Chapter 5
Matt
Since it was pretty clear we wouldn’t be eating where I had originally planned any time soon, Sienna and I walked down the street to Heavy’s. Once we ordered, she suggested we grab one of the small tables out on the patio to enjoy the cooler night air. I wasn’t about to argue with that. I haven’t been able to get this woman off my mind since I met her. Getting to know as much as I can about who she is, without some constant fucking interruption, is exactly what I want.
Our conversation is easy, though I don’t miss the tension that seems to be crackling constantly around us as we eat. While neither of us mentions it, I can tell by the look on Sienna’s face that she feels it too. When she gets to talking about the bakery and all the work that went into getting it up and running, her face lights up as she speaks; pride filling her voice. Listening to her talk, watching her green eyes blaze with passion, is sexy as hell. I want to pull her body into mine and kiss those lips and taste the sweetness I know will be even better than anything she put in that box for me yesterday.
“So, what brings you to Hope Town, Matt?” she asks, turning the conversation to me. “Family?”
Clearing my throat, I nod. “My twin sister, Michaela, lives in Atlanta with my three-year-old niece, Harper. My brother in law was recently deployed overseas and I wanted to be closer to them. What about you? Brothers, sisters?” I ask, finishing off my burger.
“No siblings. My parents sold everything and moved to Costa Rica when I was nineteen,” she answers, reaching for her beer. “Although, Kelsie and Briggs are like the annoying sisters I never had, so there’s that.” Taking a pull from the bottle, she places it back down on the table. “They’re my family. Well, and Tessa. She’s the nut in my fruit cake.”
“Yeah,” I agree, laughing at her comparison. “I’ve noticed Tessa can be a little…wild.”
“That’s one way to put it.” Sienna smiles, a dimple appearing in her right cheek. “I’m usually the calm one. Boring, even.”
“Sienna.” Reaching across the table, I cover her hand with mine. “The last thing you are is boring.”
Looking down at our hands, she blushes. “You’re flirting with me.”
“Fucking trying, babe,” I tell her, my thumb circling her pulse point. “Is it working?”
“Yeah.” Tucking her chin downward, she blushes. “I think it is.”
* * *
By the time we get back to Sienna’s, it is well after eleven. My mind immediately goes back to when I came to pick her up and saw that asshole putting his goddamn hands on her. I wasn’t lying to Sienna before when I said I went easy on him. Had I really torn into him like I wanted, Jimmy would have been leaving in an ambulance instead of his pickup.
Like I did before we left for dinner, I do a walk-through of the entire house, checking every window and door, room by room. I know all too well that a few window locks and a deadbolt won’t stop someone determined to get into somewhere they don’t belong. “Need to start using that security system on the wall, babe,” I tell her, yanking on the backdoor in her kitchen. “Maybe get a dog.”
“A dog?” she asks, flipping on the kitchen light.
“A hard boot to anyone of these doors and it’s open. Windows,” I say, tapping the glass. “Are just locked pieces of glass. At best, you’re slowing an intruder down. A big, barking dog is a deterrent to someone staking out your place. If they’re ballsy enough to come in, the dog becomes protection.”
“I’ll take that under advisement, Officer,” she says, dropping her bag and keys to the countertop.
“Serious as a heart attack, Sienna,” I tell her, making my way around the island toward her. Cupping her cheek, I tilt her face up and search her eyes. “Don’t play it off.”
“I hear you,” she assures me. “Use the security system. Get a dog. Floss between meals. Eat your peas and carrots,” she adds, giving me a mock salute. “You’re so bossy.”
“Am I, now?” I ask, biting back the laugh I know she is hoping for to cut through the seriousness of the conversation. One thing that has become very clear tonight is that any time the topic becomes too heavy, Sienna uses humor and sarcasm to redirect the conversation.
“Hell yes, you are, and it makes one hell of a first impression,” she huffs, making me laugh.
“Unlike your tequila-fueled fondle?” I smirk, running my knuckles across her cheek. Leaning down, I brush my lips over hers. “Not much can top that.”
Grabbing onto my shirt with both hands, Sienna pushes up on her toes, sighing softly as she returns my kiss. Fuck. Unable to help myself, I sweep my tongue over her bottom lip, allowing myself the smallest taste of her, while fighting the urge I have to sink my teeth into her plump flesh. “Sweet Sienna,” I murmur against her mouth, earning me a sexy as hell moan. She tastes like beer and the sweet caramel glaze on the skillet brownie dessert she ordered, mixed with something so sweet, so goddamn decadent, that it has me desperately wanting to taste every inch of her soft skin.
Visions of stripping her down and spreading her out on the countertop has my cock hard enough to pound nails. Damn. She has me crazy.
“Matt,” she pants breathlessly as my lips trail along her jaw.
“Hmm?” Pushing her hair over her shoulder, I press a kiss just below her ear, smiling against her skin when she shivers.
“Pretty sure this is topping it.”
“Good,” I inform her, tracing her collarbone with the tips of my fingers. “Because I’ve only gotten started.”