Chapter 6
SIENNA
We arrived at the party thirty minutes ago, and I’ve already been separated from Beth. She’s stuck on the other side of the living room, talking to the blond woman she met half an hour ago. By the look on her face, I can tell she’s exactly where she wants to be.
Had Theo told me this was a toga party, I definitely would’ve canceled.
The majority of the men are dressed for the theme, and as a result, I’ve bumped into more male bare chests than I’m comfortable with.
Drink in hand, I’ve slunk into the nearest corner I could find between the dining room and the kitchen.
No signs of anyone I know, and definitely no signs of Theo.
Downing the last of my seltzer drink, I question why I seem to care so much about seeing Theo tonight.
On the entire ride here, I had myself convinced that I wouldn’t give him the time of day to avoid any and all distractions possible.
Now that I’m here, I can’t help but wonder where he is. It is his house after all.
Shaking the empty can in my hand, I move toward the kitchen to find the recycling bin.
I squeeze past the Jell-O shot group and round the corner, narrowly avoiding the couple making out by the fridge.
I spot an open door next to the fridge and figure the bins must be outside.
Even if they aren’t, I could do with some fresh air.
The doorway is tucked into a small corner of the kitchen, so I can’t see when I move through the threshold and run directly into a wall.
No, not a wall. Walls don’t smell this good. I’ve just run into a man. A very tall, very attractive, rock-hard-bodied man. Thankfully, one who isn’t wearing a toga.
Theo.
I back up once I realize I’ve been clinging to him for longer than is socially acceptable.
Busying myself to avoid further embarrassment, I hold up the can in my hands to check the alcohol content.
It’s too dark to read, but I decide I’m done drinking for the night regardless.
I’ve hit my two-drink limit, and I especially shouldn’t keep going if I’m taking note of how Theo smells.
A mix of fresh laundry, citrus, and the ocean breeze. I’m definitely done drinking for the night.
“Hey, you made it!” Theo shouts over the music filtering outside from the kitchen. “Are you looking for something?”
“Recycle bin!” I yell. He leans closer to me, indicating he didn’t quite hear me, so I opt to shake my can in front of him instead. He nods, then motions for me to follow him beyond the threshold of the door, farther into the small backyard.
Theo leads me to the recycle bin near the fence gate, and I toss my can in while he holds the lid open for me.
The music isn’t as loud outside and only filters in softly to the backyard.
As I’m standing next to Theo, the sudden change of volume feels suffocating.
A few people have gathered around a small firepit on the other side of the yard.
They stare at the fire as they each take a hit of the blunt being passed around.
Even with the quaint size of the yard, they’re still far enough away that we can’t hear them.
I think they’re already too high to have even noticed we’re out here.
Taking a deep breath, I relish the summer night breeze that kisses my bare legs when it flows through the hemline of my dress.
Theo must catch me surveying the backyard as he says, “Jessie’s dad owns the place. Matt, Jessie, and I all live here. Have since our sophomore year of college.”
I give him a polite smile when I respond, “It’s a nice place. Beth and I just have a small two-bedroom apartment. It can get pretty cramped, especially with her housekeeping tendencies.”
He chuckles. “The guys would probably say the same about me.”
I contemplate taking the chance to leave during the few moments of awkward silence that follow his statement, but for some reason, I can’t seem to pull myself away. It must be the alcohol. That’s the only logical explanation.
“Hey, about the other day in the store. Again, I’m really sorry I ran into you. Hopefully, your ankle isn’t too fucked. I’m happy you came to the party instead of trying to have me arrested or something.”
“My ankle’s fine, but the jury’s still out on getting you arrested.” When his smile matches my own, I can’t help but continue, “Or maybe I’ll sue you for negligent driving of a shopping cart.”
We laugh together, but when our eyes lock, I’m entranced by the swirls of green in his irises again.
When he glances down at my lips, I look away, suddenly finding the sky is more interesting than anything he has to say.
Considering we’re in the city, no stars are in sight, but I can at least make out the moon.
I’ve already let my thoughts stray from my plan enough as it is.
I’m just about to make an excuse to leave, grab Beth, and get out of here when he says, “So what are your plans after graduation?”
I laugh. “Not much, considering every company I’ve applied for has turned me down.
I’m starting to think I’m meant to be a barista my entire life.
” I steal a glance at him, catching a glimpse of the intensity with which he’s looking at me, and quickly look away, afraid that I’ve dumped too much on him.
He must notice my embarrassment because he responds with, “I’m sure something will come up soon. What are you majoring in?” There’s a flicker of something behind his eyes when he asks me this, but it must just be a reflection from the moonlight.
“Architecture. I’ve applied to just about every architecture, design, and construction company around here just to try to get my foot in the door.” I pause to think before continuing, “Well, except for the big ones that I know I’d probably just be wasting my time applying to.”
“Which big companies?”
“The obvious, Callaway Designs, Rose City Designs, Kane Construction…what?” I stop listing companies when his smile grows tenfold. My stomach flutters at the sight. It’s more radiant than I remember the first time I saw it.
“Kane Construction, you say?” he asks with a hint of amusement in his voice. I nod while waiting for his response.
With a laugh, Theo sticks out his hand. “I don’t think I properly introduced myself.
Theodore Kane, youngest brother to the owner and CEO of Kane Construction.
It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He wiggles his hand like he’s waiting for me to shake it, appearing to be very pleased with himself at this big revelation.
I grab his hand and give a tentative shake as I’m trying to wrap my mind around what he just told me.
My efforts are stunted when I can’t seem to take my mind away from the fact that his hand engulfs mine.
When I try to pull away, he squeezes again just slightly, not enough to hurt but enough for me to take notice.
Just like that, our hands are separated, and mine is suddenly cold from the absence of his touch.
“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.
” He wags his finger at me as his eyes squint in concentration.
The whole motion comes across a little wobbly, indicating he’s had a few drinks tonight as well.
Despite the alcohol running through both of us, I swear I can see the wheels turning in his head.
“You, Sienna….” He motions toward me as though he is trying to get me to say my last name.
“Parker,” I confess.
He continues, “You, Sienna Parker, should be my girlfriend!”
“I should what?” I say the last word loud enough that it catches the attention of the group by the firepit.
I move to stand out of their sight line, but being the klutz that I am, I step on a rock and fall toward the ground.
Saving the day once again, he catches me.
Grabbing hold of my waist, he puts his other hand on my shoulder to balance me.
Our lips within inches of each other, speaking only loud enough so the two of us can hear, he says, “Be my girlfriend.” Not a question, a command.
There’s a rush of heat low in my stomach at his low-timbre voice, and I push him away.
“I’m not sure where this is coming from, but how did we go from talking about plans after graduation to this?” Taking a few steps away from him, I put some distance between us.
His eyes grow wide then, and he scrunches up his nose in a wince, “Oh shit, my fake girlfriend. I meant to say my fake girlfriend.”
“Why do you need a fake girlfriend? What about the woman from the diner?” The second question comes out with more jealous undertones than I meant. I really need to find a way out of this conversation before I dig myself deeper.
“She’s one of Matt’s friends. No one to me. Why, jealous?” He smirks, and I immediately roll my eyes, trying to save face.
“Alright, I think it’s time for me to go home. Happy I could stroke your ego, though.” I turn to leave and feel his hand land on my elbow as he gently pulls me back to him.
“I’m sorry, this is all coming out wrong.
Let me start over. I also don’t have a job lined up for after graduation.
My oldest brother is convinced I’m not mature enough to take on a position as his business partner.
Long story short, I lied to him and told him I have a girlfriend in an effort to obtain a job offer. ”
Crossing my arms, I interrupt Theo. “So you lied to prove to your brother how mature you are?”
“It doesn’t sound so good, does it? I thought I could move past it, but then he told me to bring my ‘girlfriend’ with me to our lake house this summer, and as long as he sees a change in me, he’ll let me work at the family company starting in the fall.
” He winces, as if hearing how it sounds out loud for the first time.
“And this helps me how?” I ask, not seeing the point.
“Come with me,” he says. “Be my fake girlfriend for the trip, help me convince my brother that I’m mature enough to work with him, and I can use his connections to get you a job starting in the fall.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Are you serious? You want me to be your fake girlfriend for the summer? We’re practically strangers, and there’s no way you can even guarantee a job for me.”
“I wouldn’t call us strangers. At minimum, we’re acquaintances.” He flashes another smile at me. “I don’t think we’re hiring anyone at Kane Construction, but my brother has strong connections with Rose City Designs. We could start there.”
I stare at him, dumbfounded. Rose City Designs is my dream company.
They are one of the top architecture and design companies in the entire nation.
Their designs inspired my entire portfolio, from clean, modern lines to characteristic vintage details.
I’ve written several papers about their buildings.
I just never thought I’d get a chance with them so soon.
They weren’t factored into my plan until five years from now.
“Think about it. I get to prove to my brother that I’m mature enough, and you end the summer having had a fun vacation at a lake house and a job lined up. What do you say?”
“I say the chances of you being a serial killer are increasing by the second.” I’ve watched too many crime documentaries to know there’s no way I’m going to a lake house with a man I barely know who just hit me with his cart a week ago.
Heart-melting smile or not, I won’t be starring in the next crime documentary to go viral.
He chuckles, the sound taming my nerves in a way that I don’t care to acknowledge.
“Sienna, I’m not going to murder you. Just think about it. I know I might be a little tipsy, but I actually think we could help each other here.”
I humor him by nodding. Saying my goodbyes, I all but book it into the house to find Beth.
Dragging her away from the blonde, with her all but kicking and screaming, I call a ride so we can get out of this party.
This night has taken a turn for the strange, and I don’t have any intention of humoring the universe any further.
On the ride home, I scroll through all of the rejection emails I’ve received over the past few months on my phone. There are a few more companies I’m hoping to hear back from. But with each rejection email I read through, Theo’s proposition looks more promising by the second.
I shake the thought from my mind. No, there’s no way I’m desperate enough to accept his offer. Something else will come up, I know it will.