Page 17 of How Jenna Became My Dilemma

Jenna chokes on a laugh. “I’m sorry. What?”

Looks like she can talk after all.

Quinton’s focus turns to her. “I want you two to leave this afternoon and drive to my private beach house in Malibu.”

“Why?” Jenna sounds like a teenage girl who just got her curfew moved up from midnight to ten o’clock.

“So you both can get to know each other better.”

“The last thing we need is to spend more time together,” Jenna whines, and I’m mildly offended by her adamant rejection of Quinton’s plan. “We already know each other. We’ve been working together for months.”

“No, you tolerate each other, which isn’t the same as knowing.”

Jenna smiles sweetly, as if she means to use her charm to get what she wants. “We don’t need to spend the weekend together in Malibu. We can put our differences aside for work. We’ll try harder to get along. We’ll make an effort to get to know each other. But we can do that while we’re filming. There’s no need to go out of town.”

Quinton leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. I should’ve had you do this months ago when I first noticed you weren’t getting along. But I’m doing it now. You’ll go to Malibu together for the weekend, your assistants will book you new flights to our on-location filming site in Calgary, and you’ll meet up with the rest of the cast on Monday.”

A strained breath puffs out of Jenna’s throat. “I can’t just pick up and leave for Malibu.”

Tawny’s chin lifts. “I’ve spoken to Winnie. She’s already packed your bag and brought it to the set.”

Her jaw drops. “You knew about this?”

“We all did.”

“Julio has a bag packed for you and is en route with your car.”

I nod, impressed with Dallas’s forethought.

“Wait.” Jenna holds her hands up like she’s stopping the conversation. “We’re leaving now? From here? Together?”

“Yes.” A no-nonsense look on Quinton’s face keeps her from arguing further. So, instead, her green eyes whip to me.

“I can’t believe you’re okay with this.”

“You heard, Quinton. We don’t have a choice. So why throw a tantrum about it?”

“I don’t see why this is necessary.”

“And I don’t see why you care so much. You’re being asked to spend a relaxing weekend in Malibu. Such a hard life.”

Her jaw tightens as her glare falls over me. “A relaxing weekend with you.”

I’m a tough guy. Some would say a manly man. Sticks and stones aren’t going to break my bones. It’s words—specifically, Jenna’s words—that surprisingly hurt me. But I do what I do best and use innuendo to cover up the sting.

“Are you scared to be alone with me? Afraid you’ll end up having too much chemistry and liking it?”

She leans closer, lowering her voice to an intimate level. “Actually, I’m afraid I’ll end up killing you and liking it.”

My smile loosens as I hold her fiery glare.

Who says we don’t have any chemistry?

JENNA

* * *

I grab my purse and loop it over my shoulder as I push open my trailer door and head down the metal stairs onto the asphalt. “You packed my moisturizer?”

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