58. FRAMED – Adult Contemporary Romance

Mentor Name: Eden Plantz

Mentee Name: Susan J. Bickford

Title: FRAMED

Category: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Word Count: 99,000

Pitch:

A social media darling lands a writing gig that pulls her into Hollywood’s fast lane, unaware her chance encounter with an A-list restaurateur is a strategic move in a treacherous game of blackmail that will lead to love—and murder.

Excerpt:

Callie Burkhardt gave her lens a clockwise twist, framing her quarry tight inside the viewfinder. Her index finger hovered over the shutter release as she considered her subject, the face that barely hinted at the man’s penchant for Hollywood excess. He looked good for someone sliding toward forty.

Ross Dexter, known far and wide as simply “Dex,” gripped the bottom of his designer t-shirt and winked at the female fan in front of him. His biceps flexing, he lifted the garment enough to expose his legendary abs. The low-riding waistband of his jeans sat comfortably on his hips, just below the sharp line of his well-defined obliques, revealing a good measure of golden blond treasure trail.

So much for the man’s very public attempt to transform his reputation. His man-whore moves were too ingrained.

She steadied the telephoto lens, shifting it to cut the fan from the photo.

Click.

The actor’s eyes held a lascivious glint. He threw his head back, too-white teeth flashing as he laughed at the fan’s reaction.

Click. Click.

These would be gold.

The frame went black. Callie peeked over the top of her camera to see a Sundance lanyard resting on a broad chest in a business suit. She lifted her gaze to a tanned face before stopping short at a pair of deep-set hazel eyes lined by thick gold-tipped lashes. He’d be damned attractive if it weren’t for his humorless expression.

“No cameras. Can’t you read the signs?”

Callie bristled and flashed her press credentials. “I have clearance. Salt Lake Trib. Now move.”