Page 41

Chapter Fourteen

Ryder

After throwing a stick for my two boys, I came back inside and headed toward the kitchen, in need of a cold drink. Among other things. I had an idea running around my mind, the possibility of doing something special for Sienna-Grace.

After grabbing a glass of water, I headed over to the cabinet where we threw our keys. After tossing them into the bowl, I bent down low, and opened one of the doors, knowing my sister would be close by to ask for assistance. “Van, do we have any good wine?” I was searching the liquor cabinet as if it would magically make a bottle of champagne show up.

“Wine?” She popped her head into the dining room from the hallway.

“Yeah. Like the good kind.” I moved a few bottles of both red and white around and closed the door when nothing jumped out at me.

“I bought a pretty decent Pinot Grigio when I was in town yesterday. I was planning on making a chicken and mushroom risotto with it. But I suppose I can change the menu, if you want it for some other reason?”

“Would you mind?” I straightened further, wiping my hand against the back of my jeans.

She leaned against the doorframe. Crossing her arms, she raised an eyebrow in my direction. “Sure thing.”

“Great.”

“One more thing.”

Fuck. Of course there was. She was going to ask why. “Yeah, what’s that?”

“Why do you need wine?”

I sighed, putting a hand on my hip and running the other through my hair. Savannah was my twin sister, the one I trusted above all others. If I couldn’t be honest with her then I had no hope of telling my other siblings. Plus, she would be incredibly helpful to have onside with the other items I needed to organize. “I’m taking Sienna on a date.”

She grinned, a full-blown, white-tooth-revealing smile. “Well, it’s about damn time, Ry!”

“You’re an angel, Van.”

“I know.” She moved through the dining room to the kitchen, putting the wine into the fridge. “When are you doing it?”

“Tonight.”

She spun to face me. “Tonight? I guess there is no time like the present. What are you planning on doing?”

“A picnic in the bed of my truck and lighting a campfire. You know, something simple. Something that really shows her who I am.” I cast an eye around the room. “I might need a bit of help with the menu, though.”

“Shoot.” She paused for a moment. “What have you got so far?”

“Well, you see that wine you just put in there?” I nodded in the direction of the fridge.

She tilted her head to the side a little, taking her bottom lip between her teeth. “Yeah?” She smiled a little before it grew even wider and she was all-out laughing. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’ve only got wine?”

Flushing, I nodded. “Don’t even say it,” I groaned.

“Good lord, you need to get your butt into gear.” Her tone was one of mock chastisement.

“Look, Van, I could really use your help,” I confessed, splaying my hands out between us.

“Ry, you need more than just my help. You need a miracle.”

“I want to keep it casual. You know, like some cushions and blankets to make the truck bed a little more comfortable.”

“Pillows, fairy lights. I get it.” She popped her hip and put a hand on it.

“Exactly. Casual, but not so much so that it doesn’t appear that I’ve made an effort.”