01 Winters Thaw (14 page)

It had been the best week of her life.

Chapter Eight

Daniel smiled as he handed Sienna the Christmas package. He usually sucked at shopping for the holidays, but when he’d spotted the deep green scarf, two things had occurred to him—how pretty the color would be next to Sienna’s chestnut hair and chocolate brown eyes and how sexy she’d looked with it tying her to his bed.

Sienna grinned as she tore the wrapping paper and lifted the lid. “You really didn’t have to get me anything,” she said for the tenth time.

“I saw it and thought of you. That’s all.” She bit her lip until he added, “You can give me my present tonight when you come to the trailer.”

“What makes you think I bought you anything?”

“I’m hoping you didn’t buy me anything and I can use that guilt you’re feeling to get what I really want.”

She rolled her eyes. “That transparent, am I?”

He shrugged.

“Well, I do feel guilty. I really screwed up the Christmas gift-giving this year. Got James the wrong size shirt and bought Doug a video game he already has. And now…” She paused. “I didn’t get you anything at all. I think I’d like a holiday do-over.”

“Good news. You’ll get your do-over. It’s called next Christmas.” Daniel leaned back on the couch where they were sitting, letting his arm drape along the cushions so he could touch her hair. They were maintaining a proper distance, still trying to keep their affair a secret. At first, Daniel had asked that they lay low. Seth wasn’t someone he ever wanted on his bad side.

However, as the weeks passed, he found himself aching to tell the world she was his. The annoying part of that was…she wasn’t. Sienna was still clinging tightly to the casual affair idea despite the evidence suggesting that they were well suited. They were never lacking for conversation, enjoyed riding horses together, loved Compass Ranch, and their compatibility in the bedroom was off the charts. So much so he thought maybe he should start taking vitamins and working out so he could keep up with the recently freed sex kitten. She was insatiable, passionate, adventurous and amazing.

Since their rendezvous in the tack room, Sienna had dared him into two more rounds of afternoon delight in that tiny closet as well as one quick roll in the hay…literally, in the barn hayloft.

Less than a month in and he suspected he hadn’t touched the tip of the iceberg as far as all the ways he could make love to Miss Sienna Compton.

Love.
The word kept sneaking up on him at odd times, taking him unaware. He’d gone into this relationship with the intention of keeping it light, giving Sienna just what she needed and nothing more.

She’d made it clear on too many occasions their sex games were just that—games. She wasn’t interested in a boyfriend or a future. His determination to teach her how to live in the moment had come back to bite him in the ass.

“Oh.” Sienna pulled the soft scarf from the box. “Daniel. It’s beautiful.” He’d lured her away from the large family still gathered around the dining room table—even though the meal had ended—to give it to her. They’d spent the morning surrounded by the whole clan again. While Thanksgiving had felt a bit overwhelming as he was still trying to learn names and faces, this time it was easier. He’d established friendships with quite a few of the Comptons. He was touched by their willingness to accept a stranger into their midst and treat him like family.

He leaned closer. “Bring it tonight. I have plans for that scarf. And another gift. One that I didn’t think you’d like anyone in your family to stumble on accidentally.”

She gave him a wicked grin. “Damn. You’re good. And you’re totally getting whatever you want tonight.”

Daniel sucked in a deep breath, wishing she’d lay off the sexy smiles while her family was sitting in the next room. He’d been flying at half-mast all day, trying to conceal his erection from her mom, aunts, younger cousins and, most especially, her dad. “Dammit, See,” he whispered when her gaze lowered to his crotch. She knew exactly what effect she was having on him. Little minx would use it against him.

“Maybe we should try to find somewhere private. I could give you the first part of your gift now.” She dragged her hand along the front of his pants. Her too-soft touch was enough. He stiffened up like a pike.

Loud voices alerted them that her family had finally managed to drag themselves away from the table. Sienna moved a few inches away from him on the couch, just as her dad and his brothers, Sawyer, Silas and Sam, entered the room.

“Another present?” Sam asked, spotting the package still on Sienna’s lap.

She nodded. “Daniel bought me a scarf.”

Daniel tried to look impassive, though he definitely spied curiosity on Seth’s face. He shrugged, trying to downplay the gift’s significance. “Damn cold winter we’re having.”

It was a lame reason to buy a gift for the boss’s daughter, a woman who supposedly fell into the “just friends” category.

Sienna laughed lightly. “It was a very nice gesture.” She started to say more, but her phone beeped. As Sienna pulled it from her pocket, Daniel spotted Josh’s face on the screen.

Daniel gritted his teeth.

Sienna’s smile dimmed a bit, but she put her present down and rose anyway. “I guess I should take this.”

She said, “Merry Christmas, Josh,” as she started to leave the living room. “How’s Florida?”

“It’s great, but I sure do miss Compton Pass and you. Feels weird working on a tan in December. You’d love it here, See. There’s a huge pool in the hotel that…”

Sienna hastily left the room before Daniel could hear any more of the conversation. She cast an uncomfortable glance at him over her shoulder.

Daniel’s hands clenched in a fist as a wave of pure, unadulterated jealousy rumbled through him. Why the fuck was Josh calling? He thought they were on a goddamn break.

Seth’s words mirrored Daniel’s thoughts. “Damn. I wish that boy would stop stringing her along.”

Daniel agreed, then something in Seth’s comment tweaked him. “Has Josh been calling her since Thanksgiving?”

Seth nodded. “Just a few times, but it’s enough to put Sienna in a funk for a few hours.”

Josh had been calling? Why hadn’t Sienna told him that?

Daniel didn’t reply, but Seth appeared to be very good at reading faces.

Seth lifted his chin toward the package Sienna had abandoned. “Nice gift. Didn’t realize you and Sienna had become such close friends.”

Silas glanced at his brother, then Daniel, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. He was the one brother who intimidated the fuck out of Daniel. Silas was a fair man, but damn if his large stance and dark scowl didn’t feel like the blinding, bright lights of an interrogation at times.

Daniel needed to tread lightly. He’d been dreading this conversation with Seth. There was no way in hell he could survive it with all four Compass brothers glowering at him. “She’s a nice girl. She’s made me feel welcome here.” He picked every word with care. While he hoped to eventually come clean about his feelings for Sienna, he wasn’t going to discuss them with these men until he’d sorted them out with her. Regardless of his desire to date See, he suspected it wasn’t wise to mention he’d been fucking Seth’s daughter six ways from Sunday, especially since they’d all just shared Christmas dinner.

Seth leaned back in his chair, but the relaxed posture didn’t fool Daniel for a minute. “She’s a
very
nice girl. And she’s going through a rough patch right now. I’d like to see her avoid sticky entanglements until she sorts out all this shit with Josh. She’s still young and inexperienced as far as relationships go. I’d like to see her hang on to that innocence for a while longer. If you catch my drift.”

Daniel nodded. Sienna had been inexperienced…a month ago. Now…

Shit. It took all of Daniel’s energy simply to school his features. If Seth expected an intelligent response, he was going to be disappointed.

Sawyer broke the awkward silence by chuckling. “Careful there, Seth. You’re starting to sound just like Thomas Kirkland.”

Seth shot his brother a dirty look.

“Who’s that?” Daniel asked.

“Jody’s father. Seth’s old boss,” Sawyer answered.

When he failed to elaborate on the comparison, Sam continued the conversation. “Thomas spent quite a few years warning Seth to stay away from Jody.”

Daniel frowned. “Why?”

Seth sat straighter. “She was a few years younger than me and heading off to college. Thomas was determined she get her degree. I took heed.”

Silas laughed. “The fuck you did. You bided your time, I’ll give you that, but the second that girl came home from graduation, you kidnapped her ass and tied her to your bed. If I recall correctly, Jody was about the same age Sienna is right now.”

Daniel struggled to figure out if Silas was joking. It was impossible to read the man’s humor. “Kidnapped her?”

Seth didn’t appear to be happy with the direction of their conversation. He’d obviously intended to warn Daniel to stay away from Sienna, but his brothers were turning into Daniel’s unexpected allies—whether they realized it or not.

Sawyer leaned forward, happy to share the juicy story with Daniel. “Jody didn’t just come home with a diploma. She had a fiancé in tow too. Seth had listened to Thomas’ warnings to stay away, but Jody didn’t take too kindly to being put off. So she moved on.”

Seth crossed his arms. “I’d hardly call Paul moving on.”

Daniel tilted his head. “Paul? You mean the Paul that’s out there in the kitchen helping the women get dessert ready? The one who’s here with Chase? Didn’t he realize he was gay back then?”

Seth nodded. “He knew.”

Sam picked up the story. “Jody wasn’t going down without a fight. She decided to make Seth work to win her affections back.”

“So you kidnapped her and tied her to your bed until she fell in love with you?” Daniel had to admit the idea had merit. He didn’t like Sienna talking to Josh. He recalled the scarf and his plans for it.

Seth’s gaze sharpened. “I wouldn’t suggest that course to anyone else. I got lucky. It worked for me.
And
I had her father’s blessing to proceed.”

Daniel blinked. “Jody’s dad knew you were kidnapping her? Forgive me, Seth, but that is one fucked-up way of proposing.”

Sawyer and Sam laughed.

Silas shook his head. “Oh Jesus, kid. You ain’t heard nothin’. I think Seth’s proposal was the least fucked-up of all us Comptons.”

Sam was the first to sober up, his face serious and kind as he caught Daniel’s eye. He wasn’t sure what Sienna’s uncle saw, but Daniel was afraid it was too much. Hell, he was pretty sure every single one of the men now realized he was falling for Sienna. “I’ll tell you right now, Daniel. Any woman worth having is worth fighting for.”

Sam’s words drifted back to Daniel off and on throughout the day. Only two months had passed since he’d first laid eyes on Sienna, but given the current state of his heart, it felt like he’d known her forever.

Seth had mentioned Sienna’s inexperience, but it seemed to Daniel that in the committed relationship realm, she was vastly wiser than he was. He’d offered Sienna an easy, no-strings affair because that was as far as his limited experience extended. She’d accepted because that was all she wanted.

How could he convince her to change the rules now? To take a chance with a man she’d only known a short while? A man whose current life ambition was simply to be happy?

He was a washed-up rodeo star turned ranch hand living in a rusty RV, and while Josh was a tool, at least he appeared to have a promising future ahead of him. If he ever managed to graduate, he’d have a degree and a prosperous business. He could give Sienna a big house, financial security, kids.

Daniel rubbed his eyes wearily. All he had to offer was a fun time between the sheets—shits and giggles, slaps and tickles.

Any woman worth having was worth fighting for.

There was no doubt Sienna was worth the fight, but was he the right man to throw the punch?

A light knock sounded. Daniel frowned and glanced at the clock. He’d told Sienna he’d meet her at twelve to escort her back here. It had become his nightly ritual to pick her up for their midnight trysts. He hadn’t liked the idea of her traipsing around the ranch alone so late at night. While he’d met and befriended most of the hands, there were still a few men—too fond of their liquor—who might be tempted by the sight of Sienna out alone.

He opened the door. Sienna was bundled in her winter jacket, the green scarf he’d given her wrapped loosely around her neck. “It’s only eleven.”

She walked in, shrugging off the coat and tossing it on the couch. “The house quieted down early. Guess everyone was worn out from the holiday partying.”

“You should have texted me. I would have come to get you.”

Sienna rolled her eyes. She’d told him almost nightly she didn’t need his escort. Tonight, she let her expression do the talking.

He grinned, but made no move toward her. Sienna frowned, confused by his reticence.

She leaned against his small kitchen counter. “Feel like unwrapping your present?”

There was nothing he desired more, but something held him back. “What did Josh have to say?”