the cushion. I sigh. Reach for it and bury my face in the fabric's faint warmth. Taking a deep breath, I yell into it. “WHY?!”

What comes out is muffled. Makes me a little less self-conscious and, if I’m being honest, a bit better. I inhale and let rip. “Come on, Frank, you useless eejit. You can do this, you stupid…” I flounder. “Barnacle.”

Lowering the cushion, I breathe fresh air. Gary’s eyeing me. “Not quite what I had in mind, but whatever works. Feel better?” I nod and he gestures me to carry on. “How about less self-deprecation, yeah?”

“I, uhh, okay.”

Taking another deep breath, I bring the cushion to my face, prepare, and yell, “It's only one flipping chapter! Just an ending. You’ve done it a hundred times before. Get it together, man! You can do this!”

Gary cajoles me from the periphery. “That's it! Let it out. Free your mind, Sensei!”

The muffled words flow faster and I grip the cushion. Must look ridiculous but I’m beyond caring. “Stop being a wazzock. Just do it. Get over yourself and write, you stupid sh…”

“Swear, Frank. Swear!”

My fingertips whiten. “Sh…shhhi…Shamu!”

I ease the cushion away and breathe clean air. Gary seems amused as I drop it on the desk. “Close. Sea World called. Lawsuit something something."

"Ha."

"Feel better?”

“Yes. Yes I do.”

“Good. Got an ending?”

I draw an expectant breath. Let it out. “No.”

He launches the cushion at me and it bounces off my shoulder, coming to rest by the bookcase. “Think, man. Think!”

I throw up my hands. “I'm going out.” Turning, I yank the cheap handle, ignoring Gary’s idle threats spilling after me as I stalk past identikit office doors to the exit.

The unseasonable heat hits me full-on as I barrel from the building, and collide with a woman going in. She recoils and would have tumbled down the few steps to the pavement had I not grappled and caught her wrist. I reflexively tug her towards me and she ends up in my embrace. She carries the tender scent of summer, blonde hair tickling my cheek, and I hold her a fraction longer than I probably should before stepping back.

“So sorry. I should watch where I’m going.”

She flicks her gaze up and down me once, surprise fading. In fact, she offers a girly giggle and I realise she’s younger than I’d given credit. Her hand flies up to cover her mouth. “OMG, you’re Frank Lamarr!”

I’m not used to being recognised. “Uhh, guilty. Dust jacket photos are useful then.”

“I’ve got all your books,” she gushes. “The Lake Desire series is to die for. Tiff’s an amazing character.”

“Wow, thank you. Pleased you like them. I’ve actually got a bit of…uhh, never mind.”

Her eyes light up. “Juicy gossip? Spoilers for the next book?”

I laugh. “Just struggling to finish it.”

“Aww, sorry to hear that. You’ll figure it out. I have faith.”

“Glad you think so.”

She beams again. “Can’t believe it’s you. Can I…I know it’s awkward but,” she fishes in her bag and retrieves her phone. Raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah, sure.”

She scurries to my side, her heat pressing against me and I dare to snake an arm around her bare midriff to pose for the many selfies.

Springing away, she giggles again, checking the display. “Nobody’s gonna believe this. Wow.”

“They should. Still waiting for Madame Tussauds’ call.”

“Aww. One day.”

I smile. “Listen, I should,” I point vaguely down the steps. “Wonderful to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

She turns and I watch her rhythmic curves enter. Shake my head and descend.

Barely twenty paces along the tree-lined street, I stop. Smile. Grin, mind whirling, ideas churning.

Bingo!

I race back to Gary’s office and burst in. “I’ve got it! Bumped into this beautiful girl outside. Smoking hot, actually. Anyway, she’s a fan; so complimentary about my stories, and she's the perfect new love to finish Tiff’s arc in the bookshop, bridging this novel and the next. Whaddya think?”

Gary leans back and indicates behind me. “You’ve met my niece then.”

I whirl. “Sh…shhhi…”