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She snorted. “It’s not hard to avoid. You just turn around and walk away.”

He didn’t bother to deny how much he’d heard. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Josh wants a break.”

“Yeah. I heard. That doesn’t bother you?”

She bit her lower lip, a line forming in the center of her brow. “I don’t think it does. Maybe it will tomorrow, when I’ve had time to process it all. Right now, I’m kind of in shock. At some point, I’ll have to figure out what it means, what I’m supposed to do now.”

Daniel took a step closer. “Or you could do what you suggested to Josh. Go with the flow.”

She gave him a sad grin. “I have a feeling I’ll hate that.”

“Depends.”

“On what?” she asked.

“On who you’re flowing with. Josh asked for his freedom and you gave it to him. There’s something you need to remember about that. You’re free too.”

She crossed her arms. Daniel assumed the gesture was more for protection than warmth as the stable blocked out most of the chilly November air. “I guess so. Only problem is I didn’t necessary want to be free.”

Sienna walked back to the hay bale and kicked it—hard—stirring up dust. “God, I’m such an idiot. The man I plan to marry just asked for permission to screw around. And I gave it to him. I must seem like the world’s biggest fool to you.”

Daniel didn’t like seeing her so hurt. Walking behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist in a gentle embrace. “Turn around, Sienna. Look at me.”

She twisted in his arms slowly as her face lifted.

“The only jackass in this barn was Josh. He’ll figure that out one day, but it’s going to be too late.”

“Why do you say that?”

Daniel placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Because by the time he’s finished sowing his wild oats and ready to come home, you won’t be here waiting for him.”

She frowned. “I have no intention of leaving Compton Pass. Josh or no Josh. This is my home.”

Daniel ran his finger along her cheek. “That’s not what I meant.”

She started to question him, but Daniel wasn’t willing to waste the time explaining. Better to show her.

His first kiss was brief, but powerful. Sienna needed to understand there was a world of difference between him and the man who’d just left.

Their lips parted for only a second.

Long enough for her to whisper, “Oh.”

Then he kissed her again, refusing to hold back any of the desire he’d spent weeks stifling. Sienna Compton needed to go wild.

And he intended to be the man who really set her free.

Chapter 5

Sienna glanced out her window, studying the moonless night sky. A week had passed since Thanksgiving, and she’d taken the coward’s way out. She’d holed up in her bedroom every night after work rather than risk seeing Daniel, too afraid of succumbing to the temptation he provided.

She’d given seven years of her life to Josh. Wrapped her world around him, and it wasn’t easy to let go of that. Despite how much Josh’s need for a break hurt, there were still too many good years—memories—to mourn. When she added the recollection of Daniel’s amazing kisses to her mixed-up thoughts, it felt like she was on system overload.

Her family was worried about her sudden retreat, though they’d allowed her the space. Mom brought her dinner on a tray each night, offering a soft kiss on the brow and her assurance that things would get better. Doug usually kept her company for an hour or so before his bedtime, filling her in on his school day and his rodeo lessons with Daniel. Even her dad had stopped by two nights ago to check on her and to tell her he loved her. His sweet words had been her undoing and she’d curled into his arms and cried out all her pain against her daddy’s strong chest.

Despite the love and support of her family, Sienna still struggled to pull herself out of her funk.