Lovegame(121)
She lists off the cast and crew and I stop listening for a moment, just a moment, because I am overwhelmed that we are here. That this gorgeous, dazzling woman can stand up there and say those words, and mean them. Despite everything she’s been through—despite every battle that she’s fought and every crippling wound inflicted on her—she’s still here and she’s grateful for the life we’ve built together.
She might not be crying, but I am, even before she says, “And most important, I need to thank my husband, the brilliant, talented Ian Sharpe, for writing this book. For telling this incredibly important story, and for letting me be a part of it. We met four years ago over another book, another movie, and somehow it feels like we’ve come full circle.” She slides one hand down to rest on the slight swell of her stomach and I pretty much melt right there in the middle of the theater. “Baby, you came into my life like a sledgehammer, knocking down every wall I could throw up between us. It’s been a long and bumpy road to get here, but I’ve got to say, the view from here is pretty damn awe-inspiring. Thank you, Ian. Thank you, Academy. And most important, thank you to every single person who goes to the movies and gives us a chance to do what we do. I love you all.”
The music swells and she’s escorted offstage to more thunderous applause. And I’m left staring after her, wondering how I got so lucky.
For Sue Grimshaw and Gina Wachtel, for their encouragement, support, and never-ending supply of patience. I adore you both!
Acknowledgments
Some writers are solitary people, toiling away in isolation as they create their masterpieces.
I am not one of those writers, which means I have a lot of people to thank for helping me to make Lovegame what it is.
First of all, I have to thank my editor, Sue Grimshaw, who didn’t necessarily share my vision for this project but who gave me the space and the creative freedom to tell the story I wanted to tell. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for being the absolute best.
I also need to thank Gina Wachtel for being the most amazing guide and cheerleader a girl could ever ask for. Penelope Haynes for putting up with me and my incessant changes and lateness—I appreciate all you do for me. Cover designer, Lynn Andreozzi, for giving me the sexiest, most beautiful covers in the business, and everyone else at Random House, especially Matt and Ashleigh and Erika, who do so, so much for me. I’m so grateful to have found a publishing house that believes in me and takes such great care of me.
I’d also like to thank my agent, Emily Sylvan Kim, who makes it so easy for me to do what I do. She is the most hopeful, optimistic, talented, lovely person I know and I’m so thrilled to have had her on my side from the very beginning of my writing journey.
I have the best fans in the world and I’m so grateful to each and every one of them for taking me into their hearts and reading my books with such wonderful enthusiasm. Thank you so much for all you do for me!
And, finally, I’d like to thank some of my truly incredible friends, most notably Emily McKay, Shellee Roberts, Sherry Thomas, Julie Kenner, and Martin Torres, all of whom helped me in ways big and small to make this book as good as I could make it.
Thank you all so much! I don’t deserve you but I’m keeping you!!!!! xoxoxox
BY TRACY WOLFF
Ethan Frost Novels
Ruined
Addicted
Exposed
Flawed
Hotwired
Accelerate
Hacked
Every Breath You Take
Other Books
Full Exposure
Tie Me Down
Play Me (serialization)
Lovegame
Extreme Risk Series
Shredded
Shattered
Slashed
PHOTO: ? KEVIN GOURLEY
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author TRACY WOLFF lives in Texas and teaches writing at her local community college. She is married and the mother of three young sons.
tracywolffbooks.com
Facebook.com/TracyWolffAuthor
@TracyWolff
The Editor’s Corner
Looking for your next book boyfriend? I think I can help you out—check out these wonderful stories from Loveswept: Something brand-new from Loveswept debut author Lynda Aicher, The Harder He Falls. Author Ellie Cahill releases a sexy, witty new adult story called Just a Girl. The first in the Bayard Hockey series comes from Kelly Jamieson, with Shut Out. New York Times bestselling author Missy Johnson steams it up with The Proposition. The third story in Cassie Mae’s LOL All About Love romantic comedy series holds true to its name, Crazy About Love. Readers will fall fast and hard and clamor for the next in Tina Wainscott’s Florida-set Falling Fast series with Falling Free. Sharon Cullen’s Highland Pride series continues with MacLean’s Passion, as Scotland’s most reckless smuggler meets his match in a beautiful spitfire who arouses a renewed sense of duty, camaraderie, and passion in him. New York Times bestselling author L. P. Dover sets hearts on fire in Defending Hayden, where a damaged football star teams up with the only woman who can take away the pain. More from Lavinia Kent’s Bound and Determined series comes in the form of Angel in Scarlet. And I hope you’ll agree that there are never too many men in kilts: Ladies, meet the Wild Highland Guardians, new from Violetta Rand in Her Highland Rogue.