“Okay, so some of you may not know who Nine is if this is your first Boyle Heights book. The books in the series are all stand-alone, so you could go in blind or get a glimpse of him in the previous book Beast. Either way you’d still be able to follow along just fine.
“First, let me introduce our interviewer. He needs no introduction for MOST of you. But for those of you who haven’t read his book, he’s the hot-headed alpha with this vulnerable side most didn’t get to witness until they got to be in his head in one of the last books of my Moreno Brothers series.” *Insert cover here.*
Let’s give a very warm welcome to Romero as he takes the stage. *Lots of chants, clapping, and whistling* Romero takes a seat on the dais across from me as he indulges the crowd with that famous sexy smirk. Then he all-out laughs as someone tosses her panties onto the stage. I peer out into the audience. “Ivette, are those yours?”
Nothing but giggling and laughter erupts. I turn back to Romero, feeling my face warm, and laugh nervously. “She’s one of your biggest fans.”
“The biggest!” she screams from the audience.
More laughter and chanting follow as Romero smiles wide with a nod. “I know, sweetheart.” He waves out into the audience. “I recognize those chonies from past appearances.”
“Ay, bendito!”
I can’t see out into the audience because the bright lights directly on us prevent me, but I’m worried because there’s lots of gasping now. “Can someone please check on her? Get her some water or something.”
I turn back to Romero. “Welcome back to my website studio, Romero. Always a pleasure having you. I specifically reached out to you because Nine is getting compared to you by several of our early readers.”
“Yeah, I heard, and after reading his story, I guess I can see why. But I have a bone to pick with your author lady friend Jamie.” He turns to the camera with a purpose and lifts a brow. “Move over Romero?”
I clear my throat, sitting up straighter. Crap, I didn’t think he knew about that. “Well, I’m sure she meant it figuratively. She’s also one of your biggest fans, you know.” He doesn’t seem impressed by that, so I move things along. “Let’s get on with our interview, shall we?” I turn to the audience. “If you’re new to the Boyle Heights series, then you have no idea who Nine is, but that’s okay because as I said they’re all stand-alones. If you are aware of who he is, you still likely know little about him except that he’s a sexy-as-sin man-whore, with a foul mouth who can be politically incorrect a lot of the time.” I smile at Romero. “Hence the comparisons. Without further ado, let’s bring out Mr. Rudy Kealani a.k.a. Nine.”
He strolls out from behind the curtain, sporting his own sexy grin as the crowd goes just as wild as they did for Romero. He’s wearing a snug black T-shirt with jeans, so his glorious tatted arms have the audience abuzz.
He takes a seat across from Romero, saluting Romero as he sits back, and Romero lifts a chin to him. “Sup, dude?”
For a moment, I’m staring back and forth from one to the other mindlessly, until I realize what a stupid dreamy smile I’m wearing. Clearing my throat, I turn to the audience. “So, to be clear, this is more of a quid pro quo between the two to avoid spoilers of either of their books. I wrote the questions I thought might be fun for you to hear the answers to but was mindful not to have any spoilers. Except their answers are not scripted. If you know Romero, and he’s been compared to Nine, you know this might not go my way if they start improvising.” I look back at my two grinning guys. “You’ll be good, won’t you?”
“You know us best, Eli.” Romero winks.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.” I take a deep breath, turning to the audience, and lift my hand in the two men’s direction. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Romero and Nine as they go head to head with a quick and dirty quid pro quo. God help me,” I mumble under my breath as I walk off and take a seat in the front row.
As instructed, Romero starts. He’s already smiling too big, and it makes me nervous. I hold my breath and brace myself. “So, what’s with the nickname, Nine? And don’t give me no bullshit about inches either or I’ll get one of the ladies out there to take you backstage and embarrass you when she confirms the real number.”
Nine doesn’t even get a chance to retort when the volunteering hands in the audience fly up, waving frantically, and the giggling and laughter erupts. More panties fly onto the stage, and Nine’s head falls back in laughter.
When the laughter calms to a low roar, Romero goes on. “So truthfully, not what you tell the chicks, why Nine?”
Nine shrugs. “Started off as Nine Lives and got shortened to Nine. How’s Izzy?”
The smile flattens on Romero’s face and mine. One question into this and already they’re improvising.
“Happily married,” Romero shoots back. “How’s Dee Dee?”
Thankfully, Nine smirks. “It’s Drew to you and she’s hot as ever but spoken for.”
“Didn’t stop her from looking before.”
“Um, guys,” I say, standing up. “This wasn’t in the notes.”
Someone in the audience shushes me. Is that Theresa? My editor sinks in her seat when I shoot her a scolding look. She should know as well as I do how quickly this can go south. I turn back to the guys. “Can we just stick with the original questions? The ones I wrote?” I take it a bit further and flutter my lashes. “Pretty please?”
They both nod as Nine continues. “I’d ask the audience if they could blame Dee for looking outside that relationship, but I’ll respect Eli’s wishes and get on with this. First impression of Izzy?”
“Mrs. Romero to you. Didn’t know it then, but in hindsight, I know now I fell in love that first day at the wedding shower. Just thought she might be too uptight to give into anything with someone like me.” Without letting Nine respond to that, I already know which of my questions Romero will lay on Nine next. “You started out adamant about not being into white chicks. What happened?”
“Dee happened.” Nine smiles smugly as if he need not say anymore and he doesn’t—about that. “Still talk to Cici?”
“Nope. Still talk to Becca?”
Not on the script! Not on the script! “Guys, no spoilers!”
Nine nods at me with a smile then turns to Romero. “Touché, and hell no.”
There’s only a few more questions left, and I pray they don’t come up with any more of their own.
“Best moment of your life?” Nine asks.
“Too many to name, but off the top of my head, the day Izzy said I do.” The audience awe’s all at once; then the giggling starts up even as most hold their hand to their chest still. Romero turns and flashes that smirk at them but turns back to Nine just as quickly. “Worst moment of your life?”
“Can’t say without spoilers,” Nine says then adds, “But I will say some of the lowest had to do with disappointing my moms. One of the other lowest was walking away from a certain wedding, thinking that may be the end. “
Romero nods, looking serious suddenly. “Walked away from a party, feeling the same way myself once upon a time. So, I hear you.”
Nine laughs. “Yeah, except I walked out on my own. I wasn’t escorted out in handcuffs.”
“Oh yeah, funny guy?” Romero laughs and I brace myself. “Well, fiancé or not, no fucking way would I let a dude do to me what Brad did—”
“That’s about all we have time for, everyone!” I hurry up onto the stage as the moans, groans, and boos start up. “You don’t want them spoiling it for you, right?”
“I do!” several ladies yell out.
“Well, many don’t, so we’ll cut it here and thank Nine and Romero for joining us and having a little fun with us today.”
The audience more than thanks them as kissing noises start up and a few more panties make it onto the stage again. I gotta wonder if these women brought extras or if they’re really pulling theirs off. The guys stand up and wave at the half-cheering half-booing crowd. I know exactly who they’re booing at. And it’s not Nine or Romero. >.<
“Until next time, everyone! Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to leave a review to let everyone know what you think of Nine! Goodnight, everyone!
