Page 128 of Ask Me Something

Brian chuckled. “If you cry or screech like a girl you’re going to send her for the hills. Do me a favor and play it cool for me.”

She calmed down immediately, still smiling broadly. “Sorry. But you know I’ve never met a girlfriend of his before. Matter of fact, my friends during freshman year of college asked if he might be gay.”

Now it was Brian’s turn to look uncomfortable.

Huh, I liked the turn of this conversation.

“Really, Kenzie, that’s the story you tell her? Is it any wonder I didn’t bring anyone home before now?”

She stuck her tongue out and gave him a big hug.

“Has the fact that you’re now a college graduate sunk in yet?” Brian kissed her on the cheek, looking proud of his little sister.

She beamed. “No, but that’s probably because grad school is right around the corner. Mom’s already pissed, by the way, because I’m not wearing the dress she picked out.”

He chuckled. “She’s ticked because I’m not wearing the white shirt, so there you have it. Per usual, the family bonding is off the charts.”

She giggled. “Seriously, my dad is around here somewhere avoiding her probably sneaking the scotch already. Mom is such a control freak. I’m so glad we’re not like that.”

I stole a glance at Brian. His desire to be in control in at least one aspect of his life was making a lot more sense to me.

Judging from the tight smile on his face, he wasn’t thrilled with his sister giving me this insight.

An interruption from Colby, however, distracted us all. “Hello, Sasha, Brian. Nice to see you both. Hey, Kenz.”

We stood around chatting until Brian’s mother interjected, insisting Brian and his sister join the family on the back lawn for pictures.

I was a spectator, along with Colby, watching while Brian’s mother arranged the family in several poses. So far my anxiety in being here had been manageable. Maybe I could do this after all. I tried unsuccessfully not to laugh at the funny looks both Kenzie and Brian were giving me when my cell phone vibrated in my clutch.

I ignored it, figuring it would go to voicemail, only to hear it vibrate again. Pulling it out, I saw my assistant Nancy’s number flash up. It was Saturday, and since she’d never called me on my personal phone before, I knew it had to be some sort of crisis.

“Excuse me, Colby, I have to take this,” I said, stepping to the side. “Hello.” Looking toward Brian, whose eyes were watching me closely; I smiled before focusing in on Nancy.

“I’m sorry to bother you on a Saturday, Sasha, and on your private number, but I tried to reach you yesterday on your work phone and via email…”

“I’m sorry, Nancy, I turned it off and shouldn’t have. What’s going on?”

“Evidently, Vanessa asked that Logan travel out instead of you on Thursday for the shoot. She told him that she’d taken you off the account after meeting with Brian on Friday morning.”

My eyes immediately flicked toward Brian.

His face looked concerned, probably from the way mine now appeared after getting this news.

“Did you say that Vanessa called Logan to tell him to come in my place because she’d told Brian I was off the account yesterday?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Sasha. You may want to reach out to Brian to discover what might be happening. To find out from the client seems unprofessional. I would’ve thought—”

“Hang up.” Brian’s voice came from behind me, and he snatched the phone from my grasp. “Nancy, she’ll have to call you back.” He pressed the end call button and simply stared at me.

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