Chapter 11
Enough
Cole hated weddings.
He'd avoided them whenever possible for most of his adult life.
Too many of the couples he knew were divorced, separated, or staying married out of habit. Most of his friends were either single by choice or had enough failed relationships behind them to know better.
And Pit?
Cole never would've imagined Pit being the one to settle down.
Yet here they were.
The ceremony was intimate, with only a handful of family members and close friends gathered beside the water.
Pit looked happier than Cole had ever seen him.
Nicole looked radiant.
When they exchanged vows, something uncomfortable tightened in Cole's chest.
Maybe it was envy.
Maybe regret.
Maybe simply the realization that while Pit had spent the past year rebuilding his life, Cole had spent his hiding from his.
The reception took place beneath an open-air pavilion overlooking the ocean.
Music floated through the warm evening air.
Food covered long tables.
The bar was open.
Everyone seemed relaxed.
Everyone except Cole.
Because Sienna was there.
He'd been aware of her from the moment she arrived.
She wore a silk gown with thin straps that flowed nearly to the floor. Small flowers were pinned into one side of her hair, and Cole had to consciously remind himself not to stare.
It didn't work.
Across the pavilion, Sienna spent most of the evening with Mama Two and her daughters, occasionally speaking with James and Nicole.
She looked happy.
Actually happy.
Not the manufactured smile she'd once worn for cameras.
Not the polished version of herself she'd presented to the world.
This was different.
She looked at home here.
Cole wasn't sure whether that made him feel better or worse.
At one point, he found himself talking to Johanna near the edge of the pavilion.
She was funny and easy to talk to, and Cole appreciated the distraction.
Then he felt it.
Sienna watching him.
He looked across the room.
Their eyes met for half a second.
Sienna immediately looked away.
Cole's chest tightened.
Jealous?
Was that possible?
Before he could decide, Sienna turned toward the newlyweds.
She hugged Nicole first.
Then Pit.
Cole watched as she smiled, whispered something to them, and stepped away.
She was leaving.
His stomach dropped.
For some reason, the thought struck him with terrifying finality.
This could be it.
She could walk away tonight, return to her villa, and tomorrow Cole would leave the Maldives.
And that would be the end.
Again.
A slow melody began.
Mama Two stepped toward the center of the pavilion and started singing in a language Cole didn't recognize.
The song was soft.
Almost haunting.
Sienna had to pass him to reach the exit.
Cole didn't think.
He simply reacted.
As she walked by, he reached for her hand.
Sienna stopped.
Cole looked at her.
"Dance with me."
Her eyes widened.
For a moment, he thought she'd refuse.
Instead, Sienna allowed him to lead her onto the floor.
Cole placed one hand carefully at her waist.
Sienna's hand settled into his.
They began to move.
Slowly.
Neither spoke.
Neither looked directly at the other.
Cole could smell her perfume.
Feel the warmth of her body.
Her hand fit inside his exactly the way he remembered.
It was almost painful.
Sienna kept her eyes lowered.
She shouldn't be doing this.
She'd spent a year rebuilding herself.
A year convincing herself that Cole Bennett belonged to another life.
Yet here she was.
Back in his arms.
And her body remembered him before her mind had a chance to object.
The song continued.
Sienna's forehead eventually rested against his chest.
Cole's eyes closed.
For the first time in a year, everything inside him went quiet.
His lips brushed against her temple.
Sienna inhaled shakily.
Cole's arm tightened around her.
Too familiar.
Too easy.
Too much.
The music began to fade.
Sienna felt the end coming and started to pull away.
Then Cole whispered against her hair.
"I'm sorry."
Two words.
That was all.
But they hit harder than anything else he could've said.
Sienna lifted her head.
For the first time that evening, she looked directly into his eyes.
Cole looked broken.
Not angry.
Not guarded.
Broken.
A tear fell.
Then another.
Cole started to reach for her face.
Sienna pulled away.
She couldn't do this.
Not here.
Not in front of everyone.
She turned and walked quickly toward the village.
"Sienna."
She kept going.
"Sienna, wait."
Her pace increased.
Cole followed.
The faster he came after her, the faster she walked.
Flowers slipped from her hair and fell along the path behind her.
"Sienna!"
She broke into a near run.
Her heel caught on the uneven ground.
The shoe snapped.
Sienna went down hard.
Cole reached her within seconds.
"Jesus."
He knelt beside her.
"Are you hurt?"
Sienna tried to stand.
Cole reached for her.
"Let me help."
"No."
"Sienna, your leg—"
"I said no!"
She shoved at his chest.
Cole froze.
Sienna dragged herself upright and kicked off the broken heel.
Then the other.
Tears streamed down her face now.
"I'm sorry."
Cole stood a few feet away.
"I'm so sorry."
"Stop saying that."
Her voice shook.
"Sienna—"
"STOP."
The force of the word stopped him.
She stared at him.
A year's worth of anger finally broke loose.
"You left me."
Cole's face fell.
"When I needed you most, you left me."
"Sienna—"
"No."
She pointed at him.
"You don't get to come here and say you're sorry like that fixes everything."
"I know."
"Do you?"
Her voice cracked.
"Do you have any idea what that did to me?"
Cole couldn't answer.
Sienna turned away.
Her dress caught beneath her foot.
She stumbled again.
Cole moved before she hit the ground.
This time, he caught her.
"Let me go."
"No."
"Cole!"
"You're bleeding."
"I don't care!"
"I do."
Sienna struggled against him.
Cole lifted her into his arms.
"Put me down."
"When we get to your house."
"I don't need you to rescue me."
"I'm not trying to rescue you."
"That's all you ever do."
Cole stopped walking.
Sienna looked at him.
His eyes were wet.
"I'm trying to get you home."
The fight went out of her.
For the rest of the walk, she didn't speak.
Cole carried her down the narrow path as though she weighed nothing.
Sienna stared over his shoulder.
Neither of them noticed the tears on the other's face.
By the time they reached her villa, blood was running down Sienna's lower leg.
Cole carried her up the steps and gently placed her on her feet.
Sienna entered the security code.
The lock clicked.
She opened the door.
Then stepped inside.
Cole remained outside.
Sienna walked a few feet into the house.
She stopped.
The door remained open behind her.
Cole stared at it.
An invitation.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But something.
He stepped inside and closed the heavy door.
Sienna walked through the kitchen and pressed a button.
Large glass doors opened onto the deck overlooking the ocean.
She went outside without saying a word.
Cole found a bathroom and searched the cabinets until he located a first-aid kit.
When he returned, Sienna was sitting on the deck floor.
Her dress pooled around her.
Blood stained the fabric near her leg.
Cole sat beside her.
"Let me see."
Sienna didn't argue.
He carefully lifted the hem of her dress to expose the cut.
It wasn't deep.
But gravel had scraped the skin badly.
Cole opened an antiseptic wipe.
"This might sting."
Sienna stared at the water.
Cole cleaned the wound.
She flinched.
"Sorry."
"Don't."
He stopped.
Sienna looked at him.
"Don't apologize for every little thing."
Cole swallowed.
"Okay."
He finished cleaning the cut and covered it with gauze.
Then he lowered her dress again.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Cole gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Sienna let him.
"Do you want me to leave?"
His voice was quiet.
And for the first time since he'd walked into her life, Sienna heard no expectation behind the question.
If she told him to go, he would go.
She looked toward the open door.
"I wouldn't have left it open if I wanted you to leave."
Cole absorbed that.
Then sat beside her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
They looked out at the dark ocean.
"What do we do now?"
Cole wasn't entirely sure whether he was asking her or himself.
Sienna thought about it.
A year ago, she would've had an answer.
She would've wanted promises.
Wanted to know whether he loved her.
Wanted to know if he was staying.
Now?
She didn't trust promises.
Not yet.
She also didn't want him to leave.
"Just sit with me."
Cole looked at her.
Sienna kept her eyes on the water.
"For now, that's enough."