She shrugged. “I had to eat.”
Declan tipped back his head and laughed. “Well played, baby girl. Not that I have any business doling out parental advice, but be careful with Cole. I have enough demons that I’ve gotten damn good at recognizing them in others. Our sheriff is a stand-up kind of guy, but he’s got some of his own stuff to work through. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“That sounded suspiciously like parental advice.” She adjusted her position on the chair, settled in to the cushions. “I doubt anyone can top the issues I’m dealing with on my own.”
Declan shook his head. “You’re not like Cole. But you do what you need to. Jase and I are here now, and we’ll catch you if you fall.”
She swallowed against the emotion rising in her chest. Yes, she’d grown up with a mom and stepdad. She’d never been alone, but somehow she’d felt it all her life. The idea that there were now people in her corner made her heart sing.
Declan leaned back against the pillow, and she watched as his eyes drifted closed. Pretty soon he was softly snoring. She closed her eyes, feeling a greater sense of peace than she had in years.
* * *
It was still dark when Cole opened his front door, revealing Sienna standing on the porch.
“Did I wake you?” she asked, the corners of her mouth pulling down. She still wore the gorgeous dress from the night before, the fabric wrinkled in places. Her long hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and there were smudges under her eyes that looked like they’d come from lack of sleep. She remained the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
“It’s ten minutes to five,” he answered, stifling a yawn. He’d thrown on an old T-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts on the way to the door. “Even the birds aren’t awake yet.”
“Sorry,” she murmured, taking a step back. “I’ll go so you can—”
“Not so fast.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, lifting her over the threshold and swinging the door shut with his foot. “I’m awake now and damn glad to see you.” Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he breathed in the scent of her, his body revving to life in an instant. “Tell me about your dad.”
“He’s fine. I spent the night at the hospital.”
“Big step.”
“It felt right. He and Jase and I had...” she shrugged, as if not sure what words to choose “...a moment last night. It was like we were a family.”
“Youarefamily,” he reminded her.
“But for the first time, I felt it.”
“Good for you, Sienna.”
“When I left the hospital, this was the only place I wanted to go.”
“Good for me,” he whispered.
She ducked her head, smoothed a loose strand of hair away from her face. “Any chance you’ve still got the brownies I spied earlier at the bottom of the cooler?”
He chuckled. “Now I understand why you’re here. I’m playing second-string to Katie’s brownies.”
“Only a little,” she admitted.
They walked to his kitchen and he handed her the box of brownies while he took a gallon of milk from the fridge. “Unless you want me to make coffee?”
“Milk is fine.”
She lowered herself to one of the chairs at his kitchen table. His breath caught as he watched her in the simple task of unwrapping the sweet treat. Cole had been living alone for a lot of years, and he liked it that way. He was a solitary person by nature, but Sienna looked like she belonged in his house. She made it feel like a home, something Cole hadn’t allowed himself to have in a long time.
He brought the milk and two glasses to the table and pulled out the chair next to her. She took a small bite of the brownie, her pink tongue darting out to catch a crumb that clung to her bottom lip.
She didn’t say anything more about her dad, and Cole didn’t ask, content to share these quiet minutes with her.
Contentwasn’t a word he normally associated with himself, but he was smart enough to appreciate the new sensation.
And when Sienna stood and took a step forward, so close the front of her legs brushed the inside of his thighs, he stayed perfectly still, not wanting to do anything to screw up the moment.
