“I can take her,” Jase said, shifting to block Cole from reaching for her.
“I’ve got it,” Cole told him, confusion marring his movie-star features.
“I don’t think so,” Jase countered.
Sienna glanced at Emily and raised a brow.
“Okay, boys,” the other woman said, moving between them. “Enough for now. Jase, we need to finish filling out paperwork and insurance forms. Cole, if you need to get back to work, I’m sure Noah can take Sienna.”
“I’ll take her,” Cole repeated, his jaw clenched tight like he’d read something in Jase’s expression that sat with him wrong.
“Text me later, Em,” Noah said. He turned to Sienna and winked. “Welcome to having a big brother,” he told her and walked away.
Emily put a hand on Jase’s arm and pushed him toward the chairs where she’d left the clipboard. “We’ll call you as soon as we know anything about your dad.” Her tone was more chipper than Sienna had ever heard it.
“Let’s go,” Cole said and turned on his heel.
She stood where she was a moment longer, not sure what she was missing in the exchange between the two long-time friends.
“Did Jase do something to make you mad?” she asked as she caught up to Cole’s long strides.
“No.”
“Did you have an argument?”
“Nope.” Cole didn’t glance her way but held open the door as she passed through.
She turned and reached out, placing both her hands on his arms. “What happened? You two are best friends.”
“He’s stepping into the role of protective older brother.” He looked past her, his eyes unreadable.
Sienna felt color flood her cheeks. “I find that hard to believe. He doesn’t even want me here.”
“Don’t let him fool you. Jase cares.” He opened the Jeep’s door and she got in, fatigue coursing through her now that the adrenaline had worn off. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’ll be fine, although waiting for an update is going to drive me crazy.”
He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, then walked around the front of the SUV and climbed in the driver’s side. “Have dinner with me later,” he said, pulling away from the curb.
“I’m not sure—”
“We can change plans if you hear from Jase.” An unspoken promise flickered in his gorgeous brown eyes, and she tried not to moan out loud. “Give it a chance, Sienna. Just one date.”
“One date,” she agreed, tamping down the delight and uncertainty that warred inside her, not to mention the hallelujah chorus her lower half was singing.
She could totally handle dinner with Cole, sure and steady and able to make butterflies dance across her chest with one smoldering glance. She could handle anything, she told herself, then sent up a silent prayer of thanks when no bolt of lightning appeared to strike her down for the lie.
