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Seth gestured to Sienna. “Take my baby girl there. She kept a 3.9 grade point average in college and held down a part-time job to help pay her way through school. She didn’t take her education for granted because she knew how much it cost and how hard she had to work to earn that money.”

“Dad,” Sienna said, “Josh appreciates his parents’ help. It’s not like he’s wasting their money. He’s getting an education that will help them manage the store better.”

Seth shrugged, letting the argument lie, though Daniel noticed his boss didn’t agree.

Daniel was curious to meet Josh, to see the guy who’d earned Sienna’s unwavering loyalty. She sure did spend a hell of a lot of time defending her boyfriend’s actions.

He let his gaze drift over her. She was wearing the same royal blue sweater she’d worn to his trailer when he’d kissed her. It made her chestnut hair seem redder, brighter, more vivid. He’d always been a sucker for a redhead and while he wouldn’t call Sienna’s hair auburn, she had just enough of the color to catch his attention. The sweater hugged her curves, showing off her generous breasts.

He shifted in his seat and willed away the erection threatening to make an appearance. What an idiot. He was sitting five feet from his boss and getting a boner from staring at Seth’s daughter. Daniel had worked hard to keep his attraction to Sienna a secret, but tonight he feared he was failing in the attempt.

Stupid.

First of all, he needed this job. Pissing Seth off didn’t seem particularly smart. Secondly, Sienna was committed to a jerk boyfriend who obviously didn’t deserve her. While he longed to shake up her well-ordered life, to show her there was a world full of men who would treat her better, Daniel couldn’t do that as long as she was with Josh.

Sienna’s phone beeped. Glancing at the screen, she stood. “Speak of the devil.” Daniel caught sight of Josh’s smiling face as she clicked on the screen. “Hi, Josh,” she said, her voice lighter and breezier than Daniel had ever heard it.

Then Daniel heard Josh’s reply and was forced to acknowledge he sounded like a nice guy.

Hey, beautiful. Damn, you’re a sight for sore eyes.

“Sweet talker,” Sienna teased as she left the room.

Seth’s attention returned to the game. Daniel tried to concentrate on the TV, but he found himself straining to hear Sienna’s voice. She’d only walked to the hallway. While he could hear her tone, he couldn’t make out the words she was saying. Everything seemed fine for a few minutes and then he heard her say something louder, with definite anger.

“What do you mean it’s too late?” she asked.

Her voice drowned out the TV. Seth glanced toward the hallway. He sighed heavily, allowing Daniel to see that he wasn’t exactly pleased with his daughter’s boyfriend.

“Sounds like the asshole screwed up again,” Seth muttered.

“Is this a pattern?” Daniel asked.

“It is lately. I’m not sure what’s gotten into the kid. Josh always had his head screwed on straight, and he was good to Sienna. Then, last year, out of the blue, something snapped. He decided to change majors and his grades started slipping. More often than not, they end up fighting whenever he calls. He’s coming home next week for Thanksgiving. I’m going to have a word with him. This shit’s not going to fly for much longer. I don’t like him upsetting Sienna all the time.”

Daniel was glad to hear Seth had plans to talk to Josh. He’d been wondering lately if there was a way he could warn the man off, but considering Daniel had only known Sienna a month, it really wasn’t his place.

Given the dark expression on Seth’s face, Daniel was grateful he wasn’t going to be the recipient of that little talk. Seth, a peaceful, fair man, had a protective streak a mile wide when it came to his kids.

Daniel noticed it went quiet in the hallway. Then he heard the front door open and close. Worried about Sienna, he stood. “I think I’ll take a rain check on that pie. I’m still full from supper.” It was cold as blue blazes outside. Clearly, Sienna was upset if she’d decided to brave the elements rather than return to the warmth of the family room. He needed to make sure she was okay.

Seth’s gaze drifted from Daniel to the doorway. Daniel tried to ignore the way his boss’s eyes narrowed slightly. “It’s pretty dark out there. Be careful.”

The last two words, though innocent enough, seemed to hold a deeper warning. Shit. He was falling for the boss’s daughter.

The first time he’d laid eyes on her, Daniel had felt too strong a pull to the pretty, though far too serious woman. In the past, he’d chosen women who preferred a fun time over commitment, a few quick tumbles in the hayloft versus a long, drawn-out wooing.

Sienna was the complete opposite of his type. She was a nice girl, but it didn’t matter. He ached to drag her to the dark side with him, to draw out some of the wickedness he sensed lurking beneath the surface. And maybe, just maybe in the midst of all that hot sex, she’d find a way to bring some sort of order to his own fucked-up life.

“I’ll be fine, Seth. Good night,” he said.

James and Doug waved goodbye absentmindedly, their gazes never leaving the television. Seth, however, watched him depart, suspicion written on his face. Something told him he was going to wind up getting one of Seth’s little talks after all.

As he stepped onto the front porch, he paused to let his eyes adjust to the darkness. He scanned the yard, seeking Sienna, and caught sight of her heading down a narrow path that led to the creek.

He pulled his coat around him and cursed the cold. Then he followed her direction, his speed and long legs cutting the distance between them quickly. When he got within earshot, he called out her name.

“Sienna.”