Part 25 (1/2)
”Uh-huh. Nice and easy, until you forced me back to work.”
”Sorry again. I didn't exactly plan to get caught having s.e.x. Have you heard from Buddy?”
”Not directly, but I did talk to Ashton. He says Buddy isn't happy, and Ashton shared a few ideas about how to get out in front of the story. That's what I want to talk to you about when you get home. I've set up some interviews for you-”
”I'm not doing any interviews, Jill.”
”Hear me out-”
”Jill... No interviews.”
The comment was met with stony silence from her sister.
”I'm sorry. I know you went to a lot of trouble to set them up, but I'm going in a different direction.”
”Well, do feel free to share your new direction with your manager and attorney at your earliest convenience.”
”I want to talk to you in person.”
”Fine.”
”You're p.i.s.sed.”
”I don't know what I am! I'm trying to do my job, but you're not making it easy.”
”I know. I'm sorry.”
”Stop apologizing. We'll talk when you get home.”
”I appreciate all you do for me.”
”I know that. You don't have to say it.”
”Yes, I do. I'll see you tomorrow.”
”I'll be here. Call your parents.”
”Doing that now. See you.”
Jill ended the call without another word.
”That went well,” Kate muttered, finding her mother's number on her list of favorites before she lost her nerve.
Chapter 11.
While Jill was talking to Kate, Ashton placed a big, warm hand on her belly.
Annoyed, aggravated and concerned after the conversation with her sister, Jill tried to squirm out of his embrace, but he pulled her in tight against him so he was tucked up to her back. ”Stay. Talk to me. What did she say?”
”You heard enough to put two and two together.”
”So they're engaged.”
”Yes.” All at once, Jill stopped thinking about herself and turned to gauge how he was feeling. His expression was completely blank. ”I'm sorry you had to hear it that way.”
He shrugged. ”I figured they'd probably head in that direction this time around.”
”Are you okay?”
”Don't worry about me.” He brought her hand to his lips and pressed kisses to the inside of her wrist that short-circuited all her brain cells, making her briefly forget her dismay over Kate's refusal to do the interviews. ”What else did she say?”
”She won't do the interviews,” Jill said with a sigh as she reluctantly withdrew her hand. She couldn't think when he was doing that.
”I thought she might say that.”
Surprised, Jill looked over at him. ”Yet you advised me to set them up?”
”You did your job. What she does next is up to her.” He paused and then looked up to meet her gaze. ”I noticed you didn't tell her you're with me.”
”I didn't think it was the time.”
”It's not because you're afraid she's going to blow a gasket over us, is it?”
”No, of course not,” Jill said with less conviction than she felt.
”You're sure of that?”
”Mostly.”
He smiled, but it wasn't the full-face event his smiles usually were.
”Are you hurt that I didn't tell her?”
”Not really. I haven't told my dad or anyone else about us, so why should you?”
”I will tell her. When she gets back. I'll tell her then.”
”And when will that be?”
Jill turned back onto her side, and Ashton cuddled in close behind her. There was something about having his strong arms around her that made her feel safer and more secure than she'd felt with any other man. ”I guess they were going to leave today, but the weather isn't great, so they're aiming for tomorrow.”
He nudged her hair out of the way so he could get to her neck. ”Looks to me like you have another day off.”
”Looks that way.”