Page 37 of Is It Casual Now?

“Need a tray?” the barista asked. Her smile was lovely. Jamie even considered giving her a flirty smile and response back. But as soon as the idea came to her mind, it skirted off as the image of Siena smiling up at her from between her legs flashed into Jamie’s mind.

What the fuck was that about?

“A tray would be great.”

After a quick thanks to the barista who had now moved away to call out another name, Jamie pulled the phone from her pocket. She answered without looking at the caller ID andjammed the phone between her shoulder and ear. She scooped up the tray from the counter and wove around people toward the exit of the coffee shop.

“Hey, it’s Jamie.”

“Hello?” The voice was silk to her ears, but Jamie must have been imagining it, surely.

There were curses behind her as she stopped dead in her tracks and pulled the phone away from her ear to look at the screen.

Siena.

Fuck!

The tray of coffee balanced precariously in her other hand wobbled as she blinked at the name.

She reshuffled her hold, put the phone back between her ear and shoulder, and walked forward once more.

“Ms. Frazee.” Jamie’s voice was too loud for her own liking, but there was little choice with the surrounding voices and clattering that continued around her.

“Is now a bad time?” Was that a smile, perhaps even a chuckle in Siena’s voice?

Jamie couldn’t be one-hundred-percent sure as she finally stepped out of the busy cafe.

“No, not at all. Sorry, I was just grabbing coffee.” Jamie scowled at her own lapse. Why on earth had she apologized?

“Do you have time to talk now about your latest round of questions?”

“Latest round of questions?” Jamie seethed as she stepped back into her work building. She walked up to the elevators and stopped. She didn’t bother stabbing the button, and her mood right now would definitely end up with her stabbing it. But if she stepped inside the elevator, the connection would undoubtedly be cut off as they moved up the building to her floor. She usually wouldn’t have cared. People called back if they needed to. But she didn’t know if Siena actually would.Why she cared so much obviously had to do with the new threat once again hanging over her head about losing her day job.

“Yes.” Siena’s response held no humor this time. “The questions are a lot better, I’ll give you that, but there are still some I won’t allow you to ask.”

“You’ll give me that?” Jamie scoffed at the woman’s audacity. Did she truly think Jamie didn’t know what she was doing? Or worse, did she think of Jamie as some kind of green rookie?

“My question, Ms. Frazee, is where and when Bunny and Piper would want to answer them?”

“No!” Siena’s response was too quick—too sharp.

Despite the frustration that had been building inside Jamie over the entire conversation, Jamie smiled.

“Have you asked them yet?” Jamie wouldn’t let Siena keep all this control. It was sexy, but Jamie wouldn’t let that distract her from taking back the reins. The idea of fighting over them gave Jamie a new thrill.

“If you want this interview, Ms. Kettlehouse, then all questions must be approved by myself. And these are not them. There are several here that will not be allowed to be asked of my clients.”

“Fine.” Jamie huffed. The way Siena could have her emotions pinballing made Jamie’s head spin. “If we set a date for the interview, I can finalize the questions over email before then.”

“I’m not finalizing anything, especially a date and time for an interview with my clients, until all questions are seen and authorized. Approved. By. Me.” Siena’s voice gave no room for argument.

Jamie loved the challenge. She sat down on the uncomfortable green excuse for a sitting bench in the building’s foyer and crossed her legs.

“Then let’s settle them.” Jamie put the tray with the coffeeson the chair next to her and leaned forward, her elbow on top of her knee.

The sound of paper flicking came through the phone line.

“I can meet you in a few days. Friday at two. Does that work for you?”

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