3. Sienna
3
Sienna
I stretch out on the pool lounge chair, letting the sun warm my skin. My hair is damp from my last swim, and beads of water still cling to my arms, catching the light. The morning is bright and feels almost lazy, a perfect kind of summer day. I’m back home for a short break from college, but already it feels like another world here—so polished and quiet. No roommates blasting music in the next room, no communal showers. Just the sound of water rippling in the pool and birds chirping in the hedges beyond.
I sigh, adjusting my sunglasses and letting my thoughts drift. Or more specifically, letting them drift back to Dane. I don’t even know how to process it. The way he looked at me last night at dinner, and then how I had that uncanny feeling someone was watching me when I went to bed. I could’ve sworn I sensed eyes on me. It’s silly to imagine it was Dane, peering in through my window—right?
Yet here I am, replaying the idea in my head, half-turned on by the notion. Which is absolutely insane. He’s Dad’s best friend, he’s known me since I was a kid, he’s older—like, definitely older. And still, I catch myself daydreaming about him. About what it would be like if he saw me as more than just Eric’s daughter. My stomach twists with a rush of adrenaline at the thought, even as guilt nags at the back of my mind. This is a dangerous game, Sienna.
A breeze rustles the trees, and I decide it’s too hot to stay on the lounge chair. I stand up and walk to the edge of the pool. The water is a brilliant turquoise under the sun, practically begging me to dive in. I peel off my cover-up so I’m just in my bikini—something I bought at a little boutique near campus. It’s maybe a bit more revealing than what I used to wear in high school, but I’m eighteen now, and I guess I’m entitled to some expression of my more adult taste… right?
I dip a toe in. The water’s cool and refreshing. Without overthinking it, I jump in, and the shock of the temperature makes me gasp. I love that instant rush—it clears my mind. I swim a few laps, letting the repetitive motion calm the thrum of nervous energy I’ve been carrying since last night. Maybe I can forget the intensity of Dane’s gaze. Or that fleeting thrill that skittered up my spine when he said my name.
Eventually, I pop up at the pool’s edge, arms braced on the tile. My eyes drift to the study window. Dad uses as his office, and Dane’s probably with him. They’re discussing contracts, numbers, business stuff—stuff that should mean nothing to me. And yet… I wonder if he’s thinking about me right now. The thought sends a little flutter through my stomach.
I force myself to focus on something else. “Chill, Sienna,” I mutter under my breath. “This is ridiculous.” I haul myself up and sit on the edge, feet dangling in the water. The sun beats down on my shoulders, and I close my eyes, letting my head tip back. Time seems to slow in the heat.
Then I hear a soft click, the sound of the patio door sliding open. My pulse jumps. I glance over my shoulder, water droplets rolling down my spine. Dane steps out onto the terrace. He’s in his usual uniform: a well-tailored suit, jacket draped over one arm this time, as if the heat finally convinced him to lighten up. His tie is still in place, and the crisp white shirt does nothing to hide the broad lines of his torso.
“Enjoying your swim?” he asks, his deep voice carrying across the patio.
I clear my throat, trying to sound nonchalant. “Yeah, it’s hot out, so…” I gesture lamely to the pool.
He steps closer, stopping at the pool’s edge. It strikes me how out of place he seems, so formal against the casual setting of shimmering water and bright sunshine. But that’s Dane—he always carries himself with a controlled sort of power.
He sets his suit jacket on a nearby chair. “Your father’s on a call,” he explains, “so I thought I’d come out for some air.” He studies me for a moment, and I feel the heat of his gaze more intensely than the sun.
Self-conscious, I run my fingers through my damp hair. The water trickles down my arm, but I’m not sure if it’s the water making me tremble or his attention. “Cool,” I manage, hoping I sound casual.
Dane’s eyes flick over my bikini, lingering just a beat too long before he lifts his gaze to meet mine. My cheeks burn, but I can’t tell if it’s from arousal or embarrassment—or both.
“So, how has your break been so far?” he asks, taking a seat on one of the lounge chairs. I notice the slight tightness in his jaw, like he’s holding back a million other things he wants to say. Or maybe I’m just projecting.
“It’s been good,” I say, turning to face him, legs still dangling in the pool. “Kinda weird being back home after living in a dorm. I got used to, like, constant noise. Now it’s so… quiet.” I let out a light laugh. “But I guess I’ll survive.”
He gives a small smile, and I notice how it softens the stern lines of his face. “And your classes? You mentioned last night that they were challenging.”
I nod, shrugging. “They are, but I’m managing. It’s nice to study something I’m actually passionate about, you know? Art history can be tough, but at least it’s interesting. Beats high school math, any day.”
He chuckles. “True enough.” Then he leans forward a bit, folding his hands between his knees. His tone turns casual, but there’s a certain intentness in his eyes. “So… have you met any… special someone? A boyfriend, maybe?”
I let out a surprised laugh, a little burst of disbelief. “Me? No. Unless you count the ghost in the old library stacks who likes to knock books off the shelves at 2 AM.”
He huffs a quiet laugh, but there’s a flicker of something in his expression—satisfaction? Relief? I can’t quite place it. My stomach does a little flip.
“College is full of possibilities,” he says, almost as though he’s testing the waters. “Lots of young men, I’m sure, would be interested in… spending time with you.”
I blink, feeling the heat in my cheeks again. Is he asking because he cares in a paternal, father’s-best-friend kind of way, or is there something more? “I guess,” I reply, trying to sound breezy, “but I’ve been focused on classes. I’m a total nerd, you know.”
He chuckles. “I somehow doubt that.”
“I am!” I insist, pushing my sunglasses up so he can see my mock outrage. “I stayed in most weekends to study, or I’d binge-watch shows with my roommate. The craziest thing we did was order pizza at midnight. Not exactly the wild college life.”
Dane watches me intently, and I swear the look in his dark eyes is anything but paternal. My skin tingles. An awkward, charged silence hovers between us. I decide to break it with some humor.
“So what about you?” I tease, kicking my legs in the water. “Any new girlfriends in your life, hmm?”
He arches a brow, the corner of his mouth curving. “No. My time is mostly consumed with work these days.”
There’s a tension in his tone. A quiet seriousness that makes my heart pound. I’m suddenly conscious of every droplet of water rolling off my body, the curve of my swimsuit, the warmth flooding my cheeks. This is the moment to make a joke, to lighten the atmosphere. But I can’t find the words.
Instead, I stare at him and think about how I wished last night—how I half-fantasized—he was outside my window, watching me. The thought alone sends a shiver of excitement and guilt through me. I wonder what he’d do if he knew. If he realized how I’m thinking about him right now, how I can’t stop.
“Everything okay?” he asks, breaking into my thoughts.
I force a quick nod. “Yeah, totally. Just, um, spaced out for a second.”
He lifts his gaze, glancing toward the house. “Your dad’s probably off that call by now. I should get back inside.”
I feel a pang of disappointment. “Right, sure.”
He picks up his jacket from the chair, draping it over his arm. Before he turns to go, his eyes settle on me again, and there’s a flash of something I can’t quite name—desire, maybe, or hunger. It sends a rush of heat pooling in my stomach.
“Enjoy your swim,” he says softly.
“I will,” I reply, voice catching slightly.
He goes back inside, and for a long moment, I just sit there, staring at the closed sliding door. My heart thumps so loudly, I half expect someone inside to hear it. With a groan, I push myself off the ledge and slip back into the pool, letting the water envelop me. It cools my overheated skin but does nothing to tame the swirl of conflicting emotions in my head.
I glide underwater for a lap, my hair streaming behind me, and surface at the shallow end. I hug the edge, pressing my forehead against the cool tile, letting my breath come in soft pants.
What is wrong with me? This is Dad’s best friend—this is a man I’ve known my entire life. It should be a complete non-starter. Off-limits. But the way he looks at me, the way my body reacts… it’s undeniable.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to will away the rush of desire. This is a dangerous game, but I can’t seem to help playing it. Part of me knows I should slam on the brakes. Another part, the one that revels in the surge of adrenaline, is all too eager to see how far we’ll go.
With a trembling sigh, I push off the wall and start swimming again. Because right now, that’s all I can do—keep swimming and pretend it’s enough to wash away these intense, forbidden thoughts.