Chapter Nine
Expect the Unexpected
The large double doors opened with a swoosh. Cooled air wafted around her. When they stepped inside Sienna took a second to assess the situation. Orderly chaos was the first thing that came to mind. The Laser Tag studio and a restaurant were to the right, to the left, more games than Sienna had ever seen outside a theme park.
“Come this way.” Vaughn guided her toward the cashier. He purchased fun cards for both of them. When he was finished, he eased her over to the side out of the line. “So, what would you like to try first?”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t have a clue.”
Vaughn grinned. “How good are you at the old school games?”
The first thing they tried in the Arcade was Ms. Pacman. Sienna beat him soundly and was thrilled. Next they played a shooting game. They went on a virtual hunting expedition to shoot Elk. Vaughn won by a landslide.
“Oh my gosh, they have Skee Ball,” Sienna enthused. “I haven’t played that since high school.” This time she dragged Vaughn behind her.
Kids with their parents in tow weaved in and out of their path. It didn’t bother Sienna in the slightest. A game that looked like Wheel of Fortune caught her eye. “Hey, let’s go Bass fishing,” she joked sliding her money card in the card reader. She grabbed the large lever and pulled down as hard as she could. The dial spun furiously before it landed on 450 tickets. “I won,” she shouted, excitedly. The dispenser doled out her tickets in rapid succession. She turned to him. “You have to try this thing.”
“Okay.” Vaughn slid his card and pulled the lever. It went around several times and stopped on 85 tickets. He laughed as Sienna scooped them up and added them to her mound of tickets.
They walked by another game. This one had a giant metal claw. Sienna saw the huge stuffed animals and stopped in her tracks.
About six-dollars later, Vaughn handed Sienna a huge stuffed animal. “For you.”
Sienna hugged it to her possessively. “Thank you, Vaughn. She beamed up at him. So what’s next?” she scanned the crowd.
“How about we get dinner and then we’ll check out the outside?”
Sienna grinned. “There’s an outside?”
They waited inside the restaurant to be seated. After a few minutes they were shown to a booth. Sienna slid in with her prized possession. Vaughn followed. The waitress handed them both menus. They both ordered Iced Tea. While they were waiting they scanned the menus.
“Do you know what you want to eat?”
Sienna shook her head. “It always takes me forever to order. You?”
“I think I’m going with the Ribeye and shrimp.”
Her gaze traveled distractedly over the menu again. “Decisions, decisions.”
“If you’re not sure what you want we can order appetizers while you choose.”
His thoughtfulness made her smile. “Sounds like a perfect idea.”
When their waitress returned, Vaughn’s head came up over the menu. “Do you like spicy?”
Sienna grinned. “Bring it on.”
After dinner, she made a beeline for the door. They went on the Bumper Boats and sprayed each other mercilessly with the built-in squirt guns. Vaughn suggested they play mini-golf while their clothes dried. “Okay, but I think it fair to warn you I’m a mini-golf connoisseur,” Sienna boasted.
“I think I’ll take my chances.”
Sienna’s golf victory was supreme. On the way to the Shamrock Slick Go-Kart track she recounted her amazing shots. The slippery surface made racing the Go-Karts a blast. Sienna laughed so much she got hiccups.
“Come on, we’ll get you a slushy.”
Sienna ordered a Blue Raspberry Icee and Vaughn a Coke. They went back outside and he practically ran to the batting cage. Sienna frowned digging in her heels. “I don’t think this is such a good idea, Vaughn.”
He stopped and studied her. “Why not?”
Need I remind you that the last time we played baseball I almost wound up in the hospital?”
Vaughn snorted. “Sienna, this is a batting cage, not the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.”
Sienna glared at him. “I’m glad my near death experience amuses you.”
“Just how near death were you?” Vaughn asked as straight-faced as he could.
It wasn’t good enough. Neither could contain their laughter.
“Sienna, I can show you all you need to know. You’ll be fine.”
She looked at the ball machine and then back at Vaughn. Skepticism was evident in her face.
He rubbed her shoulders in a comforting gesture. “This will be like coming full circle for us.” His eyes never left hers. “Trust me.”
Without hesitation Sienna nodded.
“Great. Vaughn grinned and set their drinks down. There was nobody around so he took his time coaching her. “I studied your swing while you were batting the last time.”
Her expression relayed her surprise. “I didn’t know that. It was pretty horrific, wasn’t it?”
“It wasn’t bad. There are just a few things I’d suggest you do differently.”
He went to retrieve a bat for her. “Are you right or left handed?”
“Right.”
Vaughn faced her. “Okay, the hand you write with goes on top.” He handed her the bat. “Elbows up with the arm furthest from the pitcher angled higher.”
He watched as she made the corrections. He got on the side of her. “Let me see you swing.”
Sienna swung the bat and then looked at him. “How was that?”
“Watch the ball and swing. The key is to follow through with the bat and push your rear end out a bit.” Vaughn sauntered over to the machine while Sienna lined up. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” she yelled back.
She missed the first ball and clipped the second. Vaughn came over and got behind her. “Here.” He fit his body up against hers. “You need to work on the wait-watch-swing and follow through technique.”
Is he kidding? Sienna was having an extremely hard time concentrating when he was spooning her like he was. She took a deep breath and willed herself to concentrate.
“Chin up,” he whispered in her ear. “Watch the ball.” Vaughn moved them to simulate a ball coming at her. He swung through the air with slow and precise movements taking her with him.
He retreated. “See how I did that? Okay, now you try.”
She blinked several times while he ran across the space toward the ball machine. “Oh my,” Sienna said, feeling disoriented.
“Push my tush back,” she repeated his words. She stuck her butt out a smidgen. “How’s that?” she yelled.
“More.”
She tried it again. “Now?”
“Hang on,” he bellowed, and then jogged over to her. Vaughn got behind her and grabbed her hips.
Sienna instantly stiffened.
“Relax,” he coached. Vaughn adjusted her position bringing her back against his middle. “Your legs need to be further apart, too.” To demonstrate he wedged his right leg between the two of hers and pushed to widen her stance.
Sweat trickled down the small of Sienna’s back. His touch was causing her body some serious distress. Her hands were moist so she sat the bat down and wiped them off on the front of her pants. After taking several deep breathes she resumed her position.
Vaughn’s voice sounded in her ear. It tickled her skin. “Sienna, head up. Always watch the ball.”
She blinked. “What ball?”
“The ball that will be coming at you,” he replied, with amusement. “Don’t forget, your bat needs to be between a ninety and forty-five degree angle.” He placed his arms around her and grabbed hold of the bat.
Does Frankie’s have a first-aid kit with an oxygen tank? Sienna mused. “I’m not going to survive this,” she groaned.
“Sure you will,” Vaughn replied.
Sienna blushed realizing she’d spoken aloud.
He tightened his hold. �
��Remember, your grip should be firm—and controlled.”
“Firm and controlled,” she repeated, hoarsely.
Without warning he released her. “You got it.”
Sienna’s knees buckled. Vaughn caught her immediately. “Doc, are you all right?”
“Uh-huh. Just fine,” she smiled with considerable effort. Rule number twelve: If you are being spooned and touched all over by a tall, sexy, crazy-good looking, breathing, single, heterosexual man and your knees buckle, play it off. “I’m just not used to all this…sports stuff.”
“You’re doing great. Now, let’s see how well I tutor,” he joked before heading back to the machine.
She watched him the entire way. “Pretty damned well,” she murmured.
This is your chance, Sienna. Focus. Remember what he told you. Head up, elbows out, widen your stance, stick your butt out. She went through all his suggestions like a check list. Confident that she was ready, Sienna nodded at Vaughn to proceed.
“Batter up,” Vaughn warned.
Sienna lowered her head and said a silent prayer.
“Watch the ball.”
She raised her head and waited. The ball raced toward her. She held her breath. The bat connected with a deafening thwack. She watched it sail across the cage. The only thing that stopped it was the net surrounding the area. “I did it,” Sienna cried out, jumping around.
Vaughn raced over and picked her up. He spun her in his arms. “You were awesome, Sienna. Perfect swing,” he said, proudly.
She giggled as he twirled her. When he set her feet on the ground his hands moved to her waist to steady her.
“Thanks for the lesson,” she said, breathlessly.
“Thanks for being so teachable.” They smiled at one another for a few seconds. Clearing his throat, Vaughn released her and went to retrieve their drinks, her stuffed animal and tickets.
They went back into the arcade to cash in the large mound of tickets. Sienna couldn’t choose what to get so they opted to redeem them another time.
Deciding to call it a night, Sienna and Vaughn walked back to his car. She secured her stuffed animal in the back seat with a seatbelt. He laughed at that.
“I’m not running the risk of my new buddy being hurt,” she said, protectively.
He snickered. “I can see that.”
They listened to music on the trip home. Sienna gazed at the stars overhead. Eventually, she turned to him. “Vaughn, I think it’s time I admitted that I enjoyed myself at Frankie’s—immensely.”
His eyes didn’t leave the road, but he grinned in reaction. “I’m glad you did.”
“I know you had your doubts.”
“Only in the five seconds it took to pass the car wash,” he admitted.
They conversed on topics ranging from the economy and politics to their favorite cooking shows. By the time Vaughn pulled into Sienna’s driveway, they were having a heated debate about the longevity of reality television shows.
Vaughn helped her and her prize out of the car.
“So, what are you going to name him or her?”
“It’s a him, and I’m not sure yet. Maybe Curtis.”
He made a face as his gaze roamed over the large bear. “Curtis?”
“Okay, maybe I’ll go back to the drawing board.”
“Good idea,” he countered.
After she retrieved her house key they mounted the steps to the front door. Sienna turned to face him. “Would you like to come in for a drink, or some coffee? I don’t drink coffee, but I have some. You know, in case company comes over and wants coffee. I try to be prepared.”
The urge to tease her was too strong to ignore. “Yeah, I get that about you.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. Vaughn pondered her invitation. He had to admit he enjoyed her company immensely and wasn’t ready for their evening to end either. Decision made he replied, “Actually, I’d love to come in.”
Almost an hour later they were in another heated debate. “You can’t put down a wild card and change the color if you already have that color in your hand.”
“I can so.”
“That’s against the rules. You have to draw two cards.”
“I do not. What kind of bootleg rules are you spouting?”
Sienna looked indignant. I’m not making up rules. Just ask anyone that actually knows how to play Uno.”
“Yeah, right. I want to see the rules. Where’s your copy?”
“I don’t have them anymore, but trust me you can’t do that.”
“Trust you?” he snorted. “I don’t think so.” He batted the two cards she was shoving at him away.
She laughed and tried again. “Cheater.”
“Yes, you are.”
Reluctantly, Vaughn glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late, I’d better get going.”
Sienna looked upside down at the clock on the table behind her. “It was late an hour ago.”
He helped her put the cards back in the metal tin. He got up off the floor in front of the couch and extended his hand. “Come on, cheater. I’ll help you up.”
Sienna accepted his help. “Thanks. You know for someone who cheats, you aren’t so bad.”
Sienna retrieved their glasses of water from off the floor as well. She placed them on the tray of snacks she’d brought out when they had first arrived. Vaughn took the tray from her and headed for the kitchen. She followed him. “I can take care of that,” she told him after he opened the dishwasher.
“I’ve got it.”
They tidied up and turned off the light. Sienna walked him back into the foyer.
“Thanks for such a wonderful evening, Vaughn. I had a great time.”
He gazed down at her. “Me, too.”
“Call me when you get home. Ring once so I know you got there safely.”
“Ring once?” he chuckled. “My mother used to say that when we’d moved out on our own.”
“My parents still do. So don’t forget. Ring once,” she warned.
This time Vaughn didn’t resist the urge to tweak her nose. “Will do.”
She opened the front door to let him out. She watched him until he had backed out of her driveway and drove down the quiet street. Slowly, she closed and locked the door. Turning out the lights, Sienna set the alarm then went upstairs. Tired, she rushed through her nighttime regimen. Once in the bed, she snuggled under the covers and stared at the ceiling.
Her day was simply fantastic. She smiled like a Cheshire cat when she recounted all the events. When the phone rang, she grabbed the receiver and hit the talk button. “Hello?”
“Why are you answering? I thought you just wanted me to ring once and hang up?”
She heard Vaughn’s amused voice in her ear. She laughed. “Sorry, I forgot.” Without warning she hung up the telephone.
A few seconds later the phone rang again.
“Hello?”
“You are certifiably crazy.”
She burst out laughing. “Glad to know you arrived safely.”
“Yep, I did.”
“What are you doing?”
“Watching the moon shine through the skylight above my bed. You?”
“The same—minus the skylight.”
“So, which part of our outing was your favorite?”
Sienna was thoughtful for a moment. “Hmm…I’d have to say you winning me Rocco.”
“Excuse me?”
“My stuffed animal. I named him Rocco.”
“I see. So where is Rocco now?”
“Right next to me. I’ve got a King-sized bed so he’s got an entire wing to himself.”
Vaughn chuckled at that, but then grew silent. “I’d say he is one lucky bear.”
Sienna’s stomach lurched. Closing her eyes, she willed the lump forming in her throat to move. “You know, something tells me if we don’t say goodnight now we’ll be on this phone till dawn.”
“Something tells me you’re right. Goodnight,” Vaughn said, quietly. “I’m glad we gav
e the friend thing another try.”
She couldn’t help the grin that stole across her face. “Me, too,” she admitted before hanging up the phone.
Chapter Ten
And So It Begins
Sienna was checking in on her flight when her cell phone rang. “Sienna Lambert.”
“Where are you?”
She smiled. “Chicago. You?”
“Seattle,” Vaughn replied. “We had a skittish client that was thinking about going to another agency. Linda insisted I come out here immediately to keep that from happening.”
“Did you convince them?”
“We’ll find out shortly. Right now we’re at Happy Hour going over how much more we’re going to do for them—for less.”
“Well, if anyone can blow sunshine up someone’s—”
“Hey,” he interrupted.
“I’m just saying…you’re good at schmoozing.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“You know it is,” Sienna countered. “Darn, I have to run. I’m heading to the security checkpoint. Dinner tomorrow night, okay? Does Michael Dean’s Seafood work for you?”
“You’re on. I’ll call you when I land. Be safe, Doc.”
“Ditto.”
A day later, they were patiently waiting for the waiter to show them to their table. Once they were settled, Vaughn scanned the wine list and ordered a bottle of Merlot. He also ordered the most expensive oysters on the menu. Sienna glanced up from pondering her dinner selection.
“What’s all this?”
“A celebration of sorts.”
“You’re still gainfully employed?”
“Yes, Very much so. My client is staying with us. Seems a colleague of his overheard someone talking at lunch about the shoddy job the competition did on their last campaign. They screwed it up royally. Anyway, he decided that Chase & Burroughs was where his women’s shoe line needed to be.”
Sienna’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t happen to have had anything to do with that, would you?”
Vaughn put his hand to his chest. “I’m shocked beyond words you suspect me of something nefarious. I emphatically deny any involvement and was nowhere near that restaurant at the time.”
Interview with Love Page 8
