Page 7 of Sentinel's Kiss

**uncomfortable silence**

“Then we hooked up in the backseat of my Jeep.”

Ashley shook her head. Not to mention her father would probably freak about all those sexy tattoos all over Josh’s arms.

“Why don’t you stay with us this summer?” her mother said, breaking into her amusing thoughts.

Hell no.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I can’t stay away from my apartment for that long.”

I value my sanity.

“Why? We’ll pay your rent. I’m sure Shelly would love the extra space.”

There were two things wrong with that sentence. First, her parents lived in a mansion in the Hamptons. While they certainly could write a check for four months’ rent on a Manhattan apartment without blinking, Ashley didn’t want them to. And second, she didn’t want Shelly to get too used to having the apartment to herself.

“I have a job that keeps me going at all hours. If I was living in the house, I would be a disturbance to your routine.”

And that was a cardinal sin. Her parents liked their structured lives. Having Ashley blow in and out at all times of the day and night would drive them crazy. She knew she’d won that round when her mother hesitated.

“Maybe we can get you an apartment on the Island?” Her mother recovered quickly. “Just for the summer. Your father is having a hard time sleeping, knowing that you’re in the city by yourself.”

Ashley rolled her eyes. She was closer to thirty than twenty but her parents still treated her as if she were still in high school. “Is Dad really that worried?”

“I know it’s not rational, but if he could see you more often, I think it would really help his recovery.”

Ugh, guilt arrow right in the heart.

“I don’t have time to look for an apartment,” she said.

“I can find you one.”

“I can just come back to visit more often. Every Sunday, I promise.” Ashley crossed her fingers and hoped her mother bought it.

“I don’t want you doing all that driving.”

“I’ll take the train.” Ashley was beginning to feel like they were playing tennis.

The score was 30-all.

“We could send a car for you.”

“I have a car.” She had the astronomical parking bills to prove it.

“It would mean so much to your father.”

Deuce, advantage Mom.

Ashley knew the tide had turned and she was going to lose this one. Time to do damage control. “I still have to work, so I need to be close to the train station.”

“You know, that job with Vogue is still open. They’re looking for a fashion and makeup correspondent.”

Ashley coughed to hide her laughter. “Mom, I was a war correspondent. Unless MAC and Cover Girl are going to start throwing bombs at each other, I’m not qualified to report on it.”

“Nonsense.” Her mother tut-tutted. “You shouldn’t sell yourself short. You can do anything you put your mind to. You wear makeup. I made sure you knew what haute couture was. You just need to apply yourself. I know a few people at the magazine. I could put in a good word for you. Send me a copy of your resume?”

“Mom, I have a job. You’re going to see me on the news on Wednesday.” If she could find a juicy angle for her story. Otherwise she’d be taped and stored to use on a slow news day.

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