Page 26 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

“Christmas?” Piper groaned, her voice edging toward a whine. “That’s the only time Bunny lets me sleep.”

“I know.” Siena laughed and patted Piper’s hand where it rested beside her plate.

“What’s important about this performance?” Bunny asked, not hating the idea immediately.

“It’s a charity concert for the Holbrook Foundation.”

“That’s for single mothers, right?” Bunny’s earlier mood had lifted entirely the moment Siena had started talking about work. This was her element.

“Yes.” Siena smiled, and it didn’t seem to matter how old she got or how often Siena smiled at her, Bunny still got a boost to her praise kink from it.

“All right. Tell me more.”

Bunny and Piper ate while Siena laid out some of the general details. A week of their time, unpaid, seasonal songs, performance on the twenty-fourth, a collection of bands, musicians, and other entertainers would be performing.

“Who is the headliner?” Bunny asked as she finished her breakfast and sat back in her chair.

“You, of course.”

“Sucking up, Siena?” Bunny raised her eyebrows.

“Nope.” Siena chuckled before wiping her mouth and placing the napkin on her plate of half-eaten food.

“Piper, what do you think?” Bunny asked.

Piper shrugged as she continued to pick at her plate. Then, as if an idea hit her, Piper sat up in her chair, eyes bright and asmile stretching her face. “If we’re the headliners, who else have you already got on board?”

“The idea is to keep it small and intimate, so there’s only two groups that’ll be playing that night, assuming you agree of course.” Siena waved her hand in the air.

Piper and Siena locked gazes.

Something heavy immediately sat in the pit of Bunny’s stomach. Why was Siena being so cagey all of a sudden? It wasn’t normal for her, and she didn’t like it.

“Who else?” Piper asked, leaning forward and snagging the drink she’d ordered.

“A band who is newer to the industry than you are. They’re just starting to get their feet under them, actually, so I thought it’d be a good idea to pair them with you.” Siena refused to look at Bunny when she normally would have.

That was the second red flag.

“Who is it, Siena?” Bunny asked, her fingers clenching hard around her coffee cup.

“They sing similar music to you two, so your voices should blend nicely, because Holbrook will want the whole company to sing together on stage for at least two or three numbers.” Siena continued to stare at Piper, who shifted her gaze back and forth between the two of them.

“Siena,” Bunny said in a warning. “Who is it?”

“Sole Sisters.”

That weight in her stomach solidified and dropped, squashing whatever was in its way. Bunny’s stomach lurched, and she instantly regretted having eaten all of the breakfast and that third cup of coffee.

“You’ve agreed to represent them.” Bunny asked, but it was far closer to a statement. She didn’t need to know who Siena worked with, but for some reason, this time, it hurt to know.

“Temporarily.” Siena’s lips thinned, and Bunny knew she was walking on eggshells waiting for Bunny’s reaction. “You remember the drill and all that.”

Bunny had told Siena that the sisters needed help. They had potential, but they weren’t there yet. She’d thought it would be enough to deter Siena from taking them on as clients, which would push Bunny to never have to think about Bea again.

Guess not.

“So this charity event is their test?”With a whole lot of free publicity to help them on their way if they decide not to go with Siena. Bunny kept that thought to herself. So much for Bea not having an angle. She wouldn’t be surprised if Bea and Jo had been the ones to suggest the concert as their trial period.

---