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The familiar timber of Eli’s voice unleashed a burst of butterflies in her stomach. Sienna turned to find him crossing the dew-covered grass, the family Labrador at his side, looking like every woman’s cowboy fantasy. A Stetson covered his blond hair and a soft leather jacket molded over his broad shoulders. Every step closer increased her heart rate. The reaction was involuntary, made worse by the passionate kiss they’d shared yesterday. And she mentally berated herself for it.
Eli was right. Things were complicated enough without dragging their broken romance out of the grave.
“I couldn’t sleep.” Sienna tore her gaze away from the handsome lawman and fed Oliver another sugar cube. Then she wiped her hands on her jeans. “I was just taking a few minutes to enjoy the morning before I reviewed everything I had on Ruby’s disappearance.”
“You’re allowed more than a few minutes.” Eli patted Oliver’s neck before hooking his arms on the wooden fence post. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, fog puffing in front of his face. “I’d forgotten how peaceful this place is. Times like these, I think about quitting my job and buying a piece of land and just… being.”
She studied him for a moment before letting her gaze drift across the land. She knew every blade of grass. Had plowed the fields alongside her parents and worked in the greenhouse. Mucked the horse stalls. Harvested the fruits and vegetables.
“There’s a straightforwardness about it, isn’t there?” Sienna breathed in and then out, letting the crisp air wash her clean of the troubles she’d woken up with. “Murders and kidnappings… they take a toll. It’s nice to escape to a place where things are uncomplicated.”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
She elbowed him. “Good thing my parents have an open door policy. Anytime you want a glimpse of farm life, they can put you to work.”
Eli tossed his head back and laughed. The sound warmed Sienna straight through. She grinned up at him. There was an easy rhythm to her relationship with him. Before things became romantic, they’d been friends. Was it too much to think that one day they’d recapture at least that part of their demolished relationship?
Maybe it was. There’d been a lot of hurt.
Sienna glanced at her watch. She’d been outside for over thirty minutes. “All right. I’m heading back to review my notes on Ruby. Join me whenever you’re ready. There’s no rush.”
“Actually, I was thinking we could work the case from the beginning. Your notes are excellent, but it’s been three weeks since Ruby disappeared. People are over their shock and have had time to think about the days and weeks before the incident. Plus, I get a better feel for things when I talk to the person myself.”
She could understand that. It was the same for her. “We can start with Ruby’s grandmother. I’d like to question her again about the phone call she received from her granddaughter last week anyway.”
“Good idea.”
“I’ll call her and set up a meeting this morning.”
She turned to stroll back to the house, but Eli stopped her with a light touch on her forearm. “Hold on. There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.” He sucked in a deep breath and seemed to brace himself. “I’ve been thinking about us, about what happened when we broke up. And I owe you an apology.”
Sienna blinked, certain she’d misheard him. “Excuse me?”
He met her gaze. “I didn’t give you a chance to explain your side of things. I was so angry about what you’d done, Sienna, so betrayed and hurt that I refused to listen.” Eli dropped his hand from her arm before turning to grip the fence post. “It’s not an excuse, but I learned as a kid that people who disappoint you will always do so. My father. My mom. Dalton. You were the one person in my life—other than Ryker—who I trusted implicitly. When you went behind my back… I just couldn’t see any way back from that.”
Sienna’s heart ached so much it felt like someone had punched her. She knew he’d been hurt by her actions, but she hadn’t truly understood how badly. Eli had grown up in a household of abuse, neglect, and constant chaos. It was so far removed from her own idyllic childhood, and he was so responsible and put together, she often forgot about the deep and invisible wounds that scarred him.
She stepped closer, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning her head against his arm. “I never meant to hurt you, Eli. When Dalton called and begged me to bail him out of jail and take him to rehab, all I could think of was Harper.” Her voice clogged with grief. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her and wish she was here. Those last few months, when her addiction really spiraled out of control, were so painful. I said harsh things to her. Hateful things. I was angry and couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t get sober. And then… she died.”
Hot tears pricked her eyes, and although Sienna tried, she couldn’t hold them back. “I never got the chance to take back the mean things I’d said to her. I have to live with that every day. And I often wonder what would’ve happened if Harper had gone to rehab.”
She might still be alive. Harper was murdered by her ex, but she’d chosen to attend a party where everyone was getting high. If she’d been sober, her choices would’ve been different.
Sienna fought to keep her emotions under control. She had to get through this. “When Dalton was arrested, I understood your anger. But if he died, and you never got the chance to take back the things you’d said… it would haunt you. And while I agree Dalton needed to face the consequences of his actions, taking him to rehab wouldn’t have ended the criminal case against him. It would’ve only gotten him the help he needed to change his life for the better.”
Eli was silent, but she knew he was processing her words. Sienna licked her lips. “I’m sorry for handling it badly. I should’ve tried harder to get you to understand my point of view, but I didn’t think you would listen.”
Eli swallowed hard. “I wouldn’t have.”
Her chin trembled. “I never meant to betray you. In my misguided way, I was protecting you.”
He was quiet, his gaze on the fields beyond the fence, but he released the fence to wrap an arm around her shoulders and tuck her closer to his side. Sienna turned her face into his chest and inhaled his familiar scent. The sobs she’d buried after their breakup broke free, fueled by the stress of the last few days. She wept.
And he held her. Cradled her in his arms with all the tenderness that she needed in that moment.
Finally, when she was spent, Sienna took a few shuddering breaths. Eli cupped the back of her head, his fingers tangling with her curls. He gently wiped the remaining tears from her cheek with the soft pad of his thumb. She pulled back and caught a glimmer of tears in his eyes too.
“We should’ve had this conversation five years ago.”
