Page 182 of Ride a Cowboy

When the tears began to subside, he cupped her cheek and lifted her gaze until it met his. “Ready to talk about it?”

She nodded. And then she explained. About Vivi’s illness, the prognosis. About her grandmother’s desire to keep it a secret from the family, her plans to share her memories with the girls and her wish to move into a nursing home. Through it all, Daniel listened, offering her the words she needed to hear.

He thought they were right to keep Vivi’s secret. Of all her grandmother’s requests, that was the one that sat most heavily upon her shoulders. Daniel convinced her there was no harm in honoring her wishes for the time being. The diagnosis would be the same regardless of when the rest of the family found out. Daniel could sympathize with Vivi’s determination to sort out her own affairs before that happened.

He pointed out it how hard it would be for Seth and his brothers to let Vivi go, so she’d have to ease them into that eventuality. Daniel was right. Sienna could picture the fuss Silas would kick up, imagine her father and Sawyer barring the door while Sam promised every penny he’d ever made to any doctor who could offer a cure. Vivi would need the time to prepare herself for that.

Sienna had no doubt her grandmother would win in the end. It reminded her of something Vivi had said back in the fall—Seth would move heaven and earth to keep Jody happy. The same was true for his mother. If Vivi needed to go away to deal with her illness, he might not like it, but eventually, he would resign himself to that end and he would let her go.

“Feeling better?” Daniel reached toward the table for the box of tissues. He grabbed a couple, using them to wipe her eyes, then held them in front of her nose and told her to “Blow.”

She laughed, but she blew her nose just the same.

“Daniel,” she said, “I don’t think I could have gotten through this without you. My cousins?—”

“Are as upset as you.”

She nodded. “Jade’s pissed, Hope’s devastated and I can’t tell if Sterling is in shock or denial.”

“You all have your grandmother’s strength. You’ll be fine. I promise.”

It was exactly what she needed to hear. Sienna leaned forward and kissed him. It wasn’t a gentle kiss, rather it was one that was full of demand. And promise.

Daniel hesitated at first. He wouldn’t push her or take advantage when she was so distressed. He needn’t have worried.

She tackled the buttons on his shirt with haste, desperate to touch his warm skin. She was cold right now. So damn frozen. She needed the heat that only he could provide.

Sienna deepened the kiss, opened her lips to thrust her tongue into Daniel’s mouth. He met her halfway. Gripping the hem of her sweater, he drew it over her head.

“Let’s go to bed.” She rose but remained bent at the waist until he joined her. She refused to give up the solace his mouth provided for even a second. They stumbled to the bedroom together, a mass of limbs trying to walk and undress while their lips never parted.

By the time they reached the bed, they were naked and ravenous. Sienna sat on the edge, dragging Daniel over her as she lay down. Their tongues continued to tangle as Daniel caged her beneath him.

After several minutes of nothing more than soul-stealing kisses, Daniel moved back. “Sienna, if you?—”

“Shh.” She placed her finger against his lip. “Don’t you dare stop now. I need you, Daniel. I need to feel warm again. To feel alive, real, special.”

Daniel ran the backs of his fingers along her cheek in a way that made her tremble at the sweetness of the touch. “You are alive, See. And you’re the most extraordinary woman I’ve ever met.”

Sienna became aware of her suddenly racing heart. While she was certain it was her arousal that made it pound so furiously, she couldn’t help but wonder if her heart had ever truly beat before she met him.

“Make love to me,” she whispered.

“Always,” Daniel replied.

When they kissed again, the urgency had given way to something much calmer, but no less potent. Sienna opened her legs to welcome him inside and Daniel pressed in slowly.

There was no need to rush. They were starting this journey together.

And they had all the time in the world.

Chapter 12

Sienna sighed contentedly against Daniel’s chest. She woke up slowly, exhausted. Life was one long, winding road. While she knew Vivi was right, that she needed to keep walking, it was difficult not to miss and mourn the ones who took a different path or who quit walking altogether. She couldn’t help but grieve for Vivi, JD, even Charles.

She and Daniel had made love until the wee hours, their motions slow, sensuous and beautiful. She’d tried to tell him she loved him, but the feelings were too new, too fresh. They simply wouldn’t come. So instead she’d shown him with her kisses, her caresses.

She lazily opened her eyes, realizing the trailer was too bright. Lifting her head, she glanced at the clock by the side of the bed.

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