by C. J. Thomas
Noah’s shoulders shrugged. “Wish it was. But Dad needs me here.”
It didn’t take us long to arrive. Noah dove the hood of his car into the bellows of the parking garage and whipped his vehicle into his reserved parking space. “Anyway, I’ll tell you more about it when we get inside.”
I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door. Noah met me on the other side of the car and I said, “We’ve got time to kill; why not just tell me now?”
“Nolan knows more of the details, but Dad wants to guide Evan in the purchase.” Noah reached out and opened the door into the building. Letting me step inside first, he said, “Since we have the contacts and the lawyers in-state, it only makes sense.”
A woman in professional attire approached with heels clacking on the floor. It was clear she was intent on talking with us. Hugging her files close to her chest, her lips spread to a friendly, attractive smile. “Evening.”
I nodded back not knowing who she was. I was sure Noah knew so I let him be the one to talk.
Her eyes drifted between us. “You can tell your brother that he has my vote.” Her voice was a soft whisper. “Finally, someone is running for governor who I can believe in.”
My eyes narrowed as I turned my gaze to the side.
I was happy that Cooper was receiving early support, but I still wasn’t convinced that him running for governor was the best thing for our family. It was all I seemed to hear lately, and each time it came up, it grinded on my nerves a little bit more.
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to tell him.” Noah reached out and gently touched the woman’s shoulder.
She glanced to me, but I wasn’t interested in discussing anything more. I just wanted to get in and out as fast as possible.
On our way to the elevator I asked Noah, “You get that a lot?”
Noah hit the call button and shrugged. “Does it annoy you?”
I stared at my brother and thought about it. “Look, I’m happy for Coop, but if everyone I crossed paths with told me how much they hope he becomes governor, I think I’m going to lose it.”
The elevator doors opened. We stepped inside the empty cart. Noah hit the button again as I took my spot on the far left wall. “Maybe Coloradoans are just happy that someone with his integrity is finally running for office,” Noah said.
I stared at the wall, watching the numbers count up. “I agree, Coop has integrity and I hope he gets what he’s after—”
“—then what’s the problem?” Noah shot me a hard glance.
I crossed my arms and leaned my shoulder into the wall. “I just don’t want this shit to get out of hand.”
Noah sighed. “Look, Trevor, I understand that you might not want to play the war hero Cooper wants you to be, but if that’s the case, then you better tell Cooper himself.”
My lips pursed as I was already planning my escape.
Maybe that was all this was. I wasn’t a war hero and certainly didn’t want to capitalize off of something I knew I wasn’t. But Coop insisted, saying it would win voters’ hearts. I knew he was right. That wasn’t me, though. I wasn’t interested in the attention I knew I would receive. Politics had a way of getting nasty quick, and I just didn’t want to see this campaign get dirty and have all our names get dragged through the muck.
“He’s here with Nolan and Travis,” Noah said. “Upstairs. I suggest you bring it up quick before we get any deeper into the campaign.”
“Travis?” My brows raised. “He’s here?”
Noah chuckled as the elevator doors chimed open. “Dad has given him The Talk.” Noah rolled his eyes as he pushed off the wall and stepped out of the cart.
We all knew what The Talk was. It was Dad’s way of getting our heads on straight. Preparing us to step into the business. To stop being a child and take on the responsibilities of being an adult. In other words, it meant to shape up, stop having fun, get serious about joining the family business, and get to work.
I followed Noah out of the elevator cart thinking how Dad was close to fulfilling his goal of bringing all of his children on board. When I lifted my head, I froze.
The Foster Enterprises logo was large and endearing. It spoke of money, luxury, and opportunities only families like ours could afford. That was the goal with Dad. To make it big. Come out on top and bring us all with him.
That was just never something I wanted.
My chest squeezed through sudden anxieties.
I never wanted this. I could settle in for hours-long gun battles with bullets whizzing past my head, but this—a suit, tie, and briefcase—was what I feared most. Yet, no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, I still found myself here on the doorstep waiting to be told what to do.
By the time Noah realized I had stopped he was already at the receptionist’s desk. He glanced over his shoulder and must’ve seen the pale look on my face because he came hurrying back as if I needed to be rescued. Lifting his hand to my shoulder, he whispered, “It’s not as bad as it seems.”
I swallowed hard and nodded.
Moving to the receptionist’s desks, Julie handed me a packet of papers and said, “Hi Trevor. It’s good to see you.”
I nodded but I couldn’t smile. This wasn’t a happy day for me. It might have been for my brothers, for my dad, but for me this was the beginning of the end.
“Inside,” Julie nodded to the packet, “you’ll find everything to square you away with HR.”
Noah slapped his hand between my shoulder blades, knocking my chest forward. Smiling, he turned back to Julie and said, “He’ll have that back to you by the time he leaves.”
Noah nudged me forward as we skirted past the front desk. My vision tunneled and I could hear my brothers in the back. Noah stepped ahead of me, rounding his shoulders and keeping his head high. I knew he would like to get away, live in the country, but he was meant for this. It was clear he felt comfortable inside the business. I couldn’t fault him for that.
My brothers were all huddled behind the desk when Noah and I entered. Noah quickly joined them, but I took the time to really let the reality of my impending employment sink in. Looking around, I tried to see the familiar space with new eyes. The thought of spending my days tucked inside one of these square rooms had me suffocating already. When I finally came to the desk, I saw that they were looking at photos of the thousand-acre ranch retreat cousin Evan was interested in purchasing.
“God, that place is beautiful.” Noah said it like he was in love. “Sometimes I just want to get away from it all.”
“Tell me about it,” I agreed.
Nolan leaned back and glanced up at me as we pounded fists.
“Like Dad would ever let you leave,” Cooper said to Noah as he pulled back from the computer, coming to stand next to me.
“Just have to find my angle, and, when I do, you can be sure I’ll close the sale with Dad.” Noah was full of confidence.
Cooper stood straight, arms crossed over his chest. He leaned his shoulder into me with an arched brow. “Did Noah mention how you fit into all this?”
“A little bit.” I glanced to Noah. “You know how he likes to build the suspense.”
“Then let me tell you,” Nolan said, leaning back in his chair. “This place,” he pointed to the ranch on the computer where Travis was still scrolling through the images, “is loaded with heavy machinery and is included in the sale.”
I drew my eyebrows together, listening intently as I stared at the images of tractors, excavators, and graders Travis had pulled up on the computer.
“If Evan wants to move forward,” Cooper said, “then you’re going to have to check the machinery.”
“Direct orders from Dad?” My brow arched.
Nolan rolled his eyes over to Cooper. “You can take the man out of the military but you can’t take the military out of the man.”
Noah chuckled. “Responsibilities are big. Stakes are high. But you’re guaranteed to go home at the end of each day.”
I dropped my packe
t of papers down on the desk and looked around. “That may be, but I don’t see Dad here.”
“That’s because he flew to the east coast this morning,” Travis said over his shoulder.
“Scoping out the real estate deal with cousin Ricky.” Nolan added the details Travis failed to include.
“Besides,” Noah’s hand fell to Nolan’s shoulder, “there’s no one else with the expertise that you have. You’d be doing this for us regardless of your position in the business.”
“Or lack thereof.” Nolan smiled.
Noah grinned. “By the way, are you going to tell them about the woman you had visiting at the garage?”
The buzz in the room stopped. Silenced filled the air. All the brothers turned to look at me as if I had never been with a woman before. “Noah is an idiot.”
“Just like him, you don’t kiss and tell.” Cooper tossed his head back and laughed as they all turned their attention away from me.
“Sorry, thought they would care more,” Noah whispered in my ear.
A second later, Noah’s secretary popped her head inside the office door and called him over. My chest filled with hope that his request had come back already, telling us exactly who Sienna Day was. I watched them talk for a minute before he took the printed papers from his secretary and glanced over his shoulder to me. “Trevor,” he called over.
I took a deep breath and hoped this would be good news.
Noah grinned, showing me the papers. “It’s about your girl.”
“She’s not my girl,” I mumbled, taking the papers into my hand.
“I told you my guy was good.” He slapped my shoulder and joined my brothers behind the desk.
I stood frozen in place, quickly reading the summary. With my back turned to my brothers, it didn’t take me long to discover why Sienna was so easy to find. Clarity struck like lightening in the night, and I knew I had seen her before.
My mind churned and there was no doubt that she knew me, too.
Why didn’t she say anything? And did she know it was my shop she was entering?
My heart thrashed between my ears as the weight of guilt hardened in my stomach. I turned around and let my gaze lift to Coop. He stood and smiled. If he knew I’d slept with Senator Day’s daughter—and if word ever got out—Cooper’s campaign would be ruined. All because of me.
9
Sienna
I pulled the keys from the ignition and turned my head to the front entrance.
The ache in the back of my throat hadn’t gone away, and I feared what waited for me inside. Silently, I watched a couple meander their way through the restaurant doors. His hand was firmly placed on her lower back and he held the door open for her. She stopped, stood on her toes, and kissed him.
My heart squeezed tighter at the sight of enduring love.
Suddenly my phone dinged with a message. I swiped my thumb over the screen, opened the text, and smiled at the photo of Monica and Sophia. They were still together, wishing me luck.
I was thankful to have such great friends. They’d managed to settle my nerves after I told them everything that happened between Gary and me. But now that I was preparing to meet my parents for dinner, the same jitters I’d felt before were back.
You should be with Nolan, I messaged Sophia through the group conversation.
Then where will I go? Monica wrote back.
Home, I responded.
Har. Har.
I brushed my tight curls away from my face and dropped my phone into my clutch before stepping out of the car.
I wanted to believe that this was nothing but dinner even when I knew that it would turn into something more. My parents deserved to know what I’d told Gary. The wedding was canceled. There was no changing my mind.
Stepping inside the restaurant, I was met by a wonderful array of spices that caused my stomach to grumble. The hostess greeted me with a smile. “Dinner with Senator Day,” I said.
She glanced down and checked her sheet. “Sienna?” Her head snapped back up with the same wide grin.
I nodded.
Looking around, the tables were filling up with Denver’s elite. It seemed like forever since the last time I’d eaten here, though I knew it was still one of Dad’s favorites. He couldn’t resist the Angus steaks while I always indulged in the fresh seafood that tasted like it was pulled from the ocean that same day.
I followed a step behind the hostess, letting my eyes wander beneath the dim lightening. It wasn’t a casual restaurant. Men were dressed in suits and women in gowns. Jewelry sparkled in unison with the soft murmurs of conversation happening around me. When a pair of eyes landed on my face, I couldn’t resist the temptation to touch my lip.
It was still tender, though the swelling had subsided. I did the best I could to cover it up with makeup, but I knew that it wouldn’t fool Mom. It was impossible to sneak anything by her. It was why I loved her—because she never attacked, only asked questions any loving mother should—but today I would give anything for her to miss the detail I wanted to keep secret.
We turned a corner, headed up a small staircase, and I saw Dad patiently waiting at a table reserved in the back. When he saw me coming, he tucked his cell away inside his suit jacket pocket and stood to greet me with a hug. “Hey, sweetheart.”
I closed my eyes and smiled. “Where’s Mom?” I asked when he released me.
He took me by the shoulders and looked me in the eye. “I asked if I could have this date alone.” He winked.
My stomach churned, frightened of the unknown. A date with Dad was just his way of getting us alone so he could discuss something important without the interruption of Mom telling him his questions were out of line.
Reaching behind me, he pulled my seat out from under the table. I lowered my bottom to the padded chair and he pushed me in. Dad had always been chivalrous. To Mom, too. Sure, he had his flaws—we all did—but when it came to expectations on how a man should treat a woman, he set the bar high.
Dad settled in his seat across from me. His stare deepened and I had no choice but to shift my gaze to the flickering candle burning on our table.
We sat in silence for long enough to make me feel uncomfortable. Deep down I suspected Dad knew what had happened. It was the reason to get me alone. Open me up so he could hear it from my mouth. But I didn’t want to be the first to break the news—afraid that I would say something I shouldn’t—so I waited for him to start.
I fidgeted with my hands beneath the table, looking everywhere but at him.
“Sienna, you look gorgeous tonight.”
Our eyes met. His gentle gaze made me want to cry. Then I looked down my front as if I’d forgotten what I was wearing.
The flowing shark bite teal cocktail dress was really Monica’s idea, but I liked the loose, sexy fit. I had my hair pinned up, tight curls framing my face, and was wearing far too much makeup to cover up the day’s scars.
It didn’t escape me when getting ready how the media was always on Dad. Public appearance meant everything to him—to our family’s image. He had drilled those expectations home long ago, and now it was second nature for me to always prepare to have my photo taken when I least expected it, knowing it came with the territory of life as a public servant.
I lifted my gaze to my father. “Why did you call me for dinner, Dad?”
Everything about him was perfect. There wasn’t a wrinkle in his suit, a stray hair on his head. Though his demeanor was often stuffy—suffocating even—I loved him more than anything and wouldn’t trade him for the world. Even if I sometimes wished that we could be a normal family with normal problems, without the worry of having to care how strangers always perceived us.
Dad’s brows raised slightly as he dropped his gaze away. Pouring two glasses of water, he smoothed out his cloth napkin and laid it across his lap.
A tiny part of me wanted him to see my lip. Notice the cut whose swelling had gone down. But no matter how closely I thought he looked, not once did he as
k why my lip was different. Granted, the stranger—whose name I still didn’t know—did do an amazing job cleaning it up.
Dad lifted his water glass to his lips, taking a tiny sip before saying, “Gary called me this afternoon.”
Inside I was screaming at Gary. I wanted to tell Dad what Gary had done. How he’d hurt his daughter. It wrecked me that Gary would call him first, if only to get ahead of the story before Dad heard it from me.
Dad flicked his eyes to me. His brow furrowed as he stared. “You two had an argument.”
He said it as a statement, but I heard it as a question. Dad loved Gary. And that was what really made tonight that much more difficult. Deep inside, I knew that calling off the wedding was the right thing to do. For me. Even if it meant letting a lot of people down.
“That’s an understatement,” I murmured.
Dad leaned back in his chair and continued to hold my stare. “Would you like to discuss it?”
My thoughts scrambled to decide what—if anything—Dad already knew. “Did he mention why?”
Dad’s gaze softened when his eyes drifted over the back of my shoulder. We were interrupted by the waiter, and I was thankful for the pause. I could take a deep breath and try to calm the anger I hid deep inside. Dad didn’t deserve to receive the brunt of it, but he did have the right to know that Gary wasn’t the man we all thought he was.
I opened my menu, quietly listening to Dad order a bottle of wine along with a couple of starters. When the waiter shifted his focus to me, I ordered the mango mahi mahi with a side salad. Handing him the menu, Dad picked up where we’d left off.
“Sienna, honey, disagreements between couples are perfectly normal.” He paused to wet his lips. “Healthy, too. And when you’re married to the same person for many years…”
My ears closed as Dad droned on, completely missing the point.
“I understand that you’re under a considerable amount of stress with the wedding quickly approaching.” Dad leaned forward to make sure that I was listening. “You should be focusing on the fun aspects of this celebration.”