Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
AUGUST
Considering Sienna and I were living together, she’d done a great job of avoiding me. I’d hardly seen her since we’d gone out to the lake. It had been silent the whole ride back and she’d been quiet through dinner too.
I couldn’t work out what I’d done wrong.
Everything had been fine until River called. Was that it? Did Sienna not like my brother?
Sweat dripped down my face as I propped up the hoe Bronwyn had me working with, separating hay flakes and clearing out the horse’s stalls.
I was grateful for the work, the burn in my muscles was familiar and helped keep my mind off of Sienna.
Besides, the horses were cute and I liked spending time with them.
If Sienna didn’t like River that was okay. It sucked, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. Not with how I felt about her — plus River had been a grouchy asshole most of the times they’d interacted, so maybe she’d learn to like him with time.
Maybe I was getting ahead of myself.
I’d thought I’d made it clear to Sienna how I felt, I wasn’t going anywhere any time soon if she’d have me. And yet, things felt… tense. Unless that was because she didn’t feel the same way and I’d made everything awkward?
But the way she’d kissed me back… There hadn’t been anything awkward about that.
I didn’t know whether to give her space, or if I should just tell her straight up how I felt and what I wanted.
She was dealing with a lot but being here on the ranch clearly relaxed her, she seemed brighter here, like she’d been stifling herself in the city to fit in to other people’s expectations for her — myself included.
It had been so long since I’d been in a relationship, it felt like I’d forgotten how to do basic shit like communicate.
“Hey,” a familiar voice called and my head jerked up so quickly I heard it click. “Just wanted to let you know I’m running into town for a couple things. Do you want anything?”
Sweat dripped in my eye, stinging and blurring my vision and I cursed, using the bottom of my tee to wipe my face clear.
“Something sweet would be great.” My voice came out muffled and I blinked rapidly as I lowered my shirt and found Sienna staring at me blankly.
“Sorry, I said something sweet would be good please, chocolate or cake, whatever. You choose.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes lingering on me as she turned and left without another word.
Fuck.
Had that been my chance to talk to her about this distance she kept pushing between us?
I needed to lay it all out for her, let her decide what she wanted from me.
I was all-in, had been for a while now. If she only wanted to be friends, well, it would really suck.
Really suck. But at least it would stop the wondering, the yearning.
Or was it selfish of me to try and talk to her about how I felt when she was already dealing with her fresh grief over her dad and whatever else was swirling around in that head of hers?
One thing I’d learned about Sienna was that she tended to take everyone’s problems onto her own back.
If she’d let me, I wanted to help her shoulder that weight.
I walked over to the black and brown horse I’d spent time with before, peering in his stall and smiling when he walked over to me and hung his head over the side of the gate. Then he nudged me until I pet him. “What do you think, buddy? Should I just tell her what I’m thinking?”
Henry huffed out a hot breath and I nodded like he’d imparted some solid advice.
“I don’t want to come on too strong, or not strong enough,” I murmured as I fished in my pockets for a minty treat. “It shouldn’t be this hard, right?”
“You do know that’s a horse.” Ryder’s voice was dry and right behind me and I cursed as my heart nearly leaped out of my chest. “I mean, Henry will do his best, but you might want to go elsewhere for advice.”
“He’s a good listener,” I defended and Ryder grinned.
“So am I.” He raised an eyebrow and I laughed, giving Henry one last pat before stepping away. “Let’s hear it.”
When Sienna walked through the door of Pink house later that afternoon, I was ready for her.
Ryder’s advice had been simple and straight to the point: Tell her what you want and then the ball is in her court. I wasn’t sure how effective it would be.
Bags rustled as Sienna set the groceries on the counter before she turned and threw a packet of M&Ms at me. I caught them easily, smiling faintly as I set the bag down on the opposite side of the kitchen island.
“Hope those are okay,” she said, not meeting my eyes as she set about placing food in the fridge and cupboards. It was the longest conversation we’d had in days and I was relieved but also scared that I might scare her off again by broaching the subject of feelings.
“They’re perfect, thank you.” I hesitated, setting my palms flat against the cool countertop as I watched her move around the space. Do it, a voice that sounded a little like Ryder prodded me and I bit my lip before opening my mouth. But what came out was, “We’re going out tonight.”
Chicken. That had sounded a little like Ryder too. The only other thing he’d told me was, if you’re too chickenshit to come out with it, then ask her out. The Sage and Thistle has drinks and line dancing on a Wednesday.
Well, it was a better plan than doing nothing and panting after her like a lost puppy.
“What?” Sienna’s eyes were wide and I swallowed before pushing a confident smile onto my face, as if I was completely unphased by this turn of events.
“The Sage and Thistle has line dancing tonight, and I deserve the full cowboy experience don’t you think? So we’re going.” I nodded, mostly to myself as I gestured to the plate covered in foil on the side. “I made you an early dinner. Eat. Get changed if you want. Then we’re going dancing.”
I wasn’t usually quite so pushy, but I got the feeling that if I’d presented the idea as an option then Sienna would have flat out said no. Plus, I suspected she needed someone else to take control once in a while so that she could let go — and that, I could do.
Not giving her any time to protest, I walked away and up the stairs to shower and change. If we were going to be dancing then I didn’t want to smell like horse shit. Plus, it would give me time to get my head on straight so I didn’t lose it at any kind of proximity with Sienna.
An hour later, I’d showered, shaved, and changed my shirt three times. In the end, I’d opted for the blue wranglers I’d worn before that I’d noticed her checking out my ass in, paired with a white henley and cowboy boots Ryder had let me borrow.
I eyed myself in the mirror, glaring sternly as I poked the cold glass. “Don’t fuck this up.”
My steps were confident, assured, as I made my way downstairs, faltering only when I didn’t find Sienna waiting. Was she really not coming?
The moment I had the thought, her bedroom door opened and my head snapped up as the stairs creaked under her steps.
Smooth skin. Long legs. A hem that fell way above her knees.
I dragged my eyes up her body, noting the pink flush in her cheeks as she took in my appreciative silence.
She’d brushed out her long blonde hair and it hung down her back in gentle waves that complimented the deep red of her dress.
The shoulders had tiny puff caps that should have made her look sweet, but the fitted corset design over her breasts had my control threatening to snap and we hadn’t even left the house yet.
My hand wrapped around hers as I let her lead the way out of the door, and it was only partially chivalry. A larger part of me wanted to see what that dress looked like from the back — then I wished I hadn’t peeked.
Beyond the band that formed the upper part of the dress, her back was bare in a wide scoop that made my fingers twitch, the urge to trace her spine with my hands a physical ache.
She hesitated by the door, peeking up at me from behind charcoal-lined eyes, cherry red lips parted on a breath I wanted to taste.
“Sienna.” My voice was too hoarse, too deep, and I closed my eyes for a second to rein in my emotions. “You look fucking incredible.”
There. A curl to her mouth that was smug, pleased by my obvious fluster, as her eyes held mine. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
God help me. If we made it to the bar with our clothes intact it would be a miracle — especially when she cocked those red lips into a smirk that made me want to smear that pretty make-up while she choked on my cock.
Luckily, we weren’t the only ones heading to The Sage and Thistle that night and I’d arranged for us to hitch a ride with Haven into town, so at least his presence would help me keep my hands to myself.
A horn sounded outside and I was grateful for the interruption. Any longer spent standing staring at Sienna and I would have kissed her, consequences be damned.
“Come on,” I said, pulling open the front door and raising a hand to Haven.
“Hope y’all don’t mind being squashed in the front with me,” he called and Sienna gave a mock grimace and laughed as she scooted into the middle seat.
I caught the hem of her skirt when it flared up and out, tugging it back down and closing my eyes to avoid glimpsing what she had on underneath, otherwise this evening really would be over before it began.
The truck door slammed behind me as I settled in next to Sienna. Haven hadn't been kidding, we were sat so close together our thighs pressed against each other, her bare skin against my jeans.
Sienna shivered and my eyes zeroed in on the goosebumps that raced across her legs as I slid one arm around her and pulled her against my chest. “Don’t want you to get cold,” I murmured and she didn’t reply, just pressed her fingers to the slither of skin I’d exposed at the bottom of my henley.
Those fingertips were all I could focus on for the rest of the short drive.