All It Takes (Romancing Manhattan 2)

“What else are you thinking over there?” Carter asks with a grin. “Besides getting in Sienna’s pants?”

“I should deck you for that, but it’s true and there’s no time. Finn, can I use your beach house next week?”

“Sure. I’ll have the caretaker open it up for you. Does that mean you’ll be out of the office next week?”

“I hope so. Sienna just told me that she’s taking next week off from work, and I’m hoping we can get away to the beach. And one more thing, I’m going to propose.”

“What?” they ask in unison, both looking shocked.

“You heard me.”

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Finn murmurs. “When are you going to do it?”

“Well, that’s where you come in. Here’s my idea.”

I’ve given her two more days, and that’s all I can give her.

It’s late Thursday night. I haven’t been home in days because being there reminds me of Sienna and how much I miss her.

She’s ingrained herself in my home. Hell, she is my home.

And I’m damn tired of sleeping on the pullout couch in my office.

I pull up to her house, relieved to see that the light in her studio is still on, and without overthinking it or changing my mind, I walk up to the door and ring the doorbell.

She opens the door, a frown on her gorgeous, makeup-free face.

“Quinn? What are you doing here so late?”

“I know I said I’d give you space, but I can’t stay away anymore, Sienna.”

She steps back, letting me inside, and closes the door.

“Follow me,” she says. She leads me to her studio. She’s in her little shorts and tank, the ones that are full of paint spatters, but her hair is down around her face, and I can’t help but smile at that.

She pads barefoot to the corner of her studio where she likes to paint, then points at the chair in the opposite corner.

“You can sit there while I finish this.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

As long as I get to be with her, I’ll sit wherever she wants me.

She’s finishing the big painting of the park that she started when our case began. It’s in oils, and I now know what that means for her.

Turmoil. She paints in oils when she’s upset, and I know that I’ve added to that.

It’s killing me.

It only takes her about thirty minutes to finish what she’s doing. She steps back, examining the painting as she cleans her brushes, and when it’s all finished, she turns to me.

“It’s finished.”

“It’s stunning.” I mean that. The canvas is large, and the colors are bold. “You’re so damn talented, Si.”

“Thank you.” She sighs and wipes a tear off her cheek. “I’ve about had enough of the tears.”

“I hate it that you’re hurt.”

“The tears just come now, no matter what. It’s like my tear ducts have been turned on and the faucet is broken. I can’t get it to stop.”

I take her hand and tug her onto my lap, bury my face in her neck, and take a long, deep breath. “Jesus, I’ve missed you. I know we have a lot to work through, but I can’t bring myself to spend another night away from you. Please don’t send me away.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me closely, presses a kiss to my temple, and then stands and takes my hand to lead me down to her bedroom.

I slip out of my clothes while Sienna washes up in the bathroom. There won’t be any sex tonight.

I just need her against me, in my arms.

She walks into the bedroom, wearing only her panties and a clean tank, and we slide into bed, tangled up in each other.

There are a million things we need to talk about. Questions that need answers. But for tonight, I just want to hold her, to feel her against me, to know that we’re going to come out the other side of this whole.

“I love you,” I whisper. Her arm tightens around my stomach and she loops her leg over mine, hugging me with her whole body.

“I love you too. Is it still okay if I come to the party with you tomorrow night?”

I smile in the darkness.

“Sweetheart, you can do whatever you want.”

“I’d like to come.”

“Why the change of heart?”

“I need some happiness in my life right now,” she admits. “And I really like Finn and London. I’m happy for them.”

“They’ll love having you there, and I’ll be the luckiest man in the place.”

“We have some things to talk about,” she reminds me. “But not tonight.”

“No.” I kiss her head and feel her whole body let go of the tension she’s been holding onto for the past four days. “Not tonight. Just sleep, love.”

“I think Louise and I are going to go get pedicures in the morning,” she says. Her voice is fading with slumber, but I’m happy to lie here and listen to her.