Page 13 of Is It Casual Now?

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.”

The Harley power .

Siena returned the smile and nodded. No, they couldn’t do that.

Parking at the school was much easier this time. She wasn’t late, she was sure of it. She double checked her watch and then the details about what time they needed her to show up.

“Ten minutes early.” She all but fist pumped in the air. The fact she considered it made her chuckle to herself. It wasn’t like she was twenty anymore, but lately she had definitely been feeling a lot more energized for life. All of life, not just her work.

But as she stepped into the buzz of the hall where the school dance would be held, the young energy she had been filled with drained away.

They were all so young, and that was just the teachers and other parents dotted around the hall, working on various tasks.

Someone busied themself with setting up a table of snacks, while several others wove streamers around poles and even more blew up balloons. The buzz of people talking and arms flying as they directed others to finish or begin tasks filled Siena up.

She had always thrived on the busy life of events. It had been one of the things she loved most about the many roles she had as an entertainment manager.

“You made it!”

She heard Tori’s happy squeal before she saw her. Turning around, Siena caught her breath seeing Tori and Jessie approaching her.

“Oh, Ms. K, right?” Siena slid her nice and safe parent smile on her face, only for it to slip the moment she met those eyes.

“Not quite.” Jamie chuckled.

“Ms. K is over there.” Tori pointed, and Siena followed the gaze to see the truth in the matter. “This is Jamie. Who, I believe, you’ve met before. ”

“Yes.” Siena turned back and looked at Jamie, barely aware that Tori was still there despite her being the one talking. “What’re you doing here?”

“I’m here to help my sister. Is it going to be a problem?” Jamie was feisty as her fingers curved around her hips. Siena was certain it was supposed to be an attempt to intimidate her, but her body pulsed at the stance.

“Of course not.” Siena smiled, knowing the parent smile was long gone, replaced by the one she hoped let Jamie know just how delicious she looked.

“Alll riiight.” Tori clapped her hands together and grabbed both Jamie and Siena’s attention. “School party.”

Siena’s mouth opened and snapped shut again.

“Our daughter’s school Halloween party.”

“I’m all here.” Siena smiled and gave Tori a firm nod.

“Excellent. Well, the children are going to be heading in soon so let’s get the rest of this place set up.”

“You didn’t tell me your ex-wife was head of the PTA. She’s even more of a task master than you.” Jamie smiled, a dusting of pink on her cheeks shining through her makeup.

“And you don’t want to get on her bad side, trust me.” Siena gave Jamie a conspiratorial smile. It felt good, and that in itself sent a wave of confusion through Siena.

“No,” Tori interrupted, “You don’t. Though I’m not the president of the PTA yet. But chop-chop.”

Siena laughed, and Jamie’s own chuckle threaded harmoniously through the sound.

True to her word, the children showed up shortly after, and the Halloween party was soon in full swing. The music played, and the children played in that carefree way only small children could.

“You would think they’d never seen twins before in their lives.” Tori sidled up to Siena as she leaned against the wall, chaperoning the children on the gym floor from activity to activity.

“I suppose some of them haven’t before now.” It had been easy for Siena to do her allocated task of supervising while also getting to watch Jamie in all her glory as children seemed to swarm around her and Jessie most of the evening. They’d dressed up as Thing 1 and Thing 2 for the party, which was perfect for them.

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Mm-hmm.” Siena wasn’t going to dive into what she assumed Tori was hinting at. If Tori wanted to get into anything, she would have to specifically ask the questions.

“I think Harley is getting more than a little tired,” Tori said.

“Oh.” Siena pulled her eyes away from the crowd of children pointing out all the similarities between the twins and asking questions Siena couldn’t hear from the distance.

“It’s okay.” Tori smiled when Siena’s eyes met hers.

“Where is she? I should have taken her home already.”

“Nope.” Tori shook her head. “I’m going to take her home. You need to stay a bit longer to help clean up.”

“Oh. But don’t you need to be here until the end, Ms. PTA-going-all-out-as-parent-of-the-year?”

“Nah.” Tori shook her head and gave a small laugh. “That’s what delegating is all about.”

“Since when?” Siena asked, a smile creeping over her lips.

“Since I have someone waiting at home for me.”

“Ah.” Siena looked at Tori a little closer.

“You okay?”

“I’m happy for you, Tori. I really am. You finally got your happily-ever-after.” Siena wrapped her arms around her ex-wife.

“And maybe you could get yours someday soon, too.” Tori pulled back and gave Siena a wink .

With a laugh, Siena shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Just do something for me, okay?” Tori used the tone Siena had never been able to say no to. “Don’t dismiss the possibility.”

“Okay.” Siena had no other words. She could face down angry and arrogant musicians, parents and partners demanding her clients’ details or royalties, event or record managers who tried to renege on contract deals. But all it took was for Tori to ask her a favor, and Siena would do anything for the mother of her child.

“Good. Now I’ve put you and Jamie down as the cleanup crew. I’m sure that won’t be a hardship for either of you.”

Before Siena could respond, Tori skipped away. Siena watched her approach, the cutest little eighties punk rocker Siena had ever seen. It had brought her near tears when Harley had excitedly explained that she wanted to be one of Siena’s rock stars.

“Your ex is a sweetheart.” Jamie had wandered toward Siena while she was entranced watching her daughter animatedly talking with Tori, wriggling out of Tori’s arms and walking beside her like a big girl.

“Mommy!” Harley squealed and raced toward Siena before she could respond to Jamie’s comment.

“Hey, my little rock star.” Siena scooped Harley up in a hug before putting her back down onto her feet. She crouched down to Harley’s height as they spoke. “I hear you’re getting an extra night at mama’s tonight.”

“Yep.”

“You’re okay with that?”

“Yeah. Mama said I’ll get to spend some time with Rebel in the morning. And you’ve got lots of extra stuff with work, so this is better.”

“Did she now?” Siena looked over Harley’s head and caught Tori’s eyes .

Tori smiled and shrugged, innocence personified.

“All right, Batman.”

“No, I’m a rock star!”

“Of course. All right, rock star. Have a good night. I love you.”

“Love you, too.” Harley wrapped her arms around Sienna’s neck and squeezed.

Taking in a deep breath of her daughter’s unique scent mixed with sweat and sugar, Siena allowed all stress to fall away from her shoulders. At least for that moment.

“All right, gotta go now, Mommy. Arms are too tight.”

“Oh!” Siena chuckled and let her daughter go. “Sorry. I just love you so much.”

“I know.”

Saying her goodbyes to Tori and again to Harley, Siena didn’t miss for a second Jamie’s presence remaining beside her. Tori then gave them their shutting-down instructions, who to go to if they got stuck, and left with a wave over her shoulder.

“For a powerhouse of a manager, you’re decidedly soft and adorable with your daughter.”

“Thank you?” Siena wasn’t sure if the compliment was genuine, or even a compliment at all.

“Oh, I mean it as a good thing. It means you do actually have a heart.” Jamie smiled and started walking back across the floor. The last of the children had filtered out, directed by teachers and other parent volunteers. Jamie reached the first table and began packing up the trash left behind, tossing it into a large plastic can beside the table. “I wish I had half the patience with kids as other people do.”

Siena laughed, taking the tablecloth from the now empty table and bundling it up.

“For people who look identical, you and your sister really are nothing alike, are you?”

“Absolute opposites, I’m afraid.” The self-deprecating smile that stretched Jamie’s lips caused an unusual ache in Siena’s chest. “She’s kind, patient, and a nice person.”

“You don’t really think that, do you?”

“Of course, I do,” Jamie said, her face contorting in an affronted manner. “My sister is one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life. And sure, I might be biased, but other people see it too. It’s not just me.”

“She is a nice person. I wasn’t asking that.” Siena’s voice was nearly a whisper as she spoke. “I meant you think you aren’t those things.”

“Oh.” Jamie didn’t respond. Instead, she continued to move table to table until all the trash had been taken care of. Without the need of any verbal communication, the two retraced their steps, tipping over the tables and folding them down as though they had done this all a thousand times at a thousand different events.

“Can I ask you something?” Siena asked, hoping enough time had passed for the thickness of the air to clear for Jamie as much as it had for her.

“Sure,” Jamie said, not looking up.

“Will your boss really fire you if you don’t get a date for the interview set?”

“He’s threatening it. And he’s not one to threaten lightly.” Jamie shrugged as though it wasn’t of any concern.

Siena’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. She’d never been one to take on the consequences of other people’s actions. The situation Jamie found herself in now was a result of her own choices. Siena couldn’t help stupid or impulsive.

“I think that’s everything on your ex’s to-do list.” Jamie surveyed the large space. “I’ll go let Jessie know.”

“I’ll come with you.” Siena smiled. For a moment their eyes met, and Siena’s stomach tightened.

“Well, that would be a nice change.” Jamie smirked and winked wildly .

“Oh my God.” Siena laughed despite the heat in her cheeks that swiftly moved down into her chest. She shook her head and followed Jamie out of the gym. There were still far too many people around for Siena to feel comfortable lingering very long, but she wouldn’t just leave before she had spoken to Harley’s teacher—to Jessie—Jamie’s twin sister. It still felt far too surreal to be true.

“All finished then?” Jessie smiled, her voice still carrying the bubbles of energy that should have been illegal this far into the evening when Siena knew full well she’d been dealing with a horde of small children all day. Not that it was all that late. But the sun had set, and the last lingering rays stretched over the school buildings.

“Yeah. All done to Tori’s directions,” Siena answered, wondering what the conversation between the twins was as they stared at each other, their eyes flicking slightly.

Whatever it was, Jessie recovered first, and for a few minutes, the three of them spoke with an ease that Siena found herself genuinely enjoying. The tension between her and Jamie remained, tightly wound in a delicious way.

“Do you want me to wait and walk you out when you’re done?” Jamie asked.

“No. It’s fine. We’ve got a few more things to get done before I can take off for the night.” Jessie threw a look over her shoulder to some other people behind her.

Siena assumed they were other staff.

“No worries. Well, I’ll see you later.”

“Sure.” Jessie nodded.

“Yep,” Jamie said with a nod and turned on her heel. “You heading out as well, Siena?”

“Yeah, I’ll walk with you,” Siena replied on autopilot, her curiosity about Jamie growing beyond the desire to taste her once more.

“Great, see ya, Sis. ”

“Bye.”

They headed away from the gym and toward the street where Siena had parked.

“I didn’t set anyone on your boss.” Siena spilled the words before she realized they were on her tongue.

“I know.” Jamie surprised her by saying.

“You do?”

“Yes.” Jamie laughed as the incredulous look that must have been plastered on Siena’s face. “I told you. I’m good at my job.”

“You checked it out?”

“Yep. Seems the ones continuing to harass my boss are the ones where the information has hit just a little too close to the truth.”

Siena laughed and nodded as she stopped walking at the trunk of her car. Jamie took one more step before turning back around and smiling at Siena.

“Yours?” Jamie jerked her head slightly to Siena’s vehicle, the Lexus that she had scrimped and saved years for, and she was damn glad she’d been able to afford it.

“Yes.”

“Nice ride.” Jamie stepped back toward Siena, the air between them thickening once more as the space decreased.

“Do you still think I’m like that?”

“Like what?” Jamie’s eyes dropped to Siena’s mouth and back up again.

Siena licked her lips, the pulse between her thighs growing the more she took Jamie in.

“Using my position in unethical ways?” Siena’s voice dropped.

“I don’t think it for a moment. Never did.” Jamie stepped closer still, the toes of her shoes meeting Siena’s. “You wouldn’t need to use any unethical means to get into any position you wanted. ”

Siena’s breath caught as the lightest touch of Jamie’s fingers danced up her arm. Was she really going to do this? Was she going to kiss Jamie Kettlehouse out in the open and fully knowing exactly who she was?

“Is that so?” Siena asked.

“Mm-hmm.” Jamie’s eyes danced as her smile tempted Siena beyond her control.

Siena snaked her arm around Jamie’s waist and pulled Jamie into her. Her breath caught, and she struggled to tear her gaze away from Jamie’s full lips, from the confidence that she seemed to always ooze when in Siena’s presence. As their bodies collided, Siena took Jamie’s lips. Jamie’s groan as Siena teased open her mouth and slid her tongue in made her underwear wet and her pulse get heavier and faster.

Siena cupped the back of Jamie’s head, tilting her backward and pushing her against the trunk of the car. Her entire body heated in the chilled air, and she slid her hand down Jamie’s side from her breast to her hip and back up again.

“Fuck.” Siena’s curse was a breath between kisses as Jamie’s hands found Siena’s breasts, rolling her already erect nipple through her clothes. Her knees went weak at the barest of touches from Jamie. She was so touch deprived, and that wild and crazy night in the hotel room had proven that fact over and over again.

“This time, I get to play,” Jamie murmured as she turned Siena and pressed her back against the trunk of the car, taking more control than Siena had thought she was willing to give. But there was something delicious about Jamie taking and doing rather than just receiving. Siena had shorted them both the pleasure of that experience before, hadn’t she?

Siena pressed her shoulders into the trunk of her car and jutted her hips out, giving Jamie access to anything that she wanted to touch. She couldn’t stop threading her fingers through Jamie’s long blonde hair, against her skin and clothes. She moved in for another heated kiss when light washed over them, the headlights effectively throwing the metaphorical bucket of cold water.

“Oh shit.” Siena laughed as Jamie stepped back.

“This was, um…. This was fun,” Jamie said, her breath coming out as hard as Siena’s.

“Fun?” Siena raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t nearly done yet, but if Jamie didn’t want to do more, she’d respect that. She could always take care of herself when she got home if she needed to.

“Well, while I’d like to follow through on playing.” Jamie quirked up one side of her lips. “I have some questions I need to sort out before a meeting with a really sexy and powerful production manager in a few days.”

“Oh.” The reality of who Jamie was in her working life hit hard, and Siena pushed herself up from her car. “I have another proposal.”

“Really?” Jamie’s smirk deepened and her eyebrows rose.

“Not that kind of proposal, unfortunately.”

“Oh.” The eyebrows remained high on Jamie’s forehead.

“Tell your boss you’ll interview me in response to your post. He can run it, or you can put it on your blog.” Siena swallowed down the thickness that remained in her throat.

She wanted Jamie more than anything else. She wanted to taste her, fuck her, make her come again and again and again, just like she had before. But she wouldn’t be the reason Jamie lost her job.

“Seriously?” Jamie looked stunned, as though not willing to believe her luck quite yet.

“Yes. It’s what you wanted originally, right?”

“Yeah.” Jamie’s face clouded over as an emotion as far from arousal as possible filled her eyes. “So does that mean you are taking the interview with Bunny and Piper off the table? Is that what all this was about? ”

“What?” Siena asked as Jamie waved her hand between the two of them. “No. That interview will happen once we agree and I approve all questions. You said you believed that I wasn’t like those other managers,” Siena said. “Were you bullshitting me?”

“No,” Jamie shook her head. “It’s just…” She trailed off. Then with a huff, she stopped searching for words.

Siena smiled and stepped forward, taking Jamie’s hips in her hands and pulling her close, but not too close. If their bodies slammed together again, Siena wouldn’t be able to pull away again. But she wanted to make her point very clearly to Jamie, and it seemed that Jamie needed precise words in order to understand what Siena wasn’t saying.

“I want to fuck you, Jamie. Over and over again. I want you to fuck me. But I’m not going to be responsible for you losing your job. That’s an entirely different thing from this.”

“Oh.”

“So. Maybe once these interviews are figured out, we can um…” Siena felt like a twenty-something again. “…continue where we left off?”

“That could definitely be something we can look into, Ms. Frazee.”

Siena laughed, throwing her head back. She caught the flickering lights of stars in the sky and wondered how she ever thought things in her life could be simple.

“All right then.” Siena nodded. “Do you have a ride home?”

“I’ve got my car.”

“Then I’ll see you in a few days. Yes?”

“Yeah.” Jamie nodded and stepped out of the way of Siena’s car.

As quickly as possible, Siena got herself buckled in and drove away, sticking her arm out of the window and waving at Jamie as she pulled away from the curb. She tried not to look back, but it was impossible.

The Kettlehouse effect had firmly taken ahold of Siena again.

The last thing she saw in the rearview mirror was Jamie standing in the circle cast by a streetlight. Siena hadn’t felt this hopeful in a long time. And maybe, just maybe, that one-night stand might turn into something a little longer than she had expected.