Seduced The Unexpected Virgin - By Emily McKay Page 0,63

to run the story…

“A reporter never gives up her sources,” Gillian said sternly.

“Right,” Ana quipped. “This isn’t exactly high political intrigue we’re talking about. It’s entertainment gossip. Who is this source of yours?”

“Look, I just…” Gillian stammered. Then she released a sigh. “If he’s planning some big romantic gesture, I don’t want to be the one to ruin it.”

“If who is planning some big romantic gesture?”

“Ward.”

Ana’s heart stuttered in her chest. Ward? Planning a big romantic gesture? For her?

A bark of bitter laughter bubbled out. Gillian seemed not to notice it.

“My big source,” Gillian continued, “is his assistant. He called to schedule an interview with me for immediately after the street fair. He’s the one who told me about the song and new album.”

Ana’s heart started thudding dully again in her chest. “You mean Ryan. His new public relations manager.”

“No, that wasn’t his name.” On the other end of the phone, Ana heard Gillian clicking away on her computer as if pulling up a file. “Jess was his name. And he said he was Ward’s assistant.”

Ana frowned, rocking slowly back and forth in her chair. Ryan, she totally would have expected this of him. He wouldn’t have any trouble misleading a reporter to get better press coverage. But it wasn’t like Jess at all. “And it was Jess who told you about the performance?” Ana asked, still trying to wrap her mind around it.

“Yes. He said Ward was going to perform. That it was the first new song he’d written in years and that it was off the new album he just started recording this week.” There was a long moment—during which Ana could do little more than frown and rock. And then Gillian asked, “You didn’t know?”

The hint of pity—or maybe blatant curiosity in Gillian’s voice snapped Ana out of it.

“I knew he was in the studio.” That was strictly true. Throughout his time in Vista Del Mar, Ward had spent significant time at a recording studio in L.A. “He produces albums. He’s working on an album for some kid he heard in a club a few months ago.”

“Yeah,” Gillian said. “Dave Summers. He was working on his album. But they finished in the studio two weeks ago. Ward still had studio time and he’s been using it himself.”

Still not quite believing what she was hearing, she said, “You just called the studio and asked? And they told you?”

“I can be very persuasive.” Gillian’s voice was smugly pleased.

“Apparently,” Ana grumbled.

“Look,” Gillian began. “I’m sorry if I put my foot in it. If he’s planning some big romantic gesture…” She let her voice trail off.

Yeah. Right. If Ward was planning some big romantic gesture, Ana would be arriving at the street festival in a chariot pulled by exotic long-haired llamas.

Still, Ana found herself offering up reassurances. “If he is planning something, I’ll act surprised.”

Which would not be hard to fake.

Whatever Ward was planning, it wasn’t a gesture. Romantic, big or otherwise. They hadn’t spoken since the fight at her uncle’s house. All her life, she’d told herself she was putting off romance because the time wasn’t right or because she hadn’t yet met the right man. But maybe it was none of those things. Maybe she just sucked at love.

By the time Saturday rolled around, she no longer knew what to expect from the festival. Lena had showed up for work, on time, appropriately dressed and brimming with energy every day. She seemed not just determined to succeed, but to trample into the dust any doubts Ana might have had about her capabilities. She was even respectful. Mostly. She refrained from making snide comments about Ana unless they were alone. Christi and Omar were happy for the extra help in preparing for the street fair and agreed hiring Lena was a stroke of brilliance. Plus, the extra help had freed up Ana’s time and allowed her to make progress on all the paperwork that had been bearing down on her.

There were even several minutes of each day leading up to the festival during which Ana didn’t feel overwhelmed by the task ahead of her. Then she would remember the possibility that Ward would show up, and the panic would return.

But the night before she’d walked away from her job in L.A., her mother had reminded her that the things in life that most scared you were the only things worth doing. The street fair definitely felt like that. Terrifying, but worth the risk.

Midway through the schedule of events, Rafe was