Win, Lose or Tie

Susan and I were having a drink in our local pub, The Flying Swan. Inside, it looked like a typical English pub. However, you'd soon guess you were in North America rather than my hometown, London, because the staff were polite and they served you at your table.

The server gave us our drinks and asked if we wanted to look at the menu.

“I just fancy a dessert,” Susan told her.

The server produced a dessert menu from the pocket of her apron. We both selected chocolate dishes with enough calories to sustain us into the following week.

When the server had gone, I opened an envelope I’d brought with me and extracted a picture of the cover of Win, Lose or Tie.

Susan studied it. “Yes, I found it on the coming soon page. Bit risqué, isn’t it?”

“Oh, why?”

“Looks as though Coming Soon could have been the book title.”

Susan had critiqued an early version, and suggested I doubled the length of the sex scenes. Or perhaps that was a statement about our sex life. She could be subtle at times.

“The woman on the cover is not an ex of yours is she?” Susan asked.

I almost said “I wish” but figured she might interpret that remark as a criticism of her. “I’ve no idea who she is. Our graphic artist, Jinger, found the photo for me.”

“Well, I must say the pose she’s striking guarantees that people will read the blurb,” Susan said.

Our desserts arrived. The server looked at the picture. “Coming Soon,” I said. She grinned then departed.

“What about the actual story?” I asked.

“I’ll give you the verdict later, after you’ve reenacted the re-written juicy bits.”

I sighed and diverted my attention to the chocolate mousse.

Susan picked up her spoon. “But I particularly liked the HEA ending. I hope that’s still intact?”

“Yes, and I added an extra page to it. In fact everything is lengthened: the ending, the sex scenes, and the hero’s…”