Read Online 01 Winters Thaw by Jayne Rylon, Mari Carr - Free Book Online Page A

entered the room. “There you are, Sienna. Have you seen my red tablecloth? I’d planned to put it out on the dessert table.”
    Sienna frowned. “Vivi, you asked me about that a few minutes ago. I told you we don’t have it anymore. It was ruined last Christmas when Doug spilled grape juice on it. We threw it out, remember?”
    Vicky nodded. “Oh, that’s right. All this cooking has me worn out. It must have slipped my mind.” Though she played it off, Daniel saw the confusion on the older woman’s face as she left the room.
    Sienna ran her hand through her hair anxiously. “Damn. She didn’t remember that first conversation at all.”
    “No. I don’t think she did.”
    “She’s forgetting a lot of things lately.”
    Daniel shrugged. “Probably just a sign of age. Didn’t you tell me she was turning seventy this year?”
    Sienna glanced at the doorway where her grandmother had just left, her face pensive. “Yeah, she is. But she’s been forgetting too much lately.”
    “Alzheimer’s?”
    She frowned. “God, I hope not. While there have been some advances made in terms of diagnosing and treating different types of dementia, there’s still a long way to go. If it’s that…” Her voice drifted away as if she was frightened by the possibility. “I’m going to talk her into getting a checkup. There are some tests I’d like the doctor to run on her.”
    “That’s not a bad idea,” he said softly before her attention was captured by something else in the hallway. Daniel caught sight of Josh putting on his coat before going outside.
    He glanced at Sienna’s face. She didn’t appear too anxious to follow her boyfriend. “Looks like the time might be right for your conversation.”
    “Yeah. And here I thought the chances of me getting him alone today were slim to none.” Sienna made no move to leave.
    Daniel reached out. Sienna’s brow crinkled, but she took his proffered hand. He grasped her cool fingers and gave them a reassuring squeeze. She was visibly nervous. “Things are never as bad as you fear.”
    She didn’t try to release his hand. “Were you afraid when you got on that last bull?”
    He nodded. “I was afraid every time.”
    “Then why do it?”
    He winked at her. “Why not?”
    She laughed lightly. “God, there is something seriously twisted inside you.”
    “Turns you on, doesn’t it?” He pulled her closer, leaning down until his face was level with hers. He couldn’t resist teasing her, trying to replace some of the anxiety he saw in her eyes with humor. “I told you, See, if you want me to kiss you again, all you have to do is ask.”
    She dropped his hand and shoved him away, laughing. “You’re ridiculous. And conceited. And insane. I’m going to go talk to my boyfriend .”
    “Go get ’em, tiger.”
    She paused at the door, but didn’t turn around before continuing out. It didn’t matter. He heard her chuckling in the hallway.
    “Where’s Sienna going?” Doug asked.
    “She and Josh are headed to the stables to see the new horses your dad’s bought.”
    Doug tilted his head. “Josh hates horses. Is that code for having sex?”
    “No, it’s not code. Besides, what do you know about sex?”
    “I’m eleven years old, Daniel. I’m not a kid.”
    Daniel nodded in acknowledgement. Doug was constantly fighting to prove he was a man. “There’s nothing wrong with being a kid, Doug. Life’s a hell of a lot easier when you are.”
    Doug wasn’t buying it. He shrugged, his face becoming far too serious for someone so young. “Maybe. Do you wanna have sex with Sienna?”
    Daniel choked. “What? Why would you ask me something like that?”
    “You two look at each other all the time.”
    Jesus, all this time, Daniel had been worried about letting Seth see too much. Turns out he should have been shielding his interest in Sienna from her baby brother. Then, something Doug said clicked. “She’s looking at me?”
    Doug rolled his eyes, taking on the