Free Brushing Off the Boss: A Half Moon Bay Novel (Entangled Bliss) by Annie Seaton

in the past half hour. Sienna was showing some tall guy around, and they were standing at the back of the room, head to head, deep in conversation. An unfamiliar shaft of jealousy hit Jack’s chest as he watched the guy loop his arm casually over Sienna’s shoulder. As he answered the question on the phone, a deliveryman pushed through the front door carrying two large boxes with Fragile stickers plastered over them, and dumped the boxes on the desk beside the phone. He shoved the electronic delivery screen in front of Jack’s nose.
    “Hurry up, buddy. My truck’s parked outside.”
    Jack reached for the pen and scrawled his signature, without a clue as to what was in the boxes he was signing for. All he could hope was that whatever was in them was not broken.
    “I’ll have to take your number and get someone to call you back. Okay?” He took down the name and number of the artist on the other end of the phone and ended the call. Then he lifted the boxes carefully and put them on the floor behind the stool at the desk. When he got up from his haunches, his eyes were level with two pairs of legs, clad in sheer black stockings. His gaze traveled higher. Similar tight black skirts, frilly shirts, and business jackets. He stood and smiled, and the shorter woman held out her hands with a warm smile.
    “Welcome to Carmel. Ms. Sacchi tells us you’ve bought the gallery? Is she available?” The taller woman spoke with a slight European accent. “We have an appointment.”
    “Who?” He had no idea who she was talking about. Then it dawned on him that he didn’t even know Sienna’s last name. She’d always been…well…just Sienna. “Thanks…yes, I have. Take a seat.” He pointed to the curved black-and-white-striped love seat by the door. “I’ll let Ms. Sacchi know you are here.”
    Jack walked to the back of the gallery and grinned. He felt like a secretary. How the heck did she do this by herself all day? Why wasn’t there more staff?
    The smooth, tall guy was standing too close to Sienna for Jack’s liking, and he took great delight in interrupting them.
    “Excuse me, Ms. Sacchi.” He dropped the grin and put on his best business voice. “Your next appointment is waiting for you.”
    Sienna’s head flew up and she narrowed her eyes. “Thank you. I’ll be there in a moment.” She took the guy’s arm and turned away from Jack, and he felt summarily dismissed.
    “Perhaps you’d like to offer them a drink while they wait?” He glanced back and her wide dark eyes were dancing with mischief. She knew exactly how he was feeling, and he shot her a grin.
    “Of course, Ms. Sacchi. Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”
    “Perhaps you could dust the shelves, and then go to the post office and get the mail?” Jack could see the smile playing around her lips.
    “Of course.” He nodded. “If you could just direct me to the post office?”
    “It’s over on Fifth Avenue.” Her face broke into an impish grin and his heart kicked up a beat as her dark eyes held his gaze a little too long before she looked away.
    What the hell is going on here?
    Turning back to the front of the store, Jack caught sight of his reflection in the mirrored wall behind the shelves holding an array of colored bowls. He certainly didn’t look like an art gallery assistant. His jeans had a rip in one knee, and the clean T-shirt he’d grabbed this morning stated Less work. More golf . He’d intended to look around the gallery and then sit down with Sienna to discuss what they were going to do, but the morning had been hectic so he’d pitched in. And had enjoyed every minute. Jack shrugged and headed back to the two women waiting at the front of the store. After he’d offered them a drink, it was time to get out of here for a while.
    …
    “Who’s the new hunk?”
    Sienna turned to Jeremy, who’d come back to finish the lighting for her show.
    “Would you believe he owns this place?”
    “Get real! True?”