Chapter Nine
“We should have sex.”
Sienna threw a sidelong glance at Cole. Her stomach flipped up and down after she made the suggestion, like she was being pummeled by a tropical storm.
He stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the cobblestone walkway before them, and massaged a hand over the back of his neck. “Uh...do you have any context you want to offer with that suggestion?”
They were standing at the edge of sidewalk in front of Jase and Emily’s house. Sienna was about to spend an evening with her father and brother for the first time in twenty years. The thought made her terrified, and fear made her say stupid things.
“You want to, right?” she demanded, turning to face Cole.
He looked down, desire and amusement both clear in his gaze. “Yes, but I don’t think that’s the point at the moment.”
“No one has seen us yet. We could turn right around and drive back to your house.” She held up her hands like she was showing off the grand prize in a game show contest. As if she were the prize, when they both knew she was anything but at the moment.
The words coming out of her mouth sounded crazy to her own ears, but she couldn’t stop them. “Or we could get a hotel room. Not The Bumblebee. That would be weird with Paige there. Does Crimson have any rent-by-the-hour motels?”
He shook his head. “Not as far as I know.”
“Your place then.” She grabbed his hand and turned for the truck he drove when he wasn’t on duty.
Cole didn’t budge, and trying to get him to move was like tugging on a mountain.
“Sienna.”
“Is it yes or no?” She tried to pull her hand away from his when it was clear he wasn’t moving, but he held tight. “Because I could find someone else.”
She gave a little yelp as she was suddenly plastered against the hard front of Cole’s body. “No one else,” he said, his voice a gravelly purr. “But right now we’re having dinner at Jase’s house. A dinner you invited me to about eight minutes ago. We couldn’t be late and all that.”
“Changed my mind.”
“No.”
“Yes,” she insisted, letting her tone become peevish. “It’s my mind and I get to do with it what I want. Along with my body.”
“Duly noted,” he said, infinitely patient. “I told you, tonight is going to be fine.”
She bit down on her lip when a whimper threatened to escape. She swallowed and shook her head. “It’s not going to be fine. I shouldn’t be here. I should never have come in the first place. If they’d wanted to see me, they would have. It’s been two decades and—”
“Jase said he came to Chicago last year. You didn’t see him.”
She spread her fingers out along his chest, letting the heat of his body seep into her palms. Wanting to curl against him but forcing herself to take a step back in case anyone inside the house was looking. “He was there because my mom summoned him. No one refuses Dana Pierce.”
She sighed when Cole grimaced.
“I know I sound harsh,” she told him. “But that’s how my mom is about things. She’s in remission now, and I’m grateful but I couldn’t be a part of it at that time. And now...”
“Now is your chance.”
“These aren’t my people,” she said, feeling miserable and alone.
“I’m your person.”
“You’re Jase’s friend,” she countered, refusing to allow herself to hold on to his words the way her heart wanted to. “You said so yourself.”
“Tonight I’m yours.” He laced his fingers with hers and started forward. “I’ve got your back.”
She allowed him to lead her, knowing she wouldn’t be able to make her legs move if he wasn’t next to her.
“You ring the bell,” he told her when they were on the porch.
She knocked instead, earning a smile from Cole. “A rebel at heart,” he murmured. “You’ll fit in just fine, sweetheart.”
The door opened to reveal Jase Crenshaw standing on the other side. He was taller than Cole, probably close to six foot four, lanky and handsome and familiar to Sienna even as much as he was a stranger.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight,” he said to Cole, looking more confused than surprised. “How many times have you been invited over but always managed not to make it?”
Cole flinched but covered it with a small laugh. “I made it tonight.”
“I invited him,” Sienna offered.
Jase raised a brow. “I’m glad you both could make it.”
“Your wife didn’t seem like she was going to take no for an answer.”
“That’s Emily,” he agreed, smiling.
Sienna glanced over her shoulder toward Cole’s truck. “I brought a bottle of wine but left it in the truck. I’ll go—”
“I’ll get it,” Cole offered and jogged down the walkway toward the street before she could argue.
“Is wine okay?” she asked, turning back to Jase. “I forgot about your dad being sober and—”
“It’s fine. And he’s your dad, too,” Jase added quietly. “He’s doing well right now, but sobriety and Declan are fickle companions.”
“I’m not going to do anything to sabotage him.” Sienna clasped her hands in front of her stomach. “I just want you to know I’m not here to cause trouble for either of you.”
“I’d ask why you are here,” Jase said, stepping back into the house and gesturing for her to follow, “but I suppose you’ll let us know that in your own time.”
“Do you remember me?” she asked suddenly. “From when we were kids.”
Jase frowned. “Yes. You’re my sister.”
He said the words with such certainty, it made Sienna’s chest tighten. “I can picture the night we left,” she told him. “I remember turning around in the back seat and watching you get smaller, then disappear in the darkness as Mom drove away.” She shook her head. “But nothing else in any detail.”
“There wasn’t much worth remembering,” Jase said with a small laugh.
“It was the first seven years of my life,” Sienna countered. “And it’s all a jumble to me.”
“Is that part of what upsets you?” He studied her, his gaze intense, and a whisper of familiarity brushed over her like the touch of a feather. She could see in her mind the image of a solemn boy putting a bandage on her knee as she wiped away tears after a fall.
“I think so,” she admitted. “Although I didn’t realize I cared until I came to Colorado. Did you teach me to ride a bike?”
“Maybe you remember more than you think,” Jase said.
“Here’s the wine,” Cole said as he came through the front door. “Everything okay?”
He pressed his fingers to the small of Sienna’s back, handing Jase the bottle of wine. The light touch was more comforting than she could have imagined.
“It’s fine,” she said.
“Come into the kitchen,” Jase told them both. “We’ll eat soon.”
Cole kept his hand on her back as they walked, reminding Sienna that she didn’t have the option to run away, even if her hammering heart told her that would be the smart thing to do.
She heard voices and laughter as they walked toward the back of the house, but silence descended over the group as she entered the bright and airy kitchen.
Jase and Emily’s house was an old Victorian, but the inside had been remodeled recently. The kitchen had white craftsman-style cabinets with dark soapstone countertops over them. The floors looked original in a deep mahogany stain. There was a vase of fresh flowers on the island and framed photos and kids art decorated the walls.
Emily, Katie and a friendly looking man who Sienna guessed was Noah Crawford all glanced between her and Cole, but it was Declan Crenshaw who moved forward.
“Isn’t she the spitting image of your mother back in the day?” he asked Jase. “She even has Dana’s eyes.” He stopped when he was directly in front of Sienna. “You gonna take off again if I talk to you tonight?”
She shook her head, ignoring her sweaty palms and pounding heart.
“Good,” he said, “because I got plenty to say.”
“Dad, let’s eat first.” Jase’s voice was gentle.
“It’s been twenty years,” Declan argued. “Food can wait.”
“I’m hungry now,” a small voice said from behind Sienna.
A young boy scooted past, keeping his hands at his sides so he wouldn’t brush against her. A fluffy dog followed, wagging its tail and sniffing at Sienna and Cole before trotting forward to greet everyone else.
“Davey, we have people here for dinner,” Emily said.
“I know,” the boy answered, glancing at his mother before dropping his gaze back to the ground. He held out one hand and the dog immediately moved to his side, tucking herself against his leg. “I want a hot dog.”
“Dogs and burgers are almost ready to come off the grill,” Noah said. “I just checked them.”
Jase touched Davey’s shoulder. “Do you want to say hello to our guest?”
“Hi,” the boy muttered but didn’t make eye contact.
Everyone else seemed to take the behavior in stride. Katie and Noah both greeted Davey and the adorable baby Noah held smiled widely.
Paige had told Sienna that Emily’s son from a previous marriage had Asperger’s, which explained the way he interacted with everyone. She looked toward Emily, who lifted her chin as if in challenge. Clearly, Jase’s wife had been through some battles defending her boy.
Sienna didn’t have much experience with kids, and certainly not special needs children, but she felt a new respect for Emily. “Why don’t we talk over dinner?” she said to Declan. “Davey’s not the only one who’s ready to eat.”
She saw Emily let out a breath, and Jase gave her an approving nod. “Davey, get a plate from your mommy,” he told the boy, setting the wine on the counter, “and you can help me with the burgers and hot dogs.”
“I’m Noah Crawford,” Katie’s husband said as he stepped forward. “This is little Willow.”
“Nice to meet you,” Sienna said, smiling.
She could feel her father’s intense gaze on her and was relieved when Cole turned and engaged Declan in conversation. Emily handed Sienna a bowl of salad across the counter. “Would you bring this to the patio?”
“Sure.” The nerves in Sienna’s stomach began to settle slightly. Other than her dad’s behavior, the evening felt almost normal. Better than normal even. Most of the social events she attended, even the casual summer get-togethers, involved catered food, cloth napkins and usually some kind of dress code. “No formal seating chart, right?” she asked Katie as they stepped outside.
Katie chuckled. “You really did grow up a world away from Crimson.”
They took seats around the wrought-iron table on the large patio that overlooked a lovely yard with a swing set in one corner. Sienna made sure she was at the opposite end from Declan. Something about the way he kept staring at her, like she was a ghost, made her uncomfortable. She’d come to Crimson to face her past but hadn’t considered the fact that her dad might have his own ideas about their relationship.
She’d assumed he wouldn’t care about seeing her. That she could say her piece, once she figured out what it was, then leave again and return to her old life or start creating a new one, since a big part of who she’d been was the next Mrs. Kevin Patterson.
She didn’t have to say much during the meal. The others fell into an easy discussion about the upcoming July Fourth celebration in town and how elaborate the fireworks display over Crimson Mountain was going to be this year.
Sienna forced a smile at the same time she suppressed a shudder. She’d never liked fireworks. The high-pitched whistle and reverberating boom that followed made her edgy, heart hammering and breath coming in shallow pants like she was some kind of scared animal or soldier back from the front lines.
Her reaction had been a constant embarrassment to her mother. Each year, their country club hosted a big Fourth of July soiree, where everyone dressed in patriotic shades of red, white and blue, and the annual member photo would be displayed on the wall of the clubhouse. It was a point of pride for Sienna’s mother that Craig’s family had been one of the founding members of the club, which meant that the Pierces were guaranteed a front-row seat for the evening fireworks display, always spectacular and set to classical music.
The first year they’d attended, Sienna had puked all over the manicured lawn when her mother refused to excuse her as the display started. After that, it had been a battle of wills each summer and Sienna’s fear of the noise and scent of sulfur had only increased.
“You remember,” Declan shouted suddenly, pointing a bony finger at Sienna. “And it still gets to you.”
All eyes turned to Sienna, other than Davey, who continued to pet Ruby, sitting loyally next to his chair.
Sienna swallowed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Dad, calm down.” Jase shifted in his chair and put a hand out in what Sienna guessed was an attempt to quiet Declan.
But the older man shook him off, rising from the table and moving toward Sienna. Cole stood, as well, like he was ready to protect her if needed.
“Sit down, Declan,” Cole said in a serious law enforcement tone. It sounded to Sienna like the sheriff had some experience with her father acting out.
“Turn your wrist over,” Declan commanded, ignoring Cole. Sienna obeyed automatically. She hated that her first instinct was to obey without question, even though Cole had called her a rebel. What a joke.
“Don’t touch her.” Cole blocked Declan when the older man reached for Sienna.
“He’s not going to hurt her,” Jase said, frustration lacing his tone.
“What’s for dessert?” Davey asked solemnly.
“In a minute, honey,” Emily told him.
The questions and comments swirling around Sienna sounded distant and muffled, as if they were coming through a tunnel. She was alone on the other end, her attention focused on the crescent-shaped scar on the inside of her arm, just to the right of the center of her wrist. It had been there since she could remember and had grown so faint over the years she’d all but forgotten it.
But as her father stared at the same spot, a memory flickered to life in the back of her mind. Like a flame exposed to air, it grew. She saw herself as a young girl, sticky with cotton candy at a summer carnival with the massive outline of Crimson Mountain as a backdrop.
She held a sparkling wand in her hand, making big circles in the air and laughing at the trail of light and smoke her movements made. Her brother was next to her and a dozen more kids all around them. Suddenly a whistle and a thunderous boom sounded. People around them clapped, but the noise startled Sienna and she let the sparkler drop to her other wrist, then screamed as the tip of it burned her skin.
Tears had come hot and fast, and Jase had called for someone. Sienna would have expected a younger Dana to be the one to rush over, but she could see her mother enraptured by the fireworks display as she laughed with her friends nearby. Instead, Declan peeled away from the crowd. He plucked the sparkler from her fingers, then hefted her into his arms.
“It’s all right, baby girl,” he told her. “It’s just a wee burn.” She buried her face in her daddy’s shirtfront, which smelled of beer and cigarettes—an oddly comforting combination to her little-girl senses.
“Make the noise stop,” she’d said in a whimper. “The boom makes it hurt worse.”
He’d carried her to the beer tent and taken a piece of ice from one of the kegs to rub over her red skin. She kept her eyes shut tightly, unwilling to look at the fireworks she blamed for her pain.
Now she glanced up to Declan’s knowing gaze. “You remember,” he repeated quietly and she gave a jerky nod.
“Remember what?” Cole demanded.
“Sienna got burned by a sparkler when she was little,” Jase said before she had a chance to answer. “She never liked fireworks after that.”
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Jase could recount the story as easily as Sienna. He’d been the one to call for help. But the fact that her brother and father seemed to know more details of her early life than she could remember rocked her to her core just the same.
“I’ve got to go.” Sienna pushed back from the table. “Thank you for dinner, Emily.” She forced herself to smile as she glanced around the table. “Thanks to all of you for making me feel welcome.”
She turned away and hurried into the house before anyone could stop her. Her biggest fear was that her dad would follow, forcing her to pull up more memories. Not that remembering the night she’d been burned was painful exactly, but she’d always told herself that neither Declan or Jase cared about her at all—that’s the reason they let her go.
She’d never questioned why her early childhood memories were somewhat blank in her brain. She figured there was nothing good to remember about the years she’d lived in Crimson.
But she was quickly coming to realize that wasn’t true. That knowledge seemed to change everything.