Page 8 of Forbidden Fruit

“No, really. I think that’s it.”

“Jealous of what?”

“Someone else taking over your company. I think you’re scared to let go.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I say.

“Maybe,” she says. “But I think I’m right.”

“You’re not.”

“Then prove it. Come with us.”

“I’m not jealous,” I say. “I just don’t like seeing Jack treat Becca that way.”

“She doesn’t mind. You’re the one who does.”

That makes me stop. Kay knows how to get to me, and she’s been doing it long enough that she’s right more often than not. I want to walk away. I don’t want to walk away.

“It’s a terrible idea,” I say again.

“For who?”

“For me.”

“Then why are you thinking so hard?”

“I don’t know what you expect,” I say. “You know how Jack is.”

“Yes,” she says. “That’s why we should do this. To help Jack settle down.”

“This is going to end badly.”

“It’s going to end,” she says. “That’s all you care about.”

I look at her, at the way she’s already certain she’s won. And the thing that scares me is that she’s right. About more than I want to admit.

“What do you think it will be?” she says. “A week in paradise?”

“It’ll be a week in something.”

“Then you’ll come?”

“Don’t hold me to it.”

“I thought you loved a challenge,” she says.

“I used to.”

“You used to love me.”

“I’m a little more careful with my investments now.”

“That’s funny,” she says. “You’re investing in the same thing again.”

She has a way of making me do what I don’t want to do. She also has a way of getting herself into trouble.

“Two weeks,” I say. “That’s when I can get away.”

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