16 Marsden Place

by Rachel Brimble

  Sienna narrowed her gaze and followed. “Men.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  SIENNA WAS DRUNK. Drunk, drunk, drunk. The launch party had gone from downright rambunctious to out and out X-rated. She should’ve known how bad things would get when Mrs. McGill and her trio of best friends had turned up dressed in clothes better suited to girls in their twenties. With their slash-neck T-shirts worn so their fluorescent bra straps showed, skirts way too short, and fur-trimmed tiaras on their heads, Mrs. McGill had undoubtedly advertised the closing-down party as a hen night.

  Sienna made an effort to focus as she collected more of the “game” paraphernalia she’d thought was such a good idea at the time. Once her mother had whipped off her top, revealing her gray washed-out bra and claiming to sporadically fantasize about Angelina Jolie in a baby-doll, Sienna had realized pretty damn quickly the party had to end. As soon as possible.

  Making sure no one watched, she started sneaking the stuff out of the shop room before anyone, including her inebriated mother, could stop her. She hurried into the kitchen as fast as her rubber legs could carry her and dumped the box in a cupboard. Slamming the door, she cringed at the state of the room. It had been a party and a half—Jack had been right to pack the twins off to their grandmother’s. If he saw this, he’d have a coronary: wineglasses and streamers lined the counters. Dildos and phallus-shaped chocolate and candy bars spilled from boxes all over the kitchen table. A blow-up doll sat sentry in one of the chairs, a fake cigar sticking out of her startled O-shaped mouth.

  Despite the severity of the situation, a laugh escaped Sienna as she pulled the plug at Dextrous Diana’s hip. The doll deflated, looking like Sienna felt. An off-key rendition of Tina Turner’s “We Don’t Need Another Hero” filtered in through the open kitchen door, and she rolled her eyes. The women needed to leave. Their husbands would no doubt thank Sienna for their current state of feeling half their age when they arrived home—the women themselves probably not so much tomorrow.

  Fighting the grin that threatened to break her newly emerged sobriety, Sienna pulled on her sternest expression and marched from the kitchen back into the shop room. She clapped loudly at the doorway.

  Nothing. Chaos reigned supreme, no doubt causing Tina Turner to hide in her closet across the Atlantic.

  “Ladies!”

  Nothing.

  “Fine.” She strolled behind the counter and hit the off button on the iPod.

  Everything came to an abrupt standstill, and twenty pairs of glazed eyes turned on her.

  “At last.” She ignored the expletives and moans and raised her hands. “Party’s over, ladies. Your heads are going to be banging tomorrow.”

  “Hey, that’s not all we’ll be banging!” came Mrs. McGill’s screech.

  The room erupted into laughter as the women cheered and slapped each other on the back and ass. No longer able to contain it, Sienna laughed loudly, and she came back around the counter and ushered them, one by one, along the hallway. A hardworking collie rounding up a flock of errant sheep.

  Another twenty minutes passed before they were a clear hundred-meter distance away from the house and their screams were at least slightly muffled. Having sobered in the light of her customers’ enthusiasm, Sienna winced when her mother pulled her into a bear hug at the end of the driveway. All the while, the taxi Sienna had ordered idled behind her, the meter ticking in all its neon-digital glory.

  “Mum—”

  “That, my darling girl, was what I call a party.” Her mother squeezed tighter, pinning Sienna’s arms to her sides as their veins pulsed in outrage. “I didn’t want it to end. What a laugh. God, it does the soul good.”

  Sienna attempted to extract herself. “What would do me good right now is the ability to breathe.”

  “Oops. Sorry.” Her mother released her and slapped her hand over her mouth, smothering a giggle.

  Sienna’s heart swelled. It was so good to see her mother belly-laughing. Her eyes shimmered, and her face was flushed. She looked…happy. Sienna pressed a kiss to her cheek.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now you need to get in this taxi and go home.”

  “Aww.”

  “Now.”

  “I wanted to meet your neighbor.”

  Sienna’s smile vanished. “No.”

  Her mother wriggled her eyebrows. “I know he’s a looker. Everyone’s talking about him.”

  Sienna glanced at Jack’s house. It was in darkness, but she doubted very much he was asleep considering the party had edged out into the yard up until an hour ago, when Sienna had ratcheted up the Congo music and they’d all snaked back inside number sixteen.

  “What is everyone saying, exactly?” She arched an eyebrow.

  Her mother leaned forward, wobbling precariously on her three-inch heels. Her mouth brushed Sienna’s ear. “That you and Journo-Stud are an item.”

  “Journ…” Sienna squeezed her eyes. “God, it’s no wonder I can’t stop with the nicknames.”

  “What? Is the name appropriate? Is he as fit as they say he is?”

  Sienna’s eyes snapped open. “Please don’t use words like fit. It just sounds—”

  “Right? Hey, maybe if you don’t want him…” She clutched her breasts and jiggled.

  “Okay. That’s it. You’re out of here.” Sienna gripped her mother’s elbow and turned her around.

  The woman giggled hysterically. “Hey, even I have needs. Just because you’re not using your female bits, maybe it’s time I started using mine.”

  “Hey, that’s not funny. Dad—”

  “Has been gone five years.”

  Their eyes locked. Apparently, her mother wasn’t quite as drunk as she’d made out. Sienna held back from shoving the woman headfirst into the taxi. “I’m not doing this now, Mum. I know what you’re going to say.”

  Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “Do you? Do you really, Sienna Ann Lloyd? Do you really see what’s right under your nose?”

  “Mum—”

  “No, you listen to me.” Her mother snatched her elbow from Sienna’s grip. “I’m told he’s one fine-looking man. A man who’s got a good job and two little ones. No wife. No woman. Now, what’s the deal?”

  Her mother was like a wild dingo when she had the chance of a meaty tale between her teeth. Sienna pulled back her shoulders. She’d no doubt go down, but damn if she’d go down without a fight. She was twenty-eight years old, for crying out loud.

  “There’s no deal. He’s nice.” She paused. “Even his kids are nice, but—”

  The tight straight line of her mother’s mouth arced into a smile so broad, her teeth glowed white under the streetlamp. “You’re sleeping with him.”

  “No, I’m not.” Heat flared to the surface of Sienna’s cheeks. “Who the hell do you think I am? The poor man—”

  “Well, if he hasn’t done the deed, he’s done something to get you all hot under the collar. Have you kissed?”

  Sienna glanced toward the taxi, desperation making her palms clammy. Perhaps she was insane, but she felt Jack’s gaze on her from his upstairs window. If she turned around to check and her mother saw him there, though, she’d have them both sitting at his kitchen table with a new bottle of wine before Sienna had time to curse.

  “No, we haven’t kissed. There is nothing going on. Now get in the taxi before it costs me forty quid to take you three miles down the road.”

  Her mother glanced toward number seventeen, and Sienna’s heart picked up speed.

  Please don’t let him be there. Please don’t let him be there…

  “Hmm.” Her mother studied her. “Fine, but you’d tell me if there was anything going on?”

  “Yes. If I thought it worth telling.”

  The older woman threw her hands up in defeat. “I’ll leave you to go to bed then…alone.”

  “Thank you.”

  Her mother lifted one foot to get into the taxi but then stopped so abruptly, Sienna bumped into her back on still-drunk legs. “Jus
t one more thing.”

  “What?” Unease raised the hairs at the back of Sienna’s neck. Her mother’s eyes were demonic with undisguised glee, and Sienna automatically shot a glance at Jack’s house. A curtain twitched upstairs. Damn it.

  She looked back at her mother, whose own gaze lingered at Jack’s bedroom window. “I was only wondering…well, if there’s nothing ‘worth telling’ about Journo-Stud, if that means you’re in the habit of letting all men satisfy you on your garden swing seat?”

  The pavement shifted beneath Sienna’s feet, and she gripped her mother’s arm to steady herself. “Kelsey told you.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Oh, my God. I’m going to kill her.”

  “What? It’s great. She’s so happy for you.”

  “She won’t be so happy tomorrow when I see her. Now get in the car.” Sienna covered her mother’s head with her hand and pushed her into the taxi. Taking a ten-pound note from her back pocket, she shoved it in the driver’s hand. “Number four Marshall Street. Whatever she says to you, don’t believe a word of it.”

  Laughing, her mother pleaded, “Sienna—”

  “Bye, Mum.” She slammed the car door and stormed back toward the house once the taxi had pulled away. “I’m going to kill Kelsey. Absolutely kill her.”

  When she reached her front door, she stopped. A thought so ridiculous, so bad, filtered into her mind on a wine-induced haze. Her temper melted until a warm, no, hot glow emanated from her body. She fanned a hand in front of her face. So what if Jack was good with his hands? What was the big deal if her mother and best friend knew she’d had a good time with him a few nights ago? Wasn’t that what they’d been telling her to do for years? To get out there and enjoy herself?

  Drinks and bravado edged her on as the need to have Jack back on her swing seat rose on a hungry, animalistic heat.

  They’d hardly seen each other for a week. After their outing at the park had ended on such a down note, Sienna had tried to persuade him to continue their day out with the girls by having a barbecue night, but Jack had refused. He’d wanted to be alone—or alone with the twins at least. He’d explained his need for solitude wasn’t a rejection of her but his automatic way of dealing with things. She’d looked at him long and hard yet only told him to let her know when he was back out of the cave.

  Since then, he’d been busy with work and the girls while Sienna had been busy clearing the old shop and preparing the new one. And now, she was preparing for Jack.

  Sienna stepped back and peered up at the window with the twitching curtain. Nothing.

  But he was in there, and he was alone. She knew it, and he knew she knew it. What if he was up there praying she knocked on his door? What if he was waiting for her buck-naked with a rose between his teeth and petals strewn on the silken covers? Though why on earth would a single man have silken bed covers? Sienna shoved such doubt aside. Jack would sleep on silk, oh yeah. And he wouldn’t want to be up there getting cold in those sheets, now would he?

  Then she thought of the girls. Damn. They were gone, but he’d think of them. So, no. Not in his house. Wasn’t right. But nothing wrong with them swinging from the chandeliers in her house, was there?

  Sienna’s smile bloomed once more, and hurrying inside, she raced into the kitchen and whipped around, clearing up like a woman possessed. Within minutes, it looked presentable…kind of.

  Her heart thundered and her body reawakened with desire. Snatching her Blackberry from the top of the refrigerator, she dialed Jack’s number.

  “Do you know what time it is?” he mumbled.

  Sienna inwardly snorted. Faker! He had so been standing at that window, watching her and her mum fifteen minutes ago. Sienna wiggled provocatively and purred (more like slurred) into the phone. “They’ve gone.”

  A moment passed. “And?”

  “And you’d better get your ass over here if you know what’s good for you.”

  Another moment. “Is that a threat?”

  “A promise, Blue Eyes. So you’d better be quick before I change my—”

  The line buzzed in her ear.

  Sienna clicked the end call button and, with a trembling hand, held the phone to her stomach.

  Now she’d done it.

  Jack grinned and tossed his cell onto his bed. What was a man to do? He hit the bathroom at lightning speed. Ripping off his boxers, he dived into the shower, not even waiting for it to run hot. The cold water hit his bed-warm body, and he sucked in a breath, laughing. He hadn’t seen Sienna for a few days, and now he wanted her with a desperation bordering on the insane.

  From the slight slur in her voice, it was further evidence the party had gone well. Not that he needed to hear her voice to know. The screeching and laughter, mixed with music from every decade since he’d turned six, had boomed through his walls for the preceding four hours. He hadn’t minded…but it had kept him firmly behind the safety of his closed door. Facing a group of inebriated and beyond-excited women didn’t bear thinking about.

  And now Sienna was alone—the tone of her voice had left little unsaid. Jack smiled. The difference between Sienna after a little wine and Martina consuming a crate-full was incomparable. Giggly, sweet, and more than a little…suggestive, Sienna got his libido soaring. Martina, on the other hand, had sent it fleeing in the other direction on a slipstream of violence, expletives, and nastiness.

  Hope for a happy future knotted inside him as Jack soaped his body and washed his hair. Rinsing off, he turned off the shower and stepped out. He dried as quickly as humanly possible before grabbing some clothes from his chest of drawers. He then dressed and whipped a comb through his hair. A quick glance in the mirror and he was ready.

  Ignoring the sudden leap of nerves in his stomach, Jack reached for his phone, and it vibrated in his hand. He smiled. Impatient lady.

  He pressed talk without looking at the display. “Patience, woman.”

  “Hi, Jack.”

  He froze. Shock lodged his next breath in his throat, and eyes shut, he lowered to the bed.

  “Martina.” Had she sensed his momentary ease and called with the need to puncture it immediately?

  “How are you?”

  He glanced toward his bedroom door, his heart racing. “Fine. On my way out, as it happens.”

  “At this time? Wow, I guess we’ve both changed a lot in the last year.”

  Had that been intended as an insult? He tensed his jaw. Calm. “And what has you up so late?” Another drinking binge wouldn’t have surprised him, though she did sound coherent enough.

  “I know it’s rude to phone at this hour, but I haven’t been successful at more acceptable times of day, have I? I waited for you to ring back when it was more convenient, but—”

  “Right. I’m sorry about that. Since the move I’ve just been…busy. Settling into the new house and job and everything. I’m guessing for you to be ringing now, you’ve spoken to your mother.”

  “Yes. She told me how reasonable you sounded on the phone when you called the other day. She thought it would be okay for me to call.”

  “I see.” The ensuing silence bore down on him, and Jack slumped his shoulders. “How are you?”

  “Good. Better.”

  “Your mum said you’ve been doing well…I’m happy for you.”

  Another long moment of silence lingered, and all Jack wanted was to end the call and run next door to Sienna. He’d have given a hundred pounds right there and then to be with her instead of sitting listening to Martina’s breath whisper down the line.

  “I want to see you, Jack. It’s time.”

  Every nerve in his body stretched taut, and he gripped the phone. “I don’t know—”

  “I just want to talk. I want you to see how far I’ve come. It’s been a year, and I don’t want this impasse between us to go on anymore.” She sighed. “Please, Jack.”

  He stared at a spot on the wall. Just days before, he’d told Sienna he’d deal with Martina when the time came,
but so far he hadn’t; he’d only avoided her calls. No part of him had been prepared for it to happen this quickly, but he’d delayed the inevitable long enough. Bitterness threatened to choke him, and he cleared his throat. “When?”

  Her relieved sigh rasped down the line. “Whenever you want. I’m happy to come to you. Anytime. I’ve missed you.”

  Nausea swirled inside him, and he stood. “Let me think about it. I’m not sure I’m ready to do this yet. The twins—”

  “I’m not asking you to bring the girls. I understand I lost the right to demand anything from you as far as they’re concerned. I’d just like to see you and talk some.”

  Nodding through his unease, Jack said, “Okay. Give me a day or two, and we’ll sort something out.”

  “You’ll call me?”

  “I’ll call you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Bye, Martina.”

  “Bye, Jack.”

  He jabbed the end talk button and stood immobile. The silence of the room pressed down on him, and with each passing second Jack found it harder to breathe. Loathing for the woman who’d put the twins through so much despair conflicted with his need to be a bigger man, a better man.

  He used to love her. And she had sounded in control again. Normal. The anger that had laced every word she’d spoken for the last year of their relationship and afterward had gone, leaving behind the soft-spoken woman he remembered from years before.

  Yet somehow she’d still just ripped out a whole piece of him, exposing it to the infection she’d not given him time to heal from.

  He shook his head. No. He wouldn’t let her get under his skin again, wouldn’t let her crawl under his carefully erected defenses. The twins and Sienna were his life now. Martina was outside the perimeters of what would and wouldn’t happen.

  Sienna.

  Jack made for the bedroom door and yanked it open. All he wanted was to feel her bare skin against his. Make love to her and let the warmth of her heart and body soothe the pain and make him whole again.