Chapter Fifteen
D ebs slid up next to Mica at the bar, leaning on it heavily with her hands.
"A glass of pinot, please. A large one."
"What's up?"
“I’d imagine it has something to do with the fact she’s been stuck with Joel Marshall for the past twenty minutes,” Grace replied, leaning into Mica and wrapping an arm around their waist.
Debs grimaced. “I wouldn’t mind so much, except it’s the third time tonight he’s collared me. Once was enough, but three times is just too much to handle when I’m not getting paid to deal with his arrogant arse.”
“Is he really that bad?” Mica asked, glancing over Debs’ shoulder to where the man was still standing. “Oh, he’s still looking over here.”
“Of course he is.” Debs took a swig of her wine. “He seems to think that because we worked together once ten years ago, that we have some sort of connection.”
“You know, I could take over the meetings with him if you want?” Grace said. “It wouldn’t be a problem.”
“I can’t just pass him off because he irritates the shit out of me.”
“You can. That’s why you’re the boss. Plus, just because you’re the boss, it doesn’t mean you have to drive yourself crazy by meeting with him.”
“I guess,” Debs said with a sigh. “I’ll think about it, see how I feel on Monday.”
“So, the auction seemed to go well. Sounds like they raised loads of money for this place,” Mica said, and Debs was grateful for the swift change in conversation. Joel Marshall was quickly becoming a thorn in her side, and so far this evening, he had monopolised far too much of her time. She’d planned on speaking to more of the local businesses here, trying to help Sienna and the centre by drumming up even more support than just this one night would create, but everywhere she seemed to turn was Joel Marshall. Even Jenkins hadn’t turned up tonight, once again sending his right-hand man to literally do his bidding for him. There wasn’t even anything really offensive about him; it wasn’t like Debs hadn’t spent her whole professional career dealing with the misplaced confidence of both men and women alike. But tonight, her attention was on Sienna. Even now, when she couldn’t see her, Debs was thinking about her. She had been momentarily stunned when she had first seen her, her breath stolen as she took in the way she had looked in that elegant black gown. Debs had known that Sienna was an attractive woman from the first moment she had laid eyes on her, and over the past few months, she had come to appreciate it even more in all its forms, whether it be in the fitted polo shirt of her uniform and jeans, Vans on her feet for a day at work, or something more casual yet relaxed for their lunch dates. When Joel Marshall hadn’t been trying to catch her, she’d been seeking out and stealing away Sienna’s attention.
“I’m going to go mingle,” she said absently, swiping her wine glass to take with her.
“Mmhmm,” Mica’s voice hummed next to her, “I think I saw her head towards the office.”
“Who?”
“Sienna. I’m assuming that's who you want to—ow!” Debs turned at Mica’s exclamation, seeing them rub their ribs, Grace giving them a glare. “I mean, maybe you should check on her while you’re mingling. She looked a little frazzled.”
“Okay…” Debs said, unsure as to what had just happened behind her back but not giving it any more thought at the mention of a frazzled Sienna. “I’ll see you later.”
Debs moved through the room, leaving behind the bickering sound of Mica and Grace and the bar area and floating into The Atrium. The night was still in full swing, and now with the auction over, guests were starting to just enjoy themselves, a few of them already up and dancing in the middle of the room. Her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for that familiar black dress and a flash of auburn hair, but when she couldn’t spot it, she changed her direction, purposefully moving towards the office which was off-limits for anyone else there tonight.
Opening the door, she was greeted by the sight of Sienna leaning back against her desk, hands grasping the edge so tightly her knuckles had turned white. At the sound of the door opening, she looked up, her hair falling forwards, still partially hiding her face from Debs. She gave Debs that soft, timid smile, the one she always gave when she seemed uncertain about something, and Debs closed the door behind her and strode into her space.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Just…it’s a lot, you know. I know I should be out there, thanking people, but I just needed a minute—”
“Hey, no.” Debs placed her glass on the desk and came to stand directly in front of her, the toes of her heels knocking against Sienna’s. “You’ve got no obligation to be out there all the time. If you need five minutes, then take it.”
“How do you do that?” Sienna asked, her voice shaking slightly.
“Do what?”
“Know exactly what I need to hear when I need to hear it?”
“I don’t. I just say what I’m thinking. I want you to recognise just how brilliant you are, and if it means telling you every day, then I will.”
Sienna cocked her head, sighing deeply as she regarded Debs.
“Why can’t I find someone like you?”
“What do you mean? You have me?”
“No. I mean, yes, I do. But…forget it, it doesn’t matter.”
The penny dropped so suddenly for Debs at what Sienna was trying to say that she was sure it could be heard. And simultaneously, as if Sienna’s words had unlocked something inside her, Debs realised that, actually, that was exactly who she wanted to be. She wanted to be the person Sienna turned to, the person she felt safe with, who made her feel wanted. Because Debs did want her. And now, sitting in front of her in a dress that had firmly seared itself into her memory, that warm, bright copper hair framing her delicate features, cheeks flushed from the heat of the party, it all came to her. In that moment, in any moment they had spent together, it really hadn’t made any difference to Debs that Sienna was a woman. In fact, there were things about her, things she appreciated and admired, things she practically lost her breath over this evening, that were very much because Sienna was a woman.
She nudged her feet even closer until there was no more space between them, leaning in to hook a finger underneath Sienna’s chin and tip her face up. Deep, wistful chocolate brown eyes stared back at her, and Debs realised in that look that she wanted to see them so much more and in a million different ways.
“You really do look amazing tonight,” Debs whispered. “You took my breath away when I first saw you.”
She watched the bob of Sienna’s throat at her declaration, those eyes flicking down to her own mouth and back to her eyes.
“Can I kiss you, Sienna?”
“What?”
“Can I kiss you?” She trailed her finger across the curve of her jaw, tracing around her ear. She suppressed the smirk of satisfaction as she watched Sienna shiver under her attention, wrapping her palm around her neck delicately, following the instinct within her. Nothing about this moment felt like it required any thought, and Debs let herself follow the pull she’d felt to Sienna all evening. “I really want to kiss you, Sienna, but I would never do anything you didn’t want.”
A subtle nod of Sienna’s head gave her all the permission she needed to lean forward, capturing those full, soft lips. It was chaste, fleeting, and Debs paused, unsure whether this was something which Sienna still wanted now it had happened. But she was stopped by the hand that shot out and grabbed her hip, keeping her in place. The gentle squeeze of Sienna’s fingers, gripping slightly into the fabric of her dress, was Debs’ sign to continue, teasing Sienna’s mouth with her own, tasting the lingering hints of gin on her tongue as they brushed together. She could feel her heart pound in her chest like she could never remember it doing before, the blood pulsing through her veins, the sound of Sienna’s shallow breathing the only thing she could hear. Her fingers idly played with the loose tendrils of hair that ran along Sienna’s shoulders, twisting it around her fingertips, as her other hand slid up the silky fabric of Sienna’s dress, feeling every curve of the body which she had been admiring all night. After what felt like long, glorious minutes but could have only been a few seconds, Debs reluctantly pulled back, resting her forehead together with Sienna’s, not wanting to be further from her than she absolutely had to be. The space in between them felt thick with tension and the scent of Sienna’s delicate floral perfume, which had enticed Debs’ senses every time she had been close to her.
For the first time in months, maybe even years, Debs felt a sense of peace and contentment settle over her, certain of what she wanted.
And what she wanted was Sienna Daly.