Avery had groveled already, feeling guilty and admitting she’d caved to Ian’s demands. Knowing how difficult her oldest half sibling could be, Sienna had accepted her best friend/half sister’s apology. Which didn’t mean she was over it. Just that she’d let Avery off the hook.
But now Sienna had taken a private jet to Colorado and a rental SUV to Montlake, where the Ruby Rose Inn was located. They approached the wood-framed structure painted a deep red with white trim, blooming bushes, and fresh green grass. The closer she came, the more she realized everything was painted new, renovated, and gorgeous.
“It’s beautiful!” Sienna said, gushing because she really did love the rustic look.
“When Parker got here, the place was falling apart. Emily and her dad were struggling and Parker immediately stepped up and helped infuse the place with much-needed money. This is the result,” Ethan said with pride in his voice.
He pulled the SUV into a parking spot, put it in park, and turned it off. “You should know, I’m not so sure Emily likes me,” he said, resting a hand on the steering wheel and meeting Sienna’s gaze.
“What? Why?” She blinked in surprise. He’d been so eager to come here, she hadn’t expected to hear that.
A dark flush stained his cheeks. “I might have put my foot in my mouth the day I arrived. Add to that the mood I was in during their wedding? Yeah. She probably hates me.”
Sienna heard the pain in his voice and reached out to clasp his hand. “If Parker is anything like you, I’m sure he’s explained things and smoothed the situation over. She’s probably already forgiven you and you don’t even know it.”
He rolled his shoulders, obviously tense. “I was really an ass,” he muttered.
She burst out laughing. “Somehow that doesn’t shock me. Come on. Let’s go in. Whatever smoothing Parker hasn’t done, I’ll handle. How’s that?”
He eased over and pressed his lips to hers, taking her by surprise. Unable to resist, she leaned close and opened her lips for him. He slid his tongue against hers and groaned into her mouth. Too soon, he straightened, breaking the kiss.
“What was that for?” she asked, breathless.
“Because I really don’t deserve you but I’m glad you’re here with me anyway.”
Before she could reply, he turned and opened the door, hopping out. She joined him, meeting him by the trunk, where he pulled their luggage from the back. She inhaled the fresh air and sighed, already falling in love with the open spaces and beautiful scenery.
Once again she’d surprised Ethan with her minimalist packing, and he wheeled their two carry-ons toward the front door of the inn.
As if on cue, the door opened and a middle-aged man greeted them. “Welcome!” he said, joining them on the porch. “Ethan, how are you?” the man asked.
“Good. And you?”
“Great. And who is this beautiful lady?” the man asked.
“James Stevens, meet Sienna Dare. James is Emily’s father,” Ethan explained.
James shook her hand. “You’re going to love it here. Emily already stopped by with Snickerdoodles for the two of you and said she and Parker would come once they knew you’d arrived.”
“I’ll text him,” Ethan said of his brother, pulling out his phone.
James then showed them to a grouping of rooms on one side of the inn. “We don’t have guests until this weekend, so pick any rooms you want.”
Ethan thanked James and said he could handle it, and James took off, leaving them in the hallway.
“I’d like it if we could share a room,” Ethan immediately said when they were alone. “No pressure or anything but I want to be with you. However I can get you.”
She swallowed hard. Prior to this trip, she hadn’t given the rooming situation any thought. Did she want to insist on her own room, knowing Ethan was sleeping next door or across the hall?
No, no she did not.
He was making such an effort to be the perfect guy for her, and though she knew he’d be returning to New York, why couldn’t she take advantage of the time they had together? Her heart was his, whether he wanted it for keeps or not. She wouldn’t push him, knew that wasn’t smart with a man as wounded and hurt as Ethan had been.
Sometimes spontaneous judgment calls were the best ones, she mused, having come to a decision. “Umm, I was thinking. You know that proposition you made me? An affair while you’re here?”
He blinked in surprise. “Yes?” he asked hesitantly. He clearly had no idea where she was going with this line of thought.
“Well, I’d like to take you up on the offer. Be with you while we’re here and when we get back to Miami. Once you have to go back to New York, no pressure or strings,” she said, forcing the painful words from her mouth.