Flames of Love

by Melissa Foster

  Max went to his side and hugged him. “I love you, but you see how you’re the only male in the room?”

  Treat looked at the others and lifted a brow.

  “You are banished from the house.” She kissed him, consumed by his large frame as he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss.

  “Am I allowed to go see Dad?” Treat rose and patted Max’s butt as she walked by him.

  “He’s in the barn.” Savannah locked eyes with him. “Rex is with him. I think he’s missing Mom.”

  Treat nodded. “You guys have fun. Hey, sweetness, do you want me to come back and get you?”

  Max blew him a kiss. “I’m staying with the girls tonight.”

  Savannah wrapped her arm around her. “It’s only one night.”

  “One night without my wife—that’s what my little sister getting married costs me?” Treat smiled. “Totally worth it. Have fun. I’m going to spend some time with Dad. Then we’re heading over to Gage’s.” He kissed Max on the top of her head before heading to the door, where he hesitated and turned back. “If you guys need anything tonight, call me. I don’t mind coming back, but I don’t want you guys on the roads at night. They freeze over here really quickly. It’s different than in the city.”

  Savannah rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad.”

  As soon as he was out the door, Siena moved closer to Max. “You’re so lucky.”

  So am I.

  Max smiled. “Braden men definitely know how to treat their women.”

  Jade filled wineglasses for each of them and handed Max a glass of ice water, then clinked her glass with Max’s. “Hear, hear.”

  Siena smiled. “Cash is that type of man.”

  “So are your brothers,” Savannah said.

  “Not all of them are like that.” Siena sat back, thinking of her brothers. “Look at Rush. He’s as cocky as they come. I’m not sure how he gets the women he does. They must have a thing for Olympic skiers, because he’s not the fawning type. Now, Dex and Sage, they’re fawners, and I have no idea what Kurt is like with women. He’s so glued to his desk that I wonder if he even dates.”

  “Oh, honey. I’m sure Kurt dates,” her mother said. “He’s just very focused on his career right now.”

  “It’s the quiet ones that are animals in the bedroom.” Jade leaned forward as if sharing a secret. “Rex.” She nodded.

  Siena’s mom, Joanie, shook her head.

  Savannah covered her ears and closed her eyes. “Please. Ugh, that’s my brother.”

  “Speaking of brothers. Savannah, Mom and I made something for you, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to give it to you now, before you drink too much to really enjoy it.”

  Savannah looked between Siena and her mother. “You made me something? Wow. Of course I’d love to see it.”

  Siena retrieved the gift-wrapped box from the room where she was staying and brought it to Savannah. “We wanted to give you something you couldn’t buy yourself.”

  Savannah settled onto the couch with the others surrounding her. Siena and her mother stood behind her. “Thank you.” She unwrapped the box and withdrew the wooden photo album, tastefully painted with a mountainous landscape. Savannah looked at Joanie. “You painted this?”

  Joanie nodded, smiled.

  “It reminds me of when Jack and I met.” She ran her fingers over the image of trees and the sunset blooming over the mountaintops. “It’s gorgeous. Thank you.”

  Savannah opened the album. The first page announced their wedding date in silver calligraphy. She turned the pages, lingering over every one. “You’ve got our whole lives in here. Look how cute Jack was at six.” She pointed to a picture of Jack holding a shovel, a wide smile on his lips.

  “We even included those awkward years that you’d rather forget. Wait until you see the pictures from when you guys were teenagers.” Siena looked at her mom and smiled.

  Savannah flipped forward. “Oh my God. Look at those bangs! I can’t believe I ever wore my hair like that.”

  “We all did,” Jade reminded her.

  Savannah flipped forward and slowed as she came to the years when Jack was with Linda. The In-Between Years. Joanie placed her hand on Savannah’s shoulder, and Savannah patted it with her own.

  “I’m glad you included this,” Savannah said. She looked up at Joanie. “I don’t want to pretend Jack didn’t have a life, and a wife, before me. I’ve always felt that Jack is who he is because of all he’d gone through.” She looked at Siena. “Thank you for doing this.” She had tears in her eyes. She set the album on the table and stood to embrace each of them.

  “I never thought I’d meet anyone like Jack,” Savannah admitted. “And I can’t imagine how I ever went so many years without him.”

  “Jack is a very special man,” Joanie said, brushing Savannah’s hair from her shoulder. “I think all of you ladies have found very special men.”

  “All I can say is, I never thought I’d meet a guy like Cash, and I’m so glad I did.” Siena saw Jade, her mother, and Savannah exchange a knowing look. Siena wished they could turn their attention back to the album. It had been a nice distraction from thinking about the predicament she was in.

  “Let’s all sit down and relax.” Savannah settled back on the couch.

  Siena reached for her wine and took a gulp before sitting down on a recliner. The uncomfortable wave of tension she’d felt when she’d walked into NightCaps and found she was in the middle of some type of intervention returned. The room went deathly silent. She finished her wine and set her glass on the table.

  “So, Siena. Let’s talk about your smart-ass-turned-romantic fireman that you adore so much you’re willing to throw him away.” Jade refilled her glass.

  “Why do I feel like I’ve been set up…again?”

  “Maybe because you have,” Savannah answered.

  “Why does everyone feel like I need an intervention? I love Cash and he loves me. That’s the bottom line and the only thing that matters.” Siena sat on the couch and was immediately flanked by her mother on one side and Savannah on the other. Ellie and Kate sat in the recliners facing them, and Max settled into Hal’s favorite leather recliner beside the couch. Brianna sat on the floor by Ellie’s chair. Riley carried one of the boxes into the room, and Jade carried the wine to the coffee table; then they sat on the floor facing Siena.

  “Honey, you can’t cut and run from this hen party.” Her mother patted her leg. “So you might as well forget that wall you’re putting up and settle in, or it’s going to be a long night. Now, these women just want to share their thoughts with you. They care about you.”

  Riley pulled out the magazines that had pictures of Siena and Gunner together and spread them across the living room floor in front of her and Kate. “There are ten here,” Riley said.

  “And probably about fifty more pictures online, at least from what I saw,” Ellie said.

  “And I told you that Gunner was Aida’s client, so I know the whole story.” Savannah glared at Siena.

  Gulp!

  “And all I want to know is, are you really considering the Track Sports contract with Gunner attached to it?” Savannah crossed her arms and tilted her head, her eyes locked on Siena.

  “No.” She looked around the room. “Yes. I don’t know.” She leaned forward and buried her face in her hands, then felt her mother stroking her back. “When you say you know the whole story, exactly what does that mean?”

  “What I know, and what these girls know, isn’t the same thing. Suffice it to say that I know everything, and they just know what they’ve seen in the magazines.” Savannah looked at Jade, who nodded.

  “I’ve only seen the magazines,” Jade confirmed.

  “Well, not exactly only that,” Max added. She looked at Siena with a wrinkled brow. “I’m sorry, Siena. I know this feels wrong. But do you really love Cash?”

  “Yes, with all my heart and soul.”

  “And does he love you back?” Max asked.


  “Yes.” She wasn’t sure where Max was going with this conversation, but her stomach clenched, and she set her wineglass down. She couldn’t stomach another thing.

  “Well, you’re going to hate him, but Treat did some checking on him, because that’s just what he does.” Max shook her head. “I’m so sorry. I know he shouldn’t have.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would he do that?”

  Savannah sighed. “Because my brother checks out everyone who’s affiliated to those he loves. He checked up on Jack, and I’m sure he checked up on all of you, too, when you hooked up with my brothers.” She ran her eyes over Lacy, Jade, Max, Riley, and Bree. “He worries about stuff. It’s just who he is. I can’t make up excuses for him. He just…cares too much.”

  “I’m still really lost here.” Siena’s voice began to rise, and she felt her mother’s hand on her back again.

  “Honey, he was being helpful,” her mother said.

  “So, what did he find? Because I don’t care if he has skeletons in his closet. I love him for who he is now, not for whatever he might have done in his past.” Oh my God. What could he have done to warrant the worried look in Max’s eyes?

  Max rolled her eyes. “Nothing. He couldn’t find a damn bit of dirt on him.”

  Siena breathed a sigh of relief. “You guys must think I’m crazy. Especially all of you.” She looked at the others. “I’m not a slut, and I’m not someone who hurts other people for the fun of it, either.”

  “We all know that,” Savannah said. “But I have to admit, I’m really confused. You talked about wanting a strong romantic man who will treat you well and love you for you, and it seems like you found him, unless maybe you didn’t and we’re not seeing that?”

  “No. I definitely did. Cash is”—she sighed—“everything. He’s more than everything.”

  “So why date this goof?” Bree held up Us Daily.

  Shame brought a flush to Siena’s neck and cheeks. Everyone was staring at her. She felt like she was in a pressure cooker, and the worst part was, she knew she was in the wrong. She’d known it since she first accepted the date with Gunner. “Aren’t we supposed to be celebrating Savannah’s engagement?”

  “How can we when we know you’re hurting?” Savannah asked.

  “Well, why don’t I leave so I don’t ruin the party?” She pushed off the couch, and Savannah pulled her back down.

  “I know you don’t have any sisters,” Savannah began. “And neither did I until I met these girls, who are now my best friends. This, I found out, is what sisters do.”

  “Yeah, well, I have five brothers who are really good at making me feel like shit, thank you very much.”

  Her mother gasped. “Siena.”

  “Sorry, Mom. But don’t you think I’m not already ashamed by those stupid pictures? By accepting the stupid dates in the first place?” She ran her eyes over the others. “Okay, fine. I hate myself for agreeing to it in the first place, and now Jewel, my agent, has secured an almost ten-million-dollar contract because I was willing to dirty my goody-goody image. And I hate myself for it. I hate those stupid pictures.” She kicked the magazines out of the way and felt her eyes well with tears. The need to tell them the truth she’d been holding in for so long burned in her chest. Her body began to tremble, and the words tumbled out, pulling tears from her eyes. “I can’t stand to look in the mirror, and every time I look at Cash, I know how much it hurt him to see them, even though he knew the truth behind them before they came out.”

  “Siena.” Savannah touched her back.

  Siena shrugged her off. “No. You’re right. You’re all right. And you’re all better people than me, because I was too weak to stand up to my agent and tell her to fuck off. I was afraid of losing my other contracts, when—” She spun around and faced her mother with tears streaking her cheeks. “Oh God, Mom. I didn’t mean to say fuck. Shit. Oh God. I’m sorry.”

  Her mother shook her head. “Finish your damn story.”

  When her mother smiled, she knew she understood, and it made her laugh through her tears.

  “Well, I don’t know about the others, but I’m no better than you. When Rex and I were first dating, I put him through hell to get me,” Jade said.

  “But I’m not doing it to get Cash’s attention. I’m just weak.” She covered her face with her hands again.

  “I don’t buy it,” her mother said. “You’re one of the strongest women I know.”

  “Oh, really? I compromised my own values for a potential contract so Dad could look at me and go, That’s my girl.”

  The room went silent, save for her beating heart. “Holy shit. Oh my God.” Siena pushed to her feet. “Where the fuck did that come from?” She paced the floor as her mother rose to her feet. “Shit. Shit. Shit. I have more money than I could ever spend. I have security for my kids.”

  “Kids?” her mother asked.

  Siena was too wrapped up in her own head to answer. “I don’t need that stupid contract, and I don’t need an agent who would ask me to do it, either. What the fuck was I thinking?” She gathered her hair in one hand and pulled it over her shoulder. “Oh my God. Cash. Jesus. What must he think of me?” She looked at Savannah. “I know exactly what he thinks. The same thing I think when I look in the mirror. Holy shit. I have to fix this.” She looked around the room, not knowing what in the hell she was looking for.

  “Siena? Honey?” Her mother stood, and Siena wrenched herself away from her as she dialed the phone and left a message for Jewel. “Jewel, it’s Siena Remington. Turn it down. I don’t want Track Sports, and we need to have a talk. I refuse to make my personal life part of any deal. If that means I lose contracts, then it does. Sorry. I’ll be back in town Monday. Please don’t call this weekend, because I’m with my family.” She ended the call and punched the road Gage lived on into the GPS on her phone.

  “Siena, are you okay? We didn’t mean to make you hate yourself,” Savannah said.

  “I owe you so much, Savannah. I hated myself for even considering the contract. I love you for making me realize why I was doing it.” She spun around and looked at her mother’s furrowed brow, her loving gaze. “Mom, I’m so sorry. I love Dad; you know I do. And I never realized I might be doing any part of what I do with my life because of him. When that came out just now? That was news to me. Maybe it’s an excuse. I have no idea, but I know something compelled me to be weak in a time when I should have been strong, and whether that was the need to impress Dad or something else, I have no clue. But I do know this. I want to be with Cash Ryder more than I want anything in this world—including modeling, which you know I live and breathe.”

  “Yes, honey. I know you do.” Her mother hugged her. “It would have been odd for you to grow up unscathed by being pushed so hard. I’m not saying that the pressure to keep doing more and being more is because of your father. I think that drive is internal, too, but all things happen for a reason.”

  “What did you say?”

  “All things happen for a reason,” her mother repeated.

  “That’s what Vetta said, too. I’m starting to think she’s right.” Siena headed for the front door.

  “Where are you going?” Savannah called after her.

  “I have to go see Cash.” She stopped in front of the door. “I don’t have a car. Can I borrow a car?” She looked frantically from Jade to Savannah. Her entire body was shaking. She had to get to him.

  “Yes, of course.” Savannah grabbed the keys to her rental car from the kitchen counter and threw them to Siena. “But I’m going, too.”

  “Me too,” her mother said.

  “Wait. I can’t miss this.” Ellie said, running toward the door with Kate right behind her.

  “As much as I want to see this, and trust me I do,” Jade began, “I’ll stay with Max, because you might think Treat is a full-on gentleman, but if Max were left alone or put in a car after dark on a night when it had been flurrying all day, he’d string me up like a kite.”

&
nbsp; “Thanks, Jade,” Max said.

  Brianna and Lacy said they were staying, too, but Riley followed the others out to the car.

  Snow flurries dampened Siena’s hair as she climbed into the driver’s seat. As her socks hit the gas pedal, she realized she hadn’t put on her shoes. Or her coat. Her mother joined her in the front, and Siena decided not to tell anyone of her idiocy. Savannah, Riley, Ellie, and Kate piled into the back. Siena drove fast along the dark rural roads and headed toward the mountain, following the voice on her GPS, which directed her perfectly to Mount Grail Road.

  “Siena, slow down.” Her mother grasped the door as the SUV whipped around the bend and onto Mount Grail Road.

  Her mother’s warning brought a flashback to the night she met Cash and had her accident. She pushed it away. “I can’t believe I almost let anything come between me and Cash. I’m an idiot. He might not even want to be with me anymore.” The road was almost pitch-black, illuminated only by the headlights of the SUV. Siena looked into the rearview mirror as the car hit a pothole, sending everyone forward, then slamming back against their seats. “Sorry.” The road became very steep as it wound around the mountain. “Who would live up here?”

  “Jack would,” Savannah said as they hit a gully in the road, and Siena fought to keep the vehicle on the road. The snow began falling harder, and she turned on the wipers to clear it from her field of vision.

  The tires spun on a patch of ice and careened to the right. Kate and Ellie screamed.

  “I’ve got it. Turn into the spin. Dad taught me.” She straightened the vehicle and eased off the gas a little, wondering why she hadn’t done that the night she drove off the embankment and met Cash. Fate. It had to be fate. “See, Dad taught me that. Oh God. Mom, I have no idea what to think. What if Cash doesn’t want to be with me?”

  “Then he’s a fool,” Ellie said.

  “Sage said he could tell Cash loved you by the look in his eye,” Kate said.

  Siena turned toward Kate, and the SUV swerved with her. “Shit.” She wrestled it back on the road as they hit another pothole, and it bottomed out with a loud clunk. “Holy crap. This road is crazy.” She locked her eyes on the road. “Sage said that?”