Release Me Page 14

  She held her hands out. “Then when and where?”

  “Never and nowhere.”

  “Fine, then,” Sienna relented. “Then just answer my first question.”

  “Which was?”

  “Your music, where does it come from?”

  Toby rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “I truly don’t have an answer for you. I was sitting in traffic one day, and lyrics just came to me. I found a funky napkin I’d used to blow my nose with earlier that morning and started writing them down. The end.”

  Sienna narrowed her eyes, shooting him a look to convey that the conversation was not over. It had always bothered her that Toby had not opened up to her after his accident. In reality, it was the beginning of the end of the friendship they once had. But now that he was back home, and their friendship was slowly making its way back to what it used to be, Sienna was determined to ask all the questions she’d longed to ask years ago.

  She needed to know his feelings, to know how he’d picked himself up and gotten his life back on track. The one thing he loved above all had been snatched out of his grasp, yet he had survived. Sienna needed a lesson or two on how to overcome her own demons.

  “Are you finished with that?” he asked, motioning to her coffee cup. “I need to wrap things up at the studio and get Aria ready for tomorrow night’s performance. She’s probably on the verge of a nervous breakdown.”

  “We really have to work on her stage fright. These spots at The Hard Court are nothing compared to what she’ll have to face once those cameras start rolling.”

  “I know. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to deal with this,” Toby said. He opened the door and stepped to the side to allow Sienna to exit first. They headed back toward the recording studio. “She’s fine once she gets on stage, but she makes herself sick the couple of hours before the performance. If she doesn’t kick this fear soon, she’s going to ruin her chance.”

  “She can get over it if we work hard enough. Barbara Streisand suffered from stage fright for years without it having much of an effect on her career. And let’s face it; Aria is beautiful with an amazing voice. She’s going to land a recording contract soon.”

  “But it would be better all around if she got over this. I’ve got to think of something.”

  “Let’s just get her through tomorrow night’s performance and her first radio interview.”

  “I should write a script. I know she’s going to get all choked up.”

  “She’s going to be fine, Toby,” Sienna assured. “They’re going to ask her about her music. She doesn’t have a problem talking about that anymore.”

  “Not since you had her to actually sit and think about it. That was brilliant, Sienna. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”

  “You did just say the idea required brilliance, right? I think that answers your question.”

  Toby snorted, giving her a playful shove with his shoulder.

  They came upon her car. Sienna unlocked the driver’s side door and sat behind the wheel. “I need to stop in at my mother’s store tomorrow, so I’ll just meet you at The Hard Court, okay?”

  “Be there for eight.”

  “But Aria doesn’t go on until ten.”

  “I know. I’m treating you to dinner,” Toby answered. He closed her door and slapped on the hood of the car before heading back into the studio.

  There was a little butterfly action floating around in her stomach, but Sienna decided to ignore it. She wouldn’t read anymore into this dinner invitation than she should. In Toby’s eyes, their relationship was strictly professional. And she’d do well to remember that.

  ***

  “Rack ‘em.”

  Toby fitted the wooden triangle over the freshly polished pool balls, using his forearm to stop the seven and nine ball Jonathan sent careening across the table, and adding them to the triangle with the others.

  “Eli asked to order him a beer,” Alex said by way of greeting. His eldest brother still sported his dust-ridden Holmes Construction t-shirt and faded jeans. “He’s running late, but he said he should be here in a few minutes.”

  Alex joined Toby and Jonathan at the pool table in the VIP room of the Hard Court. It had been a few weeks since the three brothers had hung out, and this was the first chance they’d had to add Jonathan to the mix since he’d moved to New Orleans. Toby had suggested a game of pool so they could catch up. He needed a stress-free atmosphere, and kicking back with a beer would help him unwind before Aria’s performance tonight…and his dinner with Sienna.

  Toby suppressed a groan. What in the hell had he been thinking? The words had just popped out of his mouth. A part of him had wanted to take them back, but an even bigger part of him would not allow it. Things were slowly getting better between the two of them. He and Sienna were not the friends they used to be—not by a long shot. But she was definitely warming up to him.

  And he was sure as hell warming up to her.

  The inkling that it was wrong to think about Sienna in an even remotely sexual way was still there, but it was starting to fade as each hour passed. Seeing her on top of her game, wheeling and dealing with everyone, from the sponsors to club owners, was just…well…sexy. Powerful women turned him on.

  Was he really thinking of Sienna as a turn on? If anyone had told him ten years ago that he’d be jonesing for skinny little Cee Cee, Toby would have laughed himself sick. He wasn’t laughing now.

  Toby could do little more than shake his head in frustration and embarrassment. He wasn’t sure if he should act on these feelings that were getting stronger by the minute. Then again, he did invite her to dinner tonight. That was a pretty big step toward acting on it.

  Toby twisted the pool cue, clutching his fingers around the smooth wood. An unsettling realization gnawed at his brain, forcing him to accept the real reason he struggled with his blossoming feelings for Sienna.

  In his heart, Toby knew he would hurt her in the end. It was his trademark. Every relationship he’d ever had ended in heartache for the woman who’d had the misfortune of getting involved with him.

  Once he set his sights on a target, whether it was playing in the NBA or building a record label, it took over every aspect of his life. Given the choice between attaining his goal, and putting forth the effort to foster a meaningful relationship, Toby always chose to follow his own aspirations, with little regard for the pain his selfishness inflicted.

  He couldn’t do that to Sienna. She deserved more than he could give her.

  “Oh, man, this place is tight.” Eli’s proclamation knocked Toby out of his musings. “I’ve been hearing the buzz, but I thought people were exaggerating,” Eli continued as he walked through the entrance to the VIP room. The windows were designed to see out into the club from the room, but they did not reciprocate to those on the dance floor.

  “It’s about time you checked out my club,” Jonathan said, greeting Eli with a handshake and hug.

  “I’ve been meaning to make it out here.”

  “You haven’t been here?” Alex asked. “Mr. Party All Night?”

  Eli shook his head. “Between work and this Tai Chi class Monica has me taking in the evenings.”

  “What are you doing taking Tai Chi?” Toby asked. “See what happens when you give a woman control.”

  A cat-like grin turned up the corners of Eli’s mouth. “For what I get in return, it’s a small price to pay.”

  Alex heaved an overly dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes. “Is there a reason every conversation has to turn to sex when we get together?”

  “What else is there to talk about?” Eli grabbed a handful of cashews from a bowl on the chrome and onyx bar and popped a few in his mouth. “The Hornets don’t have a chance of making the playoffs this year, so basketball season is over, in my opinion. That only leaves sex.”

  “He’s got a point,” Jonathan interjected. A waitress came in with a tray of drinks. Jonathan took the tray from her hands and placed it on the b
ar, then fished a twenty out of his pocket and handed it to her.

  Alex offered him a ten, but Jonathan waved him away. “You get the next round,” he said.

  “Anyway,” Alex continued, turning his attention back to Eli. “I’m not in the mood for sex stories today.”

  “Me neither,” Jonathan said. “They’re not as much fun when you can’t contribute to the conversation.”

  “Don’t tell me you haven’t had any luck with all the women swarming around this place?”

  “Forgive him,” Alex said, taking a swig of his pineapple juice. “Eli thinks it’s unhealthy for a man to go without sex for more than a week.”

  “It’s a medical fact,” Eli countered. “Going too long without getting some causes blindness. Remember, I’m a doctor. I know about this shit,” he finished with a grin.

  Toby laughed as Alex shot an irritated look at their brother.

  “Seriously,” Eli continued. “It’s sad as hell that Toby is the only one who can relate.”

  Toby rested his chin on the hand he had draped over the pool cue. He raised his brows sardonically as he looked at his brother.

  “You’re not getting any, either?” Eli shook his head. “I’ll do Tai Chi for the rest of my life if I have to, as long as I’m not in the same boat as you three. This is pathetic.”

  “Sure is,” Jonathan said. “Just give me a chance to settle into running the club and law practice. It won’t take long to get back into the swing of things.”

  “Why do y’all make it seem as if being celibate is the end of the world?” Alex asked, walking to the other side of the table and breaking the set. The balls scattered across the table, the four and five both landing in the far right pocket.

  “You’re just saying that because you haven’t had any in so long,” Toby told him.

  “Catholic priests go without.”

  “You’re comparing yourself to a priest?” Eli asked, an incredulous look creasing his forehead.

  “Stop being an ass,” Alex shot back.

  “I don’t know how you’ve done it for so long,” Toby said. “I’m about ready to crawl out of my skin.”

  “It is pretty decent of you not to make a play for Aria,” Eli said, taking his turn. “Makes me believe you really are serious about this music thing.”

  Toby raised his chin long enough to flip his brother off. Eli made as if he was going to knock Toby in the head with his cue stick as he headed for the tray that held their drinks.

  “I still think it’s time for Toby and Sienna to finally get together,” Alex said.

  Jonathan straightened abruptly from his position over the pool table where he was just about to take his shot. “You and Sienna got something going on?”

  Toby’s first instinct was to deny, but he thought better of it. He was curious as to just how interested Jonathan was about Sienna. Toby regretted ever introducing the two of them. The thought of a woman coming between he and Jonathan was stupid, and the fact that the woman might be Sienna seemed preposterous. But if Jonathan had plans concerning her, Toby wanted to nip them in the bud.

  “You know, hooking up with Sienna isn’t a bad idea,” Eli commented. Sitting with his elbows against the bar, he popped another cashew in his mouth and followed it with a swig of beer. “Sienna is about the only sane Culpepper girl.”

  “You’re saying Ivana’s insane?” Jonathan asked.

  “She’s into that Voodoo.” Eli shivered. “That stuff creeps me out.”

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean she’s crazy.”

  His old teammate’s vehemence gave Toby pause. Since when had Jonathan become Ivana’s defender? He’d only met her a few days ago, and had not mentioned her since.

  “Ivana isn’t as bad as people make her out to be,” Alex said. “Now, Tosha? That girl is crazy.”

  “I would pick the biggest fruitcake of the bunch.” Eli shook his head. “Too bad Sienna wasn’t a few years older.”

  “I’ve been trying to tell somebody that Sienna has everything going for her, but the fool over here is too stupid to see it.”

  “What does it matter to you whether I’m seeing anybody or not? It’s none of your damn business, Alex.” Toby realized he should have kept his trap shut before the words finished coming out of his mouth. If anybody had a right to rib him about not having a girlfriend, it was Alex, since he mercilessly chided his older brother about his lack of a sex life.

  “Why does it matter to me?” Alex replied.

  “Ooh, ooh,” Eli called from the bar, raising his hand like a second-grader wanting to impress his teacher. “Can I answer that one?”

  “You can stay the hell out of this,” Toby shot at him. “The reason why I’m alone is completely different from Alex’s reason.”

  “And you know this how, exactly?” His older brother asked.

  “You told me yourself. You’re not seeing anyone because you’re trying to punish yourself for Chantal cheating on you.”

  “What the hell is he talking about?” Eli jumped from the barstool, all joking erased from his expression.

  “Nothing,” Alex answered, staring at Toby with a keen, knowing look in his eyes that always sent the hairs on the back of Toby’s neck standing at attention. “He’s just trying to take the spotlight off himself by bringing up something he knows nothing about.”

  Eli rounded the pool table and came to stand next to their older brother. Jonathan joined them, leaving Toby alone at the head of the table, like he was facing down a jury.

  “I don’t have time for a relationship. I spend half my time in the studio with Aria and the other half trying to come up with a marketing strategy.”

  “With Sienna,” Alex added.

  “Yes, with Sienna,” Toby conceded. “Just because I’m working with her doesn’t mean I automatically have to start up a relationship with her. Eli works with dozens of women, you don’t see him sleeping with all of them.”

  “Only the unmarried ones. That was before Monica, of course.” He grinned. “Now all I have to do is a little relaxing Tai Chi. Actually I recommend it. It loosens you up.”

  Toby rolled his eyes. “Can we just get off this subject?”

  “Now you see how I’ve felt these past few years.”

  Toby actually felt a bit of remorse for all the times he’d poked fun at Alex’s choice to live like a monk. Before, he’d thought his brother was crazy to go so long without making love to a woman, especially when so many of them threw themselves at him—literally and figuratively.

  Toby had been propositioned a time or two these past few weeks. But unlike in the past, he had not taken any of the women up on their very blatant offers. What was different this time?

  Damn. He knew. But Toby didn’t have the energy to examine it right now.

  Taking a pull on his beer, he set the bottle on the edge of the pool table, lined up the cue stick, and sent the three ball into the far right corner pocket.

  ***

  “What do you think about highlights?”

  Sienna looked up from her novel and glanced over at Aria. Sitting back in the pedicure chair, she pulled at one of the bouncy curls framing her oval face. That she possessed the drop-dead features of a rising starlet was undeniable. Sienna had no doubt her flawless, honey colored skin, pouty lips, and exotic, almond shaped eyes would give Aria an edge in the appearance-obsessed entertainment business.

  “I’m not sure you need highlights,” Sienna answered.

  Aria sighed and placed the mirror on the table next to her. “Well, I need to do something. Nothing I try seems to be working.”

  “Working with what?”

  “Getting Toby’s attention,” Aria answered.

  Oh, Lord. Sienna slipped in a bookmark to hold her place and sat the paperback in her lap. They were somewhat secluded in the spacious salon, the pedicure chairs separated from the rest of the area by a three-foot high wall and an array of potted tropical plants.

  “I’ve been trying in every way imaginab
le,” Aria continued. “Sometimes I get the feeling something’s about to happen, but at other times he treats me like I’m a kid sister or something.”

  “Uh.” Sienna reached over for her water bottle, not sure how to handle this.

  “I should just catch him alone and strip out of my clothes,” Aria said. “Maybe then he’ll get the picture.”

  Sienna put the water bottle back on the end table, grateful she had not taken a drink. She would have spewed water all over the poor girl diligently exfoliating the sole of her foot.

  “Has Toby given you any indication that he’d be receptive to you…ah, stripping for him?” Sienna asked.

  “Not in so many words, but why wouldn’t he want it? He doesn’t have a girlfriend. At this point I’m willing to settle for a one-night-stand if he’ll have me.”

  Oh, Lord.

  “Okay, Aria. We are, um, we’re friends, right?”

  Aria looked at her warily. Granted, she had not been as friendly as she could have been, but Sienna gave herself credit for not being a total bitch this past week.

  “I think you need to make sure Toby sees you the same way you see him.”

  “I know he doesn’t,” Aria said. “He wants things to stay professional between us.”

  “Don’t you think that’s for the best?”

  “But it’s not what I want. The only reason I signed with Toby is because I wanted to hook up with him.”

  “I know he doesn’t know that,” Sienna returned, shocked at Aria’s revelation.

  Aria shook her head. “I never really thought my singing career would go anywhere, and I knew Toby had never worked in the music business so I figured I’d just go along with it, and then when the music thing fell through we’d just, you know, be together.”

  Sienna could hardly believe what she was hearing.

  “Aria, you’ve been lying to him.”

  “No, I haven’t,” Aria argued. “Once I realized he was serious then I sort of got serious about it too. And now that this show’s come up, I think there’s a real shot that I can make it.”