Page 123 of Is It Casual Now?

“You don’t like being here?” Siena asked, but there was something in her eyes, deeper and darker that held an understanding of Jamie. It sent shivers up her spine.

“It was a rather fantastic night if I remember correctly. For the most part.”

“I know.” Siena reached over the table and took Jamie’s hand. “But tonight is all about changing the ending.”

“Oh really?” Jamie’s eyes widened, and her face couldn’t hide the hope and enjoyment of this moment that she felt inside.

“Really,” Siena said as she moved back for the three waiters who piled up the table with plates. “But why change how good the night started?”

“You’re definitely the sappy one in this relationship.” Jamie laughed. But the warmth in her chest reminded her how little she minded this in Siena.

“That’s okay. Love does tend to bring out the sappy in us mere mortals.”

They laughed and ate, and Siena confessed that the person who had stormed out on her that night wasn’t a girlfriend but a pushy client who had invited herself to dinner, and then threw a tantrum when Siena did not bow down to her unethical demands.

“Oh my God.” Jamie laughed. “That makes so much more sense now. I thought I had recognized her as well, but not enough to consider she might actually be in the industry.”

“I haven’t seen much from her since. I took her off of my books the next week when she not only went against my advice but name dropped D.Y.K.E. Management in a public lie.”

“Ooh.” Jamie hissed in a breath. “That wasn’t a clever move.”

“No, no it wasn’t.” Siena leaned back in her chair as though trying to stretch her stomach.

Jamie surveyed the table, impressed at how much the two of them had gone through while they talked. The waiters came and took away the crumbs they’d left of the meal.

“Jamie.” Siena took Jamie’s hands in her own as she spoke.

The trembling in Siena’s fingers made Jamie look up intoSiena’s eyes. Worry curled around her chest as unshed tears pooled there.

“What’s wrong?” Jamie leaned forward, fear flooding through her.

“Nothing.” Siena managed to laugh, though a few tears slipped from her eyes. “Nothing’s wrong. Nothing’s been wrong since the moment I told you the truth about not wanting anything casual with you.”

“Why are you crying?” Jamie asked, her voice hoarse and foreign to her ears.

“Because I love you more than anything else in this world, and I want to have a drink with you.”

“A drink?” Jamie’s head couldn’t keep up. She had no idea where Siena was going with any of this, and her mind whirled with possibilities. Very few of those would meet with Siena’s approval with herno negative thoughts about yourselfmantra.

“Yes.”

Siena moved back again, and a waiter placed a shot glass in front of Siena.

“I’ve loved you for so long, I hardly remember how it feels not to love you, not to be with you and share my life with you.” Siena kept talking as the waiter remained silently in his place by the table.

Jamie noted another shot glass on his tray, but he hadn’t moved to give it to her or to step away.

“Jamie.” Siena nodded and finally the waiter placed the shot glass on the table in front of Jamie and moved away. Siena raised her glass, and Jamie looked down to pick her own up.

And then she froze.

Her mouth fell open, and all the worries and fears fell into place. Had Siena been on the phone to someone here, organizing tonight? She looked up and all the emotions on Siena’s face made sense.

“Oh my God,” Jamie managed to stutter out.

“Will you marry me?” Siena held up her shot glass, her shoulders stilled as though holding her breath.

Jamie scooped up the glass and clinked Siena’s own waiting in the air. “Of course I will.”

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