The line went dead, and Sienna stood paralyzed looking at the phone. Martina looks good. She’s going to play nice. But no apology for how he’d acted the day before. Her breath caught in her chest and pulled. How could she have let him in this way? She hadn’t wanted to want anyone ever again, hadn’t wanted to feel this pain ever again. She had to get out of there.
Through her tears, she snatched up the phone and dialed Kelsey’s number. For the time being, she’d only let Kelsey know her plans. Until she took the job, there was no need to worry her mother…or allow Jack the opportunity to stop her.
“Kelse? It’s me. I’ve got some news. Can you meet me at the shop?”
The bell above the shop door rang, and Sienna looked up.
In swept Kelsey, looking more poised and together than Sienna had any hope of achieving in this lifetime or the next. Sienna had just moved to come around the counter to greet her when her phone rang. She looked at the display, and her heart kicked. She pressed talk.
“Hi, Jack.” Her eyes briefly met Kelsey’s before her friend walked over to one of the few displays left to pack up.
“You didn’t return my call.”
“Things are hectic at work. I haven’t got much time left to sort things out.”
“I’ve been thinking. Don’t you think the best thing would be for you to meet Martina?”
Sienna sucked in a breath. “You want me to meet her? Why?”
“It’s better this way. Like I said yesterday, I’m not hiding you away from her. I’m not hiding you or the shop.”
“But what if that makes her angry?” His silence down the telephone line spoke volumes. “See? You don’t have to do this, Jack. Now isn’t the time to introduce me to your ex-wife.” Sienna glanced at Kelsey as her friend continued wandering around the shop room, randomly picking up and discarding items. Kelsey have would bought the whole lot if doing so wouldn’t label her Sex Fiend of the Year. “I don’t understand why you’d want to…especially after what you said to me about your family.” He needed to know he’d hurt her, that he couldn’t make her feel wanted only to push her away.
“I want you there. Beside me.”
“Why? What’s changed since you saw Martina?” Say it. Say what you’re really thinking.
“I shouldn’t have said those things to you. I’m sorry. But before I met with her, I didn’t know what to expect. Now that I’ve seen her, I just want to move forward.”
“Which means what?”
“Which means I want you to meet her. I want Martina to see I have someone new in my life who is a part of this whether she likes it or not.”
“I won’t be used, Jack.” Sienna’s pulse beat hard, and her protective walls slammed back into place.
“I wouldn’t do that.”
She pressed her lips firmly together. Even above her defensive barriers, self-doubt hovered like an invisible and toxic cloud.
Jack sighed. “Sienna, you matter to me. You matter to the twins. I want to know what you think of Martina, this situation, everything. If this stands a chance of working, it’s only fair you see my life as a whole, with and without the ugly.”
“Well, we’ve all got a bit of that going on.” She smiled softly. God, please don’t let me regret this. “Fine, I’ll meet her.”
“You will?”
Her mouth was parched as she nodded. “Yes.”
“Thank you. You have no idea—”
“So, what can I expect?”
His exhale blew down the line. “Well, first and foremost, you need to know Martina’s changed. A lot. She’s got herself together. But the coldness is still there. It’s deeper under her skin than it was before, but it’s still there.” He cleared his throat. “Which is why I was so apprehensive about you…us. If I think for one minute she’s going to drag you or what you do into the middle of this, then I’ll have no choice but to step back.”
Her heart sank. “From us or Martina?”
“Both.”
Then, more than ever, Sienna knew she’d made the right decision by ringing Ian. Jack didn’t know what he wanted, and she wasn’t the type of woman to wait around while he figured that out.
“This doesn’t feel very fair to me, Jack.” Her jaw tensed. “I’m already in this whether you realize it or not. The girls matter to me…so do you. And I vowed no one would ever dictate what happens in my life after what happened to Dad. Don’t you think you should do the same?”
“I know what you’re saying, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying about how this is going to affect you. The last thing I want is to hurt you.”
“Then don’t.”
“Sienna, please.”
She shot another glance toward Kelsey, who, thankfully, was engrossed in a lingerie magazine, her back turned to the counter where Sienna stood.
“Please what, Jack? I’m not the sort to beg. If you want out, that’s fine. But for God’s sake, make sure it’s for the right reasons and not because of your ex-wife.”
“Of course it’s because of her. Until this is sorted out, you have to trust I’m doing the right thing for you, the girls, and me.”
He sounded so sincere, but in her heart, she knew she’d been a fool to fall in love. A fool who’d fallen in love with a man she’d started to picture in her future until yesterday. Now she pictured him working at a future with a woman she didn’t know.
She dropped her head into her hand. “So what’s the plan?”
“I want to stay in Potterford without looking over my shoulder all the damn time, but I can’t do that without knowing once and for all how Martina will react to me moving on. So I’m going to do something about it. Now I’ve seen she’s doing her best to get her own life straight, I can’t abandon the mother of my children on top of all the other bad decisions I’ve made. The girls are going to grow up. They’re going to ask about their mum, and when that happens, I want to be able to look them in the eye and know that I acted in their best interests. Not mine. Do you understand that?”
Sienna slumped against the counter, clutching the phone tighter in her hand. “Of course. But—”
“It’s for the best. Please, Sienna. Will you meet her? I can set something up for tomorrow. She wants to see the house. See where we’re living. She agreed to come over when the girls aren’t here.”
It all still seemed inappropriate, but Sienna nodded. She would soon leave for London and, while there, be able to make an informed decision about Jack and the job. “Fine. But I’d like to see you before that happens. Why don’t you come over after work tonight? Bring the girls. We’ll have something to eat and talk about it.”
“I’ll come over now. I had some interviews scheduled, but I’ve managed to put those off. I need to be at the primary school at four o’clock, though, so I can’t stay long.”
Sienna looked up. Kelsey was watching her with an eye not unlike like that of a bald eagle zooming in on its unsuspecting prey.
“Okay, fine.” Sienna kept her gaze level with Kelsey’s. She couldn’t show weakness in the face of a woman who could throw a dart at eight feet and still hit the bull’s-eye. “I’ll see you soon. I have to go. I have a million and one things to do if the shop is going to be open for business at Marsden Place any time this century.” Or if I’m moving to London.
Sienna ended the call and slid her phone under the counter. Kelsey strolled slowly toward her, carrying a boxed dildo and a pair of gold handcuffs. “So…what’s going on?”
“Jack’s coming over.”
“Why?”
Sienna looked past her friend’s shoulder. “To talk.”
“About what?”
“Martina.”
“And?”
“And nothing.” Sienna whipped from the counter some unwanted Dracula outfits that left little to the imagination and brushed past Kelsey.
“You can run away from me all you want,” Kelsey said, blowing out a theatrical sigh, “but you asked me over. And now I want to know what’s got those tears po
pping into your eyes like little glass beads.”
Sienna squeezed her eyes shut and kept her back to her friend. If she looked at Kelsey again, her last shred of dignity would abandon her.
“Sienna?”
Sienna turned around and fisted a hand on her hip. “He wants me to meet Martina. Tomorrow. And now I’m worried I’m the woman who stands between him and a reunion with the twins’ mum.”
“Don’t be daft.” Kelsey laughed, but then her smile vanished. “Did he say that?”
Sienna flung the outfits into a plastic box. “No, but he seems to be pretty obsessed with how good she looks now.”
After studying her for a moment, Kelsey shook her head. “So? The last time he saw the woman she was an alcoholic slut. Any improvement would make her look amazing.”
Normally, this type of Kelsey response would extract a smile from Sienna, but nothing came. “You know, I can’t help thinking Martina showing up now isn’t anything to do with the twins. From what Jack’s told me, this woman couldn’t give a damn about them. I have no idea what this is about, but it could be something like money, pure and simple. She might only use Holly and Katy like a double-edged sword to continually stick in Jack’s heart.”
“Well, that can’t happen.” Kelsey pushed herself bolt upright from where she’d been lounging against the counter and whipped her cell phone from her bag. “Right.”
“Who are you ringing?”
“The bane of my life, of course.”
“Mike.”
“Who else?”
“Kelse, wait. There’s more.”
Kelsey raised her hand, cutting her off while holding the phone to her ear. She tapped one spike-heeled foot on the floor. “It’s me. I’m at Sienna’s. I need to see you. I need your help…What? No, I am not buying, I’m browsing…Will you forget what I’m doing and meet me at the office later? I need some advice…This is about Sienna, Mike.” She glared at a spot on the wall. “For crying out loud, will you reel it in?” Kelsey scowled. “Fine. I’ll buy you dinner next week as a thank-you.” She hesitated and then jabbed her hand in the air, clearly frustrated. “Fine. Tomorrow, then.”
Sienna laughed as Kelsey snapped the phone shut. “That man has got you just where he wants you.”
Kelsey sniffed. “The hell he has.”
Quirking an eyebrow, Sienna said nothing.
Kelsey stepped away from the counter and pointed her cell at her. “Enough. We’re talking about you, not me. Come on, let’s get the kettle on and think about a plan of action before Jack-O gets here.”
The need to defend Jack rose like a tidal wave in Sienna’s heart, despite her reluctance to meet The Bitch from the Black Lagoon. “You’re making him sound like he couldn’t fight Martina on his own.”
Kelsey raised her hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m not saying that at all. The way that man is built, I don’t doubt for one minute he can handle himself.” She walked closer and pressed a kiss to Sienna’s forehead. “It’s his feelings for you and those girls that are going to make him do something stupid.”
Kelsey disappeared into the back-room kitchen, her high heels clicking on the tiles.
“I’m scared he’s already done something stupid,” Sienna said, following Kelsey. “And what do you mean Jack’s ‘feelings’? His feelings for me have nothing to do with this; he’s doing the right thing by the girls.”
Kelsey turned from filling the kettle and raised her eyebrows. “Is that what he told you?”
“Yes…No…Well, he said he’s doing it for all of us, but this can hardly be for my benefit.”
“Well, that may be true, but getting you to meet this Martina bitch has a lot to do with Jack-O, too. A big dose of this is for him, my friend.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants you by his side.”
Sienna shook her head. “Haven’t you forgotten something?”
“What?”
She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder toward the door. “The shop? I think he wants me to meet her so I can defend to her what I’ve been defending to him.”
Kelsey shrugged. “Well, that’s fine. You can defend what you do for a living forever.”
“Maybe. But I can’t defend why I’m in the middle of a family that might have a second chance at making it work.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. I don’t want that on my conscience, Kelse.”
Kelsey put the kettle on to boil before taking Sienna’s hands in hers. “That man has it bad for you and bad for those girls. I saw the look in his eyes when we were standing at your door. He’s falling and falling fast. Don’t walk away from this. Please. These past couple of weeks, you’ve been happy with him. Really happy.”
“But what if I’m right?”
“You’re not. Jack is doing the honorable thing. He’s not hiding you away like a dirty secret. He’s bringing you to the forefront, letting his ex see who you are and saying ‘deal with it.’”
“But—”
Kelsey leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “No buts. Trust me.” She turned and took two mugs out of an overhead cupboard and spooned in coffee and sugar. Filling the mugs with boiling water, she added milk then handed Sienna one. Together, they walked back into the empty shop and sank into comfy chairs in the seating area.
“All we need to do is think this through so when Jack arrives, we can listen to his plans.” Kelsey blew across the top of her mug. “That way, by the time I see Masterful Mike, he can advise the best way forward.”
Sienna smiled and lifted her mug to her lips. “Are you sure this isn’t just an excuse so you can see him?”
Kelsey glared. “Shut up.”
Sienna drank as Kelsey scowled into her coffee. Her smile wavered, however, and she said, “I’ll meet her, Kelse. Talk to the woman who put so much pain in Jack’s and the twins’ eyes that all I want to do is smack her in the face.” Sienna gripped her coffee mug and took a deep breath. “But I’m also going to explore other alternatives.”
Kelsey frowned. “With Martina?”
“With me. I’ve called Ian. I’m going to meet him in London on Thursday.”
“What? You’re thinking about taking a job with him?”
“Yes. Thinking being the operative word. I just want…I just want to know what my options are.”
Kelsey tapped her mug to Sienna’s. “Well, I’m all for a girl exploring options.” She grinned. “This is good, Sienna. Really good.”
Doubt weighed heavily in Sienna’s mind, but she nodded. “I think so too. Just do me a favor and keep this to yourself. I don’t want Mum finding out until I know what I’m doing.”
“My lips are sealed. And as for Martina, you see that woman—but with Jack and Jack only. I’m worried she’ll come after you.”
Sienna huffed. “I’d love to see her try.”
The tinkling of the shop door made them both jump. Jack. Sienna put down her coffee as he came toward them. He threw a quick smile to Kelsey, but Sienna could tell he would have preferred them to be alone. Strangely, she didn’t want that to happen. It was safer to have Kelsey there so Sienna wouldn’t risk losing her resolve to explore London.
“Hey, come and sit down,” she said, gesturing toward an empty seat. “Kelsey just got off the phone with your new best friend, Mike Scott, if you need his advice.”
He looked at Kelsey. “Is he any good?”
Kelsey nodded. “Yes.”
Sienna looked at Kelsey’s face and laughed. “Good? Jack, Mike’s the best family lawyer in the southwest. He gets things done. And wait until you see the guy. Any female jurors have his vote before he even opens his mouth. The judges aren’t keen on that fact, nor are his adversaries, but that’s the way it is.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “That hot, huh?”
“Put it this way, any woman with blood beating through her veins gives Mike what he wants, when he wants it. Well, apart from Kelsey—”
“Hey!” Kelsey g
lared.
Sienna grinned. “Believe me, any other woman would fall on her back with her legs wide open if there was any hope he’d notice her.”
Jack looked from her to Kelsey and back again. “What does that mean? Is he gay?”
Sienna’s burst of laughter was loud, but Jack maintained his somber expression. “What?” he asked.
“Mike is about as gay as Don Juan. He’s got eyes for one woman and one woman only.” She nodded toward Kelsey, who’d developed an intense interest in her coffee cup.
Jack smiled and then blew out a breath. “I can’t help thinking you shouldn’t have asked him to get involved yet. There’s nothing for him to do.”
Sienna looked at him in disbelief. “Jack, you asked me to contact Kelsey about this. What’s changed?”
He lifted his shoulders. “All I’m saying is involving lawyers is the last resort.”
“But I thought you didn’t trust Martina, that you wanted all bases covered.”
“I do.”
“Then—”
“I’m doing my best here, you know.”
Sienna took a calming breath and looked to the floor. His contradictions were maddening. How could they go on like this? She looked up and met Kelsey’s steady gaze, widening her eyes to silently ask for some backup.
Crossing her arms, Kelsey cleared her throat and shifted her focus to Jack. “Just because I’ve contacted Mike, it doesn’t mean you’ve hired him. It would just be good for him to know what you’ve got planned. Regardless, if you need anyone in your corner now, it’s Sienna. She’s a one-woman machine when it comes to looking out for other people.” In a murmur, she added, “Not that you aren’t clearly talented when it comes to taking care of her needs…”
Kelsey strikes again. “Haven’t you got somewhere you should be?” Sienna asked her.
“Fine.” Kelsey stood and hitched her bag onto her shoulder. “I’ll go and leave you two alone. I need to speak to Mike about it anyway. The one thing you need to learn about us, Jack, is we rally around our friends. You move in next door to Sienna, you get my friend all gooey and happy for the first time in years, then you’re a friend to Mike and me now, whether you like it or not.”
16 Marsden Place Page 19
