Cole wasn’t sure why this knowledge seemed to affect Sienna like the sharp point of a pin to a balloon, but he could almost see her deflating before his eyes.
“You should invite Jase and Emily to the inn for dinner. They can bring Davey, too. He’s a sweet kid.”
“Davey?”
“Emily’s son,” Paige clarified. “You haven’t met him?”
Sienna shook her head.
“What about Emily?”
“His wife?” Sienna asked Cole.
“They got married last year,” he confirmed.
Sienna looked at Paige again. “Jase and I aren’t exactly close.”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
“Um...about twenty years ago.”
Paige whistled softly. “We’re going to need more vodka for this story.”
“No more vodka,” Cole said at the same time as Sienna.
“Or disco lights,” Cole added, pointing at each of the women.
Paige pressed two fingers to her forehead. “Probably a good idea. I can already feel a headache brewing. I’m going to go to bed. Sienna, you can give me the fascinating details of your family history over coffee and muffins in the morning.”
“There’s nothing fascinating about me.”
Paige darted a glance toward Cole, as if she knew he wanted to argue.
“I’ll get going then,” he said instead. “Keep the music down and pull the shades if you want to turn on the disco lights.”
“Sienna will walk you to your car,” Paige offered. “’Night, you two.” She turned, then looked back over her shoulder. “By the way, there’s something fascinating about everyone. Some of us just need to figure out what it is.”
“Let’s go,” Sienna said, starting to move past him.
He placed a hand on her arm, not surprised to find her skin hot to the touch. As much as he might want to deny it, it seemed neither of them could ignore the flame of attraction that burned between them. “You don’t need to walk me.”
“Come on, Sheriff,” she answered, shrugging off his touch.
He followed her onto the porch, the light above the doorframe casting a pale glow. He was used to people calling him Sheriff, and normally he liked it. At times his job felt like the only thing that defined him. But coming from Sienna, the word was wrong. He wanted to hear his name on her lips, preferably whispered over and over as he drove her crazy with desire.
No doubt he should have had a deputy answer this call tonight.
“I’m guessing you didn’t contact Jase or Declan yet,” he said into the silence.
She grabbed the porch railing, as if to steady herself—a result of the alcohol or the mention of her dad and brother, he couldn’t tell which. “I wanted a day to get settled. Today wasn’t exactly filled with shining star moments for me.”
“Except maybe a pajama dance party. That’s the stuff of shining moments, not to mention male fantasies everywhere.”
She laughed softly, and once again he felt it all the way to his toes. The sound was low and husky, like she was as out of practice with laughter as he was. Holding out her arms, she spun in a small circle on the gravel driveway. “This outfit isn’t the stuff of anyone’s fantasy.”
“You have no idea.”
“How long have you lived in Crimson?” she asked suddenly, a variation of the line of questioning he’d reacted to so badly earlier.
