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But she wondered if this was how the whole vacation would go, with Sienna turning her nose up at anything Angela suggested.
Would they spend any time together at all?
* * *
Her mother wore capri pants,a blowsy tank top, sunhat, and oceans of sunblock. The wheelie cart was foldable, and she left with it tucked under her arm.
Sienna lay on the lounger in her bikini, soaking up the sun’s rays. It was only eighty degrees, just as her mother said it would be, and yet it seemed hotter, as if the sun shining on all the white walls increased its intensity.
She couldn’t imagine walking up all those steps. Going balls to the wall for the last two months completely exhausted her. Her elderly clients needed more handholding, and she’d met with each one, making sure she’d prepared them for her vacation. Mother didn’t work, so she couldn’t understand how hard it was planning for vacation.
She hated being a bitch, sending her mom out to do the shopping. She felt bad about refusing to climb 588 steps, but she certainly wasn’t riding on the back of a donkey. That was even crazier than walking. But she had a newfound respect for her mother. A hiker, who knew? Sienna would work up the energy for those steps in a couple of days. Or maybe a week. For now, she wanted to lay on this lounger, her sunglasses blocking the sun, her visor shading her face.
She didn’t want to think about her father either. Yet the moment the thought hit, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Did he really believe the only place she could make it was at his company? Maybe he was afraid she’d make it big somewhere else and show him up. Her blood started to boil again, but she didn’t want to work herself up, not while this gorgeous sun was leeching the aches and pains from her body.
There was absolutely no way she’d tell her father that Mr. Smithfield had called her for another interview. He had a new position, but he didn’t want any leaks and didn’t want to say too much until he saw her. As if she would tell anyone. Not this time. Mr. Smithfield hadn’t balked when she said she’d have to meet him in two weeks, once she’d returned from vacation. His amazing response had been, “It’ll give me a chance to get my ducks in a row.”
What the heck did that mean?
But she’d probably say yes to whatever he wanted. As long as it was a win-win for both of them.
A blast of music snapped her out of a doze, followed by loud voices and laughter, some even louder than the music. The thumping began as if they were all dancing on the terrace above.
When had she last been to a good party? Even her birthday party had been a whirl for her, making sure everything went well. She’d barely gotten a chance to enjoy it. She shouldn’t have to host her own birthday bash. Someone else toasted you, someone else celebrated you, someone else cleaned up the mess. How perfect that would be.
Her mind drifted with the music. The thumping, the laughter, the voices, and even the occasional shrieks of young women didn’t dampen her vacation mood.
She was here to relax and regain her equilibrium so that when she interviewed with Mr. Smithfield, she’d know exactly what to do with any offer he made.
Maybe she needed to think about her mother too. Was there any way they could end up being friends the way she was with Aunt Teresa? Sienna didn’t have a lot of friends. There were work acquaintances and the girls from her sorority, but somehow, she’d always felt guarded. She hadn’t even told Aunt Teresa about the interview with Mr. Smithfield. And she admitted why. She didn’t want her aunt telling her mother. She didn’t want this vacation to turn into a question-and-answer game.
All she wanted was to lie here and enjoy the sun.
From above, a female voice screeched, “Carter, this drink sucks.”
Then freezing liquid and chips of ice rained down on Sienna’s chest, splattered her face, plastered her hair, and slid down her arms.
She shrieked as if someone was murdering her.
* * *
Sienna opened her eyes,glaring at the next-door balcony one level up.
The man leaned over his railing. “Holy hell,” he called down in a voice of abject misery. “I’m so sorry. We didn’t know you were down there.”
A pretty young woman with a straight brunette bob leaned over with him. “I’m sorry.” She put her hand over her mouth and giggled, which turned into hysterical laughter.
“Shut up, Tamryn, or she’ll think we’re not sorry at all.”
Sienna sat up, brushing off the ice cubes. After the first shock, the ice actually felt good on her overheated skin.
Tamryn laughed, then wobbled, forcing the man to grab her arm to steady her. “Get a soda instead of a margarita,” he said in a harsh undertone Sienna heard.
Alone now, he turned back. “I really am sorry.” He leaned with both arms on the terrace railing. “I had no idea she’d throw it over the side like that.”
Sienna thought about scolding him, but with his surfer blond hair, blue eyes reflecting the Santorini sea, and a beautiful mouth, he made her think about kissing.
She hadn’t thought about kissing in months.
