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“I can’t believe you’re doing this without me? What am I going to do?” Annie, my assistant, asked me.
“You’re going to take a much needed vacation just like everyone else.”
“But my life is a vacation, so why do I need to take another one?”
“There is that. Maybe reorganize your sock drawer or start a project you always wanted to do. Better yet, why don’t you just check out Santa Barbara and see what it has for you. Maybe we could do a hunt here, we never have.”
“Always thinking of the next show, and trying to keep me busy while you’re gone. I should have known,” Annie said with a smile.
I laughed as she was right. Annie had been with me for about four years now and had become an invaluable assistant and slowly turned into a friend. I couldn’t imagine doing a show without her quiet guidance and support. I was nervous enough about going on this trip with Jason, it was only compounded knowing that I wouldn’t have Annie by my side.
But I was glad she wouldn't be there, if she was, she might surmise that I was contemplating leaving the show and her. I didn’t want her or anyone to figure that out until I made my final decision.
“You will no doubt do the same, even if I didn’t tell you too,” I replied. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of ideas and even a few trips planned for me when I get back. And it isn’t like we won’t be talking to each other. I’m only a phone call away.”
“I might take you up on the idea of a little staycation. It would be fun to explore Santa Barbara again, reclaim my place here, so to speak. It won’t be as glamorous as spending time with a sexy man traveling around the country, but it’s something,” she teased me.
“This is work related, nothing more. Don’t try to make it into one of your romance novels.”
“Can you tell me that you haven’t thought the same thing?”
“About Jason? Jason and me? No. Of course not. He’s my stepbrother. He’s possibly going to be my business partner. I can’t even count all the ways that it would be wrong,” I said but I could feel myself blushing.
“Or right. Come on, you can’t tell me you don’t find him sexy?”
“No,” I said too quickly and Annie glared at me. It was comments like that which made her such a great assistant. She knew me better than I knew myself. She could see that I was attracted to Jason even if I tried to hide it. “All right. Yes. He’s good-looking. I don’t live under a rock. But it doesn’t matter.”
“I think when it comes to how you feel about someone that’s the most important thing. Well, it’s one of the important things. I think the way that you two fight is just because you both don’t want to admit that you’re attracted to the other. It’s easier to hate each other than give into your feelings.”
“There are no feelings to give into. Jason has never looked at me as anything more than a nuisance. The only reason either of us is going on this trip is because of his father. His father is the one we care about and want to do right by, that’s all.”
“Don’t you think it’s odd that Kevin would make you two do this. You two of all people?” Annie asked.
“It makes sense for me to go and maybe he wanted Jason to show a bit more of his adventurous side. Maybe he wants him to see what I do so he could understand it better and I could learn more about what Jason does for the same reason.”
“Or he wanted you two to end up together and this was his way of setting you two up.”
I laughed as it seemed like the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. “Kevin did everything he could to keep Jason and me away from each other. He wanted to keep the peace with us. He knew the best way to do that was to keep us apart.”
“So why is he putting you two together now?” Annie asked.
“Because he’s gone and Jason and I have to find a way to work together. We can’t be having the same fights we had when Kevin was alive. Things are different now and we have to be too. Or we need to figure out if we can’t and decide what to do moving forward.”
“I think you two are going to see each other in a whole new light and things are definitely going to be different when you get back. I betcha.”
“You’re entirely too optimistic and romantic for my own good. Nothing is going to happen between Jason and me.”
“Do you want to place a bet on that?” Annie challenged.
“I wouldn’t because I would just be taking money away from you. If I don’t want to be with the man, then I will make sure I don’t, and would therefore win the bet.”
“But what if you’re just telling yourself you don’t want to be with him and things change and you do. I would bet on that.”
“Not going to happen but thank you so much for the lovely pep talk right before Jason shows up.”
“Oh, it was my pleasure. I hope it gives you something to think about and then maybe act on while you’re gone. Be sure to call me if you need anything and if anything changes between you two.”
I didn’t get to answer her as my doorbell rang and I knew it was Jason at the door. I gave Annie a knowing look as if to tell her not to say anything. She only gave me a sly smile and went to answer the door. I put the last of my clothes in my suitcase and closed it up, then went to my backpack and made sure that everything was in there. I could hear Jason and Annie talking and laughing with each other from the other room.
