I glance out the window. “It’s a training day, but it’s raining. You can go into the gym in town and use a day pass. If you want to do it in the afternoon, I can join you.”
She sits up and peers at the misty gray landscape beyond the rain-streaked panes. “A day off wouldn’t kill me.”
“Sorry. It’s not allowed unless you’re injured.”
Sienna grumbles and elbows me in the ribs. “I hate you, and I faked all my orgasms.”
I snort. “Bullshit. You’re not that good an actress.”
“Rude. Okay, I did not fake my orgasms. I fifty percent am in hate with you right now, though.”
“That means you fifty percent don’t hate me. I’ll take it.” I look around. There is no devil-cat sentinel in sight. “Where’s Aceto?”
“Probably on the porch with Ducktape. Are you actually worried about him?”
“No,” I scoff. Okay, maybe a little. Only because if anything happened to the moody old bastard, it would upset Sienna.
Sienna climbs out of bed, and I slide out on my side. “I’ll make you breakfast.”
“Oh, I’ve got it. I’m the official kitchen witch.” She heads to the kitchen, and I follow her.
We jostle over who’s cooking what for whom. I insist on making myself a protein shake, and she makes the coffee, scrambled eggs, and bacon. I have her make my eggs with just the whites, and I skip the bacon. Gotta stay lean and mean.
We go sit at our new kitchen table. It’s farmhouse style, with a brown top and cream-colored legs, and a burlap table runner. Sienna’s filled a glass vase with wildflowers and set it out as décor. Our furniture is a marriage of our two different styles. And despite how different our tastes are, it actually works. It gives me hope.
I’m about to drink my coffee black, then I reconsider, and I grab Sienna’s little milk saucer and put in a little milk. It tastes so much better that way. Screw it, I’m allowing myself a tiny splash of milk in my coffee from now on. I work out like an Olympian, I’ve earned it.
“If I turn into Mr. Pudgy Dad-Bod, you’d still want me, right?” I say to Sienna.
“You know I would.” She grins at me. “Dad bods can be sexy.”
I think she actually means it.
After Sienna and I eat breakfast together, she calls Pamela to ask her about the office space in her building. I hear some muttered curses coming from Pamela, then Sienna hands me her phone.
To my surprise, Pamela doesn’t insult me. She’s cool and professional. She’s had interest in the office on the top floor of her building, from people who want to sign a year’s lease. I agree to pay her ten percent more than they’ve offered, and I’ll pay up front for an entire year. I know I have to go back to Los Angeles – I promised Graham, and as far as I know Sienna’s leaving as soon as the property deal is signed, but… I don’t know. I could sublet the property, or let Sienna have it, or…something. Things can change. They changed last night, didn’t they?
Pamela can have the office ready for me by Monday.
After a promising start, the day goes straight downhill. It’s been raining all day, which means Sienna and I are both stressed. Too much rain isn’t good for the vines. And the cloud cover means the satellite dish is wonky.
In the early afternoon, Graham and I have a videoconference meeting set up with Constantine, to address follow-up questions about our proposal. Two of his sons sit by his side and listen attentively. Constantine is a widower who’s raised his boys himself for the last fifteen years, and he’s a devoted family man.
As the video starts, he looks at me quizzically. A square-faced man with a streak of white through his dark hair, he has a fatherly air and he seems concerned. “Is everything all right with you these days, my friend? You seem distracted,” he says in his heavy accent.
“Everything is fine. I’m sorry if I gave the impression that I was distracted. I can assure you, you are my top priority.”
“If you say so.” His thick brows draw together. “As you know, another company is courting my business. I am not saying this to negotiate on price. What you and I have agreed on is reasonable. I just need you to understand that this machinery will be vital to my company, and if you do not have the time and energy to fully