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“Oh my, Ms. Frazee.” Jamie really was enjoying this far too much. Especially considering how frustrating it also was. “If I didn’t know better, I might be tempted to think you were just trying to spend more time with me.”

A beat of silence gave Jamie all she needed to know—that her words had, at the very least, knocked Siena off her sure footing—at least a little.

“Are you available or not?” Siena’s voice was strained, and what Jamie would have given to see her face in that moment, to be able to see her warring with her own mixed emotions.

“For you, always,” Jamie purred out, surprising even herself with the ease and truth she felt behind them.

“Fantastic.” Siena coughed into the phone as though having to clear her throat. “I’ll send through the details of where we can meet, and I’ll see you then, Jamie.”

“Looking forward to it,” Jamie replied, even though the sound of the phone being hung up already echoed in her ear.

For a moment she remained at her seat, despite how uncomfortable it was. She wanted to feel in control of this entire situation but never in her adult life had she felt so at the mercy of others.

With a determined huff, she grabbed the tray of coffee and headed back upstairs.

She would get these questions sorted and spend the catch-up with Siena finding out just how much she could get the woman to falter in her professionalism.

thirteen

“You’ll get here on time, won’t you?” Tori’s question was filled with the same sad doubt Siena had heard so many times during their marriage. Somehow it hurt more now, knowing it was a sadness for their daughter and not for themselves.

“Yes.” Siena would fight hell itself to get to Harley’s first school social event. Especially after missing her open house.

“I hope so.” Tori’s voice calmed Siena’s rushing mind. She always held onto hope, even after the number of times Siena had let her down in the past.

“I’ll do everything I can to make it on time.” Siena smiled down the phone line as she shuffled through the papers she would take home to work on after the school Halloween party she had promised to help out with.

“Excellent,” Tori chirped happily. “We’ll see you then.”

“What did she end up dressing up as?” Siena was eager to know which of the final costumes won out.

“She wants to surprise you.”

Tori and Siena chuckled and spoke a little more before Siena hung up to find a message and an email waiting for her from Jamie.

Her chest tightened, but of course, that must have just been from her anxiety about getting to the party on time.

After scanning the questions, she picked up her phone and dialed Jamie’s number. She had called so many times that she nearly had the thing memorized already. Moments before she was about to hang up, sound exploded on the other end of the phone.

“Hey, it’s Jamie.” At least that’s what she thought was said. Even Jamie’s voice sounded different with all the background noise.

Or maybe it wasn’t Jamie at all?

“Hello?”

After a moment, Jamie’s voice returned, and the conversation bounced from enjoyment to professional, to downright shocking.

Siena’s head reeled from the conversation with Jamie. It barely lasted a few minutes, but for the rest of the afternoon, it lingered in her mind, and she replayed every breath and chuckle, smirked at every snarl and sneer, and couldn’t get Jamie’s words out of her mind.

“Ms. Frazee?” Paula stood at Siena’s open door, eyebrows raised and papers in her hands. “Is everything all right?”

“Absolutely.” Siena smiled as she looked up.

“It’s almost two. If you don’t leave now, you won’t make it to the school on time.”

“Oh.” Siena’s heart kicked up a beat, and she was on her feet, shutting down her computer and grabbing her bag. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Paula gave her a rare warm smile. The woman was always professional, a smile on her face when needed, but only one thing ever washed her in true warmth. “Can’t have that gorgeous child of yours disappointed.”