Brett lay on his side not looking at me. Then, after a few moments of silence, he reached for the remote control and turned on the TV.

“Hey, there’s a Jacuzzi in the bathroom, want to test it out?” I raised my brows suggestively.

Brett remained silent.

“Oh, great,” I said. “Am I supposed to just go to sleep now and pretend that none of this has happened? Hey!” I softly smacked him on the ass, and he turned over and looked at me. His face was screwed up and red. “Honey, what is it?” I softened my tone and faced him sideways on the bed.

“It’s… I’m feeling insecure,” he whispered. He jutted out his quivering chin.

“About us?” I shifted around and cradled his head in my arms. “Oh, sweetie.”

He hid his face in my bosom, his lashes fluttered against my breasts. “About work.” His voice was muffled.

“Work?” The word plopped out like a stone. “You mean acting?”

“What if they hate me? What if I never work again?”

Brett covered his handsome face with his hands and burrowed deeper. I fought an enormous urge to shake him, hard. Instead, I stroked his head. “Look, honey, I know how you feel. We all feel this way after a movie. But I don’t think you, we, should let it get in the way of our vacation.”

Brett nodded miserably and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m sorry,” he said, pinching his eyes. “I’m such a jackbutt! If my pop ever saw me like this… Let’s just say he’d whup the man into me.”

I kissed his forehead. Part of me was pleased and touched that Brett was so open and vulnerable. But the other part wanted to climb back in the saddle and whup the man into him myself.

Brett ran his hands through his thick hair. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to spoil things.”

“You didn’t spoil anything,” I lied. “Feel better?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Yeah, I do. Thanks, Jackie. I’ve been holding it in all night. I didn’t want to ruin our time. Anyway, I just want to say that I’ve never met anyone like you. I feel like I can be myself with you, and in this town that is saying a lot.”

“Well, you can and you’re welcome.” I made my tone extra easy-going so as not to betray my frustration.

We gazed into each other’s eyes. I waited for him to make a move, get us going again. All I needed was a little jump-start.

“Mmmmm, Brett,” I sighed. I tickled behind his ear and he smiled, but his eyes had shifted focus. I followed his gaze, landing on the sports news. Suddenly self-conscious about my nakedness, I pulled my torn dress back over my head.

“Hey, um, I’m just gonna check out that tub,” I said, hoping Brett would ask to join me.