Page 62 of Is It Casual Now?

But Jamie was anything but that.

And damn, Siena desperately wanted more. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wished Jamie could be the right person. The one that she’d thought Tori was. The one who wasn’t just a one—or two—night stand.

But it was impossible. There were too many things stacked against them.

“The conflict is too high, and I suggest we move forward in a solely professional manner—at least through this interview.” Siena pursed her lips, hating herself for saying those words. But there was no way she could see that they’d work out. Not right now. Not when Jamie needed her to keep her job and not while Siena kept trying to control every single thing that Jamie published about Bunny and Piper.

“And the great Ms. Frazee has spoken.” Jamie’s lips pulled up into a light sneer.

“Don’t be petulant.”

Jamie let out a guffaw as she picked up the second half of her sandwich. “Calling things how they are isn’t petulance.”

“I’m not interested in anything more.”That’s a lie!Siena’s heart screamed at her, but she shut it up quickly.

“Sorry?” Jamie asked, the sandwich returned to her plate, uneaten.

“I’m not looking for a relationship.”

“And why would you assume I am?” Jamie looked genuinely confused now.

Siena had misread this entire situation. She’d put all of her pent-up feelings and desires onto Jamie. Which was exactly what she’d done with Tori all those years ago. Fuck, she was making the same mistakes again. Siena opened her mouth and closed it again. “I suppose I did.”

“Careful, that almost sounded close to an apology.” Jamie smiled, and for a moment, the face that looked at her pulled at Siena’s heart.

She was doing the right thing. Jamie was amazing, but she wasn’t the right person for Siena.

“Apologies would imply I’m just human after all.”

“And we couldn’t have that.” Jamie chuckled.

Siena watched as Jamie scanned the notes she had made on the questions, the plate with her sandwich pushed to the side.

“All right.” Jamie looked up, and the face that had pulled atSiena’s chest had been replaced by the mask of the professional Siena had said she wanted.

“All right?” Siena asked.

“I can work with these suggestions.” Jamie nodded as she looked at the papers again and closed the folder.

“Great.” For the first time with Jamie, Siena felt a loss as an awkward silence settled between them.

“So can we set a time and date for the interview now?”

“I’ll have to talk to Piper and Bunny. I’ll send through some potential times for you this week.”

“Fine.” Jamie nodded and pushed back her chair. “Nice doing business with you, Ms. Frazee.”

“And you as well, Ms. Kettlehouse.”

Jamie walked away, that confident swagger she’d entered with vanished. Siena had done the right thing. She knew that. So why did it feel like she had just punched herself in the gut?

twenty

“Well, I’ve had a suck-tastic day. Can I come over and bring pizza and beer?” Jamie spoke into the phone the moment Jessie picked up.

“Oh hi, Jamie. So nice to hear from you. Yes, I’m doing well, how are you?” Jessie’s dry humor didn’t come out often, but it always amused Jamie to no end when it did.

“Fine.” She laughed and mimicked her sister’s chirpier tone. “Hi Jessie! I’m doing great. I’m looking forward to the frontal lobotomy later today, which will make the earlier part of my day seem like a bummer. How are you?”

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