Read Online Brushing Off the Boss: A Half Moon Bay Novel (Entangled Bliss) by Annie Seaton - Free Book Online Page A

you’re quite the up-and-coming artist in the area…and you work in enamel?”
    “They say the same thing about everyone they interview.”
    “Tell me about your work. About the processes you use. Do the kilns beneath the gallery work?” Sienna was surprised at his level of interest and his knowledge of the process.
    “I wondered if you knew there was a brick room beneath the gallery. I use those kilns.” She shook her head. “You really didn’t know what you bought, did you?”
    Jack certainly wasn’t a hands-on manager, and if that was the way he worked maybe she would be able to stay at the gallery with him as owner. He could let her run it the way she wanted and keep out of her way. As long as Jack found somewhere to live, maybe life could go on the way it was. It would just mean the gallery wouldn’t belong to her, but that wouldn’t be the end of the world. The money she’d set aside for the deposit could go toward adding on to her house and building her own studio, while she continued to work in the studio at the gallery. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why he wanted it. If he wasn’t going to be involved, what was he going to do with his days?
    “I really liked the feel of the town. Before I even ran the numbers I decided to buy it.”
    The opposite of her. Sienna had everything planned down to the last detail in all her life. Jack grinned at her, and the flickering candlelight played over his bare chest.
    This is altogether too romantic a setting out here. She needed to break the mood. If she was going to run his gallery, she needed to know a little bit more about the direction he wanted to go.
    “What sort of art do you enjoy?”
    “Oh, I have eclectic tastes. I have a few contemporary paintings in my apartment in New York. Some are being shipped out, and some I’ll leave there till I find a place to live. I often spend my weekends cruising galleries.”
    Sienna finished her wine and put the glass down. How nice would it be to be able to afford to collect art? And to have the time to wander around the galleries? When she got the chance—and that was not very often—she loved visiting art museums and other galleries. Maybe they did have something in common after all? She pushed that thought away. There’d be no sparks crackling around the table tonight if she had any say in the matter. She couldn’t help but grin when she remembered last night. There was no Georgie here with family stories to dispel the tension tonight.
    “Great.” Jack was staring at her, and she dropped her gaze as she stood and pushed her chair back. “You found everything you needed? I’m going to bed. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us in the gallery tomorrow. We’ll have to spend some time sorting out my role now that you’ve arrived.”
    He stood and followed her to the door, and as she turned to say good night, he held her arm. The heat running up her skin rivaled the heat of the kiln this afternoon.
    “I meant to tell you, your phone rang a few times tonight.” Jack looked down at her and held her gaze.
    “Thanks.” Sienna moved away and pushed the door open, turning the light on before she crossed to the phone. Three missed calls from Ana flashed on the screen.
    All from the same number. “It’s Ana. I wonder why she didn’t call my cell?”
    Jack grinned at her. “Maybe because you left it at home? I could hear it ringing from the front of the cottage.”
    “I can be a bit forgetful when I’m immersed in my work.” Sienna pulled a face at him as she glanced down at her watch. “I didn’t realize I’d left it at home.”
    It was late, but she wouldn’t sleep until she knew what was wrong. She pressed the return call button. “And she hasn’t left any messages.”
    Ana’s phone rang for a while and Sienna waited to leave a message, but Ana finally picked up.
    “Hi, Sienna. Sorry, I was just putting Faith down. Little miss hates going to bed.”
    “What’s wrong? Jack said you