Dare Me Tonight

by Phillips, Carly

  She walked through the restaurant and joined her half sister, who looked up from her phone. “Oh, hi!”

  “Hi.” She slid into a chair and let out a breath. “I just ran into Dad.” She wrinkled her nose. “I can’t cope. And now that I experienced everything you once did firsthand, I feel even worse.”

  Avery smiled sadly. “Listen, he’s our father. That doesn’t mean we have to have anything to do with him, but I think it’s a decision each of us needs to make on our own.”

  “Well, I pretty much just told him to have a nice life.”

  “If you weren’t pregnant, I’d say let’s drink to that,” Avery muttered. “Instead, let’s change the subject. What did you want to talk about?”

  “Charity. Doing another cancer-related event like we did around prom time.”

  Avery’s eyes lit up at the idea. “Did you have anything specific in mind?”

  “Well, yes. But it needs work. It started as a thought.” She glanced down and rubbed her belly, which wasn’t yet visible through her clothes, but she’d already lost her waist.

  “Tell me more.”

  “What about moms of kids with cancer? Who steps up for them? Who makes sure they have what they need, be it a day off from work to be with their child or a spa day where they can just relax for an hour or two and take a break from the daily hurt and pain?” She waved her hands, gesturing excitedly as she spoke. “So what if we get local vendors – massage therapists and hair salons – to sponsor something called Ma Spa Day to treat the moms in need, and hit up the big corporations to donate money to pay for women’s time off and their relaxation time?”

  “I love it! I’m in,” Avery immediately said.

  “Great. Can we meet again and hash out details? I need to go talk to my mother,” Sienna said, her confrontation with her father still on her mind.

  She might not want a relationship with Robert Dare, but she did love her mom despite her faults. Her plan was to make sure everything with her mom was good, explain that she wasn’t all that surprised her dad had cheated – after all, that was what he’d done to his first wife – and help her mother move on.

  “Sure. Just call me and we’ll get to work,” Avery said with a smile. “I’m meeting Grey here for drinks, so I’ll just hang out.”

  Sienna smiled. “Give your husband a hug for me.”

  “Speaking of hunky guys,” Avery said.

  Sienna rolled her eyes. “I didn’t know we were.”

  “You said Grey. That’s a hunk to me. Anyway, how’s your man?” Avery leaned onto the table, clearly dying for information on Sienna and Ethan.

  She placed her bag down and sighed. “I wish I knew. Ever since we returned from Colorado, he’s been just as attentive and wonderful as he was before. I’m falling head over heels and I don’t know what I’m going to do when he goes back to New York, let alone raise a baby with the man when I want so much more.”

  Avery took a sip of water from the glass that was on the table in front of her. “Are you sure he doesn’t want what you want?”

  “I can’t ask him. I told him I don’t have those expectations. If he wants a future, he’s going to have to come to me.”

  * * *

  Ethan picked up Sienna’s favorite choices in Chinese food and arrived at her apartment. She’d given him a key, so he let himself inside and set up the food on the counter. She walked in after him, looking tired, as she tossed her keys on the counter and her handbag on the sofa.

  “Long day.”

  “I have food,” he said, as if that would solve everything. Sometimes in her pregnant state, it did.

  They settled into neighboring chairs. He’d even set the table, something he never did before, and waited for her to pick her food.

  She loaded her plate, mumbling about family issues and he figured she’d talk to him when she was ready.

  He bit into a spare rib and she said, “I ran into my father today.”

  “Seriously?” He put down the rib and wiped his face on a napkin. “What happened?”

  “He treated me the way I’ve seen him treat the other side of the family all these years. Said he heard I was pregnant, I said funny, I haven’t heard from you, but then that’s your MO. You find someone new and forget the family you have.” She shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but he could see it really did. “Then I told him best of luck and walked away.”

  “That had to have hurt,” he murmured.

  “Karma maybe. Not to me, but now I know what my half siblings really felt like all these years and it sucks.” She looked up at him with damp eyes. “For us he was a good dad. Until he wasn’t.” She drew a deep breath. “Then I went to Mom’s. And though I told her she should have expected as much from my dad, I mean, cheaters cheat … I also said I’d be there for her while she puts her life back together.”

  “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” He reached out and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her. “You have a big family that loves you. I know you’ll all figure it out.”

  But suddenly he sensed that wasn’t what she wanted or needed. She needed someone in her life who would put her first. Who’d never hide things from her or treat her like a child.

  She needed him.

  After the Colorado trip, Ethan had settled into himself. He’d seen what kind of life his brother had built and realized that he wanted the same thing. He thought he’d tried to create that life with Mandy but they were too different. They were both so work focused, their personal lives fell by the wayside. And then Mandy just fell apart and he’d been either unaware or powerless to stop it.

  And he realized he could have those things with Sienna. The only thing holding him back now was how much she valued her family. She seemed to need them around her as much as she needed the air she breathed and his life, his business, his family were in New York. Unlike Parker, he couldn’t pick up and move. KTT was a New York based corporation.

  “I worked out a new charity function with Avery,” she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. “It’s going to be amazing. We’re going to help women whose kids have cancer. I’ll explain more later but I know it’s going to be awesome.”

  He groaned, her words merely confirming what he’d already thought. She was so firmly entrenched here, asking her to leave would be difficult if not impossible, but he didn’t want to lose her. Somehow he was going to have to figure something out.

  He pressed his lips to her hair and breathed in her scent, his cock hardening the longer she sat on his lap. But he wanted her to eat, both for herself and for the baby, otherwise she’d get light-headed and dizzy. He never wanted a repeat of her passing out in his arms.

  “Come on,” he said, placing her back in her seat. “Eat.”

  She grinned at him probably because she knew exactly what he was doing and why. Without arguing, she dug in to her food, making him feel better knowing she had her evening meal.

  “Have you thought about whether it’s a boy or a girl?” she asked, taking him off guard.

  He shook his head. “No.”

  In the beginning, he’d barely let himself acknowledge the idea of a child at all. Now? “A healthy, happy baby will do just fine.”

  Her smile took his breath away.

  “Well, we’re in agreement there. Does that mean we can be surprised?” she asked, sounding hopeful.

  “You got it.” His heartbeat increased at the idea of an actual child. His child. Their baby.

  Suddenly, he couldn’t wait.

  * * *

  Ethan sat in his office, noting how the summer seemed to fly. He’d spent every free minute when he wasn’t working with Sienna getting to know everything about her, watching her grow bigger with his baby… and falling further in love.

  He’d gone home to New York a couple of times to handle business issues there, and while gone, he’d missed her like crazy. Something had to give because they were starting to wrap up his company’s part in the security of the stadium.

 
As if on cue, his phone rang and he answered, knowing it was Sebastian. “Hey,” Ethan said.

  “Hi.”

  “How’s everything at home?” he asked. “Ashley and Sierra okay?”

  “All good. No worries. Listen, I just spoke to our supervisor on your pet project. He says things are progressing faster than anticipated. I think everyone was on edge from the California mess and built in extra time, just in case.”

  “Probably,” Ethan muttered. For the first time, the mention, even indirectly, of Mandy’s betrayal didn’t gut him the way it used to. It had happened, and miracle of miracles, he’d gotten over it. As for the stadium, he knew just how quickly things were moving, and his stomach cramped at the thought of leaving Miami. Or more to the point, leaving Sienna.

  “I was thinking of taking a flight down and checking things out,” Sebastian said, unaware of Ethan’s conflicted feelings.

  His brother’s words took him by surprise. “Sure. Come see things for yourself. You’ll be happy with the results.”

  “Good. Does the day after tomorrow work? Ashley’s busy with a private client and things are quiet at the office.”

  “Works for me. I’ll pick you up at the airport,” he told his brother. “Text me your landing information.”

  He disconnected the call, staring at the phone, wondering why he was so upset and knowing the answer he just didn’t want to face. His time in Miami was coming to an end and he was no closer to a solution with Sienna. If anything, she was even more entrenched in where she lived.

  She and Avery had put together an upcoming Labor Day charity event and Ethan couldn’t be prouder. She’d hit up corporations and convinced them to donate money that would go to women whose children had cancer, allowing them to take time off from work to spend with their sick kids; she’d gotten local spas and salons to close to the public for one day and donate hours to make women who were normally dragging from exhaustion and had stopped thinking about themselves feel good.

  Ma Spa Day, as they called it, had been written up on local blogs, and in print and online newspapers and magazines. Sienna had been offered jobs by a number of nonprofit organizations, and though she hadn’t accepted any, she had options.

  In Miami.

  With a groan, he rose from his seat and was on his way out to pick up lunch when Ian appeared in his office. “Jesus,” he said to the other man. “You’re like a stealth fighter. I didn’t even hear you come in.”

  Ian chuckled. “Got a minute?” Presuming Ethan did, Ian walked in and settled into a chair.

  “Make yourself at home,” Ethan muttered and sat down on the edge of his desk. “What can I do for you?”

  “You love my sister?” Ian asked.

  Leave it to Ian to get right to the point.

  Ethan gripped the edge of the desk and faced the man who was so much like Ethan himself when it came to family, it was downright scary. It made it hard for Ethan to get pissed or tell Ian to mind his own fucking business.

  “I do love her.”

  Ian narrowed his gaze. “I expected to have to drag it out of you. Does she know?”

  “No.”

  Ian raised his eyebrows. “Why the hell not?”

  Ethan’s hands curled harder around the edge of the desk. “You know how badly I want to hit you right now? Or to ask you to get the fuck out of my office?”

  Ian grinned. “But you won’t. Because you know you’d be doing the exact same thing if the situation were reversed and your sister were involved.”

  Unable to argue, Ethan just answered the original question. “Why haven’t I told her? Because I haven’t figured out the future, that’s why. What good does it do to bare my soul if I’m leaving? And her entire life is here?”

  Ian hung his head and gave it a good shake. “Jesus Christ, now I know why my wife thinks men are dumb shits. Do you have any idea what Sienna would do if you told her you loved her and asked her to marry you? I’ll tell you what,” the man said before Ethan could jump in. “She’d burst into tears, say yes, pack her bags, and be ready to move to New York in a heartbeat.”

  Ethan narrowed his gaze, shocked at Ian’s words. He’d played out that very scenario in his mind many times lately, and it had never ended that way. “I didn’t want to make her choose between me and her family.”

  “Dumb shit,” Ian repeated. “Ask her and see. I’m always right. Besides, I expect you to make an honest woman out of her before she gives birth.”

  As much as he hated to give Ian credit for anything, Ethan hoped with everything in him that the other man was right.

  At the prospect of making Sienna his, anticipation and excitement filled Ethan’s veins, and he rose to his feet. “I take it I have your blessing,” he said wryly.

  Sienna didn’t have a father who would step up and do what was best for her. As much as she loved her full brothers, Alex and Jason, Ethan sensed Ian had made himself her parent figure. Ethan needed the man’s okay to make Sienna happy. Thank God he had it.

  “Not only that, I have the name of a jeweler you can call for a ring. It’ll save you a trip to Manhattan.” Ian was already searching through his cell phone for the information.

  “You really do think of everything.” Ethan laughed because at this point he felt like he was looking at his mirror image.

  “Take care of my sister, Knight,” Ian said as he hit send and forwarded the jeweler’s information.

  “I’ll make it my life’s mission,” Ethan swore as his cell phone dinged with the message.

  Ian stood. “Gotta go. I have a very pregnant wife at home. Due any day.”

  Ethan winced at that. “Good luck.” He strode over to Ian and shook his hand. “And thank you.”

  “My pleasure.” Ian turned and walked out the door, leaving Ethan with a very important phone number in his hands.

  * * *

  Ethan picked up Sebastian from the airport and brought him back to Sienna’s apartment, where they planned to have dinner. She had a meeting with her sister right after work, and though he was concerned about how many hours she was putting in, she seemed to be able to handle it.

  They’d stopped on the way so Sebastian could take a tour of the stadium, and as Ethan had predicted, his brother was pleased. KTT had gotten through the Mandy debacle and come out stronger on the other end.

  Ethan poured both himself and Sebastian a scotch and handed his brother the tumbler, then picked up his own. He shoved his hand into his pocket, feeling for the ring he’d picked out this morning before driving to the airport.

  He’d yet to tell Sebastian his plan but he intended to.

  Sebastian lifted his glass.

  “To you,” Sebastian said, taking Ethan off guard. “The irony of this situation isn’t lost on me. Right before we landed in Miami, you told me you didn’t want kids, yet here you are, making the best of a shit situation. I have to admit, I don’t know if I could have done the same if I’d knocked up one of my one-night stands.”

  A loud gasp sounded from the doorway. Both men turned to find Sienna, wearing a long nightshirt, staring in horror at Ethan and his brother.

  “Sienna. I didn’t mean that the way it came out. I just–”

  “I’m not a shitty situation, you bastard.” She glared at both men, turned, and ran for the bedroom.

  Nausea rose in Ethan’s throat. “Jesus Christ.”

  “You said she wasn’t home!” Sebastian said, running a hand over his face, obviously upset.

  “She wasn’t supposed to be.” But she looked like she’d been napping or maybe she wasn’t feeling well. Shit. “Stay here,” Ethan muttered and headed to the bedroom.

  He walked through the open door but the bathroom door was closed, and as he turned the handle, he found it locked. “Sienna.” He banged on the door. “Let me in.”

  “I’m sick. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  He sat on the bed, waiting, pissed that the night had gone so wrong. His plan had been to have dinner with Sienna and his br
other, take Sebastian to Ethan’s apartment, and return to propose to Sienna.

  Instead, his brother had opened his big mouth and Sienna definitely had gotten the wrong idea.

  When she didn’t come out, he rose to his feet, prepared to knock the door down if he had to, when Sienna swung it open wide and stepped out.

  Her face was pale, her eyes glassy, her dark hair falling in waves around her shoulders. She’d been talking about changing back to blonde. He didn’t care what color hair she had, he loved her.

  “Are you sick?” he asked carefully, tiptoeing around his brother’s fuckup.

  “Yes. I left work early. I figured I’d come home, nap, and wake up to meet with Ashley. I slept through my alarm.” She folded her arms across her chest, putting a clear barrier up between them.

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “Because I don’t report in to you and I figured you’d want time with your brother.” She walked over to the bed and sat down, curling up on her side.

  He ignored the snide first remark because she was obviously pissed and hurt and rightly so. He sat down beside her, placing his hand on her arm. “You misunderstood what you heard Sebastian say.”

  She raised her head up enough to ask, “Oh? So you didn’t tell him you didn’t want kids?”

  “I felt that way… at the time. But you know my head wasn’t on straight back then.” And he really didn’t think he needed to rehash his past with her when she knew it well already.

  She swallowed hard. “Yet despite how good things have been these last few months, your brother thinks you’re making the best of a shit situation,” she said, affecting quotation marks with her hands.

  “Because he doesn’t know anything about us.”

  Her eyes opened wide and he realized he’d made a strategic error.

  “You didn’t think to tell him you were happy here? Is that because you were just pretending? Making the best of it? Of me?” Tears filled her eyes and it ripped him apart inside.

  “Fuck no,” he said, suddenly desperate for her to understand. “I expressed some of how I felt but not everything. You know I’m not an open, talkative person. I wasn’t going to call Sebastian and gush over the fact that I fell in love with you!” he said, raising his voice.