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Part 7

Miranda's driver finally pulled up at the trail head, and the editor peered out the window in hopes of seeing her ex-assistant, but all that was there was another car in the parking lot. "God where is that girl?" she hissed through gritted teeth. "This is getting to be beyond a joke."

Removing her dark sunglasses, she held her gaze out of the side window and then scrolled through her phone to see if she had left her a text. Getting more and more frustrated, she was just about to tell the driver to leave when a sudden knock to the window startled her. She all but squeaked, and when she noticed Andrea smiling at her, she knew it was time to get out of this air-conditioned car and endure the heat. She secretly exhaled a deep breath before finally opening the door and slipping out.

"Well howdy, stranger," Andy drawled with a lazy smile and a playful wink. "Fancy seeing you here."

Miranda not only wanted to throttle this woman for making her come to this place to get the rest of the interview, but for making her wait and wait for it. But seeing Andy with her hair all pulled back, and seeing how those short shorts showed off toned legs and looking oh so cute and smelling like sun block was making Miranda want to throttle her for a whole lot of other reasons.

"I see that you're still in character. Well, it's nice of you to actually be here on time," Miranda bit, and Andy's eyes welcomed her in this attire of clothing. Her designer clothes were gone, and Andy wasn't sure if she actually missed them.

Seeing Miranda wearing tight capri yoga pants and a workout tee was entirely something her beating heart sure wasn't used too. Yeah sure, she had packed them for her a time or two, but she had never seen her ever in them. Miranda noticed her inspecting her, and although she had mixed feelings about it, she just shook it off. "I can't believe you dragged me out here. I mean really, Andrea?" Miranda detested incredulously.

Andy's eyes narrowed a fraction, but her smile remained. "Yeah I can't believe you didn't call me up and tell me to fuck off," she teased.

Miranda sighed loudly as she shut the door just as loudly. "So you got me out here, now what?"

"Well, it is about an hour hike to the top, give or take. So if you want, you can tell your driver I can take you back."

Miranda eyed her suspiciously and cocked her head to the side, questioning her former assistant without actually talking. Still attuned to reading her mind, Andrea gave her an amused grin. "What's the matter, are you afraid I may leave you out here?" she asked jokingly, but her voice was pure silk.

Good hell that woman sure as hell developed her acting skills, she thought, swallowing tightly as she averted her gaze to the trail ahead of them. Looking at Andrea right now was starting to take a toll on her, kind of like looking at the sun too long. Either way, both were dangerous to one's system. Miranda inhaled sharply, keeping her eyes clearly ahead of her as she finally dared to ask. "Well, will you?" Her eyebrow peeked slightly.

"Depends if you don't lighten up. Come on, Miranda; how often do you get out of that stuffy building and enjoy some fresh air?"

Seriously where the hell did this girl get this confidence? It was getting bad before, but this new Andrea was tearing down her defenses, and doing it rather quickly. And apparently I even gravitate toward her when I'm asleep. "Do I need to remind you that this is business and not pleasure?"

"Of course not. You remind me every chance you get, but I don't see why we can't have both," Andy shrugged, and batted her eyelashes at her as she handed her a cold water bottle. "You need to stay hydrated." She waited for Miranda a moment before the older woman finally relented and actually took it from her grasp, careful to not touch her.

"Fine, let's get this over with. Lead the way," Miranda spewed, and dismissed the driver before they started up the dusty trail. "Shit I forgot my sunglasses," she muttered to herself and apparently to the gnat that seemed to take a liking to her, as she watched the driver speed away.

They were only about hundred yards up the trail when Andy smirked. "Make sure you drink the water this time. Oh, and by the way, how was your head this morning?" she asked playfully over her shoulder.

Miranda clenched her jaw. "It was just fine," she lied, knowing full well she felt like dog shit when she woke up, and even worse when she didn't remember snuggling with her former assistant all night. She was just grateful that she hadn't mentioned it now.

"Oh one more thing, keep a firm look out for rattlesnakes," Andy cautioned, as she continued up the trail.

Miranda fisted her free hand and her nostrils flared as she scanned the ground. "And why do I have this sneaky feeling that you're going to tell me to beat two sticks together to ward off mountain lions?" she mocked teasingly.

It made Andy start laughing so hard that she had to turn back to the other woman. "Now Miranda, I sure as hell didn't know you had it in you to actually make a joke."

"I have more in me than you think. In fact, I think you just are thinking that by the time we get to the top of this bloody ass mountain, I will be too tired to finish this interview, and if that's the case, you have one rude awakening ahead of you."

Andy snickered. "I don't believe that whatsoever."

Now Miranda was level with her on the trail. "So why else bring me out here?"

Andy took a careful step closer to the other woman. "Oh come on Miranda, I don't think you'd like the real answer to that." Her lips thinned out into a wide grin as she taunted her by bouncing her brows at her.

Miranda narrowed her gaze. "You are going to leave me up here, or even better, you will throw me off the nearest cliff."

Andy snorted another amused round of laughter and shrugged. "Now what fun would that be? I have other plans for you." Her eyes went from her playful banter to dead serious as she veered even closer, so close that Miranda took an awkward step back, and then cringed when Andrea gave her a pleased smile. "Oh come on, we still got a ways to go," she announced when she was already heading back up the trail.

Miranda inwardly fumed at not being able to come up with some witty comeback. "Fucking heat," she uttered quietly. Taking a long sip of water, she secretly eyed Andrea's long legs from a distance. She knew she needed to get a handle on her wandering eyes, but soon she would be back in New York, and it pained her heart knowing that she probably would never see this woman again.

They walked in silence for about five minutes as Miranda felt the sweat bead at her brow, and that's when she noticed that she was indeed lagging behind. Stopping to gather a quick breath, she held a hand up to shade her eyes from the sun. In the distance, behind a V-shaped crag on a sloping hill, she saw that Andrea was waiting for her. What is wrong with me? I'm in better shape than this. That thought floated in, so she inhaled sharply, and digging down, began to climb up the trail at a faster pace.

Miranda was breathing more frantically as she finally made it to where her former assistant was, and noticed that Andrea had a worried expression on her face. "Shit Miranda, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," the older woman exhaled, as she sucked in large masses of air.

"Put your arms up and your hands at the back of your head. It will help get air into your lungs."

Miranda actually listened and did what Andy instructed, still sucking in air. Once she felt she had her breathing back in order, she shook her head. "I don't know what's wrong with me. This trail isn't that steep, and I'm in better shape than this," she explained, trying not to feel embarrassed. I guess her age was indeed catching up with her, which was making her feel more defeated. "Is this what you wanted? Is this some sort of payback, to show me that you're this young and…"

Andy swiftly erased what little space was left between them and quickly cut her off. "Will you stop? That is not what all this is about. And I know why you are so out of breath, and it has nothing to do with how old you are," she voiced loudly so she had Miranda's complete attention.

"Excuse me; what gives you the right to yell at me?"

Andy rubbed at her face harshly, as if she was trying to get her emotions under control. "Oh my god," she groaned. "Relax, will you?" Her tone was now softer. "It's the elevation, it's getting to you."

Miranda blinked and felt like a moron for not cluing herself in on that information. Well here was her "oh duh" moment. She closed her eyes momentarily and swallowed tightly when she open them and saw only tender concern in Andrea's brown eyes, which made her feel like an asshole yet again. "I should have thought about that," she deflected.

Andy shook her head. "No I should have, I'm sorry. I never should have taken you up here. Come on, let's get you back," the brunette said, and opened her arm up as if she wanted Miranda to lead the way.

Miranda had too much competiveness in her to give up that easily. "No, we are not going back until we reach the top and you finish giving me that interview," she basically commanded, and had already started back up the path.

Andy sighed, rolling her eyes at the other woman. "You're impossible," she voiced from behind, but this time she got to keep an eye on Miranda, and let her set the pace, which with this view Andy decided wasn't bad… wasn't bad at all. God I'm a perv. If Miranda only knew I was secretly crushing on her she'd have a coronary right here. Deep down she knew it was wrong, but then again she also knew this might be the last time she ever would see this woman.

…

Miranda's eyes widened as she stepped out in the clearing, evidently at the top of the peak they were on. "Wow, what a view," she breathed.

Andy stood by her and eyed the other woman with a smug grin. "I agree," she relayed, but her gaze wasn't on the view ahead of them, it remained to her side on the older woman.

Miranda didn't catch on that Andy was actually paying her a compliment; she only felt the heat of her scrutiny and flashed her eyes at her. "What are you looking at?"

Andy wanted to roll her eyes, but she refrained from doing so. "Just making sure you're okay."

"I made it, didn't I?" she said, a trifle defensively. "And you didn't think I could."

"I never doubted you, not even for one second."

"Sure you didn't," Miranda scoffed. "So let's find a spot we can get this interview out of the way before you try once again to detour me." She rubbed the sweat off of her forehead, and pulled out the small recorder out of a hidden pocket in her yoga pants.

"Wow, didn't even know those had that," Andy said with a soft giggle, at seeing Miranda come prepared.

"What's with you and always giggling? Do you always think everything is funny?"

Andy quickly folded her lips together. "No, not everything." She cleared her throat and scanned the area looking for a somewhere for them to rest. "Over there looks like a perfect place." She pointed to a tree.

Miranda followed her and soon they were standing in a shaded area that the tree provided. "This isn't sufficient," Miranda growled. "I don't enjoy sitting in the dirt."

Andy now rolled her eyes and pointed to the nearby log. "We will sit on that."

Miranda splayed her hands out mockingly. "Oh like that's much better."

"God, you really are a princess aren't you," Andy sighed and didn't wait for the other woman; she just found a spot on the fallen tree trunk and took a large gulp of her water. Twisting the cap back on, she stared at the other woman and watched her contemplate her next move. "So fire away."

Miranda huffed and finally relented, taking a spot next to Andy. "You know you have me over a barrel here. I didn't bring my notes."

"Then don't ask me, wait until we get back." Andy wanted to giggle again, but instead she cleared her throat and tried to not stare longingly at the woman who was sitting way too close, and for whom she had feelings for longer than she would ever dare to admit.

Miranda huffed loudly as she hardened her glared. "Since it's clear that you equivocate my interview with you at every turn, I actually have had a lot of time to memorize all the questions I want to ask you."

"Sorry," Andy said, her gaze softening. "That wasn't my intention; I was fully prepared to answer all your questions on the first night."

"Really?" Miranda asked skeptically. "If I recall you were about to walk out on me."

"You're right I was," Andy noted a little sadly. "I guess I expected a little more civility toward me, and less disdain. I suppose I forgot what you were like… I mean still are like."

That little enlightenment coming from Andrea's mouth cut right through her, and she flinched back. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look," Andy began holding her hands out. "It's not a bad thing, it's just who you are, and I guess for a moment I forgot. I just wanted you to see me for once as somebody that's not your lowly assistant," she breathed. "That's all." She wasn't even aware of what she said until she noticed Miranda's sly grin, and once she realized it she cringed. "Sorry."

Miranda hesitated a moment and watched Andy's humiliated expression, and then raised an eyebrow. "Now I really do believe that you did learn a thing or two from me after all."

Andy managed to hold off her laughter and Miranda picked up on it. "You want to giggle again, don't you?" She found that she was smiling, and watching Andy struggle was making it hard on her. "Oh if you must." And with that she found she was laughing along with her former assistant.

"So do we have that out of your system?" The editor finally asked once she gathered her own breath.

Andy smiled and nodded. "Yes, but do you?"

Miranda shook her head, her eyes determined. "No, no….this is my interview; you do not get to ask the questions."

"So if I ask you how the twins are doing…"

Miranda interrupted her. "Again, no, and no," she pointed out. "I will get through this interview, Andrea, if it's the last thing I do, because if I leave this up to you…. The next thing I will find myself doing is buying a goddamn house here. And I want to emphasize to you that this dry air is wreaking havoc on my skin," she protested. "So without further ado, Ms. Sachs," she stressed on the Ms. Sachs part as she flipped on the recorder. "Who inspired you to pursue your dream to become an actor, because I do believe that you wanted to be a journalist?"

Andy's gaze firmly locked onto Miranda's, which from its intensity made her swallow. "That's easy, and I'm looking right at her."

Stunned Miranda withheld her need to flinch. "Me?"

"Why not you?"

Miranda groaned and flicked off the recorder. "Seriously….you do know I can't use that in the article."

Andy gave her an incredulous look. "Why not? It's your magazine."

Throwing her hands up, Miranda fiercely stood up. "You're incorrigible, do you know that?" she heaved and walked off a few yards. "Just give it to me straight."

Hearing that word made Andy want to giggle again, but instead she exhaled harshly, making a loud, exasperated noise as she let it fall out of her mouth and slowly got to her feet. "I am giving it to you straight." But once she said that, she paused and managed to hold off her snort. "The thing is, I wanted to make something of myself Miranda, and mostly I did it just so I could impress you, so you could see me as me, and not some smart fat girl that worked for you," she said honestly.

Miranda's blue eyes twinkled in disbelief at what she was hearing. How did she not know she no longer seen her as just her assistant? She hadn't thought of her like that in a long, long time. Because she can't read your damn mind. "Andrea," was all she uttered, flushing hotly.

Andy walked slowly toward Miranda and dipped her head. "Maybe you should give it to me straight."

"Straight?" Miranda gulped.