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“It’s a little after four. It’s the perfect time for an afternoon nap. You’re both lucky I had a day off. We’re going up the mountain tomorrow to set up the stations for the snow drifts up there.” Ruben shivered. “I’m not looking forward to the cold.”
“You’ll enjoy every minute. I know you will.” I yawned.
“Sleep, Sienna,” Ruben advised. Then he said, “Close your eyes, and I’ll kiss you.”
I smiled as Ruben began singing “All My Lovin’” by the Beatles. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the end of the first chorus.
CHAPTERNINE
The alarm cut through my deep sleep, making me jump ten feet into the air. With a groan, I forced my eyes open a crack and frowned. “Where am I?” My voice was scratchy, and all of my lower muscles were in sweet agony. “What the hell is that godawful noise?”
I lifted my head from the pillow and spied an alarm clock on the nightstand. Without hesitation, I smacked it off and looked around to try to gain my bearings.
The room I was in was huge. My little apartment could fit in here at least two times over. I glanced up at the metal frame of the four-poster bed, then at the end where the comforter was wrinkled, and the previous night’s events came rushing back to me. A smile crept across my face.
Leaping from the bed, I headed into the master bathroom, showered, and freshened up. Once I was dry, I threw on my clothing, gathered my things, and crept out of the bedroom. Making my way down the incredible staircase with the wrought iron railings, I continued on the next flight which led to the open-plan kitchen and dining area, where I spotted Aug and a strange woman standing by the white island counter. She handed him a plate of something that looked and smelled delicious.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Come over and have something to eat.” Aug held the plate toward me.
I set my belongings on the couch and padded across the shiny tiled floor. A hot, colorful mess of food greeted me on the plate I took from him.
“Veggie rice with a poached egg,” the woman said as she wiped her hands on a dishtowel at her waist.
“Mandy, here, is the most incredible personal chef. Between her and my cousin personally training me, I don’t think I could ever look like this without them,” Aug said with appreciation.
“I’m not so sure about that, Augustus. You seem to fit in plenty of extracurricular activities.” Mandy scrutinized me. The sour expression on her face seemed to challenge me in some way. I watched her hand snake over Aug’s wrist.
Instead of rising to her bait, I scooped some of the rice into my mouth. “This is delicious.”
Mandy pushed her tits out toward Augustus. “Thank you.”
Unwilling to play her games,I dropped the fork. “But I know someone who could do it better.” I set the plate on the counter and looked at Augustus, ignoring the shocked expression on his face. “Enjoy your weird-ass breakfast food. I’ll get some granola-to-go on my way to Children’s Health Foundation.” I collected my belongings and made a beeline for the door.
Augustus raced after me and tugged on my arm as I slipped into my shoes. “Hey. What was all that?”
With a sigh, I faced him. “Look, I woke up feeling a little confused, then when I remembered what we did last night, I thought it would be fun to hang out with you this morning before work. You know,alone. But I guess I forgot you’re not that kind of guy. I mean, you said the other day you don’t doforevers,right? I guess you don’t do morning after romance, either.”
“Romance?” Aug scoffed.
I let loose with a wry laugh. “Okay. I’m out.” I pulled on my coat and opened the door.
“Sienna, aren’t you forgetting something?”I looked back at him. “I have an interview, and you need to be there.”
“The interview isn’t until this afternoon. I have other errands to run in the meantime. I’ll meet you at the TV studio. So fucking help me, if you’re late, Augustus…” I wagged my finger at him.
He held his hands up. “I won’t be late.”
“Promise me,” I said, wanting to try to appeal to his softer side. It had to be in there somewhere. I’d seen glimpses of it last night, but he so often forced it down beneath the layers of a playboy, it was hard to dig out.
He stepped closer to me. “I don’t make promises to anyone.” His gaze flickered to my lips, causing me to worry my bottom lip with my teeth.
“You made a promise to Linda and Estate Styleswhen you signed the contract to be the autumn model. A legally binding contract, by the way. When you make a promise, you’re supposed to honor it. Unless you want to be known as the playboy asshole viscount who got sued.”
Aug leaned toward me with a smile. “I love it when you’re fired up,” he said with a playfulness in his tone.
“Why don’t you go and fuck your personal chef? She clearly wants you to. Me? I have promises to keep.” I charged across the driveway and out onto the street and went in search of a cab.
When one of the iconic black cars pulled to the side of the road, I climbed into the back seat. “Hi, Children’s Health Foundation Children’s Hospital, please.”
