Chapter Nineteen
“Isn’t there some kind of limit on how many turns a person can take with this thing?” Cole climbed back onto the dunk tank platform at the Crimson Fourth of July Festival the following weekend, pushed sopping wet hair away from his face.
“It’s for charity, boss,” Marlene called from the ticket table she was manning next to the booth. She held up the cash box in his direction. “We’re making lots of money for the community center.”
“Yeah, Sheriff. Don’t be a bad sport.”
Cole glared at his brother, who was gleefully handing over another five-dollar bill to Marlene.
“I’m a great sport,” Cole argued, gathering the hem of his uniform shirt in his hands to wring out the water. It had been Marlene’s idea that he wear the uniform, but he’d refused the sign she’d tried to hand him that read Did I Give You a Ticket? No sense in giving the festival-goers too much motivation.
He glanced up at the clear sky, grateful for another bluebird day in Colorado. At least he had the sunshine to warm him between dunks, although thanks to the ice-cold water in the tank, he was still shivering slightly. “But you’re taking too much pleasure in soaking me.”
“Just loosening up the arm,” Shep said with a laugh, shifting his hold on Rosie. “You want to see Daddy dunk Uncle Cole again, sweetheart?”
Rosie clapped her chubby hands. “Dunk, Daddy!”
“Good idea.” Cole pointed toward Shep through the bars of the dunk tank. “Why don’t we change places?”
“Not a chance. Besides, the good people of Crimson want to see their fine, upstanding sheriff take the plunge, not his newcomer brother.” Shep turned to the crowd that had gathered in front of the dunk tank, tossing a ball in the air. “Isn’t that right, everyone?”
A round of cheers went up and Cole gave an obligatory smile and wave.
The festival was in full swing. Booths housing carnival games and food trucks lined the perimeter of the field next to the county fairgrounds outside of town. An oversize tent with picnic tables under it and a large stage were situated at one end of the festivities, and a three-piece bluegrass band played to an audience of older folks and families.
But the big draw this afternoon was the dunking booth, especially since Cole had climbed onto the platform thirty minutes ago. He’d replaced Jase, who’d only had a few people interested in dunking him. Cole, on the other hand, was a popular target.
First up had been Emily, then Katie Crawford, then Declan. Cole was pretty sure Sienna’s father would have rather aimed the ball directly at Cole’s head, but the old man managed to send him into the tank of freezing water on the first throw. Impressive for a man still recovering from a stint in the hospital.
Cole hadn’t complained or tried to defend himself against Sienna’s little posse of protectors. He wanted to fix the mess he’d made.
He’d even paid a visit to Declan’s house after he’d learned Sienna had moved in to help take care of her father. Declan had seemed to take great pleasure in slamming the door shut in Cole’s face. Cole hadn’t slept in a week, had no appetite and could barely focus on work as his thoughts were consumed with Sienna and how to win her back. But earning a second chance was difficult when she apparently wanted nothing to do with him.
“I’d like to dunk the newcomer,” a voice called out now, and Cole watched the sea of bystanders part to reveal Paige Harper glaring at Shep.
“It’s about time,” Cole muttered under his breath. “I need a break.”
“I’ve got a baby in my arms,” Shep said, glancing over his shoulder at Cole, then back to Paige. “Miss, I’m not sure what I’ve done to raise your ire, but I can assure you—”
“Save it, buddy.” She plucked the ball from Shep’s fingers. “Cute kid, by the way.”
Cole couldn’t help but smile at the shocked look on Shep’s face as Paige leaned in to tickle Rosie’s dimpled chin. The little girl, who was the shyest child Cole had ever encountered, giggled and reached for Paige.
“Stay with your daddy,” Paige said, smoothing a hand across Rosie’s soft hair. “I have business with your uncle Cole, too.”
Rosie flashed a toothy grin, then shoved her fist into her mouth.
Cole had never seen his brother at a loss for words, but Shep stared at Paige like she was standing there juggling in nothing but her birthday suit.
Paige stepped forward, eyeing the ball in her hand. “How much for a guaranteed dunk?” she asked Marlene.
“That’s not part of the deal,” Cole shouted. “She has to hit the target.”
“I’ll hit it all right,” Paige shouted back. “But I’ll wish it were your face.”
Shep let out a low moan. “A toddler whisperer with a temper? I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“I tried calling her but she won’t answer,” Cole said to Paige, leaning forward as if that would prevent the rest of the town from hearing his words. He’d made a habit of keeping his private life just that, but somehow everyone in Crimson seemed to know that things had gone south between Sienna and him. Hard to believe, when it had been only a few weeks since he’d stopped her on the road from Aspen, but that’s how small towns worked. Nothing was private in Crimson. Not for long anyway.
“Ten dollars,” Marlene told Paige, who quickly pulled a few bills from her purse.
“Done,” she said, slapping them on the table, then stalking toward Cole. “You should try harder.”
“Tell me how.”
She gave a small shake of her head, curls bouncing. “You don’t deserve to know. I told you she needed someone in her corner.”
“I know you did.” Cole swiped a hand across his eyes, sweat beginning to bead along his forehead despite the cool breeze whirling across the fairgrounds. “I should have been that person.”
“But you weren’t.” Paige yelled the words despite the fact that she was standing right next to the dunk tank. “You broke her heart. You hurt her. Do you know that she almost—?”
“Paige.”
The tiny woman clasped a hand over her mouth and turned as Sienna walked out of the crowd.
“Almost what?” Cole asked, leaning forward. He sucked in a breath as Sienna moved toward the dunk tank. She wore a red floral shirt with lace detailing around the neckline and slim denim jeans that molded over her curves in a way that made his mouth go dry. Her long hair was down, casually curling over her shoulders. She looked so beautiful, happy and at peace in a way he hadn’t seen before.
Then she met his gaze and the pain in her eyes was like a gunshot to his heart because he knew he’d put it there.
“You don’t have to do this,” she said, her gaze gentling as she looped an arm around Paige’s shoulder. “As much as I appreciate it—”
“I have pent-up aggression,” Paige muttered, darting a glare toward Shep. “And I can’t take it out on the brother holding the kid. Cole’s an easier target.”
“Literally,” Cole said, then shrugged when both women turned to him. “I’m stuck in this cage and half the town has some sort of bizarre need to defend your honor.”
“I’m heading to the beer tent,” Paige said, giving Sienna a quick hug. “Meet me there.”
Sienna nodded, then tipped up her chin as she focused on Cole once again. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can,” he whispered, loving how color flooded her cheeks even as she glared at him. Loving everything about her. Offering up a thousand silent prayers that she’d give him another chance—one he wouldn’t squander.
“I almost left Crimson,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s what Paige was about to tell you. As much as I wanted to, I didn’t think I could stand to stay and risk running into you and pretend like things were right between us.”
“I want us to be right.”
She shifted to look back at the crowd of people watching them. His brother. Her brother and Emily. Declan. Marlene. A dozen other people he knew in some capacity. His most colossal mistake on display for everyone to witness, and he still had no idea how to make it better.
He met his brother’s dark gaze, watching Shep’s eyes widen as he inclined his head toward Sienna like he was trying to tell Cole something. Shep raised a hand and pointed a finger toward his eye then lowered it to his chest and finally leveled it at Cole.
Eye. Heart. You.
I love you.
Cole still hadn’t said the words out loud, although he’d replayed them in his head countless times over the past week.
“Sienna.”
She swiped a hand across her cheek. “I can’t do this now,” she said softly and took a step away.
“Wait.” He leaned forward so fast he almost slipped off the platform. “Don’t go. Please. I need to talk to you. I need to tell you I love you.”
A chorus of cheers went up from the people watching, and Sienna froze. Cole waited for what seemed like an eternity until she finally lifted an arm, as if she were holding out her hand to him. Instead she reached forward and casually pressed the dunk tank lever.
* * *
Sienna watched Cole drop into the tank with a splash, droplets of frigid water hitting her face and shoulders.
He surfaced a moment later, sputtering and wiping water from his eyes.
“I tell you I love you,” he said, coughing violently, “and you dunk me?”
She shook her head and took a step back. “I dunked you for breaking my heart in the first place.”
He stilled for a moment, then grabbed onto the bars of the cage and pulled himself forward. “I’m sorry.”
“Dunk him again,” a man from the crowd shouted.
“Shut up, Shep,” Cole shouted back, then unlatched the cage and started out of the tank.
“You have five minutes left on your time, Sheriff,” Marlene called.
“I’ll donate a hundred dollars to the community center as a forfeit,” Cole said, hoisting himself over the metal side. Water sluiced from his body and his sheriff’s uniform clung to the hard muscles of his chest and thighs. Sienna had a ridiculous thought of Poseidon emerging from the sea.
Cole was a god in that moment and she was a mere mortal and how could she resist a god? His words had cut through the newly built defenses she’d erected around her heart, and she automatically turned away, afraid of how much she wanted them to be true.
He circled her wrist with his hand. “Please don’t go.”
His fingers were icy cold, but she could still feel the heat of his body behind her, and she wanted nothing more than to turn and wrap herself around him and never let go.
“I’m staying because this is my home,” she said, keeping her gaze straight ahead. “I belong here. I made that decision for me and no one else.”
He shifted his grasp on her arm, sliding his fingers across her hand and interlacing them with hers. “You’re my home,” he said quietly. “I belong anywhere you are, Sienna. I’m sorry I was too much of an idiot to tell you that when you needed to hear it.”
“Me, too,” she whispered.
Ignoring the crowd still watching them, he moved in front of her, keeping their hands linked together. “I’m saying it now, sweetheart. I love you with everything I am and if you give me another chance, I’ll prove it to you every day for the rest of our lives. I know you don’t need me. You’re so damn strong, and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you finally know it.”
She drew in a breath. “You helped me understand that,” she admitted. “I’m not sure I would have believed it about myself if you hadn’t believed it first.”
“There was never a doubt in my mind.” He stepped closer, crowding her a little. “I know I hurt you, and I probably don’t deserve your forgiveness. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I can learn. I finally understand that I have to take some risks to get the life I want. A true home and a family—someone who will make my life complete. You, Sienna. I want you and I get that I have to be brave to earn my place at your side.”
She laughed as hope filled her, making her feel lighter than she had in years. “You know how to be brave. You’re the sheriff.”
“Not with my heart,” he told her. “Not until you. If you want me to walk away—”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “Don’t you dare.”
“I’ll never go far,” he finished quickly. “There’s no place I can imagine being except by your side.” He traced his thumb against the inside of her wrist, his touch sending shivers of awareness across her skin.
“I love you, Cole,” she whispered, then yelped as he lifted her in his arms and gathered her close. “But you’re a soaking wet mess.”
“I’m your mess,” he said. “Forever if you’ll have me.” He pressed his mouth to hers, the kiss at once tender and possessive. She was swept away on a wave of happiness so massive she wondered if she’d ever come back down to earth.
“I’ll take you on, Sheriff,” she whispered against his lips. “Forever.”
He spun her in a circle as their friends and family cheered. Sienna grinned, realizing she’d found so much more than she’d ever expected in Crimson. A family. A home. And love. Whatever came her way, she could face it fully with Cole by her side. Forever.
* * * * *
Don’t miss Michelle Major’s next book,
MAGGIE & GRIFFIN: THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
the first in a brand-new trilogy
beginning in September 2018!
And catch up with the other
residents of Crimson, Colorado:
SLEIGH BELLS IN CRIMSON
ROMANCING THE WALLFLOWER
CHRISTMAS ON CRIMSON MOUNTAIN
ALWAYS THE BEST MAN
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HERONS LANDING,
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