Page 128 of Imogen

“I don’t want him to keep dropping stuff for me. I know he should have been on another assignment by now.”

“He’s been doing assignments. He just doesn’t leave town to do them,” I reassure her. “Let him do this.”

“All right,” she replies. “I feel bad you’ve come all this way and are only working the day.”

“I’m glad I came. Me and Imogen got to spend some time together.”

“Yeah. It’s just a shame we’ll only get one day to ourselves. My other relatives are arriving today, and when we get back, we’re doing a barbeque. Tomorrow, we’re going to the outdoor ski centre.”

“You should climb up to the bluff that’s on the land you’re staying on. There’s a story that if a new couple reaches the top and leaves an item that belongs to them, their relationship will last a lifetime.”

“We’ve not heard anything about that,” Imogen tells her, her interest piqued.

Sabrina shares a smile. “You wouldn’t. The town has a lot of tourist attractions. The people want to keep some things to themselves. But it’s not a secret it’s there. It’s just not advertised. It’s spread by word of mouth.”

Imogen glances up at me, biting her lip. “I don’t own a pair of trainers.”

“Not one pair?” I ask, sure she’s pulling my leg.

“Not one,” she answers.

“But you’ve gone to the gym.”

“I went to take self-defence classes and I did it in high-heeled boots.”

“You took self-defence classes in boots?” I repeat, unable to comprehend what I’m hearing.

She has to be pulling my leg.

“If I’m going to get attacked, it’s going to be in boots. There would be no point in me wearing trainers to practise if I’m just going to twist my ankle trying to fight off an attacker in my boots. At least now I know I can fight back wearing boots.”

Sabrina’s eyes are wide, and she nervously runs her hand over her stomach. “You need self-defence classes?”

“Yeah. Um... My family has a tendency to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she admits. “You should take them too. I can set you up with a great instructor if you ever come down. Or get Connor to teach you. Dad said he’s good.”

“Her family tends to cause trouble wherever they go, she means to say,” I correct. “And Connor can teach you the basics but it’s always better to get a teacher who isn’t afraid to go hard on you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she replies softly before turning to Imogen. “I have heard about your family. The Carters, right?”

“Yeah. How did you know?” Imogen questions warily.

“I listen to a certain radio station religiously, and Connor always turns it off. When I asked what his problem was, thinking he might have dated the radio host, he explained that he knew her and told me it’s not an act. She really is that badass.”

“He called her a badass?” Imogen asks, her entire face lighting up.

Sabrina winces. “That’s not the word he used. He said chaotic, psychotic, and neurotic,” she admits.

Imogen splutters out a laugh. “That’s about right too. But you should meet her dad. He has way more, um, character.”

“You don’t want to do that,” I butt in.

“Why?” Sabrina replies.

“Even with all your money, you wouldn’t be able to afford the therapy you’d need after meeting him. Trust me.” Noticing the other actors are no longer lingering around, I change the subject. “Are you finished now?”

“Yes. He doesn’t want to start the next scene because of how much time has already passed so he’s sending everyone home.”

When she yawns, I know it’s time to get her home. “Come on, let’s get you back. Connor shouldn’t be too long now.”

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