“Well, of course.” Sienna gave a breathy laugh. “I just mean that Teagan is the star here. I’m just along for the ride.”
The way she dismissed her importance left him wondering how often she was compared to her beautiful, stylish sister and found lacking. Ethan understood sibling rivalry. Not that he’d ever gone out of his way to compete against Paul. Likewise, his brother lived in his own world and rarely engaged in such trivial pursuits, but being the second son and an adopted one as well, Ethan had always questioned his place in the family.
Sienna’s case was a bit different though. She was the older daughter. The one who’d been born into the Burns family. If anyone would feel as if she belonged, it would be Sienna and not Teagan. Yet Teagan was the one who’d capitalized on the family’s social status and wealth while Sienna faded into the background.
At the same time, Sienna was the more approachable of the two. The one he could let his guard down around. She seemed to lack any ulterior motives. The anonymous message had warned him to be wary. Ethan sighed in exasperation. He didn’t want to ponder hidden agendas or imagine these women were scheming against him.
“Still, it’s good of you to support her,” Ethan said. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy to take the time away from your business to accompany her on this visit.”
“This is a pretty big deal for her.” Sienna slid a lock of hair behind her ear, drawing Ethan’s attention to her short, unpainted nails. “For your family as well, I’m sure. Teagan has been looking forward to meeting you all.” Mischief flashed in her eyes. “Or should I say all y’all?”
“You speak Southern.” He ramped up his drawl, relishing the flirtation.
She looked pleased by his approval. “Just a little. I have a client in New Orleans.” She pronounced it New OR-lins like a local. “He’s fond of inundating me with Southern colloquialisms whenever we talk.”
“Such as?”
“Some of his least colorful are... Kiss my go-to-hell. If that boy had an idea, it would die of loneliness. That dog won’t hunt.”
“And his more colorful?” Ethan prompted, utterly captivated by the impish glint in her eyes.
“Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining.” Her cheeks blazed with color that hadn’t been there a second earlier. For all her big-city upbringing, she had a trace of shyness that enchanted him.
Could she really be in on Teagan’s supposed plans for taking over Watts Shipping? Almost as soon as this notion popped into his head, he pushed it away. And then just as swiftly, he circled back. Dismissing Sienna as a nonparticipant in whatever her sister was cooking up might be the blunder that caused him to lose everything.
Watch your back.
The warning failed to dim his interest in Sienna. Worse, the potential danger in his growing fascination actually enhanced his desire. He was already plotting how to corner her in an isolated place so he could sample her soft lips and seduce her properly. If he thought he’d overcome the reckless streak that had dominated his teens and early twenties, he’d been mistaken. It hadn’t been tamed, only sedated.
“Here comes Cory,” Ethan said, relieved that his grandfather’s caretaker was approaching. “He will take charge of all the luggage.” As Sienna got to her feet, Ethan made the introductions. “Cory Post, this is Sienna Burns. She will be staying in the rose guest room. Which of these are yours?”
“That one.”
Not surprisingly, she pointed to the single black bag sitting like a crow amongst doves. The hard-sided piece had seen a lot of use.
“You travel light.” He shot Sienna a quick glance to confirm. “And quite a bit from the looks of your bag.”
“Business trips mostly.”
“What sort of business?” he asked, even though thanks to Paul’s research, Ethan already knew.
“I’m an independent art consultant.”
“That sounds quite interesting. I’ll look forward to hearing all about it.”
Her long lashes flickered. “It’s really quite mundane. A lot of time spent in airplanes and dusty old houses.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s not as dull as you make it sound.” He leaned toward her with a smile meant to encourage her to give up all her secrets. “I’ll bet you’ve seen some very interesting things. What’s your favorite?”
She nibbled her lower lip for a second before answering. “Two years ago, a couple in Toulouse discovered an old painting in their attic after their roof leaked. One of my art world contacts gave me a heads-up so I flew to France to evaluate the painting and it turned out it was the work of the Italian artist Caravaggio.”
As she spoke of her discovery, her eyes glowed with enthusiasm, turning what had been a pretty face into something quite breathtaking.
“Fascinating,” he murmured, transfixed by the dimples produced by her effervescent smile.
Noting the way his heartbeat stuttered and then started to race, Ethan silently cursed. If that anonymous warning was the real deal, he needed to stay vigilant.
She...will use every trick...
Ethan gave himself a shake. He shouldn’t let a stranger get into his head. For all he knew, Teagan had sent the message herself to distract him into chasing shadows. Still, whether Sienna was part of a plot or not, there was much to discover about Teagan’s sister and Ethan was looking forward to finding out all about her. Until he did, the challenge would be to keep his attraction hidden from everyone, but especially Teagan. Letting her capitalize on his fascination with Sienna was a risk he couldn’t afford.
TWO
As Ethan escorted Sienna up the right side of the elegant stone double staircase that curved from the driveway to the front door, she couldn’t help but think Teagan wouldn’t find him a pushover.
“My family is probably wondering what became of us,” he murmured as they slipped through the front door and entered the air-conditioned coolness of the mansion.
“Teagan is quite distracting,” Sienna said. “I doubt they’ve noticed.”
The change in temperature and drop in humidity made her conscious of her wrinkled pants and the perspiration coating her skin. In contrast, Ethan seemed impervious to the heat. She inhaled the clean scent of soap that clung to his skin and caught herself smiling. Everything about the man appealed to her.
No doubt a man as handsome and charismatic as Ethan was quite a player. To Sienna’s surprise she didn’t care. She wasn’t planning on tossing her heart into the ring. If she was going to take some time off, she might as well have a little fun of the casual, sensual variety. Ethan might be perfect fling material.
She was floating on a cloud as Ethan guided her into the living room and introduced her to his family. Sienna thanked Teagan’s grandfather Grady Watts for his invitation to stay at the house, and then settled back to survey the interaction between Teagan and her biological relatives. Despite the striking family resemblance, there were marked differences in manner.
Teagan and Sienna had been raised by a polished Manhattan socialite and her reserved husband. As approachable as Teagan appeared on social media, in person she could come off as cool or dispassionate. She rarely exhibited the strong feelings that simmered in her. To show such emotion would mar the image of effortless perfection she worked so hard to maintain.
By contrast, Poppy, Lenora and even Grady wore broad smiles and spoke animatedly about Charleston, the rest of the family and all the things they were looking forward to doing with her. Sienna noticed herself getting swept up in their enthusiasm and cheerfulness and was wondering how Teagan was fairing when her sister pulled out her smartphone and began posing with Poppy.
This seemed like a perfect opportunity for Sienna to slip out. She tugged on Ethan’s sleeve and captured his attention.
“Would there be someone who could show me where I’ll be staying?” A yawn snuck up on her and she covered the gaff with an embarrassed chuckle.
“Sorry. I was hoping to catch a nap on the flight down from New York, but Teagan was too keyed up.” Seeing the curiosity in Ethan’s gaze, she elaborated. “I flew in from London this morning and didn’t get any sleep on the overseas flight.”
“I can take you up.”
“Thank you.”
They made their excuses and headed into a broad hallway that split the house down the middle. Across from the living room was a large formal dining room. While Ethan angled toward the stairs at the far end of the hallway, Sienna poked her head into the room.
“The whole family will be here for dinner tonight,” Ethan explained, coming to stand beside her. “They’re really excited to meet Teagan.”
“How many are coming?”
“My parents, my brother, Paul, and his fiancée, Lia. Aunt Lenora and Uncle Wiley. The twins. You, me and Grady.”
“Are you sure I should be there?” Sienna asked, worried that they’d view her as an interloper.
“Of course.” Ethan looked surprised that she’d even ask. “You’re family, too.”
His response warmed her. “The house is really beautiful,” Sienna said, retreating into polite chitchat as her emotional reaction caught her off guard.
“Want a quick tour?”
What she wanted was more in time his company. “That’d be great.”
He led her into the kitchen and introduced her to Jillian Post, Grady’s housekeeper, before showing her the library.
“The house was built in 1804 by Jacob Birch,” Ethan said, as they ascended the stairs to the second floor. “Theodore Watts purchased the property in 1898 which is why it’s now known as the Birch-Watts Estate. The main house’s ninety-four hundred square feet have been remodeled several times, but always with an eye toward preserving and enhancing its Federal style.”
“A style that dominated American architecture from 1790 to 1840,” she said, aware she was showing off. “The layout is symmetrical with unadorned exteriors.” She gestured toward the window where the intricate wrought iron railings that edged the upper terraces could be seen peeping above the windowsill. “Except for the porches and entries. Inside is different with elaborate molded plaster flourishes on the ceilings and borders.”
“You know a lot about our architecture,” he said, making no effort to cover his surprise.
The approval in Ethan’s sexy brown eyes as he shot her a sideways glance sent a shiver of awareness racing over her skin. The photos of him posted on his cousins’ social media had sparked her interest. Candid shots of him on a boat, buff and tanned with rippling abs and muscles galore, his hair blowing in the wind, an irrepressible grin on his sculpted lips.
In person, the man possessed the sort of easy, confident charm that women fell for in a hurry. No doubt the guy got a lot of action with the belles of Charleston. And his solicitous behavior since they met gave Sienna the impression that he’d satisfy a woman even as he took care of his own needs. Was it any wonder she was fighting a compelling urge to lick her lips and utter the first naughty double entendre that popped into her mind?
“I make a habit before I travel of reading up on the local history, the art scene, including museums and architecture, and of course the best cuisine.” She smiled her thanks as he ushered her into the house. “It gives me a deeper appreciation of the places I visit.”
“Do you travel a lot?”
“Generally, I’m on the road three weeks out of four.” A choice that kept her from dwelling on a growing dissatisfaction with her lack of a personal life.
“Sounds lonely.”
Her lips twisted into a wry grimace. “I work so much that I really don’t notice.”
“So there’s no special someone waiting to welcome you home?”
Sienna couldn’t meet Ethan’s candid gaze. “Um, no one at all, actually.”
She hadn’t been kidding about how much she worked. Dating was both time-consuming and an energy drain. When she did venture out, she’d yet to meet a man whose companionship she craved, and if she was in the mood for sex, she had a straightforward way of scratching that itch. Unfortunately, this left her woefully ill-equipped when it came to the nuances of flirting and seduction.
On the second floor he indicated his grandfather’s room and the one where Teagan would be staying.
“It was her mother’s room,” he added as they peeked into the sunny yellow room with green-and-white-floral draperies and comforter. “Looks like Cory delivered her luggage. Yours should be in your room, as well.”
Side by side they ascended to the third floor. These stairs were narrower than the lower levels and forced Sienna into closer proximity with the Charleston charmer. She stumbled and Ethan caught her elbow to steady her. She smiled to thank him, shocked by how her heart pounded at his touch.
“This is your room.” He indicated a sunny space, tucked beneath the eves with slanting walls painted an inviting rose.
The room had been furnished with a four-poster bed and a cozy love seat placed under a window with a view of rooftops and a steeple of one of Charleston’s many churches.
“This is lovely.” Sienna set her laptop case down and barely restrained the urge to throw herself on the bed and groan in pleasure. “Thank you.”
“I hope you’ll let me show you around Charleston while you’re here,” Ethan said, his alluring smile awakening an irresistible urge to grin back. “Our city has a lot to offer.”
His deep voice resonated through her like a summer thunderstorm, leaving Sienna caught up in the midst of a wild and turbulent squall.
“That would be lovely,” she murmured, catching herself staring at his lips and wondering if his kisses would be slow and sweet or hot and feverish.
His even white teeth flashed in a satisfied smile that was just shy of smug as he pulled out his phone. “Let me give you my number so you can call me when you get a free moment.”
Sienna keyed his number into her contacts, and then at his urging she called him so he had her number, as well. The moment had come for them to part, but Sienna couldn’t bring herself to make the first move.
“I’ll leave you to unpack.” He gave her a bone-melting smile. “And nap. We meet for cocktails before dinner. See you at seven.”
“See you.”
Left by herself, Sienna collapsed onto the comfortable bed and blew the air from her lungs. She glanced down at the phone in her hand, shivering as she regarded Ethan’s contact information. Seconds later, she cued up her favorites list and dialed a familiar number.
“We made it to Charleston,” she declared when her best friend, Gia Milani, answered. Both art history majors, the women had met as college freshmen and were often mistaken as sisters because of their similar coloring and strong bond.
“How’s the family?” Gia asked.
“I’ve only met a few of them, but they seem nice.”
Ethan’s broad shoulders and mesmerizing gaze popped into her mind. What sort of hell was her ambitious sister going to put him through as Teagan made her bid to take over the running of the family’s international shipping business? She sighed.
Gia must’ve picked up on her angst because she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I think Teagan is planning on staying in Charleston.”
“For how long?”
“Maybe for good.” For the first time since her sister dropped the bombshell, Sienna gave her reaction a chance to breathe. The anxiety was stronger than she would’ve predicted. These days she barely saw her sister. What did it matter if Teagan was here or in New York City? “She has this crazy idea that she deserves to be the next CEO of the family’s shipping business.”
“Is this because your dad picked Aiden over her to run Burns Properties?”
“It has a lot to do with it, but I don’t think that’s her only reason.” Sienna thought about the comment Teagan had made abou
t Ethan being adopted. “Long before Dad passed her over, she was hung up on this whole issue of not being a Burns by blood. And now that she’s found her blood relatives, I think she believes it will all be different.”
“You’ve met them. What do you think?”
“She might be right. I mean the family resemblance is striking. And they’re thrilled that she’s here.”
Gia paused for a beat as she absorbed Sienna’s response. “How are you feeling?”
“Me?” Sienna let loose a shaky laugh. “I’m great. Teagan asked me to stick around for longer than I’d planned so I’m going to be staying in Charleston for a week or so.”
“You’re finally taking time off and plan to spend it with Teagan?” Her friend sounded all kinds of surprised and disappointed.
Sienna didn’t blame her. Gia hadn’t understood why Sienna had agreed to go with Teagan to meet her Charleston family in the first place. Although Gia was a wonderful sounding board for most of Sienna’s problems, when it came to her relationship with Teagan, Gia had very strong opinions.
“It’s a vacation. From what I’ve seen of it, Charleston is nice. And I could use a break.”
“Okay.” But Gia didn’t make it sound like she was on board with Sienna’s decision.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just don’t get why Teagan wanted you there in the first place.”
Irritation flared even as Sienna recognized that she’d wondered the same thing. When Teagan had initially extended the invitation, Sienna had been too thrilled to be asked and hadn’t considered her sister’s motivation.
“Moral support,” Sienna offered, wanting this to be true.
“I hope you’re right,” Gia said. “I’d hate to think she was involving you in some scheme.”
“The only thing she has on her mind at the moment is making a good impression on her family.”
“And taking over as CEO of Watts Shipping.”
“Well, sure, but there’s no way I can be of help there.”
Gia hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe not. Just do me a favor and watch your back, okay?”
Harlequin Desire June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 Page 18