Fox - Hello, Doggy!

Youve heard of Keenan James? the publisher asked. His white

Tory stepped around the movers dolly and squeezed between a

Oh my. The woman behind the cosmetics counter at Saks

There were five of them, with the new woman, a

So what did you think?

Tory! Oh my God!

Ah! A gallery opening, Katya said, sweeping blush across Torys

Tory decided to return to Saks the evening before the

She stopped as if caught in the safe with her

Im Claudia, the blond said, thrusting a drink at Vicky

Tory got up the next morning, picked up the portable

Keenan! Fiona wailed. That bloody dog has made off with

At that moment, Heather Lessing rejoined them, sparing Tory the

Come on in, Keenan, Angelica said, placing Pavlov on the

I cannot believe you just left me in that bar,

Torys heart leaped as he bent to kiss her. Her

Tory, thank God youre here.

I cannot believe you didnt stay, Claudia said for about

Youve heard of Keenan James? the publisher asked. His white eyebrows curved up at the ends so that they looked like little wings on his face. His eyes were faded blue, but sharp.

Keenan James? Tory Hoffstra repeated, trying to keep the scorn from her tone and disapproval from her face. That television guy pretending to be a psychologist?

Yes, the man who runs the Just-Dump-Him Round Table. Franklin Fender walked around his desk to sit on the edge of it in front of her. Hes doing amazing things, according to reports. Helping women get out of bad relationships, develop self-esteem, take control of their lives.

Hehe Tory searched for something positiveor at least not negativeabout the man she considered a dangerous charlatan. He had that special on The Discovery Channel, right?

It had been little more than an extended infomercial for his women-only get-mental-health-quick program. Shed been so disappointed in The Discovery Channel that shed actually written a letter in protest.

Exactly. Fender smiled as if theyd reached some accord on the man. He wants to write a book. And we want to publish it.

He paused, let that sink in, and Tory realized that she was not here because of her proposal to write a book A Humanistic Approach to Cognitive Adjustment in Post-Teenage Women and the Attachment Theory . Optimism seeped out of her.

Oh? she offered weakly. She pushed her glasses up higher on her nose.

The problem is Fender looked upward, as if posing for his portrait to be painted for the Great Hall of Editors. He has no credentials. Hes not a doctor, or even a psychologist. Hes not even a certified counselor.

Tory frowned at the even a psychologist remark. As if she were a lesser being for choosing the cognitive side of the equation instead of the medical.

That is a problem, she said significantly.

Thats why we want you, Fender said with a smile that implied he was bestowing a Nobel Prize, to cowrite the book with him. Give him some credibility, add the right mumbo-jumbo to some of his theories. Make a real psychology book, but one for the masses.

Me? Tory nearly flinched. You want me to write his book?

Well, with him, of course. Theyre his ideas, after all.

She cleared her throat, cheeks burning, and willed herself to stay calm. Shed thought this was her shot. When shed gotten the call from Franklin Fenders secretary about a meeting, she was sure it meant deliverance from her failed career in the form of a book deal. Recognition, appreciation, proof that all that school and all those articles were not just confirmation that those who cant do, write.

Instead of throwing her a life raft, however, fate had sent her a shark. Her choice: to drown or be devoured.

Mr. Fender, are you aware that I sent you a proposal for a book based on my own research and ideas? Containing sound psychological theories and verifiable case studies?

Of course, Fender said, looking at her as if reassessing her intelligence. Thats why I contacted you. You have the credentials, the education, the knowledge.

And the ideas, Mr. Fender. My research into the psychological attachments of post-teenage women and the perceptual angst involved in

Yes, right, of course. But that, you must admit, Dr. Hoffstra, has a much more limited audience than a book by Keenan James. I mean, heres a guy who dates supermodels, who appears regularly in the tabloids, whos known for moving in celebrity circles. Hes Manhattans hottest bachelor! Women would love to get inside his head.

He rose from his seat at the edge of the desk and moved back around to his chair. He didnt sit, but stood behind the mahogany edifice with his fingertips on the surface.

She wondered if he did all that moving around to show off the excellent cut of his obviously expensive suit. It almost made him look as if he didnt have that giant, white-guy-behind-the-desk belly.

She lowered her eyes, afraid hed see her less-than-charitable thoughts in them. She had to get a grip. Fender was a businessman and she had a product. This wasnt personal. She had to show him her mettle, her smarts. Thats what businessmen respected.

Fender continued, Hes a name , Dr. Hoffstra. Especially since that Discovery Channel special. And hes a damn good-looking guy, if youll permit me. Those two things alone will sell books.

Torys eyes flashed up to his. So you want to sell women a book on how to get better relationships by convincing them a good-looking guy famous for dating models can set them straight. Her tone was deadpan, but Fender didnt notice.

Sure. What better way to get them to pick up the book? If theyre drawn to that type of man, theyll be an easy sell. But inside, Dr. Hoffstra, he said in a seductive tone, inside will be your writing, your educated take on Jamess methods and successes. Theyll be taking your advice as much as his.

Tory paused. This was a point, she had to admit. She would have some control, she presumed, on what went into the book as well as on how it was presented. She could make sure it wasnt psycho-tripe. A spark of interest flickered.

Itll be like that book, Fender continued, Hes Just Not That Into You , with not just the television credentialsyou know of course that James wrote the smash HBO series Sex at Midnight but the fame. Hes a known man-about-town, handsome, suave, worldly. If anyone could clue women in about the male side of relationships, and empower them to be equal partners, he could.

Tory sighed. Her vision of molding this venture into a scholarly tome of some worth popped like a soap bubble. Yes, he does have a reputation for being with a lot of women.

Thats right. And with you giving him the academic credentials, Dr. Hoffstra, the book is bound to do well. What he has is a formula, a proven strategy. And he has that round table.

Ah yes, the round table, Tory repeated. Proving that there is such a thing as a free lunch.

Dr. Hoffstra, Mr. Fender said, sharply enough that Tory straightened in her chair. I sense that you dont approve of Mr. Jamess methods. But I assure you, he has seen tremendous success. And he is out there, every day, helping scores of women. They flock to his round table lunches, and he doesnt even charge them. Justas you saidthe price of his lunch, which, lets face it, is a small price indeed when youre talking about therapy.

By a television writer, Tory added.

Her practical sidethe one she called by her first name, Engelbertaclosed her eyes in exasperation. This was an opportunity , Engelberta insisted, no matter how second-rate. This would get her name out to millions, not to mention it would probably bring in a helluva lot more money than her own attachment theory.