Then he kissed me and followed Lucy over to the karaoke machine. After a brief discussion, Lucy punched in a song and a few moments later the office was filled with the opening riff of T. Rex’s ‘20th Century Boy’.
I had no idea how Lucy sounded. My attention was glued to Nick.
Suddenly I couldn’t breathe. He had the bongos set up on a desk and his drumming fingers were keeping perfect time. But everything was muffled.
This wasn’t Nick in front of me, hips swaying hypnotically, head thrown back as he sang. In front of me was the rock star hero I’d created all those years ago.
The image knocked me for six. It was so familiar, so precious, so part of the girl I’d been growing up.
This was the closest I would ever come to Zak Scaramouche made into flesh.
And as he played along, I wanted to burst out laughing.
After all these years, I’d finally got to meet him! Zak was in the building.
And maybe he wasn’t exactly as I’d expected; maybe I’d changed my expectations of him. But I couldn’t have been happier.
They say never meet your heroes, and I agree; go out there and invent your own.
Acknowledgements
I’ll try to keep this short, but the following people deserve special thanks:
My agent, Jemima Forrester, for believing in me so early on and being a kickass woman to have by my side.
Everyone at Simon & Schuster and Books and the City, especially Sara-Jade Virtue and Emma Capron, who saw something in my writing and took a chance on me. I wouldn’t be here without you both.
My amazing editor, Rebecca Farrell. You got this book right from the start, and your brilliant suggestions made everything sparkle. Thanks for sorting out Simon and for all your encouragement and enthusiasm. You’re a champion in every sense of the word and I’m very lucky to have you.
Anna Davis, Chris Wakling and everyone at Curtis Brown Creative. For cheerleading, goading and downright bribing, I’d like to thank my spin-off writing group: Lisa Williamson, Maria Realf, James Hall, Paul Golden, Sara-Mae Tuson (I owe you a cocktail for the title) and Fiona Perrin (cocktails also winging your way for coming up with that plot point).
For amazing input when I couldn’t see the wood for the trees: Donna Hillyer, Gillian Holmes, Hannah Sheppard, Louise Buckley, Allie Spencer, Phoebe Morgan and Eleanor Leese.
The Romantic Novelists’ Association – an amazing bunch of people who tirelessly fight to ensure romantic fiction gets the recognition it deserves, and who have been so supportive of new writers. Special mention to Sophie Weston and Joanna Maitland for their incredible workshops.
To all the brilliant women out there writing romantic fiction who inspired me and gave so many hours of reading pleasure.
Denise, for all your support and for letting me write on your kitchen table. Sorry I inflicted the previous terrible version on you, and thank you for not mentioning it was terrible.
Mum and Dad, for giving me everything and asking for nothing (except for some help with your phones). I count my blessings every day.
Kat – you started me on this journey. For reading everything I’ve ever written and always laughing in all the right places. Your faith has kept me going over the years. Best sister ever.
Alex – you got me over the finishing line. For crossing your fingers before every submission, commiserating over every rejection and celebrating every success. I wouldn’t have wanted to take this journey with anyone but you. Thanks also for keeping our WiFi password a secret so I could stay off the internet and do some actual writing. Now will you tell me what it is?
Christina Pishiris was born in London to Greek Cypriot parents. She studied English at the University of Sussex and went on to become a journalist. When not writing, her hobbies include compiling cheesy eighties playlists, coveting the neighbour’s cat, and writing protest letters to Guerlain after they discontinued her favourite perfume. Love Songs for Sceptics is her first book.
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First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2019
A CBS COMPANY
Copyright © Christina Pishiris, 2019
The right of Christina Pishiris to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4711-8996-8
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-8581-6
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Typeset in the UK by M Rules
Contents
Chapter 1: The First Cut is the Deepest
Chapter 2: You’re So Vain
Chapter 3: Nothing Compares 2 U
Chapter 4: Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover
Chapter 5: Take a Chance on Me
Chapter 6: Express Yourself
Chapter 7: If I Were Your Woman
Chapter 8: Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Chapter 9: Love is a Battlefield
Chapter 10: You Can’t Hurry Love
Chapter 11: Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Chapter 12: That Don’t Impress Me Much
Chapter 13: Elegantly Wasted
Chapter 14: Heart of Glass
Chapter 15: I Hate Myself for Loving You
Chapter 16: If I Can’t Have You
Chapter 17: Smooth Operator
Chapter 18: Temptation
Chapter 19: Nowhere to Run
Chapter 20: Everybody Hurts
Chapter 21: Torn
Chapter 22: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Chapter 23: I Can’t Make You Love Me
Chapter 24: Don’t Speak
Chapter 25: Somethin’ Stupid
Chapter 26: I Don’t Want to Talk About It
Chapter 27: Total Eclipse of the Heart
Chapter 28: Love Is For Suckers
Chapter 29: I Can See Clearly Now
Chapter 30: This Ain’t a Love Song
Chapter 31: Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Til It’s Gone)
Chapter 32: I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues
Chapter 33: I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten
Chapter 34: I Feel the Earth Move
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Love Songs for Sceptics Page 34
