Dare Me Tonight

by Phillips, Carly

  She swallowed hard. “And then what happened?” She wasn’t about to put the pieces together herself.

  Jason and Alex exchanged guilty looks.

  “Ian told his wife, and she told me,” Alex said.

  “And Alex told me,” Jason added.

  “And we agreed I should tell Mom.” Alex rubbed his hands together, clearly knowing now withholding the information from her had been a mistake.

  But they’d done it and betrayal settled in her bones. “You all kept it from me. All of you.” The brothers she’d grown up with. Her best friend. Ian. The rest of her half siblings. “Why?” she asked, tears forming in her eyes.

  Her mother walked over and sat on her other side, putting an arm around her shoulders. “At first you were away at school and we didn’t want you distracted.”

  She set her jaw. “And then?”

  “We didn’t want to upset you.”

  “So you treated me like a baby and not the adult that I am,” she said, her voice rising. Maybe she should be focusing on feeling badly for her mother and the divorce, and she did, but right now she was hurt.

  “What’s going on?” Ethan showed up in the doorway, looking pissed. “Why do you sound upset?” His gaze zeroed in on Sienna.

  “Who is this?” Jason asked, rising to his feet. He hadn’t been at the hospital when she’d been brought in, so he hadn’t met Ethan.

  Alex stood as well. Both of her brothers, arms folded across their chests, glared at Ethan.

  “Jason, this is Ethan Knight. Ethan, my brother Jason. You already met Alex at the hospital,” Sienna said, gesturing between them.

  Her brother narrowed his gaze. “This is the baby’s father?”

  Ethan stepped up, extending a hand to Jason.

  Her sibling’s scowl and deliberately ignoring Ethan’s greeting radiated fuck off in its anger and animosity, and Sienna groaned. “Jason, come on. Be nice.”

  “We’ll discuss that later. Right now, there’s no reason for him to be here. It’s family business,” Jason said.

  “If Sienna is upset, there’s every reason for me to be here.” Ethan held his own with her siblings, and was it wrong for Sienna to find that just a little arousing?

  “Ethan, it’s just that…” Her mother’s voice trailed off. “We made a mistake and Sienna is understandably upset.”

  Her words made Ethan’s scowl worsen. “She’s not supposed to be stressed.”

  “I’m an adult! I can handle the information that affects my life and the people around me, and I’m sick and tired of being babied! I’m not sick with cancer anymore!” she yelled, then stormed out of the room without looking back.

  Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest and her pulse was racing as she headed out to the car. It was obvious to her that her family still considered her a child and incapable of handling important news until there was no choice but to pull her in. And that stung.

  Tears spilled out of her eyes, which annoyed her, too. She was too emotional but Ethan was right. She wasn’t supposed to get upset.

  Waiting for him, she lowered herself to the curb and focused on calming herself down. For the baby’s sake. As far as her family was concerned, she was furious and she needed space.

  * * *

  Ethan stared at the three people closest to Sienna in disbelief. “Two of you know firsthand the doctor said no stress.” His gaze went from Alex to Sienna’s mother. He glanced at Jason. “You don’t know but I’m guessing the message was relayed. So what gives?”

  Jason, the man Ethan had never seen before, glared at him, but Alex looked contrite.

  “Shit,” the man muttered. “I have a wife. I know better than to keep secrets.”

  Jason rolled his eyes. “We agreed she didn’t need to be upset.”

  “Well, maybe you need to agree on the fact that she’s a grown woman you need to treat with respect.” Ethan glanced at Sienna’s mother.

  “He’s right, boys. We made a calculated error. We meant well, but she should have been told from the beginning that your father is, once again, a no-good, cheating, lying bastard.”

  Ethan winced. Well, that gave him the information he needed. This mess had something to do with Robert Dare, and from the sound of it, he was back to his old ways.

  “Are you three okay? Can I go after Sienna? And you’ll call her later and make peace? I don’t want her worked up.”

  The three of them nodded.

  It was Alex who stepped up. “I’m not happy that you knocked up my baby sister but you seem to care about her.”

  “I do. I’m going to protect her and do right by her. And if that means she needs a break from her family, that’s what she’s going to get,” Ethan warned them and he had an idea about how to do just that.

  “I’m going to hold you to those words,” Jason said. “I may be in New York but my reach is long.”

  Ethan didn’t take offense to the warning, but he wasn’t about to inform Jason that his home base was New York as well. That was news for another time.

  Instead he turned to Sienna’s mother. “I’m sorry for what you’re going through, and when Sienna calms down, she’ll realize she’s upset about that, too. I’m sure you’ll hear from her or you can reach out. Right now I’m going to check on her,” Ethan said, and strode out to the car, where he found Sienna sitting on the curb, her eyes damp with tears.

  “Hey.” He lowered himself beside her, his ass half on the grass, half on the curb. Placing a hand on the back of her neck, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  She sniffed. “Yeah. I’m angry at my family. They had information they kept from me for no good reason I can think of. All of them, the other side, too.”

  “About your dad.”

  She nodded. “And my parents are getting divorced.”

  “I’m sorry about that.”

  “My dad is an asshole. And frankly my mother got him when he was cheating and you know what they say. Once a cheater, always a cheater.” She hung her head. “I’m upset for my mom, but right now I’m more hurt than anything else.”

  “Sounds to me like you need to get away from the stress.” He glanced at her in time to catch a slight smile.

  “That would be nice.”

  “Ever been to Colorado?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  “What do you say we go visit my brother? His father-in-law runs a bed-and-breakfast there. Parker and his wife, Emily, bought land nearby and built a house. I think I mentioned to you, she’s pregnant, too. I think it would do us good to get out of here for a little while.”

  She glanced up at him, eyes wide. “What about work?”

  He shrugged, knowing that wasn’t an issue. “I think once I talk to Ian, he’ll agree you need a break.”

  She leaned her head against his arm and he pulled her tight into his side. “Family’s hard. Life is hard.”

  He nodded. “Can’t disagree. All we can do is make the best of the hand we’re dealt and move forward from there.” And he wanted to move forward with Sienna.

  The only way to change her mind-set about him and what he wanted was to take her away from here and her family drama, introduce her to his brother and his wife, and romance her out west.

  Chapter Nine

  Sienna bounced in the seat of the rental, excited to be in Colorado and away from her family. She hadn’t ghosted them. Instead she’d called her mom, talked about the divorce, and accepted her mother’s apology for keeping Sienna in the dark. Her brothers and half siblings, she wasn’t so gracious with. They’d left her out and hurt her feelings and she wasn’t ready to be generous in her forgiveness. She’d leave them hanging until she returned home. By then she could let everything go, assuming they promised to treat her like the adult she was.

  Avery had groveled already, feeling guilty and admitting she’d caved to Ian’s demands. Knowing how difficult her oldest half sibling could be, Sienna had accepted her best friend/half sister’s apology. Which didn’t mean she was over it.
Just that she’d let Avery off the hook.

  But now Sienna had taken a private jet to Colorado and a rental SUV to Montlake, where the Ruby Rose Inn was located. They approached the wood-framed structure painted a deep red with white trim, blooming bushes, and fresh green grass. The closer she came, the more she realized everything was painted new, renovated, and gorgeous.

  “It’s beautiful!” Sienna said, gushing because she really did love the rustic look.

  “When Parker got here, the place was falling apart. Emily and her dad were struggling and Parker immediately stepped up and helped infuse the place with much-needed money. This is the result,” Ethan said with pride in his voice.

  He pulled the SUV into a parking spot, put it in park, and turned it off. “You should know, I’m not so sure Emily likes me,” he said, resting a hand on the steering wheel and meeting Sienna’s gaze.

  “What? Why?” She blinked in surprise. He’d been so eager to come here, she hadn’t expected to hear that.

  A dark flush stained his cheeks. “I might have put my foot in my mouth the day I arrived. Add to that the mood I was in during their wedding? Yeah. She probably hates me.”

  Sienna heard the pain in his voice and reached out to clasp his hand. “If Parker is anything like you, I’m sure he’s explained things and smoothed the situation over. She’s probably already forgiven you and you don’t even know it.”

  He rolled his shoulders, obviously tense. “I was really an ass,” he muttered.

  She burst out laughing. “Somehow that doesn’t shock me. Come on. Let’s go in. Whatever smoothing Parker hasn’t done, I’ll handle. How’s that?”

  He eased over and pressed his lips to hers, taking her by surprise. Unable to resist, she leaned close and opened her lips for him. He slid his tongue against hers and groaned into her mouth. Too soon, he straightened, breaking the kiss.

  “What was that for?” she asked, breathless.

  “Because I really don’t deserve you but I’m glad you’re here with me anyway.”

  Before she could reply, he turned and opened the door, hopping out. She joined him, meeting him by the trunk, where he pulled their luggage from the back. She inhaled the fresh air and sighed, already falling in love with the open spaces and beautiful scenery.

  Once again she’d surprised Ethan with her minimalist packing, and he wheeled their two carry-ons toward the front door of the inn.

  As if on cue, the door opened and a middle-aged man greeted them. “Welcome!” he said, joining them on the porch. “Ethan, how are you?” the man asked.

  “Good. And you?”

  “Great. And who is this beautiful lady?” the man asked.

  “James Stevens, meet Sienna Dare. James is Emily’s father,” Ethan explained.

  James shook her hand. “You’re going to love it here. Emily already stopped by with Snickerdoodles for the two of you and said she and Parker would come once they knew you’d arrived.”

  “I’ll text him,” Ethan said of his brother, pulling out his phone.

  James then showed them to a grouping of rooms on one side of the inn. “We don’t have guests until this weekend, so pick any rooms you want.”

  Ethan thanked James and said he could handle it, and James took off, leaving them in the hallway.

  “I’d like it if we could share a room,” Ethan immediately said when they were alone. “No pressure or anything but I want to be with you. However I can get you.”

  She swallowed hard. Prior to this trip, she hadn’t given the rooming situation any thought. Did she want to insist on her own room, knowing Ethan was sleeping next door or across the hall?

  No, no she did not.

  He was making such an effort to be the perfect guy for her, and though she knew he’d be returning to New York, why couldn’t she take advantage of the time they had together? Her heart was his, whether he wanted it for keeps or not. She wouldn’t push him, knew that wasn’t smart with a man as wounded and hurt as Ethan had been.

  Sometimes spontaneous judgment calls were the best ones, she mused, having come to a decision. “Umm, I was thinking. You know that proposition you made me? An affair while you’re here?”

  He blinked in surprise. “Yes?” he asked hesitantly. He clearly had no idea where she was going with this line of thought.

  “Well, I’d like to take you up on the offer. Be with you while we’re here and when we get back to Miami. Once you have to go back to New York, no pressure or strings,” she said, forcing the painful words from her mouth.

  He’d told her he hadn’t been ready for a relationship after his wife died, and though he was tied to Sienna due to the baby, she’d never, ever want to trap him in any way.

  But that didn’t mean she couldn’t give in to what her body … and her heart desired now.

  * * *

  Ethan didn’t like his own words thrown back at him. I’d like to take you up on the offer. Be with you while we’re here and when we get home. Once you have to go back to New York, no pressure or strings. Jesus, it sucked.

  And he deserved every painful word.

  He studied her for so long she grew uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot. Until a blush stained her cheeks. Until he could decide how to handle this. Because he wanted more than just a fuck while they were together.

  What he didn’t know or understand was how much more. He needed time.

  So he did the only thing he could do.

  He stepped closer. Her light fragrance surrounded him, and at his nearness, her breath caught in her throat. Her lips parted. And he sealed his mouth over hers.

  He drank from her, tipping her head to the side, thrusting his tongue in, and taking all that she offered and giving in return. He backed her up to the wall and aligned his body against hers. His chest to her chest. His cock to her sex. His lips never leaving hers, tackling her tongue and devouring her.

  “Hey, E! You up there?” Parker yelled from downstairs.

  Ethan ignored him. He slid a hand to her waist and pulled her shirt up, his rougher hands gliding along her skin.

  “Ethan!”

  Sienna ducked beneath his arm and drew in a deep breath. “Is that your brother?” she asked through puffy lips and desire-laden eyes.

  “Yeah, cockblocker,” Ethan muttered.

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m going to pull myself together before I meet them. Go distract them or something.” Grabbing her suitcase, she rolled it into the nearest room.

  The one he knew had a king-size bed.

  With that thought on his mind, he adjusted his dick and headed downstairs to see his brother.

  “Ethan!” Emily met up with him as he hit the bottom step.

  Contrary to what he’d told Sienna, she greeted him like they were old friends, pulling him into a sisterly hug. “I’m so glad you came to visit.”

  He stepped back and studied his brother’s wife. She was the antithesis of the New York woman, no makeup, jeans and a flowing top disguising the beginnings of her pregnancy, her hair pulled up on top of her head in a messy but cute bun. She was adorable and fit Parker to a T. Much more than Ethan had thought when he’d first laid eyes on her and assumed she was after his brother for his money. He winced at the awful memory of Emily overhearing him say exactly that.

  “Hi, Emily. It’s good to see you, too.” He stepped back, catching sight of his brother on the other side of the room. “Hey … umm … about my general shitty attitude every time we’ve been together until now. I’m sorry,” Ethan said.

  Her eyes opened wide. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me.” She grinned at him and shook her head. “No apologies necessary. No rehashing allowed, either.”

  She was a generous soul and Ethan was glad his brother had found her. “Thanks,” he said.

  “Aww, you can be sweet.” Sienna’s voice sounded from behind him and he realized she’d overheard him.

  Oh, well. It wasn’t like he hadn’t shown her what an asshole he could be firsthand. No
w she saw his better side.

  He gestured for her to join him, and when she did, he pulled her hand into his. “Sienna Dare, this is my sister-in-law Emily, and the quiet guy over there is my middle brother, Parker.”

  Parker waved a hand in the air and strode over, as Sienna and Emily said their hellos.

  “So you’re the woman who got this guy’s head back on straight. I’m happy to meet you,” Parker said, a mouthful for the sibling they called Switzerland because he rarely took sides and sat on the proverbial fence. Of course, there was also the fact that he’d been an Olympic champion skier before he’d blown out his knee, twice, that contributed to the nickname.

  “Hi,” Sienna said.

  “Welcome to Colorado. Can’t wait to show you guys around,” Parker said. “Although you’ve already seen the best part now that you’ve checked out the Ruby Rose Inn.”

  Emily laughed. “Wait until they taste my cookies. Then they’ll really fall in love.”

  Sienna grinned. “Cookies? I’d love some cookies.”

  One thing about his girl, Ethan thought, she could eat. Especially now that she was pregnant. Although she wasn’t showing at all yet, because Sebastian knew Ethan had gotten Sienna pregnant, and he’d told Sierra when he went home last weekend, Ethan had already told Parker as well.

  To his brother’s credit, he didn’t say a word about it. Instead he and Emily were making Sienna feel at home.

  “Come on,” Emily said, hooking her arm into Sienna’s. “Let’s go eat.” She patted her small belly. “This one keeps me hungry.”

  Sienna merely blushed, shot Ethan a glance, and headed for the kitchen with Emily.

  Parker turned to Ethan. “Want a scotch?”

  He shook his head. “I’m good. Get one if you want.”

  “Nah, I’m fine, too. Just trying to be a good host. Not that it’s my place but it is my second home.” He led Ethan to the big room by the windows facing the front lawn and the fireplace in the corner and they took seats facing each other.

  “So what brings you to my neck of the woods? Not that I’m complaining,” Parker said.

  Ethan glanced over, and though the space was open-concept, it was huge, and Sienna was busy at the kitchen table, talking to Emily in hushed murmurs. He could talk to his brother without being overheard.