Page 15 of Dangerous Love

She squinted at me as she put her seat belt on. “Are you telling me that she gaveyouinstructions forme?”

I fired up the ignition, tapping my finger on the steering wheel as we made our way to Grace’s dress shop. “I have a feeling I should plead the Fifth.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re not even American.”

I laughed. “My adopted father is. That has to count for something.”

“God Almighty. Mr Williams has an answer for everything, doesn’t he?” She twirled her finger in the air. “Well, almost everything.”

Head turned slightly, I studied her for a second. Beyond the dig at me, her face remained relaxed, and unlike yesterday, I couldn’t read the expression behind the barricade. Caving, I asked, “Do you want to talk about it?”

To her credit, she didn’t pretendnotto remember yesterday’s near kiss. Instead, she shook her head, her lips flat. “Nope.”

“Si—”

“I said no, Riley.”

Guilt cut me deep, like a thousand micro blades to the gut.Get your head in the game, Williams.My fingers clenched the steering wheel, and I swallowed the saliva pooling down my throat, wishing I had cold water to help me clear whatever knot was stuck in my windpipe.

Then, out of nowhere, she crooned, her shoulders relaxing against her seat. “So, how confident are you that I’m going to like my dress?”

What in the actual twilight zone is that?I cleared my throat. “Huh, pretty sure.”

Weirdly calm, unnaturally pleasant, Sienna’s demeanour freaked me out just a little. It wasn’t her. A half-moon crept on her face, and I braced for Black Widow’s sudden move, especially if it involved sharp, shiny objects.

“Are you okay, Si?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She faced the road ahead, avoiding my glare. “What colour is it?”

I blew a breath, the emotional whiplash messing with my head. She was clearly avoiding the topic at hand. Not that I blamed her. In some ironic twist, after years of us chasing after her and her impulsive actions, she was now keepingmein check because I’d behaved like a pathetic lovesick puppy. “Deep purple. Trust me. There’s no way you won’t like it.”

When we pulled up to the shop, the massive sign at the front screamingbridal, she flinched, hesitation replacing the fake confidence she’d sported moments ago. “Riley?” she whispered, as I turned the ignition off. She brought a nail to her mouth. “I don’t know if I can.”

My body twisted on my seat until I faced her. Our eyes met. “I’m right here.”

“I know I’m being a complete drama queen, and there’s no reason to be scared.” Her voice cracked. “But I am.”

I fought every fibre in my being until the urge to pull her against me had stopped pulsing through my biceps. “What are you scared of, Si?” I murmured into the space between us.

Her chest heaved. Judging by the pulsing at the base of her neck and the glistening in her eyes, she was just about to melt down into a full-blown panic attack. “Being here. Having to see everyone soon. Knowing I’ll never fit in. Having to walk into that damn shop like I’m a normal girl.” She wrapped herself with her forearms.

“Youarea normal girl. Everyone gets overwhelmed from time to time. It doesn’t make you less than perfect.” My hand stopped midair, right before it landed on her thigh.

Her lip wobbled when I pulled back. “Can you give me another hug?”

I took a massive breath, the dilemma smacking me in the face like an MMA fighter toying with me in the ring. “Sienna...”

A tear fell on her cheek. “Nothing hurts when you hold me. Just make it stop. Please. For Grace and Avery. I have to try this dress on.”

I raked a hand over my face. “Si, I don’t want to make this hard or confusing for us.”

Ignoring me, she slid over the gear stick until she was almost straddling my thighs. “You said you loved me,” she whispered against my neck.

“I do.”

Her hands fisted my shirt as she raised her hips and moved over to my seat. She nestled into me. Then she hunched over until she was completely cocooned against my chest. Her head rested on my collarbone, her breath tickling my skin. And slowly, her breathing normalised. A soft smile replaced the pain that lined her features a minute ago.

God, she’s so beautiful.My heart pumped in my rib cage, my arms frozen and prickling against my sides. I fought the desperate need to kiss her, to claim her as mine, by reminding my brain why I couldn’t have her.She’ll be his next pawn.

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