“I’m pathetic,” she muttered, and Cole grabbed her hand and squeezed.
He waved to one of the workers, then led her out of the house. As soon as the front door had closed behind them, he turned and claimed her mouth, the kiss gentle and intense at the same time.
Her eyes drifted shut as she lost herself in the feel of him. This was what she wanted, to forget everything in her life except the way Cole’s touch made her body come to life.
All too soon, he pulled away. “Thank you,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers.
“For kissing you?”
“For agreeing to go out with me.”
She should tell him it didn’t mean anything. She needed to eat and wanted a distraction while she waited for news on her dad. But she couldn’t make her mouth form the words, because itdidmean something to her.
Yes, Cole was handsome as sin, but her connection to him was way more than a physical attraction. She loved his honesty and integrity, the way he tried to take care of her even when she didn’t need him to. She liked the person she was when they were together. He made her feel more confident because he expected more from her than anyone ever had.
“I’m glad you asked,” she told him, then fused her mouth to his. By the time she pulled back, they were both breathing heavily and Sienna felt like her whole body was on fire.
“But we should get dinner,” she added, not trusting herself to share her bone-deep yearning to be close to him. Sienna had always stayed emotionally distant from the people around her. It was a defense mechanism, something to ensure she wouldn’t be hurt.
Cole made her want to throw caution and all her self-preservation instincts to the wind and open herself up completely. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time, like climbing the first hill on a roller coaster when the car was cresting the top and about to careen down the other side.
“You’re too practical for your own good,” he said with a low chuckle. “But let me ply you with food and spirits and then we’ll see where this takes us.”
“Romantic,” she said, elbowing him as they walked to his truck.
“I have my moments,” he told her with a wink.
“I just bet you do.”
She climbed into the truck and fastened her seat belt, her insides still tingling from his kiss.
He pulled away from the curb, surprising her when he turned away from town.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “I hope this isn’t some covert plan to dump me over the county line because I’m too much trouble.”
He kept his eyes on the road in front of them. “Apparently I like trouble.”
She tried—and failed—to hide her smile at his words.
A few minutes later, the truck’s front dipped as he maneuvered onto a dirt road and drove over a deep rut. Sienna’s stomach lurched in response.
She wasn’t sure what to expect from this night. Her past dating experience had always been completely traditional and boring.
Dinner at a trendy restaurant, sometimes dancing at a nightclub or a round of tennis at the country club. After a few weeks, there would be the obligatory family get-together—usually Sunday brunch or happy hour with business colleagues. All of it on an appropriate timeline that showed interest—but not too much—and a sense of decorum that Sienna now recognized had been one of the things that had made her feel stifled and sick to death of her own life.
Everything with Cole felt new and exciting, and the unknown of it thrilled her.
“We’re here,” he said, pulling onto the narrow shoulder.
“Where’s here?”
“Dinner,” he answered. “Although with the way you look tonight, I’m second-guessing my plan.”
“Do you have a plan?”
