“I’ve been told that most of my life. Were you friends with my mother?” She suddenly had an urge to know more about her mom’s time in Crimson. How did things get so far off track and why did Dana feel like she had no choice but to leave the way she did?
“Lordy, no.” The woman gave a dismissive laugh. “She and Declan hung with a wild crowd. Always up to no good. It’s a wonder you and your brother survived it.”
“Oh.” Not that Sienna necessarily denied the truth of the woman’s words but that didn’t make them any easier to hear.
“Those two were the most irresponsible, reckless—”
“Well, nice talking to you,” Sienna interrupted. She couldn’t stand to hear any more.
“Someone told me you were different,” the woman continued, scrunching up her nose like she’d smelled something rotten. “More like your brother.” Her gaze raked over Sienna, disapproval clear in her dull brown eyes. “But I doubt you put on that outfit this morning. It’s clear the Crenshaw blood runs strong in you, missy.”
Paige had joked about the walk of shame the first time Sienna spent the night at Cole’s, but this woman wasn’t making a joke.
“I take that as a compliment,” Sienna said, despite the embarrassment washing over her. She had nothing to feel guilty about—spending the night in an uncomfortable hospital chair didn’t constitute wild and reckless. She lifted her chin and adopted the haughty glare she’d watched her mother perfect over the years. “Have a lovely morning,” she said in a clipped tone, then walked away without a backward glance.
It was another half mile to The Bumblebee, and Sienna walked it quickly, her gaze focused on the sidewalk in front of her. She passed several morning joggers but didn’t bother greeting any of them. The woman’s words had hit their mark. Was that the sort of judgment her mom had received from this small community? It left a sour taste in Sienna’s mouth.
The front door of the inn was open and she called out a greeting to Paige as she entered the foyer. The sound of hammering had already started, and she hoped for her friend’s sake the construction project would finish soon.
“Sienna, you’re back.” Paige rushed from the direction of the kitchen, curls bouncing.
“No ‘walk of shame’ comments,” Sienna said with a dry laugh. “I’ve had enough—”
“I have another guest,” Paige blurted. “She arrived this morning and insisted on taking the room across from yours. I told her she’d be more comfortable at one of the hotels in town, but—”
“Where have you been and why are you dressed like that?”
Sienna sucked in a breath, dropping the shoes she’d been holding to the wood floor with a thud. “Oh, no,” she whispered under her breath.
“Oh, yes,” Paige answered in a similar whisper.
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
Dana Pierce came down the steps as if she was being presented at a debutante ball, shoulders straight, chin lifted, two fingers gingerly skimming the wooden handrail. As if Sienna’s mother needed support. Her blond hair was pulled back into a neat chignon, putting her elegant throat and the strand of pearls around her neck on full display. She wore an outfit Sienna had come to think of as her mother’s uniform—slim trousers and a crisp button-down shirt, slightly fitted, with the collar starched so that it stood stiff like a soldier at boot camp.
Today’s shirt was a shade of pale green, perhaps as a nod to the pine forests that surrounded Crimson. Matching the occasion was sort of a thing for Dana. Pink for Valentine’s Day, yellow on Easter and a pattern of red and white stripes around the holidays. Festive but understated.
“You haven’t called in several days,” Dana said, as if that explained everything.
“So you flew to Colorado?” Sienna pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Coffee?” Paige asked.
Sienna nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Mrs. Pierce?”
“Half a cup with a tablespoon of creamer.” Dana pierced Paige with one of her laser-beam glares as she came to stand at the bottom of the stairs. “No more than a tablespoon.”
“I’ll measure,” Paige offered quickly, then hurried toward the kitchen.
“You could have just asked for light creamer,” Sienna said with an eye roll.
“How do I know what that woman considers light?” Dana swept an arm toward the front room, which was crowded with the furniture and knickknacks Paige had moved so the guys could work on the floor. “I appreciate details, and it doesn’t seem like the innkeeper cares much for them. How does one expect to run a business like this?”
“The floor had water damage. She’s having it repaired. Paige has done a great job refurbishing this place, and she’s a fantastic cook and generous hostess. The Bumblebee will succeed.” Sienna wasn’t sure why she felt the need to defend Paige, but it was easier than talking about her mother’s unexpected appearance.
Dana sniffed. “I didn’t rearrange my schedule to come here and talk about a ramshackle bed-and-breakfast.”
