own.
“Okay,”
I said resigned. “I’ll be in touch, and we’ll plan a time to connect. Thanks
for all your insight, Sally.”
“Sounds
good. Take it easy, Bridget. This witness protection thing takes a little
getting used to, but I promise you, it beats the alternative.”
“I
know you’re right. Talk to you next week.”
“Okay.
‘Bye.”
“’Bye.”
I
was in shock. What was I going to tell Sergio? How could we work together let
alone have a relationship, and be sure we were never seen together, at least
not by anyone who might publicize the connection? I needed time to think.
I
texted him: Can I take a rain ck on 2nite? Not feeling great.
My
phone rang a couple of minutes later. “My sweet Bridget, are you okay?” he
asked with concern.
“My
stomach is a bit upset. I thought I was doing better, but it’s gotten worse in
the last half hour. Can we connect tomorrow?”
“Of
course,” he said sympathetically. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No,
I think it just needs to run its course.”
“Okay,
my sweet. But call me if you need anything.”
“I
will. Thank you for understanding. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Okay,
love, sweet dreams.”
“You,
too.”
My
upset stomach was no lie. There was a lot to figure out, and after my
conversation with Sally, I thought I was going to throw up.
Chapter 7
Sleep
deprivation from the night before and a ten-hour work day left me feeling particularly
tired. That fatigue was probably fueling my angst over the whole situation. It
was becoming abundantly clear that I would have to sever my romantic
relationship with Sergio to keep him out of harm’s way, and even try to steer
clear of him when we were working together. This seemed as unfair as having to
leave Adam Comstock on a moment’s notice. The only difference would be that I
would still see Sergio regularly. That promised to be sheer agony.
I
started to compose in my mind what I might say to him as an explanation.
Sergio,
I’m afraid if we are sleeping together, and trying to work together, the book
will suffer.
Sergio,
I could lose my job if our relationship gets in the way of the shoot, so we
need to cut off the romance.
Sergio,
if you’re seen with me in public, you could get shot.”
Ugh! I paced and thought about all the
possibilities. There were no good answers.
About
an hour later, there was a knock on my door. I was totally surprised to see
Sally. “Sally! What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
“Can
I come in?” she asked.
“Sure!”
She
turned to me and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “You’re sleeping with him,
aren’t you?”
“What’re
you talking about?” I asked, gesturing for her to come into the kitchen. “Can I
pour you a glass of wine?”
“That’d
be great.” She sat down at the counter and continued, “I could tell from the
tone of our conversation that you’re already emotionally involved with Sergio.
I thought we’d better have that conversation we talked about sooner rather than
later to do damage control, depending on how deeply you’re entrenched.”
“You’re
very perceptive, Sally.”
“I’ve
seen it before, and I just don’t want you to make any mistakes that will hurt
you or him any more than you have to.”
“We
just met for the first time last week. He and his culinary director came to the
studio to meet Dane and me to talk about the book. There was instant chemistry
between us. Dane and I put a presentation together for the project, and I took
it to Sergio on Friday. We had a great meeting, just the two of us. We shared a
little Prosecco in celebration of the project going to Pratt Photography. At
the end of that meeting, he invited me to dinner Saturday night at Buena Comida.
It was a magical night that continued on through the next day. I saw him again last
night and was supposed to see him tonight, but after I talked with you, I
begged off. I needed time to think.”
“Well,
at least it’s only
“Okay,”
I said resigned. “I’ll be in touch, and we’ll plan a time to connect. Thanks
for all your insight, Sally.”
“Sounds
good. Take it easy, Bridget. This witness protection thing takes a little
getting used to, but I promise you, it beats the alternative.”
“I
know you’re right. Talk to you next week.”
“Okay.
‘Bye.”
“’Bye.”
I
was in shock. What was I going to tell Sergio? How could we work together let
alone have a relationship, and be sure we were never seen together, at least
not by anyone who might publicize the connection? I needed time to think.
I
texted him: Can I take a rain ck on 2nite? Not feeling great.
My
phone rang a couple of minutes later. “My sweet Bridget, are you okay?” he
asked with concern.
“My
stomach is a bit upset. I thought I was doing better, but it’s gotten worse in
the last half hour. Can we connect tomorrow?”
“Of
course,” he said sympathetically. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No,
I think it just needs to run its course.”
“Okay,
my sweet. But call me if you need anything.”
“I
will. Thank you for understanding. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Okay,
love, sweet dreams.”
“You,
too.”
My
upset stomach was no lie. There was a lot to figure out, and after my
conversation with Sally, I thought I was going to throw up.
Chapter 7
Sleep
deprivation from the night before and a ten-hour work day left me feeling particularly
tired. That fatigue was probably fueling my angst over the whole situation. It
was becoming abundantly clear that I would have to sever my romantic
relationship with Sergio to keep him out of harm’s way, and even try to steer
clear of him when we were working together. This seemed as unfair as having to
leave Adam Comstock on a moment’s notice. The only difference would be that I
would still see Sergio regularly. That promised to be sheer agony.
I
started to compose in my mind what I might say to him as an explanation.
Sergio,
I’m afraid if we are sleeping together, and trying to work together, the book
will suffer.
Sergio,
I could lose my job if our relationship gets in the way of the shoot, so we
need to cut off the romance.
Sergio,
if you’re seen with me in public, you could get shot.”
Ugh! I paced and thought about all the
possibilities. There were no good answers.
About
an hour later, there was a knock on my door. I was totally surprised to see
Sally. “Sally! What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
“Can
I come in?” she asked.
“Sure!”
She
turned to me and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “You’re sleeping with him,
aren’t you?”
“What’re
you talking about?” I asked, gesturing for her to come into the kitchen. “Can I
pour you a glass of wine?”
“That’d
be great.” She sat down at the counter and continued, “I could tell from the
tone of our conversation that you’re already emotionally involved with Sergio.
I thought we’d better have that conversation we talked about sooner rather than
later to do damage control, depending on how deeply you’re entrenched.”
“You’re
very perceptive, Sally.”
“I’ve
seen it before, and I just don’t want you to make any mistakes that will hurt
you or him any more than you have to.”
“We
just met for the first time last week. He and his culinary director came to the
studio to meet Dane and me to talk about the book. There was instant chemistry
between us. Dane and I put a presentation together for the project, and I took
it to Sergio on Friday. We had a great meeting, just the two of us. We shared a
little Prosecco in celebration of the project going to Pratt Photography. At
the end of that meeting, he invited me to dinner Saturday night at Buena Comida.
It was a magical night that continued on through the next day. I saw him again last
night and was supposed to see him tonight, but after I talked with you, I
begged off. I needed time to think.”
“Well,
at least it’s only
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