t settled between them- heavy, suffocating,

s of Sienna's hair across her cheek. She didn't move to fix it. Sh

said much," h

figure out ho

slowly, stoppi

ve to figure

gile behind her eyes. "Don't mak

if we're doing this-whatever *

t for a mome

n. The kind of guy who made you feel like you were the only person in the room.

Cole said nothing,

ous. I couldn't wear certain clothes, see certain

ething dark cr

ade me question everything. My talent. My worth. My sanity

d his fists

made me believe no one else would love me.

rifted to

career. New rules. No relations

t ached

d had to stitch hersel

ot* too much. You're everything. And I swear to G

st a whisper. "Because I'm

r voice trembling but sure

nched.

why I built those walls in the first place. Because every second I sp

that s

walk away,"

ng her face. "I'm not

n he ki

not with he

ith p

inten

ry wall collapsing under

e in years, she didn't fe

ike she wa

-

Later – Bla

vement. Fabrics. Models. A c

's mind wa

omple

night, Cole h

n motion-it was the way he stayed. The way he listened. Th

as fa

a

er more than anythin

sliding into her office

frowned

's look sa

. Ag

ed, standin

told him you were bu

id," she mutter

-

e Room – Bl

a storm. Cold,

l are you doi

a folder. "Relax. I'm not

y are yo

r on the table and

mething you

stare

opene

of them. Grainy. Som

Entering hote

of

omach

id you g

"You can believe he's different with y

pictures. Some d

with a leggy blonde, hand on her waist, whi

chest t

e me," she said coldly,

. "You never did.

, leaving the

Si

r sure what- or

-

ng on the table before her like it was radioactive. The photographs insi

with a redhe

ng into a brunette's ea

back of a car, the date sta

putation. Everyone did. But this-this was physical evide

ered, dragging her

buzzed on

r tonight?

sage. Her fingers hov

na:

st the calm in

enthouse

f Cole's home. Everything smelled like him-sandalwood, crisp linen, someth

ns and a black Henley that clung to his frame

're

ic," s

eek, then hesita

t ti

frown tugging at his

eas

-plan kitchen where dinner was already laid out-steak, roast

felt romant

it felt l

eting with his brother, a new project lau

se pictures. Those

couldn't ta

h anyone thre

caught mid

ths ago. A woman. Blonde. In the

"Why are you a

I need

slowly, his gaze unreadable no

wer the q

w ticking. "Yeah. I was. It was

omach

t?" she asked

before I saw you agai

since

yes. "No one

was thick with truth

ly said. "Liam brought them

ened instantl

just another heartbreaker. That I'm

forward. "

ed. "I don'

ze for the man I used to be, Sienna. I was selfish. Detached. Sex

t me to be

time I look at you, it's different. Every time I touch

I'm not looking to be someo

ce thick. "You're the reas

The words were so

he thing that shat

eaks your heart, Sienna. I want to

fear and hope. "Then stop keeping pieces of yourself

g their fingers together. "Then ask

st time in a lo

That

d her things no one else knew-about his parents' cold divorce, the pressure of bein

to design before Liam made her feel small. The gallery she wanted to open

didn't

st li

held

his- whatever it was with Cole Maddox-