“Uh yes, I am,” Sienna replied looking questioningly toward Vaughn. He was the picture of serenity. Sienna’s eyes narrowed. “This is the surprise?”
He nodded. I figured an hour-long massage by the water would be just what the Doctor needed.”
Sienna was flabbergasted. “Vaughn. You are unbelievable.”
“I try,” he winked. “So, you get going on the nature thing and I’m going to check back in with the troops. I’ll come back and get you and we can go explore Sedona together. Will that work?”
“Sounds wonderful. Only make it my place. I want to change after this is done.”
After Vaughn bid the two ladies goodbye he strolled back to the house. His thoughts drifted to Sienna. He retrieved his cell phone from his pocket. He dialed Carlton.
“You got a minute?”
“Sure, Angella’s aunt just picked her up for a sleepover. What’s up?”
“A lot. I swear, the more I’m around her, the more difficult it is to think about anything but kissing her.”
“We must be talking about Sienna.”
“Will you be serious? Who else would I be talking about? I’m telling you Carl, last night would’ve been the perfect opportunity; either on our walk back to her place or when we were sitting in front of the roaring fire at her cottage.”
“Perfect time for what?”
“To make a move. Will you keep up? We’ve grown close since I crashed and burned when we met in Catawba. She’s one of my best friends now. Sienna adds meaning to my life you know? She fills a space I didn’t even know was empty. She’s witty, smart, sensitive, and beautiful—inside and out.”
“From what you’ve told me she’s also feisty enough to put you in your place.”
“Which of course makes her that much more appealing.”
“Of course,” Carlton retorted.
“Despite the bizarre bun she wears more times than not, she’s sexy as hell.”
“Do you want my advice?”
“Carlton, that’s what I called you for.”
“Good. Here it is. You need to get off the fence and make a move. Find out how she feels about you.”
Pierce’s voice echoed in his head. You need to dazzle her, baby.
“Vaughn? Are you there?”
“Yes, sorry. I was just thinking.”
“Wasn’t that the whole point of this trip? Wasn’t it because you were missing her like crazy and you wanted to see where things stood?”
“Yes. If I tell Pierce this I’ll never hear the end of it, but I guess I did bring her here to…dazzle her.”
“So what’s with all the indecision?”
“I don’t know if she’s even ready to be in a committed relationship—with me.”
“How about asking? Vaughn, you’ve told me how much it kills you to listen to her chat about the men that hit on her at almost every focus group. It’s obvious you care about her. Stop being a baby about it and just tell her you want to see her naked.”
“Will you be serious?”
“Well, isn’t that what Pierce would tell you?”
“That’s why I didn’t call Pierce,” Vaughn complained. “We already know I want to see her naked—that’s a given. The question is when do I tell her and how?”
“Going from friends to lovers isn’t always a smooth transition,” his friend cautioned. “Things could backfire and then you’re stuck with it being awkward if it doesn’t work out.”
“That won’t happen,” Vaughn dismissed.
“How do you know?”
“Because I won’t let it.”
“You’re that sure of her feelings?”
“I’m that sure of mine. I can’t imagine my life without Sienna Lambert in it. I also know that once we cross that line, and we most definitely will be crossing it, we won’t be going back to just friends. She’s everywhere, Carlton,” Vaughn said, with a touch of awe. “My heart, mind, soul and Lord knows my body. I can’t escape her.”
“Then I guess you know what you need to do, buddy.”
Sienna had just pulled on a pair of shorts when her cell phone rang. Walking over to the night stand, she picked it up and hit the talk button. “Hello?”
“Did you do it, yet?”
“Viv?”
“Who else would it be…Cassie?” Vivian quipped. “Did you sleep with him?”
Sienna collapsed against the bed. She sighed loudly. “No, nothing like that, but last night…I thought for sure it was going to happen.”
“Well, why didn’t it?”
Sienna stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know, Viv. Something is holding both of us back. It’s like neither one of us wants to make the first move.”
“That’s just crazy. One of you better get to it before you die of terminal sexual build-up.”
“Vivian that’s silly.”
“No it isn’t. I was watching the discovery channel and I—”
“You saw no such thing. Look, maybe he doesn’t want anything more. I wore the red dress last night. The girls were front and center,” she said, referring to her cleavage. “I had the sexy heels on, make up—the whole nine, Viv. Nothing. Not even a kiss. I can’t force him to want to sleep with me.”
“Are you insane? Women have been doing that since the freaking dawn of time. Heck, pick a civilization. Egypt, Africa, Asia, India. Does the Kama Sutra ring a bell?”
Vivian was silent for a moment. “Tell me you wore your hair down last night.”
Sienna hesitated.
“Sienna Elizabeth Lambert. This has got to stop.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she evaded.
“You darn well do. Look, I hate to burst your bubble, but you are a beautiful woman. You hiding behind glasses and wearing your hair straight out of a magazine you borrowed from the Library of Congress doesn’t matter. One jealous woman’s ranting at you for a beauty pageant disaster doesn’t alter that fact.”
“Please…don’t go there,” Sienna ground out.
“Oh I’m going there. Sienna, it’s time to move on. That drama happened when you were a teenager. It doesn’t change who you are.”
Suddenly the well-erected wall she’d constructed cracked. “Yes it does, Vivian,” she said, tearfully. “Can’t you understand how I felt? He practically raped me. He would have if someone hadn’t come along. You know he had the nerve to tell me he’d never met a girl as beautiful as me? How ironic. You know she actually blamed me for it? He almost ruined me and it’s my fault? That’s what I can’t forgive.”
The line went silent. Eventually, Vivian spoke. “Sienna, listen to me. You weren’t to blame. Not for any of it. What happened was not your fault. You shouldn’t let it compromise your self-esteem. He wasn’t worth it. Do you hear me? He wasn’t and still isn’t worth the pain and torture you are putting yourself through. That horrible night doesn’t define you as a person. I know deep down you want it to. You think it should, but it doesn’t. You are still going to be beautiful, talented and smart. Not wearing make-up and all the props you put on are not going to change any of that. It’s time to move on,” she said, gently. “Let it go.”
Sienna blew her nose. “So what do you suggest I do? She took his side, Viv. Despite what we were supposed to mean to each other she believed him. Am I supposed to forgive her after all these years of animosity between us?”
“I won’t even begin to counsel you on that. Whether you forgive her is completely up to you. What I will suggest is that you live, Sienna—for you. That’s how you get past that dark moment in time. You live your life, and you start now. I don’t know Vaughn that well, but from what I can see you care about him. Truly care. You can’t trivialize that. So get those contacts you’ve been wanting, lose the Princess-Leia-wannabe hairdo, get a new wardrobe, and go seduce your man.”
Chapter Fourteen
Excursions
Vaughn came to Sienna’s room about fifteen minutes after her phone call with Vivian. When she saw him, a blush immediately splashe
d across her face. “I’m not exactly ready yet,” she apologized, glancing down at her plush terry bathrobe. His gaze followed hers. Tension crackled in the air like a well-established log fire. Vaughn stepped back slightly. “I can see that. I uh, can come back shortly if you’d prefer?”
“No, just give me a few minutes,” Sienna walked quickly back into the bathroom and shut the door.
Vaughn practically stood rooted to his spot. The visuals roaming through his mind’s eye were killing him.
Several minutes later, Sienna re-emerged dressed and ready to go. He escorted her out.
Vaughn rented a jeep with a GPS system. When Sienna saw it she couldn’t help but name it. “I think we’ll call it Liesl.”
Vaughn snickered. “Liesl? Been watching the Sound of Music lately?”
“Not recently,” she clarified.
“Recently being in the last month?”
She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, where are we going for breakfast?”
“The Coffee Pot. I have it on good authority that they have the most extensive list of omelets you’re ever going to find.”
“How many do they have?”
“One hundred and one.”
“Wow, that’s quite a list.”
“The team says it’s quite a restaurant.”
“It’s going to be a challenge trying to pick one.”
A snicker escaped his lips. “You forget I’m well acquainted with your indecisiveness.”
Sienna turned sideways in the seat. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It takes you forever to order,” he said, dryly. “I don’t know what I want, you go first, I’ll order last,” he mimicked.
“I can’t help it if everything looks good.”
“Just remember our flight leaves for North Carolina tomorrow afternoon.”
“Shut up.” She hit him in the arm.
When they arrived at the restaurant there was only a few minutes wait. Vaughn passed Sienna a menu. “Here, start reading,” he teased. “Maybe by the time we’re seated you’ll have picked something.”
“Oh come on, like you already know what you want.”
“I’m a simple man, Doc. I always know what I want.”
She scrutinized him closely. “Not always.”
Before Vaughn could comment, the waitress escorted them to their table. He waited until Sienna was situated before he sat down across from her. He laughed when she resumed studying the menu with quiet fervor.
“So, I was thinking we could go out with the team tonight. It would give you a chance to meet them.”
“Mmm hmm.” Sienna nodded distractedly.
Vaughn reached for her hand. That got her attention. She looked over at him.
“You know it’s not that serious.”
“Easy for you to say,” she grumbled. “You already know what you’re ordering. I’m only on the sixty-second omelet.”
The waitress came back to their table and asked if they were ready to order. Surprisingly, Sienna confirmed that they were. She closed her menu and handed it to the woman. “I’m going to go with number forty-one.”
“The zucchini, mushroom, spinach, tomato and cheese.” The woman told Sienna what sides it came with.
“Do you mind if I get the banana pancakes instead?”
The woman wrote it down. “No problem. Will that be all, ma’am?”
“Oh, and a large glass of milk. That’s it.”
Vaughn was staring at her in surprise. “That was fast.”
“Don’t get excited,” she joked. “It may never happen again.”
He ordered the number twenty-seven omelet which was sausage, bacon, tomato, mushroom and cheese. He also ordered green peppers, potatoes and homemade biscuits. When the waitress had taken his order and their menus she left. Satisfied, Vaughn turned to Sienna. It was her turn to stare in astonishment.
“What?”
“You’re going to eat all that?”
“Like there was any doubt?” he laughed. “I’m more worried about you, though.”
“Oh I’ll have room.”
After eating, they drove around Sedona while their food settled.
“I’m going to pop,” Sienna moaned rubbing her stomach.
“Nonsense, you didn’t eat that much.”
“By whose standards?” She rubbed her stomach again. “So where are we headed?”
“We’re going to Cave Creek. There’s a place called Extreme Arizona that does ATV tours. It’s just over one hundred miles from here.”
“Good. It’ll give my body a chance to digest all this food.”
Vaughn chuckled. “Have you ever been ATV’ing before?”
“Yes.”
He turned to face her.
She rolled her eyes. “I know it’s shocking, but I’ve actually done a few things you may not believe.”
“Is that so?” he said, intrigued.
“I’m not a pro, but I’ve gone out a few times.”
“With?”
“My dad, and on other occasions a few friends.”
He laughed but refused to elaborate when she asked him what he found amusing.
It took them two hours to get to reach their destination. After they were registered, Vaughn and Sienna were outfitted in pants, gloves, a riding jersey, boots, socks and safety gear. “I feel like a stuffed sausage,” Sienna giggled sliding her helmet down over her head.
“Trust me you’re too hot to look like a sausage.”
“I feel kind of hot,” she said, sitting on her all-terrain vehicle.
Vaughn’s eyes raked over the yellow and black riding outfit she wore. From her helmet down to her boots his gaze missed nothing. “Doc, that definitely was not the hot I was referring to.”
Sienna couldn’t contain the silly grin splattered across her face.
The guides had other riders to bring over from the shop so their vehicles were loaded up on the trailer. Vaughn and Sienna followed behind in their jeep.
Arriving at the trailhead, the employees backed the various ATV’s and dirt bikes out of the trailer while the riders stood off to the side. Sienna took that time to take in the scenery. There were power lines that ran overhead as far as her eye could see. The mountains and hills in the distance kissed the cloud-filled sky. The sandy trails stretched out ahead of them. Succulents, cacti and other plant life took her breath away with their natural beauty.
Sienna went back to the car and grabbed Vaughn’s digital camera and a guide book for all the indigenous plant life. She snapped a few photos and tried to put a name to some of the shrubs and bushes she saw. Desert Broom, Shrubby Coldenia and Feather Dalea were in abundance. Vaughn came up behind her. “We’re ready.”
She turned. “Sedona is so beautiful, Vaughn. I am so glad you brought me here.”
He looked into her face. It was hard considering she still had a helmet on. “Sienna, there is nobody I’d rather share such an amazing place with besides you.”
A fellow rider offered to snap their picture. Vaughn wrapped his arm around her waist and they took the picture, sans helmets.
Some of the riders were on guided tours while others explored the trails on their own. Vaughn and Sienna decided to go at their own pace. The driver would come back to get them in a few hours. They all synched their watches and hit the road.
She was hot when they were standing around waiting to leave, but the moment they got their ATV’s Sienna cooled off. It took her a while to get acclimated to shifting the gears of her quad, but she eventually mastered the task. Vaughn stayed close by. Sometimes he took the lead, other times Sienna was out front. They stayed to the right of the trails so that riders on the faster dirt bikes, quads, or in multi-passenger off-road vehicles could get by.
There were respectful of the land and never strayed from the marked trail. A few times they pulled over to drink some water or take a break. The last time they did Sienna took her helmet off.
“Are you tired?” Vaughn inquired.
�
��A little,” she admitted. “I’m not ready to call it quits, though. It’s too spectacular out here.”
“As much as I’d love to stay out here I think we’d better start heading back. Those are storm clouds on the horizon and the last thing I want to do is have us out here when it hits.”
Sienna followed his gaze. “My gosh, I didn’t even notice,” she placed her helmet back in place and started her ATV up. “Ready when you are,” she said, loudly.
“Let’s pick up the pace, okay?”
She nodded and let him lead. They heard the first clap of thunder. A storm was definitely headed their way. A few minutes later, the clouds opened up and it began to pour. The rain was making it extremely difficult to see. She slowed down to keep from being pelted so severely by the wind and water. As they were coming down a steep hill Sienna wiped her goggles. When her vision cleared she realized she was about to drive into a jagged stretch of the trail. She swerved to the right to avoid driving on uneven terrain. The second she realized she’d overcompensated it was too late. Her right wheel hit a crater and her ATV pitched severely. It rolled over taking her with it.
Vaughn made it down the hill and was heading down a flat stretch of trail. When he turned around to check on Sienna the yellow ATV was no longer behind him. He pulled over to the side and waited for a few moments. When there was no sign of Sienna his face creased with worry. This isn’t good. Vaughn wheeled around and accelerated back up the steep incline. Eventually, he spotted the ATV. It was lying upside down with Sienna’s legs protruding out from under it. His heart stopped. “Sienna,” Vaughn yelled, loudly. It was futile. His voice couldn’t be heard over his helmet, or the raging storm.
His vehicle skidded to a halt. He cut the engine and was off the machine in one seamless motion. “Sienna,” he shouted again. “Hang on, Sienna do you hear me? Hang on.”
Chapter Fifteen
Turning Point
It had happened in an instant. One minute she was riding along the flooding trail, the next she was on the ground with an ATV on top of her. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. The vehicle didn’t feel as heavy as she would have expected. Focus. Rule number seventeen: Don’t panic, there’s a way out of everything, she told herself. The first order of business was to get out from under the vehicle. With as much strength as she could muster Sienna sat up and pushed with all her weight. She flipped the quad over. It cleared her and came to rest right side up and on all four wheels. Thank God it isn’t as heavy as it looked, she told herself.
Interview with Love Page 11
