Chapter 7
Humor Me
A pattern had developed.
New city.
Show.
Plane.
Repeat.
Somewhere along the way, the late-night flights had become Sienna's favorite part.
During the day, Cole was all business.
Agent Bennett.
Focused. Controlled. Always watching.
He checked entrances, questioned strangers, argued with venue security, and seemed to possess the remarkable ability to be everywhere at once.
But nighttime was different.
Once the plane was in the air and the cabin lights dimmed, something in him changed.
His shoulders relaxed.
His voice softened.
And eventually, Sienna would find herself tucked against him, falling asleep in his arms.
Neither of them talked about it.
They didn't need to.
It had become theirs.
Which was why arriving in Atlanta created an unexpected problem.
No flight.
Sienna was home for an entire weekend of sold-out shows, and for the first time in several days, there would be no darkened airplane cabin waiting for them at the end of the night.
She wasn't looking forward to sleeping alone.
Apparently, neither was Cole.
Not that he'd ever admit it.
Atlanta was Sienna's hometown, which created an entirely different security challenge. There were old friends, extended family members, former classmates, favorite restaurants, and dozens of places she'd known before becoming famous.
Cole wanted information on all of them.
He was outside Sienna's dressing room with Pit, going over details Patrick had provided about her old neighborhood, when Keith hurried past.
Cole immediately noticed something was wrong.
Keith knocked once before entering Sienna's dressing room.
Less than five minutes later, he came back out.
His eyes were red.
His face was pale.
He walked away without speaking.
Cole watched him disappear down the hallway before looking toward Sienna's partially open door.
Something had happened.
He stepped inside.
Sienna sat in front of the large mirror holding a tissue.
"Everything okay?"
She nodded, but tears were already filling her eyes.
"Keith's mom died this morning."
Cole's expression softened.
"Jesus. I'm sorry."
"He didn't tell me she was that sick."
Sienna dabbed beneath her eyes.
"He's leaving to be with his family."
"Where?"
"Here in Georgia. Different town, but not far."
She took a breath.
"His mom was always so good to us when we were starting out. Before any of this."
Her eyes moved around the dressing room—the lights, racks of designer clothes, flowers, people rushing outside the door.
"Back when nobody knew who I was."
Cole remained quiet.
"I want to go to the funeral."
Sienna looked at him.
"Can you make that happen?"
Cole didn't hesitate.
"Of course."
Relief crossed her face.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Thank you."
She stood and wrapped her arms around him.
Cole stiffened for only a moment before returning the embrace.
He rubbed his hand slowly over her back.
Sienna rested against him.
He wanted to kiss her.
Not because he wanted something from her.
Because she was hurting, and some irrational part of him believed he could somehow make it better.
He settled for holding her.
Eventually, Sienna stepped back and wiped her cheeks.
"Will you stay while I finish getting ready?"
Cole looked toward the door.
"I was hoping we could talk about tonight."
"Tonight?"
Sienna's mouth curved slightly.
"Yes. Tonight."
Cole waited.
"I'm going to miss my sleeping companion."
He stared at her.
She smiled.
Cole actually felt heat creep up the back of his neck.
Sienna's smile widened.
"Are you blushing?"
"No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"Oh my God. Cole Bennett blushes."
He walked toward his usual spot near the door.
Sienna laughed softly as she opened her makeup bag.
"I know this isn't exactly an ideal situation, but I'm not looking forward to sleeping without you tonight."
Her honesty caught him off guard.
Again.
"What exactly are you proposing?"
"I don't know."
She shrugged innocently.
"You're the highly trained special agent. I was counting on you to figure something out."
Cole shook his head.
"No pressure, Ms. Carlisle."
Sienna smiled at his reflection.
"None whatsoever."
* * *
The first Atlanta show was completely sold out.
Thousands of fans remained outside the arena long after the encore, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sienna leaving.
Cole was grateful Atlanta police had provided additional officers.
It was the largest crowd they'd dealt with since the tour began.
By the time Sienna was safely inside the SUV, Cole finally allowed himself to exhale.
Several members of the tour planned to spend the night downtown.
Sienna declined.
Patrick blamed Cole.
So did two of her dancers.
Even Carmine joined in.
"Agent Bennett has officially made her boring."
Sienna nodded solemnly.
"It's tragic."
Cole stared out the window, hiding his amusement.
The truth was, he hadn't told Sienna she couldn't go anywhere.
She simply wanted to return to the hotel.
And he had a fairly good idea why.
At the hotel, Cole and Pit escorted her to the top floor.
Sienna disappeared into her suite.
Cole immediately took position outside the door.
"I've got first shift," he told Pit.
Pit gave him a look.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Then stop looking at me like that."
Pit smiled.
"Have a good night, boss."
Cole watched him walk away.
Asshole.
He leaned against the wall.
Ten minutes passed.
Then the door cracked open.
Sienna's face appeared.
"I'm ordering room service. Want anything?"
"I'm good."
She opened the door a little wider.
A plush white robe nearly swallowed her petite frame.
Cole immediately redirected his eyes toward her face.
"I never see you eat."
"I eat."
"When?"
"When you're not looking."
"I am literally always with you."
Cole smiled despite himself.
"Good point."
"C'mon."
She tilted her head.
"Humor me."
Every sensible thought in Cole's head told him to say no.
Dinner alone in her hotel suite was exactly the kind of situation he'd spent weeks insisting they needed to avoid.
Unfortunately, saying no to Sienna was becoming increasingly difficult.
"I can have dinner."
Her face brightened.
"But that's it."
"That's it."
"Right now, that has to be enough."
Sienna's expression softened.
"It is."
She slowly closed the door.
Cole remained in the hallway staring at it.
What the hell was he doing?
* * *
Room service arrived ten minutes later.
Cole personally inspected the cart before knocking.
Sienna opened the door.
Still wearing the robe.
Of course.
He carried the tray inside and placed it on the mahogany table.
Two covered dishes sat beneath silver lids.
Sienna lifted one.
The smell immediately reached him.
His stomach growled.
She laughed.
"I heard that."
"I haven't eaten since this afternoon."
"Exactly my point."
She handed him a bowl.
"I ordered my favorite. I wasn't sure what kind of pasta you liked."
Cole looked down.
Fettuccine Alfredo.
"Do you ever get tired of room service?"
The question surprised even him.
Sienna carried her bowl toward the sofa.
"I'm more tired of eating alone."
Cole looked at her.
There was no flirtation in her voice this time.
Just honesty.
She motioned toward the empty seat beside her.
Cole sat.
He twirled pasta around his fork and took a bite.
A quiet sound of approval escaped before he could stop it.
Sienna grinned.
"Good?"
"Very."
"I know the chef."
"Of course you do."
"I could probably get the recipe."
She took another bite.
"Maybe I'll make it for you sometime."
Cole looked at her.
"You cook?"
"Don't sound so shocked."
"I didn't say anything."
"Your face did."
He smiled.
Sienna nudged him lightly with her foot.
"When all of this is over, I'll make it for you."
The words hung between them.
When all of this is over.
For the first time, they were talking as though there might actually be something waiting for them afterward.
Cole lowered his fork.
"I'd like that."
Sienna smiled.
"So would I."
For several minutes, they simply ate.
No stalker.
No security.
No argument about boundaries.
Just dinner.
Sienna poured herself another glass of wine.
"I have some people I'd like to see tomorrow before the show."
Cole looked at her.
"My aunt lives about an hour away, and there are a couple—"
His phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
Pit.
Cole answered immediately.
"Bennett."
Sienna continued speaking until she noticed his expression.
Then she stopped.
Cole stood.
"What happened?"
He listened.
Sienna watched his face become harder with every second.
"Was anyone hurt?"
Her stomach dropped.
Cole's eyes met hers.
"I'll be right there."
He ended the call.
Sienna set down her glass.
"What happened?"
Cole hesitated.
"What happened, Cole?"
"There was an explosion in your dressing room at the arena."
Sienna stared at him.
"What?"
"No one was hurt."
"An explosion?"
"It appears some type of device detonated after everyone cleared the building."
Her face went white.
"Are you telling me somebody bombed my dressing room?"
Cole hated the fear in her voice.
"Yes."
The word barely left his mouth before tears filled her eyes.
"Why?"
Sienna shook her head.
"Why is this happening to me?"
Cole moved toward her.
"I don't know."
"First my house. Now this."
Her voice broke.
"What happens next?"
He knelt in front of her.
"Sienna."
She looked away.
Cole gently touched her chin, bringing her eyes back to his.
"Look at me."
She did.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"You can't promise that."
The words hit him because she was right.
No protection specialist could promise that.
So Cole didn't repeat it.
Instead, he gave her the only promise he could honestly make.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you safe."
A tear slid down her cheek.
Cole wiped it away.
Sienna suddenly wrapped her arms around him.
He held her.
Tightly.
She buried her face against his chest.
For the first time since he'd met her, Sienna wasn't trying to be strong.
She wasn't the superstar.
She wasn't the woman who challenged him at every turn.
She was terrified.
And Cole hated the person responsible for making her feel that way.
"Please don't leave."
Her voice was muffled against his shirt.
Cole closed his eyes.
He needed to go to the arena.
He needed to see the scene.
Needed to know what kind of device had been used and how someone had gotten it into her dressing room.
But Sienna's arms tightened around him.
Cole reached for his phone.
Pit answered.
"Change of plans."
A pause.
"I need you to take the arena."
Another pause.
"No. I'm staying here."
Pit didn't ask why.
"Call me as soon as you know something."
Cole ended the call.
Sienna looked up at him.
"You're staying?"
"I'm staying."
Her face crumpled.
Cole pulled her back against him.
"Come here."
She clung to him.
He pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead.
Then another.
"I'm right here."
Sienna closed her eyes.
For tonight, that was enough.
Cole held her as she cried, wishing more than anything that he could take away the fear.
He couldn't.
But he could make sure she didn't face it alone.