Hurt punched her in the abdomen. Allison bowed slightly and she fought it but her lower lip trembled and tears stung her eyes. He’d kept his distance because he not only hated her because of her career, but he felt she was impossible and they couldn’t even talk. The hurt she felt was silly as she was the one who’d flung the insults at him first, but he was the one who seemed to actually mean the insults. Had she done something horrific while he watched silently on his security cameras, judging her every move, or was it all based on him not trusting any actress? Yet this slam didn’t feel like a blanket, it felt personal.
“Well at least I don’t hide or run away rather than face someone difficult,” she said then she did both, ran to her room, slammed the door, and hid away from him. Tears streamed down her face and she felt horrible. The fight hadn’t been all one-sided, she’d been mean and snippety too, but how could she get him to give her a chance? The more important question should be, why did she want to?
* * *
Birch felt like a class-one jerk as he stared at Allison’s door after she disappeared. He’d been mean and tossed some low blows, most of them lies and self-defense. He liked her far too much and he didn’t like himself at all at the moment. He should knock on the door, talk to her, tell her he was sorry. He moved that direction but stopped. Tomorrow. He was too vulnerable and invested in her right now. Tonight he’d say some prayers for forgiveness and beg for help to stay strong and tomorrow morning he’d tell her he was sorry. Would it accomplish anything though? He knew he’d never forget his brother’s last words to him. What if he told Allison the deepest reason he couldn’t date her or even allow himself to bask in the sunlight she radiated?
Miserably he walked into his own room, brushed his teeth, and then sank onto his knees next to his bed. He begged the good Lord for help and understanding. His brother’s life had been ruined by loving a selfish actress. Why would the Lord put a beautiful, tempting, and seemingly innocent and almost-angelic actress in Birch’s path? Could he go against what his brother had asked of him as he died?
Looking up at the ceiling he begged, “Please, some kind of miracle. Send Blade’s ghost down to tell me it’s okay to love Allison.” He dropped his forehead to the soft mattress in front of him and groaned. Love? That was nuts. He didn’t love her. She was appealing, intriguing, smart, fun, he thought she was genuine, but there was no reason to go to love.
He lumbered to his feet and fell on the soft bed. He should never have accepted this job. How did he think he could be immune and tough when there was a woman like Allison Bradford to contend with, to try to keep out of his heart?
Love. He shook his head. Staying in Dana Point with his family for sixty days would’ve been safer and easier than fighting his feelings for Ally. He smiled as he thought of her nickname and how she’d so sweetly asked him on that rocky cliff to call her by it. Ally. Watching her on the video feed over the past two weeks had only increased her appeal, and he doubted there was any heavenly visitation committee on their way down to give him dating approval.
He was in so much trouble.