He grumbled something but then simply crawled into his covers and shut off the lamp. The room plunged into darkness. Maybe Breeze was weird, but she wasn’t simply going to follow Seth around like some star struck teenager. She had to have some purpose, a job, the sense of being needed and accomplished. She rolled over and bunched the pillow under her head. She was too tired to reason it out right now and besides, Seth hadn’t asked her to be his groupie anyway.
* * *
A buzzing and ringing in her pocket pulled Breeze from a zombie-like sleep. Head pounding, she rolled over and numbly fished her phone out of her pocket. She’d fallen asleep fully clothed. Sunlight was streaming through the closed curtains, and Ridge was snoring in the other bed.
“Hello?” she managed through her scratchy throat.
“Breeze!” Mar’s happy voice came through the line. “Are you okay? Seth told me everything this morning.”
Seth. Breeze sat up in bed and leaned back against the pillows and headboard. “I’m okay, thanks to Seth and Caleb.”
Ridge grumbled something and rolled over, pulling the extra pillow over his head. Breeze ignored him.
“Aw, that’s so sweet. Did I wake you?”
“It was a long night.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. Hey, I just had some ideas this morning. Seth said your house is gone, and your brother is going to be traveling with him as one of his mechanics.”
Breeze glanced over at Ridge and got a lump in her throat. She’d miss him, but she was thrilled he was drug and alcohol free and able to pursue his dreams. If only Seth had a spot for her, but she wouldn’t beg him to take her. Because, despite all her promises that she’d throw herself at him, she still had enough pride to wait until he asked. Dang, she was stupid and prideful. Why not be a groupie and just follow him until he noticed her?
“Yeah,” was all she managed.
“I know you still have a job, but I’ve been scheming. I’m wanting to train another assistant so I can have more free time to travel with Luke. It comes with an apartment and a pretty fabulous boss.”
“Are you …” Breeze could hardly believe this. Mar would want her … as her assistant? “Me? Your assistant?”
“Yes, please,” Mar chirped. “You’d be fabulous, perfect really. I’d love spending more time with you and you’d be the answer to prayers.”
“Oh, my. I don’t know what to say.”
“No stress. You don’t have to have an answer this minute. Think about it. If the answer’s yes, Seth will bring you to the airport and I’ll get you a flight. Hugs!”
She hung up.
Breeze sat there, cradling the phone. Mar’s assistant? Was that taking a handout? It didn’t feel like that. It felt like Mar needed her. She’d love to be around and learn from her idol, and maybe she could still see Seth. The only thing better than being around Mar was finding some way to stay with Seth.
* * *
Seth watched Breeze carefully as they ate breakfast at a small café in town. She was quiet, subdued. Had Mar called her? What was she thinking about the offer? He and Mar had gone the rounds this morning when he’d called his sister-in-law to ask for advice on how to get Breeze to somehow stay with him. Mar had been adamant that Breeze should come work for her so Breeze could retain her pride and find success that wasn’t based on him creating a job.
He’d rather have Breeze right with him, but she’d been vehement enough about her pride in that park last night. He could see the wisdom behind her working for his sister-in-law. With Mar she could find success and confidence, and he’d have an excuse to easily see her when he had breaks. They could develop a relationship and hopefully someday she’d fall for him like he had for her. He just didn’t like being separated from her, for any length of time, and he wasn’t creating a job. He really did need someone different and more effective than his regular manager doing his social media and his scheduling.
Ridge and Caleb talked and laughed throughout the meal. They rehashed everything from yesterday, and Caleb taught Ridge a crash course in lacrosse, using silverware and sugar packets to lay out the players and goals. Ridge and Breeze both expressed excitement to go to a game.
As the meal finished, Caleb stood and stretched. “Are we all headed to the airport then? I’m flying back to Vermont to check on Rachel and then I’ll make Dad lend me a jet to go back to Colorado. If Eve and Paisley are still around it won’t take much persuading.”
Seth smiled. Eve lived in Golden about twenty miles west of Denver where Caleb’s condo was. Their dad would do anything for Eve and Paisley. He’d probably tell Caleb to catch a commercial flight, but not if Eve and Paisley needed a flight home.
“What about you all?” Caleb asked.
Ridge looked to Seth. “My next event is in Massachusetts,” Seth said, “so we’ll come with you to Vermont to check in on Rachel then meet up with my crew.” Seth didn’t really have a home base, besides his half a million-dollar motorhome and all the trucks, cargo trailers, and travel trailers for his guys that traveled with him.
They all swung to look at Breeze. Seth wished he dared ask her to come with him, but he was pretty certain she wasn’t ready for that. Despite their kiss last night at the hotel, he couldn’t forget how vehement she’d been about her pride at the park a couple of hours before that.
She cleared her throat and tilted her chin. “I’m flying to San Francisco. Mar offered me a job.” She smiled broadly as she said it and relief and jealousy filled him. She was taking the job with Mar. He was thrilled that she’d be with Mar and Cosette, but still wished she was going to stay with him.
Ridge’s eyebrows went up. “That’s great, sis.”