Chapter 4
Impact
Five days in Las Vegas had flown by.
To celebrate the final show, Sienna continued a tradition she'd started years ago—treating her band, dancers, crew, and everyone else who made the tour possible to a night out on the Strip.
Patrick had arranged for the House of Blues to close for the evening, giving Sienna and her crew the place to themselves before they headed to Texas for the next leg of the tour.
The venue held a special place in her heart. Nearly ten years earlier, the House of Blues had been the site of Sienna's first sold-out show.
She'd celebrated there ever since.
Cole Bennett was not a fan of the tradition.
And he'd made that abundantly clear.
"We are not breaking tradition, Mr. Man!"
Sienna pointed her champagne glass across the crowded limousine.
"Agent Cole!"
A few of her dancers laughed.
"And if you don't like it, you can leave!"
It was at least the third time she'd made that announcement.
Cole didn't bother looking up from his phone.
The limousine was packed with Patrick, Keith, four of Sienna's dancers, and members of her glam squad. Over the past several days, Cole had learned everyone's names and discovered that many of them had been with Sienna for years.
They behaved more like rowdy siblings than employees.
And they'd quickly adapted to Cole's presence by ignoring him whenever possible.
Sienna, unfortunately, was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Particularly when she'd been drinking.
Cole focused on the messages coming in from Pit.
His security team had gone directly to the venue after the concert and was already in position. According to Pit, the only people inside the House of Blues were bartenders and a handful of waitresses, all of whom had provided identification and been cleared.
Considering how little preparation time they'd been given, it was the best Cole could ask for.
Sienna noticed him checking his phone and slowly worked her way down the limousine seat until she was beside him.
"You're still mad."
Cole continued reading.
"I can tell."
The music and conversation around them were so loud she practically had to shout.
Cole finally glanced at her.
She'd changed after the concert into a short black dress. Her hair fell in long extensions, the ends dyed a deep red.
She looked beautiful.
Which wasn't helping his mood.
He returned his attention to his phone.
Sienna frowned.
"You're definitely still mad."
Cole said nothing.
She stared at him another second before sliding back toward her friends and dramatically pouring herself another glass of champagne.
Cole exhaled.
This was going to be a long night.
* * *
When the limousine arrived at Mandalay Bay, Cole exited first.
Everyone else followed one at a time.
Sienna was last.
The moment her heels touched the pavement, Cole caught her gently by the arm.
"Where you go, I go. Understand?"
She looked down at his hand and then up at him.
"Even to the ladies' room?"
A giggle escaped her.
Cole's expression didn't change.
Sienna rolled her eyes.
"Fine."
She hurried after the others while Cole scanned the surrounding area.
Vegas was Vegas—tourists everywhere, people coming and going from every direction, noise, traffic, flashing lights.
Exactly the kind of environment he hated when protecting someone.
Pit waited at a side entrance, allowing the group to enter the club without walking through the casino.
Inside, Sienna's band was already onstage playing casually.
A dozen or so additional people were gathered nearby.
Cole immediately noticed them.
He touched his earpiece.
"When did they arrive?"
Pit answered from across the room.
"About five minutes ago. Bosch is running backgrounds now."
"Keep them contained until Bosch clears them. I want eyes on everyone."
"You got it."
Cole left the newcomers to Pit and focused on Sienna.
She was at the bar laughing with her glam squad and talking to bartenders she apparently knew by name.
For the first time all week, she looked relaxed.
Happy.
Cole kept his distance.
Half an hour later, another group entered.
His attention snapped toward them.
"Who the hell are these people?"
"Bosch cleared them," Pit answered through his earpiece. "The two guys with the tattoos are guests of Ms. Carlisle."
Cole spotted them immediately.
Both men walked directly to Sienna.
One kissed her cheek.
Then the other.
Sienna's face lit up.
Cole took several steps forward before realizing what he was doing.
He stopped.
What the hell did he care who kissed her?
She was his client.
Nothing more.
The band suddenly kicked into a louder song, and the crowd moved toward the dance floor.
The main lights dimmed, leaving most of the room illuminated by the stage.
Cole continued watching Sienna.
He told himself it was his job.
Unfortunately, the tightening in his chest had absolutely nothing to do with security.
* * *
The party continued well into the early morning.
Cole couldn't understand where Sienna found the energy.
She'd performed an entire concert and somehow still managed to dominate the dance floor.
She moved from person to person, laughing, drinking, dancing.
A social butterfly in every sense of the word.
Despite himself, Cole was glad to see her enjoying herself.
She'd spent the past week looking over her shoulder.
Tonight, for a few hours at least, she looked free.
If only watching her didn't make his job so damn difficult.
"You're SUCH a party pooper!"
Cole didn't need to turn around.
He knew exactly who it was.
Sienna appeared beside him, slightly unsteady on her heels and clearly feeling the champagne.
"I'm not here to entertain you, Ms. Carlisle."
Her smile disappeared.
"Ms. Carlisle?"
Cole immediately realized his mistake.
Sienna took a step back.
"No wonder you're divorced."
The words landed harder than she intended.
Cole's face changed.
The warmth disappeared from his eyes.
Sienna sobered almost instantly.
She'd crossed a line.
"Cole, I—"
Keith appeared before she could finish.
"Come on, Sen!"
He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the stage.
Sienna allowed herself to be swept away by the crowd, but she looked over her shoulder.
Cole was still standing where she'd left him.
And he looked hurt.
She hated herself for causing it.
Cole watched her disappear into the crowd.
Her opinion shouldn't matter.
She was a client.
Nothing more.
But that lie was becoming harder to maintain.
He was developing feelings for her.
There was no point pretending otherwise.
And that pissed him off more than anything Sienna could've said.
He knew better.
Professional boundaries existed for a reason.
Yet every day with her seemed to blur them a little more.
Pit suddenly spoke through his earpiece.
"Bosch needs you. There's something he wants you to see. I've got her."
Cole welcomed the distraction.
"Copy."
He walked away without looking back.
* * *
Sienna noticed almost immediately that Cole was gone.
She continued smiling.
Continued drinking.
Continued pretending she was having the time of her life.
When the band convinced her to get onstage, she gave everyone exactly what they wanted—an impromptu performance followed by an encore.
Singing had always been the one place she could disappear.
When she sang, nothing else mattered.
Not the stalker.
Not the threats.
Not Cole.
At least that was what she told herself.
Around three in the morning, the group finally left the House of Blues.
Cole still hadn't returned.
Sienna sat beside Pit in the limousine while one by one, the people around her drifted to sleep.
She stared out the window.
The alcohol had begun wearing off.
Unfortunately, the guilt hadn't.
By the time they reached the hotel, Sienna was exhausted.
Pit escorted her to the penthouse floor, remaining a few steps behind as they walked toward her suite.
Then she saw Cole.
He was waiting outside her door.
Sienna's heart jumped.
She opened her mouth to apologize.
Then she noticed the small suitcase beside him.
Her stomach dropped.
"You're leaving?"
It was the only thing she could manage.
"We need to talk."
His tone was serious.
"Inside."
Sienna opened the door with her keycard.
Cole followed her into the suite.
She set down her purse and kicked off her heels, already searching for the right words to apologize.
Cole spoke first.
"I'm flying back to L.A."
Sienna turned.
"There was a break-in at your condo a few hours ago."
Everything inside her went still.
"What?"
"Bosch's surveillance feed was jammed. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. LAPD is there now. I'm going back to inspect the scene myself."
Sienna stared at him.
"I should be back before tonight's show."
Her body went numb.
"What about my alarm? Nobody called me. Did it go off? Are you sure someone actually got inside?"
Even as she asked the question, she knew how ridiculous it sounded.
Cole wouldn't be leaving if he weren't certain.
"The second Bosch lost the feed, he had LAPD check the property."
Sienna wrapped her arms around herself.
Someone had been inside her home.
Her bedroom.
Her private space.
The one place she'd once believed she could escape everything.
Cole picked up his suitcase.
"I need to go."
"Wait."
He stopped.
Sienna swallowed.
"What I said earlier..."
She looked at him.
"I was out of line. I'm sorry."
Cole's expression softened.
He gave her a small nod.
"Apology accepted."
He turned toward the door.
"Cole."
He stopped again.
Maybe it was the champagne.
Maybe it was fear.
Or maybe she'd simply become tired of pretending she didn't feel something whenever he was near her.
Sienna stepped forward and touched his arm.
Then she rose onto her toes and gently kissed his cheek.
"Be careful."
Cole went completely still.
Her lips remained against his skin for only a second.
But it was long enough.
Too long.
Sienna lowered herself onto her heels.
Their eyes met.
Cole's jaw tightened.
"I don't mix business with pleasure, Sienna."
His voice was low.
Serious.
"Ever."
Sienna's heart pounded.
She should've backed away.
Instead, she said quietly, "Good thing I won't be your client forever."
Cole stared at her.
For several seconds, neither moved.
He wanted to kiss her.
That much was obvious now.
And Sienna wanted him to.
The realization hung between them.
Dangerous.
Tempting.
Cole forced himself toward the door.
"Good night."
He was halfway through it when Sienna reached for his hand.
Cole stopped.
He looked down at their joined hands.
Then back at her.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't have to.
Don't go.
Cole hesitated.
Every instinct he'd spent years developing told him to walk away.
She was his client.
She'd been drinking.
She was frightened.
And he was supposed to be the one person in her life who didn't complicate things.
He gently released her hand.
Sienna's face fell.
Cole closed the door.
From the inside.
Her breath caught.
He turned toward her.
"Sienna..."
She stepped closer.
That was all it took.
Cole's restraint broke.
He reached for her, and Sienna met him halfway.
Their mouths collided.
The kiss was nothing like the careful kiss she'd placed against his cheek.
This was weeks of tension compressed into seconds.
Sienna's hands slid around his neck as Cole pulled her against him.
For one reckless moment, the stalker disappeared.
The tour disappeared.
The entire world disappeared.
There was only Cole.
His mouth.
His hands.
The heat of his body against hers.
Then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Bennett. Car's waiting downstairs."
Pit.
Cole froze.
Reality returned with brutal efficiency.
He slowly pulled away.
Both were breathing harder than they should've been.
Sienna stared at him.
Cole closed his eyes for a second.
What the hell had he just done?
"I need to go."
Neither moved.
"Get some sleep."
"Cole—"
But he was already opening the door.
This time, he didn't give her an opportunity to stop him.
Cole spent the entire elevator ride to the lobby furious with himself.
He'd crossed the line.
The one line he'd promised himself he wouldn't cross.
And the worst part?
He wanted to do it again.
Things had just become infinitely more complicated.
Upstairs, Sienna remained against the door after he left.
Her eyes closed as she tried to slow her breathing.
Someone had broken into her home.
A stalker was threatening her life.
Cole was flying back to Los Angeles to investigate.
There were a thousand things she should've been thinking about.
Instead, there was only one.
Cole Bennett.
His lips.
His hands.
And the way he'd kissed her like he'd been fighting the urge from the moment they met.