Brushing Off the Boss: A Half Moon Bay Novel (Entangled Bliss)

by Annie Seaton

  I’ve got it bad.

  And he felt bad. Despite what she said, he knew Sienna was upset because they’d spent the night together, and then Arielle flitted in the next morning. Something else was bugging her. One minute they’d been laughing and joking, and sharing a great night in bed together. Now she’d canned her exhibition and was leaving the gallery. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and try to make it up to her. He’d been in knots wondering how he was going to take over the studio and leave her without somewhere to work. He thought he’d wanted to date Sienna and have some fun, without living and working in the same place…now he couldn’t bear to be away from her. When she was away from him, the light went out of his day. Hell, he’d even put in a day’s work at the gallery if it meant spending more time with her.

  What was wrong with him?

  A few days away was what he needed. He’d committed to going to Faith’s birthday party and was looking forward to catching up with them. Especially Blake. Maybe a game of golf and catching up with his buddy would help him sort his head out. Blake and Ana and Sienna seemed to be great friends. Maybe it wasn’t Arielle showing up that had turned her cold toward him. He’d give her a few days and let her get over whatever was bothering her. The week after the party, he’d jump on the bike and head down the coast to L.A. and visit some of his connections down there. Then he’d come back, move into a new place, and get to work on his sculptures.

  Here, in my studio. He didn’t need to be around Sienna.

  It was so out of character for him to be worrying about things out of his control. He needed to chill and get his head back together.

  He wandered through the apartment with his coffee, and looked out the window over the lake. Despite being here such a short time, he felt right at home in Sienna’s apartment, and it was going to be hard to move out. When he did move back to town, he’d miss her, and he really hoped she’d change her mind about leaving the gallery.

  He picked up his cell and dialed Blake’s number. No time like the present.

  “Jack! How’s it going?” Blake’s voice was upbeat as usual. Since he’d settled on the West Coast, Blake had unwound and the uptight businessman changed into a laid-back husband and father.

  “Hey, buddy. I was wondering if you had time for a game of golf in your busy schedule?”

  “Maybe. When were you planning to come up and play?”

  “How about I grab a motel room and we get together the day after the birthday party?” Jack grinned.

  “Sounds like a plan. How’s the gallery going?” Blake’s tone was bland.

  “Hidden subtext? You mean how are Sienna and I getting along?”

  “Yeah, I thought you might have some issues there.” Blake laughed. “She’s the toughest of the three girls. I wondered how things were going down there with you two. Ana hasn’t spoken to her for a few days.”

  “We’re getting on very well. She’s a great person. She’s a talented artist and she’s done a great job with the gallery in the short time she’s been here. And her house is amazing.”

  “Still smitten, then?”

  “No, we have a business relationship, that’s all. You know me, I don’t mix business and pleasure.” A little white lie, but it wasn’t the done thing to share, even with a buddy.

  “But you’ve been out to her place?”

  “I’m actually living in her apartment—”

  “You always were a fast mover.”

  “I’m taking it slow.” That’s as much as Jack was going to say.

  “I’ve got some news for you, buddy. This golf game will be the last for a while. Ana and I are moving back to New York for a year. I’m helping your dad out for a few months.”

  “How come? I thought you loved it down here?” A twinge of guilt was quickly pushed away. Dad knew he wasn’t coming back, so getting Blake back to New York was a good move. He was just surprised that Blake had agreed to go.

  “Won’t be for long. Ana was hoping you’d look out for Sienna a bit.”

  “I think she’s pretty good at looking out for herself.”

  “That’s the front she puts up, but she’s as soft as butter beneath that.” Blake’s voice was protective. “But hey, listen. Don’t hurt her, okay? She’s special.”

  Ah, maybe Ana moving away was what had upset Sienna? All of a sudden, Jack wanted to get off the call so he could think things through a bit more. “Listen, I’m just on my way out. I’ll see you at the party.”

  “Looking forward to it. Never thought I’d end up a doting dad and husband. Lot to be said for it, Jack.”

  “Not for me, buddy. See you soon.” He disconnected the call and headed for the shower. It was time to go and find a place to live before he got too settled in here.

  …

  By the middle of the morning, Sienna had canceled all of the arrangements for the exhibition, and taken down the posters from the window of the gallery. All she had to do was go for a walk and get the posters taken down in the post office and the few shops that had agreed to put them up for her around Carmel. And she’d taken a call from Katy, the new gallery assistant, saying she had a job in L.A. and wouldn’t be able to help out. She’d close at lunchtime, unless Jack came in to look after the gallery.

  She swallowed hard and leaned back against her chair; regret spiked her chest. She’d have her show one day. For the first time since she’d decided to leave, Sienna looked around the gallery and realized how hard it would be to move on. Not only did she love this town, she’d had such dreams for the gallery. Maybe she would sell her house to Jack. Ever since Marietta had dropped the truth on her, she’d found it hard to get motivated, and she even wondered for the first time if she was kidding herself thinking she could be a successful artist. But whatever happened she was not going to risk getting hurt. She was strong, and she could start again, somewhere else. Somewhere away from Jack, somewhere she wouldn’t be tempted by a sexy grin and a lock of hair falling casually across eyes that held hers.

  Sienna walked across to the wall and flicked the switch to turn on the new lighting. Even if she wasn’t using it for the exhibition it had enhanced the displays and was one thing less Jack would have to worry about. The pieces on the shelves glowed beneath the soft light, and she watched as a couple of tourists admired the display across the room. Her work here was done, and it was time to think about where she was going. In one way, Marietta had done her a favor and pushed the decision about the gallery—and Jack—to be made more quickly. Sienna knew she had to get away soon, because he was altogether too damned sexy, and it would only be a matter of time before she gave in to him.. There were so many things she didn’t like about him. He was too laid-back and casual about this business, he’d lied to her about being an artist, and… But if she was honest, she knew she was reaching, because she was so damned attracted to him. She wasn’t going to get involved with anyone. She was keeping her heart intact from now on. Relationships were not for her. Not with anyone. Not with him.

  Him. Jack.

  And she intended to keep her life private and her emotions safe.

  Sienna touched the screen of her iPad and opened a browser window. Her fingers hovered over the touch-screen keyboard, until she drew a deep breath and typed in the words “Catherine Elizabeth Stuart, Milwaukee.” She’d looked at the birth certificate so much, it was almost falling to pieces.

  Tears filled her eyes. Of course the first damn search result pulled up her mother’s name and her dates of birth and death. Nothing was private these days. You could Google just about anything, but the last thing Sienna had expected to see was her mother’s life dates on the screen in front of her. Her vision blurred as she ran her finger down the screen and read the funeral notice that had obviously been scanned in from an old site. She checked the website; it was archived newspaper issues scanned and indexed as a part of a local history project for an ancestry database. She emailed the page to the printer and put the iPad aside as a customer wandered over with a sma
ll vase in her hand.

  Brushing her eyes with the back of her hand, Sienna greeted the lady with a smile. “You’ve chosen a lovely piece.”

  She still had a job to do, until she left.

  Jack wandered in midafternoon. She’d closed the gallery at noon and visited the shops to take down the ads. The disappointment expressed by the locals that her show had been postponed lifted her and was one of the best things that happened to her this week.

  Almost the best.

  Her thoughts went straight back to the night with Jack in the studio. Nothing could compare to that. She pushed away the thought, and because she was trying to block it out, her voice was short when she greeted him.

  “I’m about to close.”

  “That’s fine. I came in to take you for dinner before you go home.”

  Sienna’s head flew up. “Why?”

  “Because you look like you need cheering up…and I wanted to convince you I’m a nice guy.”

  Tears pricked her eyes again. She’d been so damn emotional since Marietta dropped the news on her, she was tearing up at stupid things, and it wasn’t the way she usually dealt with problems. Not by a long shot.

  Turning away so he couldn’t see her eyes fill, Sienna slid her iPad into its case. “There’s no need for that. I told you last night what you do has nothing to do with me.”

  “Okay, how about we go to dinner and talk about why you’ve canceled your show and why you’ve decided to leave.”

  “No.” Sienna put her iPad in the drawer beneath the desk and shut it with a firm push. The tiny desk rocked on its narrow legs, and Jack grabbed for the antique lamp that teetered on the corner at the same time she did. Their fingers brushed and she pulled back when her skin tingled.

  “Whoa, that was close.” He lifted the lamp and put it closer to the middle of the desk.

  “Thank you.”

  “Okay, third and final try. One, I don’t need to explain Arielle to you?”

  “No.”

  “Two, you don’t want to talk about your exhibition?”

  “No.” Sienna glanced up at him from beneath her lashes, and her breath caught in her throat. She bit down the beginning of a smile that was playing around her mouth as Jack got down on to his knees. This was the very reason why she had to leave. He only had to smile at her, and she was willing to do whatever Jack wanted.

  “Three.” He put his hands together in front of his chest and Sienna let the smile spread.

  “Three?” she asked.

  “I want to go back to that fantastic Italian restaurant and I hate eating alone, and I enjoy your company. Is that enough?”

  For the first time since she’d raced him last night, a laugh bubbled up from Sienna’s chest and she let it out past her lips. “You are one very persuasive man, Jack.”

  “And a hungry one. So, dinner?” He pushed to his feet and crooked his arm and held it out to her.

  Sienna stared at his arm as a breathless feeling radiated throughout her chest. She had an inkling she was making a big mistake, but she guessed she had to eat. She would go and see Georgie first thing in the morning. Jack could mind the gallery. She would have dinner with him tonight and that would be it.

  “How about a compromise? Instead of going all the way to Monterey, there’s a nice little Italian restaurant around the corner.” She pressed her lips tightly together so she didn’t look too enthusiastic, and ignored Jack’s arm when she glanced at her watch. “And you do realize it’s not dinnertime yet?”

  “I can wait.” He grinned at her. “I might have to grab a burger to see me through, but I’ll look forward to Italian. Are you going home first?”

  She shook her head. “No, I was going to close up here and do some accounts.”

  “Don’t work too hard. I’ll come back at six. Okay?”

  Her gaze met his and held it for a long moment, and Sienna knew she’d made the wrong call. Spending more time in Jack’s company than she had to was going to put her emotions in the way of logical—and safe—decision making.

  I don’t need this. But the warmth filling her chest belied her thoughts.

  She’d make certain they would have a quick meal, and then she’d go home and get a good night’s sleep.

  By myself.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Sienna!” Giuseppe, the owner of the small Italian restaurant near the beach at Carmel, gathered her into a tight hug. “We haven’t seen you here for a long time. How is your Uncle Renzo? I must go up to Nebbiton and beat him in a game of boccie. He owes me a game.”

  Sienna swallowed and tried to keep her composure when Giuseppe mentioned…her father. It brought the events of the last few days crashing back. She put her hand on the back of the chair to steady herself, and forced a cheerful smile onto her face. “I haven’t been to see him for a few weeks, but I’ll let him know you’re after a rematch when I’m”—she glanced at Jack—“we’re up there next weekend.”

  She stepped to the side as Jack pulled her chair out for her, and Giuseppe opened the napkin with a dramatic flourish.

  “Now, you must have the spaghetti marinara tonight.” Once Sienna was seated and he’d laid the napkin on her lap, he put his fingers to his lips in a very Italian gesture. “Delizioso. The seafood is fresh off the boat this morning.” His chest puffed out and he smiled before he walked back to the kitchen; a pang of nostalgia ran through Sienna. She missed her friends in Nebbiton. Apart from Ana and Georgie, they were all older folks and many were Italians whose family had settled on the coastal fringe near Half Moon Bay a couple of generations back. In one way she was looking forward to going back home to Faith’s birthday party, but she was dreading seeing Renzo. She glanced up at Jack, who’d settled in the chair across from her. She knew the tongues would wag when he turned up at the party. Thelma and Mitzi would be in matchmaking heaven. They’d taken full credit for Blake and Ana’s blissful state of matrimony, totally ignoring the fact that they’d known each other since college.

  “Penny for your thoughts?”

  Sienna jumped as Jack’s words broke through the happy background noise of the restaurant. “I was thinking about Nebbiton. You’re still coming to Faith’s party?”

  “Of course. I’m not going to let my Prince Charming tights go to waste.” Jack grinned at her, and that ever-present warmth that filled her whenever she was near him spread a little further. “And I’m golfing with Blake on Monday.”

  “So you’re not going to be able to come back and open the gallery the day after the party. I’m going to finish up this week, and Katy won’t be here. Did you get my email?” She’d forwarded him the email Katy had sent after she’d called, but he hadn’t replied.

  “No, I haven’t checked it.” Jack held her gaze as he picked up the water carafe and filled her glass.

  Of course he hadn’t.

  “That’s fine.. I might just close the gallery for a few days.”

  His casual attitude really got under her skin at times..For the life of her she still couldn’t understand why he’d bought the place. It would have been easier to buy a regular studio space. He said he wanted nothing to do with running a business and having any responsibility, but sometimes she sensed it was an act he put on. No one could be that relaxed and carefree all the time. Could they? “So you don’t check your email either?”

  He shrugged. “I got fed up with email when I was working for the company when Dad was sick. People expect you to jump immediately just because they can send you an email any time of the day or night.”

  Sienna held his gaze and watched him. He leaned back casually in his chair and looked at her but it was hard to see what he was thinking. It reinforced for Sienna that she was right not to trust him to hang around for long.

  “I check it once a day.” He sounded a little defensive. Great, she’d gotten under his skin. It felt good to get a reaction out of him.

  “I meant what I said about leaving, Jack. I’m going on Friday.”

  Jack stee
pled his fingers beneath his chin and stared back at her. The grin had left his face and his eyes were hooded. “So you’ve made up your mind for sure? I can’t persuade you to stay?”

  Sienna held his gaze and shook her head, still wondering if she’d made the wrong decision. Now that she’d put it into words, she’d have to stick with it.

  “Where are you going?” His voice was soft, and she leaned forward to hear.

  “I don’t know. I’ve got some things I need to do. I might travel for a while.”

  “Shoot, Sienna.” Jack’s voice held a rough edge. “You sure know to make a guy feel bad. Where did all this come from? A few days ago you were on a path to buying the gallery and having your first show.” He reached across to take her hand, but she pulled it away and clenched it in her lap as he kept talking.

  “Changing my mind about selling can’t have had such an impact on your decision so quickly?”

  For a fleeting moment the perplexed look on Jack’s usually happy face and the concern in his voice rattled her, and she was tempted to tell him everything that had happened. She would tell him that he too would leave her eventually and she wasn’t prepared to risk her heart. She opened her mouth, and then she remembered his casual attitude. Did he really care? She wasn’t going to risk it.

  Keep your private business close to your heart. Don’t depend on anyone else. Taking a deep breath, she crossed her arms. “Don’t concern yourself. I’m a flighty person, always changing my mind. You probably did me a favor. Just ask the girls next weekend. You can’t rely on me.”

  Jack’s eyes hadn’t left her face, and she dropped her gaze to her lap, surprised to see her hands were white from clenching them so tightly. She relaxed them and looked back up at him as he leaned forward.

  “Well, I hope you change it back again, because you’re making the wrong decision based on very little reason.”

  The anger that shot through her was welcome. She was well and truly sick of feeling sorry for herself, and she lashed out at him. “Oh, do you? And what do you know about me? Do you think one night in my bed—actually it’s your bed, isn’t it, I keep forgetting—makes you an expert on how I feel and gives you the right to tell me you think I should change my mind back again?”