So she’d never dated unless you counted the two or three times she’d shared a cup of coffee with the man she was betrothed to, under the close supervision of an adult chaperone.
Her brothers were all married off to young women her parents had hand-selected for their sons. Plain, family-oriented, religious, with no real goals other than to take care of their husbands and eventual children, all three wives were cookie-cutter models. The same model Elon thought he was getting in her, but he also wanted a punching bag who could spit out a baby each year.
Although Asher had been begging her for the last few years to get out and date and make a life, she never allowed herself that dream. Not so much because she was still legally married. She definitely wasn’t looking to get married again so that wouldn’t come into play, but she was scared to death about sex.
Forget sex, being intimate in the smallest way frightened her. Coming from an arranged marriage with all kinds of crazy rules about relations, she had little to no experience being intimate with a man.
She glanced toward the counter, assuring herself she had a few more moments to gather herself. Carson waited by the barista for her beverage, standing there as if this was their regular Saturday morning routine, making small talk with the young girl behind the massive espresso machine.
Sienna looked around for a stray newspaper. It would finish off the “young couple out for midday java” look.
Early on in her dancing days, Sienna read a lot of romance books. Sienna Flower was a creation of who and what women in the books were portrayed as being, both in fantasies and happily-ever-after romances. Perhaps the romance novels were the reason women loved Sienna just as much as the men did. She embodied what women thought they should be like for a man.
Surely, a man wanted a real woman rather than a fictional character?
Sure as she was sitting in a room filled with the aroma of fresh coffee being brewed and steam filling the air around the latte counter, Sienna had no hard-core knowledge of “being” with the male species. No more than servicing a man while lying on her back motionless, taking his penis inside her as if she really wanted it, and accepting his punches when she wasn’t lying down.
A chill ran down Sienna’s spine as she remembered her husband coming to the room they shared for two weeks of every month. He never touched or kissed her. He didn’t even take her clothes off, rather left them as a barrier between his skin and hers. He would push her underwear to the side and enter quickly and without warning, then he would finish as quickly as he entered. With a few rough jabs of himself inside her, he would ejaculate and be done.
Sienna wasn’t sure whether there was a problem with her or him, but there must have been one because she never got pregnant. Thankfully. He wouldn’t allow her to use birth control, and they only had sex during her fertile periods.
Sienna dragged herself out of her fog. She was so nervous over one cup of coffee, her thoughts had taken a negative path. She needed to redirect herself to somewhere positive, especially since she overheard Carson thanking the barista for the beverages, and would soon be back.
Although she’d never really been out with a man, she placed a smile of confidence on her face as Carson made his way back to their seats, juggling the steaming drinks and a small plate.
“One cappuccino for the lady, and I took the chance of buying a scone for us to share. In case we get hungry,” Carson added with a wink.
“Thank you. I’m actually hungry.” When Carson raised an eyebrow at her comment, she asked, “What? Isn’t that why you bought the scone? To eat?” She busied her hands, rubbed her thumbs over each other, and tried to still her nerves.
“Yes, of course. It’s just that in all my years of dating, I’ve never heard a woman admit she was hungry on a first date. I kind of like it.”
He laughed, and the sound shot right to her heart, warming the muscle she’d frozen over years ago, relaxing her everywhere.
Sienna gave him a tentative smile. “Well, believe it or not, I don’t have much experience with doing this,” she said with a wave of her hand indicating their surroundings. “I’m just being myself, and I’m hungry. Truthfully, I wanted to avoid talking about what I do, but the fact is what I do, I can eat whatever I want. Pretty much.”
Carson just smiled at her. She had no idea where all her boldness was coming from; she was a regular Chatty Cathy at the moment. Admitting she had little dating experience and telling secrets of her job? What personal information would she reveal next, that she was on a perfect twenty-eight-day menstrual cycle?
Desperately trying to curtail her rambling, Sienna reached over and took a piece of scone to shove in her big mouth.
“I’m a runner, so I eat whatever I want, too,” Carson said, defusing the tension even further.
Of course he ran. Just look at his gorgeous, lean body.
“I run about twice a week,” she said. “I just go around my neighborhood, and one of the guys from the club typically comes with me. I don’t know why. Without makeup and my hair in a cap, I’m not recognizable.” She motioned her hand like a game show hostess across her face to prove the point.
Carson leaned back in his chair. “You’re still gorgeous, if you don’t mind me saying. I like this natural look. I didn’t know what to expect when you agreed to meet. I’ve only seen you at the club, so I had no idea what you’d wear outside in the real world, but I like it. I don’t know about the baseball team itself, but the cap is good. And you’re even more stunning without all the makeup.” He gave her a once-over, allowing his eyes to roam before he stopped at her eyes and gave her another wink.
Before she could blush, he pressed his forehead into the heel of his hand. “God, I’m such a dumb fuck. I told myself I wouldn’t make this meeting all about your looks, but rather get to know you. Yet here I’m going on about how you look.”
She smiled. “It’s fine. I’ve never done this before. I really don’t have much of a life outside the club. Just work, the other girls, and the rest of the time, I enjoy the quiet of my place. I don’t know what I’m doing here either.”
Sienna took a deep breath and somehow found the courage to add, “You’re handsome, too. I liked the way you looked when I saw you at the club, but you never smiled when you watched. It made me curious about you.”
Carson leaned back in the leather chair and stretched out his long legs beneath the tiny table between them. He laced his fingers together over his midsection as he said, “Well, it’s good to know that we’re both fascinated with each other. And that we’re out of our element.”
“Do you think this was a bad idea?” she asked while she sank back, trying to lose herself in the large leather chair she occupied.
His eyes widened. “Is that what you think? I don’t think it’s bad at all. I was captured by you and your mesmerizing eyes weeks ago, and I’m pretty damn happy to be here. I’m not one to go to a gentleman’s club every weekend, but your eyes drew me in deeper each time I saw you. You seemed like such a contradiction up there with your innocent stare under your big lashes, when your moves were so sensually loaded.” He reached a hand reached across the two armrests and stroked a finger up her arm, motioning for her not to drown in her seat.
“But you didn’t smile.” She stared deep into his eyes, determined to understand him better. “You really didn’t seem to like it.”
“I don’t think I smiled because I was trying to figure you out. I’m a private investigator, ex-FBI. I solve mysteries for a living, but I couldn’t put my finger on you. You were enticing and inviting, yet private at the same time. To say I was intrigued and riveted is putting it pretty mildly,” Carson explained.
Suddenly Sienna was overwhelmed, swimming in a sea of scents—cinnamon, fresh-roasted coffee beans, and spicy aftershave. She felt a tiny frisson of nerves wash over her when he mentioned solving mysteries. Schooled in appearing to be something she wasn’t, she hid her reaction and held on to her casual expression, even though she didn’t kn
ow if she wanted to climb the mountain of a man or bolt.
Of all the guys to meet and go to coffee with, I pick one who’s an expert in uncovering mysteries.
Taking a sip of her cappuccino, Sienna changed the subject. Aiming for something more mundane, she asked, “So, do you live in Henderson?” then winced. Asking where he lived wasn’t casual at all.
Carson raised an eyebrow at the abrupt change in conversation. “Actually, I don’t live here.”
She was in way over her head. The upside was that he didn’t live in Vegas, so he wouldn’t be around for long. And likely only looking for a good time.
“You don’t? But you come in to the club a lot. Where do you live? What brings you to Vegas so often?”
“I’m based in Philadelphia. I grew up outside Philly in the suburbs with my dad, and moved into the city when I got older. Now I travel a lot, so I just keep a small condo there. At the moment, I’m on a case out west. It’s silly to keep flying back and forth, so I come here on the weekends to unwind.”
He grabbed the last bit of scone and an exaggerated look of guilty pleasure washed over his face. She didn’t know if it was about the scone or being a regular at the Tunnel.
Is he sneaking around on a wife?
She sat forward and pulled her long ponytail out from the back of her chair, splaying it to the side of her neck, and tilted her head. “Don’t you miss home? You must have family or someone special back there.” Then realizing she was being pushy, Sienna said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
Carson shook his head. “You’re not prying. We’re out for coffee, which I wouldn’t be doing right now if there was someone special. I travel way too much to be a tied-down kind of guy. My dad died before I went to college, so I don’t really have any family. I guess my situation makes me pretty well suited for what I do.”
“Oh.” Sienna looked down at her coffee cup, unsure how to respond. Something had stirred inside her when he said he didn’t have someone “special.” She should be glad he didn’t live in Vegas, but Carson interrupted her thoughts.
“Don’t get me wrong, that type of thing works for some people, and I get it. It must be nice to have that type of deal, I don’t really know for sure. My mom left when I was little and never came back, so I don’t really remember that between my parents. I imagine it feels secure, nice, but my life is too crazy.” He shook his head, as if to shake away the memories, and caught her eye. “But enough about me.”
Oh no.
“Did you grow up here in Vegas?” Carson asked, lightening the mood with a grin.
Between his smile and the toffee-colored glint in his warm brown eyes, Sienna had no idea where to look first. She was completely captivated with the man in front of her, and feared she was falling hard and fast for something that wasn’t even a possibility. Even if Carson wanted it.
She had to think quickly. If she allowed herself to hesitate, Sienna was certain Carson would coax all her secrets from her. “I didn’t grow up in Vegas,” she said carefully. “Military family, so I moved a lot growing up, mostly Eastern Seaboard.” She wrapped her hands around her still-warm coffee mug, seeking its heat and comfort since she was rattled by both the conversation and her train of thought.
“Tell me more. What are you into? What do you do when you’re not working?” He leaned in toward her.
Her heart pounded. She smelled his unique scent, mostly manly, a bit woodsy, although now it was mixed with the leftover essence of chocolate-cinnamon scone and strong coffee. It was captivating.
“Actually, I don’t do much other than work and dance. I read when I have a chance. Oh, and I garden around my place and Asher’s.” She busied her idle hands with her hair again.
“Asher, he owns the club, right?”
“Yes. Asher Peterson owns the Tunnel. He’s also my neighbor and closest friend. My house is behind his.” Sienna added the last tidbit as a little deterrent.
Deterrent to what? She wasn’t sure if she wanted to keep Carson from getting close, or remind herself to stay far away.
“Do you have hobbies when you’re home?” She finally steadied her hands and reached for her cappuccino.
“Other than running, which I try to do everywhere, I boat during the summer, and I have a motorcycle.” He flashed a huge grin when he revealed this little fact. “Otherwise, I work and enjoy a couple good cocktails on the weekend. That’s it. Pretty simple.”
Carson shifted his big frame in his seat before leaning in once again toward Sienna. She had no idea what he was doing, and was fearful for the first time since seeing him in the club. Was he going to reach out and touch her? Kiss her?
She wasn’t ready for that…was she? She might never be ready.
I want to kiss him, but what if I’m not good at it?
Biting her lower lip, she stole a quick glance out at the parking lot. Seeing Mike still in his spot with his eyes on the coffee shop relaxed her a little.
Still, what would she do if he got any closer? Jump up and run out to Mike? Start waving her hands in the air to get Mike’s attention? Either way, she’d look ridiculous. She had no choice other than to focus on Carson and try to finish the coffee date.
Still chewing on her lip, Sienna tried to focus on what was happening in front of her. She quietly inhaled his scent, smelled the pungent combination on his breath, and almost wanted to lean in herself and taste the cinnamon and coffee right from his mouth.
“Sienna, look. I know this is pretty unconventional. I’ve never hung out at a place like the Tunnel a few weeks in a row, let alone asked a dancer out before. From the little I know and what you’ve told me, I also know you don’t typically go out with customers. So this is odd for both of us, but there’s something that keeps drawing me to you.” He paused for a second, his gaze roaming from her eyes to her lips, then back again. “I really don’t know what it is or means, especially since I told you I’m basically a no-strings attached kind of guy, but I’d like to find out.”
His breath tickled along her cheek as he talked, continuing to assail her senses. She found herself speechless, both from what he said, as well as how he made her feel.
She opened her mouth to respond, but hesitated, pressing her lips tightly before she was finally able to put a few words together. “Yes, this is a bit out of both of our comfort zones. For me, everything is awkward because I don’t date. Ever. And you’re more like a love-’em-and-leave-’em bachelor.”
Carson shook his head. “But that doesn’t make it bad. Yes, a little awkward, but not bad at all. Now that I see you outside the club, I want to know you better. You have a quiet beauty to you when you aren’t onstage. Sure, we both have our reservations, but I want to get to know you. I don’t know how long this West Coast case is going to take, but I’m not wrapping it up anytime soon. Can we get to know each other? That’s all I’m asking.”
“I don’t know,” she said with a sigh. “I’ve never done this, and like I said, I’m kind of inexperienced when it comes to dating.”
She was such a liar. Sienna wanted to get to know Carson in the worst way. She wanted to know all of him, even his little quirks, what he looked like in the morning, and whether he would like her running her hands through his thick black hair.
“And to be honest, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t live up to any of your expectations,” she said so softly she almost couldn’t hear herself. Why was she sabotaging herself?
He pitched his broad chest just an inch or two forward. “Seriously,” Carson said sincerely, “no expectations. Just dinner, a movie, a run, maybe see your gardening? No big deal. Can’t we just explore this?”
“I guess since I already put my foot in my mouth and was honest about being hungry earlier, I can go for a second time and eat. But I hope you’re not expecting me to be fast on a first date or anything. I’m not like that.” She lowered her gaze and bowed her head with the admission.
Or experienced, she added silently. At all.
At that
, Carson burst out laughing, showing off a full, genuine smile and beautiful teeth. He reached one finger under her chin and tilted her face back up so they were eye to eye. “We’re drinking coffee in the middle of the day with you sitting there in a baseball cap, and I couldn’t want for anything more. Crazy as it seems, this is good for right now.”
Sienna was pretty certain her heart melted a little bit, fully warming for the first time since Asher took her under his wing. She sat there in silence with no clue what to say or how to respond.
What was Carson really looking for? He seemed nice and wasn’t looking for a happily-ever-after, and appeared to respect her limits. All winning him points.
Then there were his looks. He was a striking man. He didn’t look anything like her husband, a small-minded man who made up for his insecurities by physically hurting women. No, Sienna could see a passionate soul in the depths of Carson’s dreamy eyes and expression. He might act like a tough guy, but she was thinking he might not be so tough underneath it all.
Just because she wasn’t experienced in dating didn’t mean she couldn’t understand people. She had stared into the eyes of an evil man long enough to know a good one when she saw him.
Carson was good and she was lonely, which was why she said, “All right. I’m open to trying to get to know each other. I have no expectations and I live a pretty quiet life when I’m not at the Tunnel. So I’m not sure if I’ll be the good time you’re looking for right now, but I’ll try.”
He reached his hand over, bridging the gap between the two of them, and covered hers.
Sienna had never felt anything as intimate or sweet as that simple gesture in her whole life. With their hands entwined, she sat quietly, the lump in her throat not allowing her to say anything more. To cover up her silence, she smiled, even though she felt like crying. Crying over the promise of what could be one day in her life, or what she left behind; she didn’t know. Maybe both.
Electrified Page 9
