Charlotte is trying to hug Sienna, despite her arm on a sling and the fact that Sienna is carrying a tray. Once they break the awkward hug, Charlotte immediately reaches for the tray. "Tell me these are your famous brownies."
Sienna smiles and declares, "These are my famous brownies."
Charlotte takes one, bites it, closes her eyes for one full second.
"Oh my god." She turns to the room. "Everyone. Take one. I mean it." She points the rest of her brownie at Sienna. "Sienna makesthebest brownies."
Sienna's smile gets bigger. A small blush covers her cheeks. And just like that, without her knowing she punches the air out of my lungs.
Two of Charlotte's colleagues lean in. A whole conversation builds around the tray with Sienna in the middle of it, easy, warm and entirely at home. And I’m standing watching her for long enough that I need to either put some distance between us or get closer to her.
I get closer to her.
I come up behind her, close enough that only she'll catch it, lean in and whisper in her ear.
"I’m surprised you didn't bring another plant."
She startles, turning around fast with a hand to her chest. Her big brown eyes look at me, confused at first but when she sees it’s me she squints like she is plotting her revenge.
She smirks, looks at the tray of brownies now placed on the coffee table and then back at me.
She puts her hand on my forearm. Leans in, pulls herself on her tiptoes, and brings her mouth close to my ear. "What makes you think I didn't?"
I can feel her body warm against mine. Her lips almost touching my ear, so close that if I turned my head I would kiss her. I take a deep breath in trying to control myself, but it only brings her floral scent.
She pulls back just enough to give the brownie tray a pointed, deliberate look.
"Those," she says softly, "arespecialbrownies."
My brain goes offline for a full second. She is still holding on to my arm and looking at me with mischief in her eyes.
And again, my body takes over before my brain kicks in to function. I grab her upper arm and lead us out of the living room into the kitchen. She doesn't resist and the kitchen door swings shut behind us, leaving us alone.
“You brought brownies with weed?” I whisper shout.
Sienna scoffs, “Relax. I’m just messing with you. Do you really think that I would bring weed to a house full of cops?”
I look at her in disbelief. "Funny," I deadpan.
I realise that I’m still holding her upper arm. Our bodies so close that we are sharing the same heat. She is looking at me with her chin tilted in defiance and she is not even slightly afraid of me.
I need to break this connection so I can think. I let go of her arm. I don't step back. Neither does she.
I’m trying to grasp for control when my mind reminds me why I don’t like Sienna Cross.
I clear my throat. "I've been meaning to talk to you about something."
She crosses her arms. The movement presses her breasts together and I register it before I can stop myself.
It’s a struggle to bring my focus back to the conversation that I need to have.
"I've heard you inherited Cross Manor," I say. "I want to buy it from you."
I watch for her reaction. Surprise first, quick and clean. Replaced by weary caution. She takes a step back. And I find that I don’t want distance between us afterall.
"It's not settled yet," she says carefully. "And I'm not going to sell it."
"You haven't heard what I'm offering."
