Page 48 of Indiscreet

“Yes, but it’s useless if you don’t take a break and rejuvenate.”

“It’s not always easy to take that time off,” I said. “We have a pool to donate time to those that need it. I usually end up giving most of mine away.”

“That’s kind of you, but I don’t agree with it,” Dane said as he kissed my cheek. “Everyone needs a break. At my company, each person must use their holiday time. We’ve made it so that a part of our work incentives is to give away a dream vacation each quarter. People come back with a fresh set of ideas. It has been worth it. Imagine what you can gain from some time away, plus it gives your staff room to grow and learn to function more independently, before you burn out.”

I sighed. “I hear what you’re saying. It’s more that I don’t know what to do with myself…I haven’t spent much time alone. I lived with my parents, roommates, and then Patrick. I guess I don’t know what else to do other than work.”

“That’s understandable,” he said. “I’m on the opposite end of that spectrum. I went to boarding school and I had my own place during college. I was always fine on my own, until I wasn’t.”

“Until Angel?” I asked softly.

“She was a part of it,” he said. “I hadn’t realized just how much she filled my life until she was gone. She always had something going on and was always pushing for me to get involved. She was always putting on a show. I tried to give her the space where she could be herself, or so she used to say.”

“I’d have to agree, from the little time I’ve known you,” I said. “You make everything seem easy. I guess that’s why I’m not freaking out right now.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Dane tensed behind me.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“No,” he said, and we both heard Elliott answer. “If there’s a problem, Elliott will come back and tell us.”

A few minutes later, Elliott came out on the deck, holding up a card. “We’ve been summoned to tonight’s festivities.”

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