Page 199 of Heartless

“Thank you,” she whispered.

The radiance of her light touched my soul.“Move in with me.”

She scrunched her nose.“Aren’t I kind of already moved in?”

“Let’s make it official.”

Her arms curled around my neck.“I’d love that.”

I kissed her.Slow and long.My Sienna purred before her mouth trailed down my jaw,

making me harder.“We haven’t had sex in the pool yet.”

I carried her to the pool while her little shriek rolled into the warm afternoon.

****

Sienna

Jake helped me out of the car and closed its door before taking my hand.Raising our joined fingers, he touched his mouth to my inner wrist.

“You’re ready?”

I looked at the front door of Nigel’s house.It had lost its intimidating austerity.I smiled at Jake and nodded.

The day after his father had died, Joel had left me a voicemail to invite me to the funeral.I’d declined.Three weeks after that, he’d called to say there was something important we needed to discuss in private.I’d learnt my lesson, but I hadn’t even had to ask Jake to come with me.As soon as I’d told him, he’d asked his assistant to reschedule his day.

He rang the bell, which opened on Mr.Munch.The ageless man notched his chin down.“Good afternoon, Sienna.Mr.Rhodes.”

So, Jake had been here before.Or the super-duper house manager was well informed.

“Mr.Morrison is in the informal dining room.”

“Thank you, Munch,” I replied.

Jake curled his arm around my shoulders, and I wrapped mine around his waist before we headed toward the room.We’d nearly reached the closed double doors when clacks of heels echoed from behind us.

“And the shit show begins,” Jake muttered.

Leaning into him, I held my giggle as we pivoted toward who I assumed to be Kimberly.

It was KimberlyandGabby.

The two women, standing with their elbows hooked, gaped at Jake.They were even dressed in a girl-band kind of way: wearing black and white, fashionable outfits.One woman wanted Jake, the other had slept with him.My life was wonderfully weird.

After Jake had jerked his chin at them, I cut through the uncomfortable silence.“Kimberly.Gabby.”

Kimberly swallowed hard and aimed a closed mouth smile at us.“Sienna, I wanted you to know Joel and I talked, and I understand why...”She cleared her throat.“I understand.”

Well, good for you.The muscles of Jake’s arm hardened, and I tilted my eyes to his angry frown.When Gabby detached from their duo to approach us, Jake pecked my temple and stepped a few feet away from us while Kimberly glided out of the room.

Gabby grinned, and her gaze slowly slid over me.“Shit, Nana.It’s like you’re a different person.You look so good.”

She took my hand.“When Kimmy said you were coming today, I came over straight away to see you.I missed you.”

She meant that.I knew she did.Flashes of how we used to tell each other the secrets we thought no one else could understand reeled slowly through my mind.Tears clogged the back of my throat, and I drew her in my arms.

Her arms around me were tight.“I’m sorry, Nana,” she whispered in my hair.