Brushing Off the Boss: A Half Moon Bay Novel (Entangled Bliss) (5 page)

Sienna jumped and grabbed for the plate before it slipped from her hand. Jack unfolded himself from her hammock, crossed the porch, and took the plate from her.

She put her hand on her chest as her heart thudded. “You scared me. I’m not used to company.”

“Sorry. I was sitting out here enjoying the quiet.” He pulled out a chair and put her plate on the table. “You don’t eat properly.”

Sienna bit down on the smart retort that hovered on her lips and forced a smile in his direction. He really brought out the worst in her.

What is it to him what I do or what I eat?

“I had a good lunch.”

“That’s okay, then.”

She couldn’t help herself, despite her intention to keep things nonemotional. “I’m so pleased you approve.” Putting her elbows on the table, she glared at him in the soft moonlight. She’d left the outside light off deliberately to keep the insects away before she’d come outside. Despite the cool breeze, Jack was wearing running shorts and no shirt, and her reaction to the sight of his broad, muscular chest bugged her even more. She pushed away the flare of desire that sparked inside her. “Aren’t you cold?”

“No, I went for a run around the lake after I ate. I miss my gym equipment. I’ll have to find a place to work out around here.”

Sienna reached over and picked up the small lighter she kept on the table and lit the vanilla candle in the glass bowl in the center. She drew a deep breath and held her hand steady, surprised by the tremble his proximity caused. The candle threw a flickering light over Jack’s bare skin and she caught her breath. Tipping her head back, she looked up at the stars. It was only his natural beauty that she found appealing. Her artistic eye was drawn by beauty.

Nothing else.

She dropped her head and looked out over the lake shimmering in the moonlight. The low branches of the trees surrounding the cottage bowed elegantly in the light breeze, their leaves forming long, draping sweeps illuminated by the soft light.

“It’s beautiful here.” Jack’s voice was a whisper, and a shiver snaked up her spine.

Maybe she should do something about this feeling? Let this attraction run its course? What did they say about only living once?

Not worth the risk.

“Yes, it is.”

“Did you get your work done? You put in a long day.”

Pleased to get her mind off the bare, muscular shoulders across the table, Sienna nodded. “Yes, I got a good amount done. I should be able to finish in the two weeks if I put in the next couple of weekends as well as every night.”

“Do you always work this hard?”

She nodded. “Not usually every night. But what has to be done will be. And I love my work. I lose myself in it.” She looked up at him. Maybe it would be hard for a businessman—and one with such a casual attitude—to understand what she was saying about the creative process.

“Where do you do your enameling?” Jack held her gaze steadily with his. He seemed genuinely interested, so she kept talking.

She looked back at him. “Did you look at my frogs in the gallery today?”

All Sienna’s confidence in her work faded in that instant and she bit her lip. Then her temper kicked at the thought of Jack looking at them without her. Her mood seesawed back and forth. “Frogs? No, I read about your upcoming exhibition in the local paper.”

“Oh. I forgot about that.”

“According to the journalist, you’re quite the up-and-coming artist in the area…and you work in enamel?”

“They say the same thing about everyone they interview.”

“Tell me about your work. About the processes you use. Do the kilns beneath the gallery work?” Sienna was surprised at his level of interest and his knowledge of the process.

“I wondered if you knew there was a brick room beneath the gallery. I use those kilns.” She shook her head. “You really didn’t know what you bought, did you?”

Jack certainly wasn’t a hands-on manager, and if that was the way he worked maybe she would be able to stay at the gallery with him as owner. He could let her run it the way she wanted and keep out of her way. As long as Jack found somewhere to live, maybe life could go on the way it was. It would just mean the gallery wouldn’t belong to her, but that wouldn’t be the end of the world. The money she’d set aside for the deposit could go toward adding on to her house and building her own studio, while she continued to work in the studio at the gallery. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why he wanted it. If he wasn’t going to be involved, what was he going to do with his days?

“I really liked the feel of the town. Before I even ran the numbers I decided to buy it.”

The opposite of her. Sienna had everything planned down to the last detail in all her life. Jack grinned at her, and the flickering candlelight played over his bare chest.

This is altogether too romantic a setting out here.
She needed to break the mood. If she was going to run his gallery, she needed to know a little bit more about the direction he wanted to go.

“What sort of art do you enjoy?”

“Oh, I have eclectic tastes. I have a few contemporary paintings in my apartment in New York. Some are being shipped out, and some I’ll leave there till I find a place to live. I often spend my weekends cruising galleries.”

Sienna finished her wine and put the glass down. How nice would it be to be able to afford to collect art? And to have the time to wander around the galleries? When she got the chance—and that was not very often—she loved visiting art museums and other galleries. Maybe they did have something in common after all? She pushed that thought away. There’d be no sparks crackling around the table tonight if she had any say in the matter. She couldn’t help but grin when she remembered last night. There was no Georgie here with family stories to dispel the tension tonight.

“Great.” Jack was staring at her, and she dropped her gaze as she stood and pushed her chair back. “You found everything you needed? I’m going to bed. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us in the gallery tomorrow. We’ll have to spend some time sorting out my role now that you’ve arrived.”

He stood and followed her to the door, and as she turned to say good night, he held her arm. The heat running up her skin rivaled the heat of the kiln this afternoon.

“I meant to tell you, your phone rang a few times tonight.” Jack looked down at her and held her gaze.

“Thanks.” Sienna moved away and pushed the door open, turning the light on before she crossed to the phone. Three missed calls from Ana flashed on the screen.

All from the same number. “It’s Ana. I wonder why she didn’t call my cell?”

Jack grinned at her. “Maybe because you left it at home? I could hear it ringing from the front of the cottage.”

“I can be a bit forgetful when I’m immersed in my work.” Sienna pulled a face at him as she glanced down at her watch. “I didn’t realize I’d left it at home.”

It was late, but she wouldn’t sleep until she knew what was wrong. She pressed the return call button. “And she hasn’t left any messages.”

Ana’s phone rang for a while and Sienna waited to leave a message, but Ana finally picked up.

“Hi, Sienna. Sorry, I was just putting Faith down. Little miss hates going to bed.”

“What’s wrong? Jack said you tried to call all afternoon.”

“Jack?”

“Yeah, he’s staying here for a while.”

“Ooh-la-la. You didn’t waste any time picking up where you left off.”

“No,
la la.
And there was nothing to leave off, anyway.” Sienna kept her voice low and flicked a glance at Jack. He was standing, looking out over the lake, and had his back turned to her. His skin was tanned and his smooth shoulders tapered down nicely to a narrow waist above his running shorts. She swallowed and looked away before her gaze could continue down his bare thighs. “Jack’s staying here only until we sort some things out with the gallery. Now what’s wrong? Why were trying to get me?”

“I called mainly to check that you were okay.”

“I’m fine. Nothing to worry about, everything’s good. I’ll fill you in on the weekend.”

“And that’s another reason I called, to remind you about Faith’s birthday party in two weeks. And it’s a dress-up party.” Ana’s giggle made Sienna smile. Ana had taken to motherhood with lots of support. As well as having Georgie and Sienna as surrogate aunties, and Thelma and Mitzi as surrogate great-aunts, little Faith had most of the elderly community of Nebbiton as surrogate grandparents.

“Oh, dress-up. Love it.”

“It’s a fairy-tale theme. Have you still got your fairy costume? Wear that. Jeannie and Rod are bringing the kids down for the party.” Excitement filled Ana’s voice. “You should see how excited Blake is. He’s putting on the biggest party ever!”

Sienna laughed. “What about Georgie? Another chance to wear pink? I know how much she loves it.”

Ana chuckled. “Did you always torment her about her red hair?”

“Sure did, and she bit every time. Don’t you worry, though, she tormented me right back.”

Ana’s laughed ended and her voice sobered. “I was a bit worried about her today. She took a call when I was at the store this afternoon and she got really upset.”

“Is that sleaze-bucket Cole bothering her?”

“No, he was at the store for the Sunday shift too. He was over talking to Blake when her phone rang. I don’t know who it was, but I’m sure she was crying. She wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”

“I’ll call her.”

“I have to go. Faith’s calling me. And, Sienna, invite Jack to the party, please? Blake was going to call him, but you can pass the invite on instead. Seeing as he’s at your place.” Ana’s voice was full of mirth once more. “Okay?”

“Okay, I’ll pass it on, but don’t go getting the wrong idea.”

Ana’s laugh rang out as Sienna disconnected.

“Everything’s fine.” She hung up the phone, cleared the messages on the screen, and tuned to him with a grin. “Have you got a pair of tights?”

“What? Tights?”

“You’ve been invited to a birthday party.” Sienna put her fingers to her lips and looked him up and down. “I think you’d make a lovely Prince Charming. You remind me of the one in
Shrek
.”

Sienna chuckled to herself as she headed up the hall to her room and Jack’s voice followed her.

“I don’t think he was the hero, though, was he?”

“No, he wasn’t.” She held her door and peered around before she shut it. “I’ll see you in the morning. Good night, Jack.”

Sienna closed the door and leaned against it for a moment. She looked at the clock beside her bed. It was too late to call Georgie, especially since she’d worked at the store today. She’d call her first thing in the morning. Sienna was wired now and not a bit tired. Crossing to the window, she slid the curtains open, sat on the wide sill, and looked out over the lake. A slight breeze ruffled the waters, and there was a smell of rain in the air.

The day had ended up turning out better than she’d expected. Now to see what the week ahead would bring.

Chapter Six

Jack reached for the antique phone receiver on the glass counter at the front of the gallery. It was at least the tenth time he’d answered it in the past half hour. Sienna was showing some tall guy around, and they were standing at the back of the room, head to head, deep in conversation. An unfamiliar shaft of jealousy hit Jack’s chest as he watched the guy loop his arm casually over Sienna’s shoulder. As he answered the question on the phone, a deliveryman pushed through the front door carrying two large boxes with
Fragile
stickers plastered over them, and dumped the boxes on the desk beside the phone. He shoved the electronic delivery screen in front of Jack’s nose.

“Hurry up, buddy. My truck’s parked outside.”

Jack reached for the pen and scrawled his signature, without a clue as to what was in the boxes he was signing for. All he could hope was that whatever was in them was not broken.

“I’ll have to take your number and get someone to call you back. Okay?” He took down the name and number of the artist on the other end of the phone and ended the call. Then he lifted the boxes carefully and put them on the floor behind the stool at the desk. When he got up from his haunches, his eyes were level with two pairs of legs, clad in sheer black stockings. His gaze traveled higher. Similar tight black skirts, frilly shirts, and business jackets. He stood and smiled, and the shorter woman held out her hands with a warm smile.

“Welcome to Carmel. Ms. Sacchi tells us you’ve bought the gallery? Is she available?” The taller woman spoke with a slight European accent. “We have an appointment.”

“Who?” He had no idea who she was talking about. Then it dawned on him that he didn’t even know Sienna’s last name. She’d always been…well…just Sienna. “Thanks…yes, I have. Take a seat.” He pointed to the curved black-and-white-striped love seat by the door. “I’ll let Ms. Sacchi know you are here.”

Jack walked to the back of the gallery and grinned. He felt like a secretary. How the heck did she do this by herself all day? Why wasn’t there more staff?

The smooth, tall guy was standing too close to Sienna for Jack’s liking, and he took great delight in interrupting them.

“Excuse me, Ms. Sacchi.” He dropped the grin and put on his best business voice. “Your next appointment is waiting for you.”

Sienna’s head flew up and she narrowed her eyes. “Thank you. I’ll be there in a moment.” She took the guy’s arm and turned away from Jack, and he felt summarily dismissed.

“Perhaps you’d like to offer them a drink while they wait?” He glanced back and her wide dark eyes were dancing with mischief. She knew exactly how he was feeling, and he shot her a grin.

“Of course, Ms. Sacchi. Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”

“Perhaps you could dust the shelves, and then go to the post office and get the mail?” Jack could see the smile playing around her lips.

“Of course.” He nodded. “If you could just direct me to the post office?”

“It’s over on Fifth Avenue.” Her face broke into an impish grin and his heart kicked up a beat as her dark eyes held his gaze a little too long before she looked away.

What the hell is going on here?

Turning back to the front of the store, Jack caught sight of his reflection in the mirrored wall behind the shelves holding an array of colored bowls. He certainly didn’t look like an art gallery assistant. His jeans had a rip in one knee, and the clean T-shirt he’d grabbed this morning stated
Less work. More golf
. He’d intended to look around the gallery and then sit down with Sienna to discuss what they were going to do, but the morning had been hectic so he’d pitched in. And had enjoyed every minute. Jack shrugged and headed back to the two women waiting at the front of the store. After he’d offered them a drink, it was time to get out of here for a while.

…

“Who’s the new hunk?”

Sienna turned to Jeremy, who’d come back to finish the lighting for her show.

“Would you believe he owns this place?”

“Get real! True?” Jeremy watched as Jack left through the front door. “Not gay, is he?” he asked hopefully.

“Don’t think so.” Sienna glanced at her watch. “If we’re done here, I have another appointment with the caterers.”

“Sure, I’ll be in touch.” Jeremy air-kissed both her cheeks. “I’m looking forward to finishing this job. Even more now that I’ve checked out the new eye candy in the gallery.”

The morning had been busier than usual, and Sienna was pleased. Maybe it would give Jack a different perspective on how the place worked. She couldn’t figure him out, and it was messing with her head. At least it got her mind off this morning’s conversation with Georgie. Her twin had tried to hide how upset she was, but Sienna could read her like a book. She’d always been able to, and she’d protected Georgie from the time they were small.

Marietta, their mother, had called. Somehow she’d finally gotten wind of them selling the restoration business and wanted to meet up with Georgie. She knew better than to call Sienna.

“Don’t…don’t even think about giving her a cent.” Sienna had been so angry she’d had trouble getting the words out.

“She’s our mother. She’s already explained why she needs it.”

“She’s not our mother. She took off and left us with Uncle Renzo.”

“I feel sorry for her. Her partner’s ill and she needs the money for his operation.”

“Partner number what? Six? Seven?” Sienna had swallowed and tried to inject calm into her voice. “Georgie, listen to me. How long since we last heard from her? You think about it.”

There had been a long silence at the other end of the phone. “Not for a while.”

“That’s right. Not since Uncle Renzo sold his business and had some spare cash. When he wouldn’t listen to her, she came to get us to do her dirty work. Remember? There was a
sick
partner back then too.”

“I remember.” Georgie’s voice had broken, and Sienna tried hard not to soften.

“Where is she now?”

“She’s in L.A., but she’s going to come up and visit me next week.”

“If she does, I’ll deal with her. Now promise me you won’t send her money in the meantime.”

“All right. I promise. Maybe we’ll catch up this weekend?”

“Probably not. I’ve got a stack of work to do in the studio, if I want to be free the next Sunday for Faith’s birthday.” Sienna had tried to lighten the conversation. “Have you got your fairy dress out?”

“Ha ha.”

“Ana wants us all to wear the pink set. Did she tell you?”

“Yes, she told me. I think you’re all mean to me.” Georgie had laughed, to Sienna’s relief. She’d ended up with the red hair and they teased her about it. “So what’s happening with the gallery?”

“I’ll fill you in at the party. You’re not bringing that Cal sleazebag, are you?”

“It’s Cole, and no, I am not bringing him.” Georgie had sighed. “But I have met this other guy—”

“That was quick.”

“He’s—”

“I have to go to work, talk later.” Sienna knew if Georgie got started on the new guy, they’d be on the phone for ages, so she ended the call. Sometimes it was hard staying strong, but Georgie was softhearted and she couldn’t see when someone was trying to use her. She hadn’t listened to what Sienna had tried to tell her the other night. At least she’d found something else to focus her energy on besides worrying about their mother. Hopefully the new guy she’d met wasn’t another user—usually, they saw Georgie’s goodness and homed straight in.

Sienna shook away the thoughts and walked to the front of the store. She greeted Gina and Carla, the caterers who worked out of Giovanni’s coffee shop, and they sat down to work out the details for the launch supper at her exhibition.

The morning flew by as it always did, and as the tourists hit the streets, the gallery filled, and Sienna was pleased with the sales she made. Jack didn’t reappear for a couple of hours, and she looked up as he pushed the door open with his shoulder, carrying a small plastic crate full of mail, two paper bags, and two cups of coffee.

He looked around the empty gallery, moved across to the door, and locked it. “We’re closed for lunch.”

“Are we?” Sienna raised her eyebrows at him.

“Yes, we are. I’m the boss, remember?” He lightened the words with a big smile and put the mail on the desk before carrying the crate to the door leading to the studio. He looked over his shoulder at her before he opened the door to the studio. “I hope you like chicken.”

Sienna turned the closed sign around on the front door and reluctantly followed him. “It’s a shame to close now. The streets are full of tourists.”

“They have to stop for lunch, too.” Jack put the crate on the floor and moved the blanket from the sofa to clear a space for Sienna. “You have to eat. You run around and use up so much energy. I don’t know how you do it.”

Sienna sat beside him, keeping some space between them, and looked at the heart-stoppingly gorgeous man leaning casually back on the sofa as though he didn’t have a care in the world. Picking up her coffee, she looked at him over the rim of her cup. “Telling me what to do again, Jack?” She shook her head with a half smile. “You’re going to learn the hard way, and it won’t be pretty.”

One corner of his mouth quirked. “I’m tough. And you do work too hard.”

She avoided looking at his broad shoulders and the T-shirt straining over them. He picked up one of the bags and looked inside before handing it to her.

“Thanks.” She shot him a grin. “You worked hard this morning too, Mr. Assistant.”

“Totally out of my work ethic.” Jack took a bite of his sandwich and his gaze settled on her as he chewed. “The gallery had a good buzz, though.”

Sienna dropped her gaze, ignoring the little shiver that prickled her skin, and looked inside the sandwich bag he’d handed her. “What do you mean? Out of your work ethic?”

“I saw what working too hard did to my father.” She lifted her eyes to meet his, and found it hard to hold his gaze. She dropped her eyes. The fluttery feelings running around her insides were something she wasn’t used to
and
something she didn’t like.

Hunger.
It was the smell of the fresh bread doing it to her. She unwrapped the sandwich and broke off a small piece of bread and put it in her mouth. She glanced up again, and her stomach clenched as his gaze dropped to her lips and stayed there as she chewed.

Right.
Enough was enough
. She pushed up to her feet and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips.

…

“What’s wrong?” Jack sat up straighter. “You don’t like your sandwich?”

“Will you be serious for one minute?” Sienna stomped her foot, but the soft flat pump made no noise on the wooden floor. Jack put his sandwich down. He gave her his full attention before she lost her temper. She’d worked hard this morning, and he had to remember that he was the one making the most money from the gallery, her planning and hard work, and the sales she made. He must check how much his company was paying her. He’d thought of that as she’d flitted around this morning. She looked like a butterfly darting from one end of the gallery to the other, as colorful as the pieces she had so artfully arranged on the shelves. Flat black shoes and shiny leggings sat beneath a loose multicolored sheer top draping down to her elbows. Her feistiness, her energy, and her volatility hid how petite she actually was. Her personality was big enough to more than make up for her lack of size, and she was absolutely beautiful.

“Stop gawking at me. It makes me uncomfortable.” She glared at him, and those spots of color appeared high on her cheeks again. Her dark eyes glittered.

“Sorry.” He hadn’t meant to make her uncomfortable, but he
was
enjoying the view. “Did I ever tell you that you remind me of my Aunt Caroline?”

“No.” She frowned, wondering what he was going to say.

“She’s…what’s the right word? She’s prickly.”

“So I’m prickly? What’s that supposed to mean?” Sienna pursed her lips for a moment as she thought about his comment. If he meant she was strong, she could live with that.

“It means you’re always hiding your softness beneath a prickly shell. Sometimes I feel like if I put my hand out and touched you, I’d get scratched.

“But Aunt Caroline…hmm… I think you’d really get along with her. She’s as soft as butter inside.” Jack reached for his sandwich and leaned back on the sofa, munching as he watched myriad expressions cross Sienna’s face. “And just like her face, yours is like an open book. When I was a kid I stayed with her when my parents were traveling overseas, and I knew when to stay out of her way. You’re the same—I can tell what you’re thinking by the angle of your mouth and the depth of pink on your cheeks.”

“You’re making some huge jumps in your thinking there, Jack.” Her foot tapped the floor again. “And not only that. You haven’t got a clue what’s happening here. You bowl into town. I find out you own this place and that you’ve changed your mind about selling it to me. Then you rock up here this morning looking like a bum surfer type, you play at being
my assistant
, you disappear for a couple of hours, and now not only do you tell me you haven’t got a work ethic, but you know exactly what I’m thinking?”

“Anything else bugging you?” He lifted a brow.

“Yes, you’re right. There is something else bugging me. You sure got that right. You look at me…like that… and I don’t like it.”

“I like looking at you.” He kept his voice low, and the red in her cheeks deepened. “And I like the way you look back at me.”

“Well, I’ve got news for you. We had our chance to get to know each other a couple of years back, but we’ve both moved on. You turning up here has put a big question mark over my future, and I don’t like not knowing what’s happening. And that’s not a good basis for starting up anything.”

“Anything?”

“Going out, getting together, having that date. Whatever you want to call it.” Sienna turned and walked to the window across from the sofa and stared outside. “No matter that I might find you attractive, it’s my exhibition and the gallery that are important to me. I’m not going to compromise my future for anyone. So stop the looking and lose any idea of getting together for that date. I have more important things on my mind.”