Sienna & Jacob: A Bioexpa Match

by Thayer King

  Of course, he wanted her, but he certainly couldn’t tell Ella that. He didn’t want hurt her feelings and if he admitted to wanting Sienna, this already heated discussion would devolve into a full blown argument. “Of course not.”

  “You’re lying. I can tell. You’re flushing.”

  He threw his hands up in frustration. Eaten up with guilt, he gritted out, “I’m flushing because you’re interrogating me. What do you need me to say to get me the hell out of this conversation? Can I say I haven’t thought about being with her? No. But I made a promise to you. I’m not a cheater. I’m not fucking anybody for the foreseeable future.”

  “Oh, do please grow up! Promises mean nothing. They’re just words meant to placate the simple minded.”

  He was too disgusted to look at her. He turned and headed for the door. “I keep my promises, but it’s good to know the value you place on your word.”

  “Jakob, stop it.” She caught up with him and grabbed his elbow. “What right do you have to be angry with me?”

  He didn’t know if he was angry or disappointed. Obviously, he didn’t know her as well as he thought he did. “I need some time to cool off. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  She raced around in front of him and blocked the door. “Jakob, you know I care about you, right?” Strangely enough, though they’d discussed marriage and living together, they’d never declared their love for one another.

  “I know.”

  “Spend the night with me. Just tonight so that she knows-”

  “I won’t hurt Sienna that way. I promised her that I would be faithful-”

  “You care more about her feelings than mine!”

  He dropped his face into his hands. Hell. He was in hell. Was there no way to prevent this from becoming ugly? He just wanted to go home, have a little peace and quiet and go to bed. The bed he would be sharing with Sienna. He hadn’t been stupid enough to tell Ella that particular detail. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

  “No, you want her. Bioexpa is never wrong.” She stormed off to the bedroom and he heard drawers opening and closing.

  He moved to the doorway to watch her tossing her clothing into a suitcase. “Ella, what are you doing?”

  She shot him a quick glare. “I’d think it was pretty self-explanatory. This thing between you and me was never going to work. Clue one for me was when you wanted to move back here. The match between you and her was just the final nail in the coffin. I’m no one’s second choice!” She stomped to the closet and came back with an armful of her expensive shoes. “Even before this shit, I saw the way you watched her, but I knew you’d be faithful. And then when the two of you were matched . . . you’re probably not even aware of how happy you looked when you heard her name or how possessive you sound when you talk about her. You never look at me that way or talk about me that way. I’ve known since we got here that this wasn’t going to work.” She shook her head. “I’m going home to New York.”

  “I thought that you understood and that you’d wait the thirty days for me,” he reminded her.

  “Yeah, well, consider it a promise,” she snarled at him.

  He was so frustrated with her and the situation at the moment, he was tempted to throw his hands up in the air and just let her go. He might even offer her transportation to the airport. She was high strung and often lashed out impetuously and then lived to regret it. Maybe letting her cool her heels in New York was a good idea.

  “Will you call me when you get there?”

  “You’re not even going to try to stop me? Classic,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “I didn’t think there was anything I could say to stop you. And maybe some time away might make you feel better. You can shop and visit your family. And in a bit, you could-”

  “Dream on.” She snapped the lid shut on her suitcase and zipped it up.

  He watched silently as she lugged another bag from the closet and continued her furious packing pace. Sighing, he ran a hand over his hair. “I’m sorry that you feel that way, Ella. Call me if you change your mind.” She snorted. Jakob stood there waiting for her to acknowledge him in some way but she didn’t even look up. All the plans he’d made for the two of them were crashing and burning at his feet. He knew he should be feeling pain and regret, but at the moment, he only felt numb. Later he knew there would be sadness over the loss of a friendship. “I don’t want to part this way.”

  “Tough. Just get out. I don’t want to look at your sad face anymore.”

  “Fine,” he snapped, irritated with her once more. His feet were carrying him to the door as he uttered what could potentially be his last words to her. “Goodbye, Ella.”

  “Oh, and, Jake,” she called after him, “the first thing I’m going to do when I get to New York is find a man who won’t hesitate to fuck me when I ask him to.”

  It was a cruel taunt, meant to hurt, but he knew she was lying. As such, he refused to respond. Jaw clenched, he exited without another word.

  Chapter Four

  It was almost ten when she heard Jakob arrive home. Not that she was waiting up for him. She’d already gone through her nightly ritual of brushing her teeth, washing her face, moisturizing, and putting on her nightgown. She was in bed trying to go to sleep, but the tension of not knowing when he would come home had kept her awake. Briefly, she’d wondered if he would come home at all. The thought caused a painful tightening in her chest.

  She heard him enter the bedroom. His steps slowed. “Shit, Sienna, I totally forgot that you go to bed early.”

  She didn’t know how he knew she was awake since the lights were off and she was laying on her side facing away from the door. But she touched the lamp on the nightstand to her left. A circle of illumination surrounded her portion of the bed. Clutching the covers to her chest, she sat up and turned to face him. “That’s okay. I haven’t been able to sleep.”

  Running his hand over his hair, he frowned. “Is the bakery open on Sundays?”

  “Just for a few hours in the morning.”

  He nodded. He looked around as though he were lost for a few moments. “Uh, I guess I’ll get ready for bed.” He went into the adjoining bathroom. Sienna settled back into bed and turned out the light. She listened as he brushed his teeth. He came out a few minutes later dressed in only pajama bottoms. Her heart thumped at the sight of him. Moonlight and a street light created enough brightness to allow her to see that he was all long, lean muscle. His shoulders were broad. His stomach was hard and flat. She’d seen him change his shirts courtside on television multiple times, but it wasn’t the same as having him there in the flesh in a bedroom with her. Sharing a bed with her. The thought of him being her husband, of being intimate with him, was enough to have her squeezing her thighs together. She reminded herself that that would never happen.

  He slipped into bed. Since the bed was king sized, she’d have to extend her arm to its full-length to be able to touch him. She closed her eyes and tried to go to sleep.

  “Sienna…would you…would you mind if…if I wanted to keep you as my wife?”

  Her breath caught. “What?” Her voice came out as a croak. She cleared her throat and asked, “W-what do you mean?”

  “Ella broke up with me tonight. She’s on her way home to New York.”

  She turned on her light before rolling over so she could see him. He was on his back with his hands stacked behind his head. Her heart stopped and then thumped rapidly at the possibility of accepting his offer. But she couldn’t say yes. While she was glad to have the opportunity to have a real marriage, she didn’t want a husband who was pining away for another woman. He looked miserable and confused. She wouldn’t take advantage of his vulnerable state. If nothing else, she wanted to remain his friend at the end of their cohabitation period. That wouldn’t happen if she committed herself to their marriage only for him to leave her for Ella. But, oh, how she wanted to forget all about the other woma
n and say yes. “I’m sorry, Jakob.”

  He sighed. “Don’t be. It never would have worked between us. I see that now. She wasn’t who I thought she was. Our goals, our morals, and our values are too disparate.”

  “Did you have a fight?” she asked, trying to determine if their breakup was temporary.

  “Yes.”

  She nodded. “Why don’t you give it a few days? I’m sure she’ll call and the two of you will work it out.”

  “I don’t think so.” He didn’t sound very sure.

  Sienna bit her lip. “No.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m not going to be your wife.”

  Jakob turned on the light at his bedside. He rolled onto his side and faced her. “Why not? I thought you wanted to be married.”

  “I don’t want to be your default choice because you can’t have the woman you want. I have more pride than that.”

  He frowned. “That’s not what I’m doing. I’m doing what I should have done in the first place. You’re my match. Bioexpa saw what I couldn’t. You’re perfect for me. You’re happy living here. You’re honest and willing to work for what you want. You’re kind and unselfish. You’ve been nothing but patient with me during this situation and I know I wouldn’t have been if our roles were reversed. And you’re hot as hell. Do you want to know what started the argument with Ella? She asked me if I wanted you and I said no.”

  She sucked in a pained breath. “Jakob-”

  “She didn’t believe me for a second. And I can’t blame her because I do want you. Sticking by Ella, keeping my word, has never been so hard. But I had to do it. You’ve got to understand that. What type of man would I be if I dragged her here with the promise of marriage and then dropped her when this happened? So even though I’ve been having doubts about her, I had to honor my promise.”

  This couldn’t be happening. Jakob House wanted to be her husband. He was willing to give their marriage a chance. And he’d admitted to being attracted to her. It was almost as shocking as when they were initially married. “I’d like you to be sure.”

  “If I hadn’t made promises to her, I never would have hesitated to claim you. You’re everything I could ever want in a wife.”

  Tears stung her eyes. It was so good to hear that. This experience had been a blow to her self-esteem. How many other Bioexpa brides had been rejected by their selected groom? She was pretty sure that she was the only one. “Oh, Jakob,” she whispered.

  “So what do you say? Will you stay with me?”

  “You don’t know how badly I want to say yes. I had a crush on you like every other girl in school, but I’d like some time to think about it.”

  “What’s to think about? You’re already my wife.”

  “Yes, but . . . earlier today you were prepared to end our marriage in twenty-nine days. I need some time to catch up and accept this change. Can we…can we both just sleep on it and talk more in the morning?”

  He looked like he wanted to say more, but finally he nodded. “Okay.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Good night, Sienna.”

  Chapter Five

  Day 2 of Cohabitation

  “Let me get this straight,” Mika said, turning away from a baking sheet filled with a dozen half-decorated cookies. “Jakob told you that he broke up with Ella and that he wanted to keep you as his wife—basically everything we wanted and you’re thinking about it? What’s there to think about?”

  Sienna continued to roll out dough for cinnamon rolls. While she worked on one countertop, Mika worked on another. The center island was loaded with completed desserts awaiting transfer to a display case.

  She should have kept her mouth shut, Sienna reflected, but Mika had been badgering her since she pushed her way through the swinging kitchen doors an hour ago. Tired and cranky after a poor night’s sleep, she was in no condition to handle Mika’s persistence. In addition to Jakob’s sudden change of heart, his simple kiss had kept her awake and hyperaware of the man sharing her bed even though Jakob had been a complete gentleman and stuck strictly to his side of the mattress. “Mika, they’re barely separated. The first break up never sticks.”

  “It will if you shove your foot in there. I know Jakob. If he commits to you, she’s done.”

  Sienna grunted. “Fine and where will that leave me? With a husband who may want to leave but will stay because he’s obligated.”

  “If that happens, it will pass. Bioexpa paired the two of you. It will work out.”

  Facing her friend, Sienna rolled her eyes. “I’m all out of faith where it comes to Bioexpa. This situation can’t get more complicated or less romantic.” She grabbed a brick of softened butter and a spatula. Attacking the butter with gusto, she slathered it onto the dough.

  “The two of you are graying my hair.” Mika threw her hands up in the air.

  “If it makes you feel better, I really wanted to jump up and down on the bed, pump my fist, and yell yes at the top of my lungs.”

  Mika laughed. “I wouldn’t recommend going that far. It would go to his head and he’d be impossible to live with. But yes, that does make me feel better. So you’re leaning towards accepting his offer?”

  Finishing up with the butter, Sienna sighed. “Yes. Does that make me pathetic?”

  “No, of course not. Why would you want to turn down a chance at happiness?”

  “You’re not just saying that because it’s your brother and you don’t want Ella for a sister-in-law?”

  “That’s a powerful motive, but no to the Ella part. It’s hard to separate the bit about him being my brother. Because I know the two of you so well, I can see how you’d make a great couple. You’re loyal, honest, and dependable people.”

  “You make us sound like a pair of Labrador Retrievers.”

  “Now there’s an idea. Swearing off men and simply adopting a pet.”

  Scoffing, Sienna got a bowl of brown sugar and cinnamon mix and sprinkled it over the butter. “You love men too much for that.”

  “True. By the way, did I tell you that I have a date tonight? I met him picking up my morning coffee.” She placed her completed tray of cookies on the center island. “He’s totally gorgeous. Big blue eyes, shoulders to die for, and…oh, red hair. You know how I love a redhead.”

  Sienna laughed. “We all know how you love a redhead.” Mika’s love of redheaded men was practically at fetish levels. She’d overlooked many a bad trait simply because of a man’s hair color. The last one had been a particularly inept car thief. Mika had actually continued to date him three months into his prison sentence. “Good luck.”

  After work, Sienna visited her parents and stayed for a late lunch. Then she helped her mother water her flowers. “Are you planning on staying for dinner, too?” her mother inquired as she examined a large pink blossom. “If so, then you should call your husband and invite him, too.” Marie Bloom studied Sienna over the thin frames of her oval glasses, her normally smooth brow furrowed with worry.

  Sienna grasped a handful of soil and allowed it to sift through her fingers. She had carefully avoided this topic throughout lunch. It was easy to steer her father toward discussing stamp collecting—his favorite hobby. He’d dominated the conversation after she’d made only the slightest inquiry as to whether he’d made any new acquisitions. Some men chose golf when they retired. For Avery Bloom, after retiring from the police force, stamps became his passion. Her mother, once a receptionist at a doctor’s office, had been a stay at home mom from the time of her birth. Once a year, her parents took off on an extravagant vacation. In the last three years, they’d gone to Jamaica, Madrid, and Morocco. Of course, her father had collected local stamps from each location.

  “Mom, I know you think highly of Jakob-”

  “And you don’t?”

  “Of course I do. But there’s a difference between his being my friend and
his being my husband. He had a fight with Ella and suddenly he wants to make a go of it with me. I may have been Bioexpa’s first choice for him, but I wasn’t his. He chose Ella for himself.”

  “That relationship would have never lasted. I could tell that from the few times I met the girl. She’s completely self-absorbed. She would have tried to walk all over Jakob and because he’s kind, he would have let her for a while, but he’s still a strong man. When he stood up for himself, it would have been all over. Bioexpa pairing him with you merely forced the issue sooner rather than later. He’s well rid of her. But you and Jakob,” she nodded her head, “the two of you have what it takes to make a happy marriage. Both of you are smart, self-reliant, and kind. At least give the boy a chance.”

  “I want to, but I just can’t forget that this isn’t what he wants. Even if we could be happy together, won’t he just be settling?”

  “What would you say if the situations were reversed? What if the two of you were married a couple of years ago when you were crazy over that boy with six earrings in his ear?”

  Sienna laughed. Her parents had never liked Jon. He was a budding musician and for a while, she’d been impressed by his looks and his confidence. But it had soon become obvious that Jon lacked practicality. He approached his music as though it was an art and his dream was to be discovered by a record producer. However, he refused to hold any type of job that was unrelated to his music. Even when it was music related, he considered most work beneath him. He didn’t want to work his way up. He believed his talent should rocket him right to the top. The only problem was that he wasn’t that talented. Sienna had never had the heart to tell him. His singing was mediocre at best. She didn’t think even his handsome mug was enough to propel him to the star status he desired.