barely
audible.
Ryan couldn’t stand the way her entire body
seemed to brace for rejection. She’d talked about vibes ten years
ago. It was a relief to hear her let more of her true self out in
his presence. They’d even joked about their own sexual vibes and
how they had amazing chemistry. Why did she look so sad?
“I love my work, and I kind of always thought
the vibes here at Gypsy Beach were made for me, and sitting here
with you is more than I could ever have hoped for, so I’m sure my
vibes are damn near ecstatic.” His confession lifted her head and
shock colored her cheeks.
“Yeah, I think so, too. That’s why I came
back, actually. I drove all over this whole stupid country, and I
never fit in anywhere. Nowhere but here. And I like having dinner
with you, too.”
“Yeah, I get that whole never fitting in
anywhere but here thing.”
“Thank you for saying that. I was worried I
was going insane.”
Having no idea what he’d said that had
reassured her, he went with what he hoped was a sexy smile.
“I guess it’s just kind of hard without Nana.
You know my mom and I don’t get along. I hate my stepdad.”
“I’m really sorry about your grandmother.”
With a great deal of force, he bit back the word
‘ sweetheart ’ that he longed to add to the end of his
declaration. “Did you get to see her before she passed?”
Another sweet smile softened her face. “Yeah,
I was here for the last few weeks, but then I had to go back to
Norfolk and get another job. I had to make sure I did everything
right so I could have this place. Nana willed it to me, but Mom
kept wanting to sell it. It was kind of a disaster. I finally got
up enough money and a lawyer helped me get the documents in order.
I just keep hoping everything says what it’s supposed to say. You
know Nana was… kind of unconventional. Her will was hand written.”
She sighed.
Concern dampened some of the lust and desire
that had been swimming copiously through his veins all evening.
Sienna’s grandmother was most certainly unconventional. Most of the
time, Ryan thought she was a little crazy, but she adored Sienna so
that was all that mattered to him.
“Hey, you know, one of the only good things
that came out of me going to Georgia was John. He’s my best friend
and a hell of a lawyer. He did actually finish, obviously. We were
frat brothers, roommates, everything. I could have him look over
your paperwork if you want. No charge.”
That offer was greeted with another one of
those smiles. “Thanks, but I think it’s all taken care of. I don’t
really want to think about it anymore. I just want to get it redone
and make a life here again. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, I
think.”
Disappointed that he couldn’t do something
else for her, he forced a nod and downed the last of the single
glass of wine he’d allowed her to pour him. He’d been very wary of
alcohol since his wild college days. He did incredibly stupid
things when he was drunk, and that was not an option when it came
to Sienna any more than it was an option when it came to Evie. His
days of drowning his sorrows in liquor were long gone, and good
riddance. He certainly didn’t miss them.
“Did you want another glass?” Sienna stood,
and with a quick spin that made that dress flutter and every cell
in his body stand up and take notice, she carried the bottle back
to the table.
“No, thanks, though. I really should get on
home. I’ll be back early tomorrow. I’m gonna work on the front
decks until the sun gets nice and high, and then, if you want we
can go into Wilmington, and you can pick out the finishes we’ll
need, and the appliances.”
“That sounds like fun.” Once again, Sienna
spoke without thinking. He wanted her to go on kind of a roadtrip
with him, and spend the entire afternoon tucked up in a small truck
where there would be no reprieve from his voice, or those sexy
eyes, or that smell of Southern pine trees and fresh cut grass
mixed with
audible.
Ryan couldn’t stand the way her entire body
seemed to brace for rejection. She’d talked about vibes ten years
ago. It was a relief to hear her let more of her true self out in
his presence. They’d even joked about their own sexual vibes and
how they had amazing chemistry. Why did she look so sad?
“I love my work, and I kind of always thought
the vibes here at Gypsy Beach were made for me, and sitting here
with you is more than I could ever have hoped for, so I’m sure my
vibes are damn near ecstatic.” His confession lifted her head and
shock colored her cheeks.
“Yeah, I think so, too. That’s why I came
back, actually. I drove all over this whole stupid country, and I
never fit in anywhere. Nowhere but here. And I like having dinner
with you, too.”
“Yeah, I get that whole never fitting in
anywhere but here thing.”
“Thank you for saying that. I was worried I
was going insane.”
Having no idea what he’d said that had
reassured her, he went with what he hoped was a sexy smile.
“I guess it’s just kind of hard without Nana.
You know my mom and I don’t get along. I hate my stepdad.”
“I’m really sorry about your grandmother.”
With a great deal of force, he bit back the word
‘ sweetheart ’ that he longed to add to the end of his
declaration. “Did you get to see her before she passed?”
Another sweet smile softened her face. “Yeah,
I was here for the last few weeks, but then I had to go back to
Norfolk and get another job. I had to make sure I did everything
right so I could have this place. Nana willed it to me, but Mom
kept wanting to sell it. It was kind of a disaster. I finally got
up enough money and a lawyer helped me get the documents in order.
I just keep hoping everything says what it’s supposed to say. You
know Nana was… kind of unconventional. Her will was hand written.”
She sighed.
Concern dampened some of the lust and desire
that had been swimming copiously through his veins all evening.
Sienna’s grandmother was most certainly unconventional. Most of the
time, Ryan thought she was a little crazy, but she adored Sienna so
that was all that mattered to him.
“Hey, you know, one of the only good things
that came out of me going to Georgia was John. He’s my best friend
and a hell of a lawyer. He did actually finish, obviously. We were
frat brothers, roommates, everything. I could have him look over
your paperwork if you want. No charge.”
That offer was greeted with another one of
those smiles. “Thanks, but I think it’s all taken care of. I don’t
really want to think about it anymore. I just want to get it redone
and make a life here again. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, I
think.”
Disappointed that he couldn’t do something
else for her, he forced a nod and downed the last of the single
glass of wine he’d allowed her to pour him. He’d been very wary of
alcohol since his wild college days. He did incredibly stupid
things when he was drunk, and that was not an option when it came
to Sienna any more than it was an option when it came to Evie. His
days of drowning his sorrows in liquor were long gone, and good
riddance. He certainly didn’t miss them.
“Did you want another glass?” Sienna stood,
and with a quick spin that made that dress flutter and every cell
in his body stand up and take notice, she carried the bottle back
to the table.
“No, thanks, though. I really should get on
home. I’ll be back early tomorrow. I’m gonna work on the front
decks until the sun gets nice and high, and then, if you want we
can go into Wilmington, and you can pick out the finishes we’ll
need, and the appliances.”
“That sounds like fun.” Once again, Sienna
spoke without thinking. He wanted her to go on kind of a roadtrip
with him, and spend the entire afternoon tucked up in a small truck
where there would be no reprieve from his voice, or those sexy
eyes, or that smell of Southern pine trees and fresh cut grass
mixed with
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