Dare Me Tonight (The Knight Brothers 3)

“Works for me. I’ll pick you up at the airport,” he told his brother. “Text me your landing information.”

He disconnected the call, staring at the phone, wondering why he was so upset and knowing the answer he just didn’t want to face. His time in Miami was coming to an end and he was no closer to a solution with Sienna. If anything, she was even more entrenched in where she lived.

She and Avery had put together an upcoming Labor Day charity event and Ethan couldn’t be prouder. She’d hit up corporations and convinced them to donate money that would go to women whose children had cancer, allowing them to take time off from work to spend with their sick kids; she’d gotten local spas and salons to close to the public for one day and donate hours to make women who were normally dragging from exhaustion and had stopped thinking about themselves feel good.

Ma Spa Day, as they called it, had been written up on local blogs, and in print and online newspapers and magazines. Sienna had been offered jobs by a number of nonprofit organizations, and though she hadn’t accepted any, she had options.

In Miami.

With a groan, he rose from his seat and was on his way out to pick up lunch when Ian appeared in his office. “Jesus,” he said to the other man. “You’re like a stealth fighter. I didn’t even hear you come in.”

Ian chuckled. “Got a minute?” Presuming Ethan did, Ian walked in and settled into a chair.

“Make yourself at home,” Ethan muttered and sat down on the edge of his desk. “What can I do for you?”

“You love my sister?” Ian asked.

Leave it to Ian to get right to the point.

Ethan gripped the edge of the desk and faced the man who was so much like Ethan himself when it came to family, it was downright scary. It made it hard for Ethan to get pissed or tell Ian to mind his own fucking business.

“I do love her.”

Ian narrowed his gaze. “I expected to have to drag it out of you. Does she know?”

“No.”

Ian raised his eyebrows. “Why the hell not?”

Ethan’s hands curled harder around the edge of the desk. “You know how badly I want to hit you right now? Or to ask you to get the fuck out of my office?”

Ian grinned. “But you won’t. Because you know you’d be doing the exact same thing if the situation were reversed and your sister were involved.”

Unable to argue, Ethan just answered the original question. “Why haven’t I told her? Because I haven’t figured out the future, that’s why. What good does it do to bare my soul if I’m leaving? And her entire life is here?”

Ian hung his head and gave it a good shake. “Jesus Christ, now I know why my wife thinks men are dumb shits. Do you have any idea what Sienna would do if you told her you loved her and asked her to marry you? I’ll tell you what,” the man said before Ethan could jump in. “She’d burst into tears, say yes, pack her bags, and be ready to move to New York in a heartbeat.”

Ethan narrowed his gaze, shocked at Ian’s words. He’d played out that very scenario in his mind many times lately, and it had never ended that way. “I didn’t want to make her choose between me and her family.”

“Dumb shit,” Ian repeated. “Ask her and see. I’m always right. Besides, I expect you to make an honest woman out of her before she gives birth.”

As much as he hated to give Ian credit for anything, Ethan hoped with everything in him that the other man was right.

At the prospect of making Sienna his, anticipation and excitement filled Ethan’s veins, and he rose to his feet. “I take it I have your blessing,” he said wryly.

Sienna didn’t have a father who would step up and do what was best for her. As much as she loved her full brothers, Alex and Jason, Ethan sensed Ian had made himself her parent figure. Ethan needed the man’s okay to make Sienna happy. Thank God he had it.

“Not only that, I have the name of a jeweler you can call for a ring. It’ll save you a trip to Manhattan.” Ian was already searching through his cell phone for the information.

“You really do think of everything.” Ethan laughed because at this point he felt like he was looking at his mirror image.

“Take care of my sister, Knight,” Ian said as he hit send and forwarded the jeweler’s information.

“I’ll make it my life’s mission,” Ethan swore as his cell phone dinged with the message.

Ian stood. “Gotta go. I have a very pregnant wife at home. Due any day.”

Ethan winced at that. “Good luck.” He strode over to Ian and shook his hand. “And thank you.”