Home > Saving Sienna (MacArthur Family #3)(4)

Saving Sienna (MacArthur Family #3)(4)
Author: Katie Reus

Sienna saw that a lot, wives giving away all their labor for free and then, in the end, their husbands tossed them over as if they meant nothing. She could admit that it enraged her and she liked helping all these women get what they deserved.

Because that kind of shit would affect Eileen’s Social Security down the line, or make her less hirable, something that a lot of people, especially women, didn’t think about.

Sienna kept those thoughts to herself, however. Because at this point, Eileen was going to come out of the other side of this divorce in very good shape.

“If he’s smart, he’ll skip court altogether so none of this becomes public, and you guys should be able to work out an agreement,” Sienna added.

Eileen’s expression was still dark and when she smiled it was more of a baring of teeth. “Oh, he’ll come to an agreement.”

It seemed her work here was done. Sienna stood and held out a hand. “Sorry you’re dealing with all this, but I hope you’re able to settle quickly and move on with your life.”

“Thank you,” Eileen said as she stood as well, offering a perfectly manicured hand. “Hiring you was the best thing my lawyer ever advised me to do.”

After leaving, Sienna decided to stop and grab a beer and a bunch of fried food before going home. She didn’t have anything in her refrigerator, and after the day she’d had, she was starving.

As she slid onto a barstool at a local burger joint she’d only recently discovered, she nodded once at the bartender. Thankfully they weren’t too busy tonight. “Cheeseburger with fried onion rings and a Guinness,” she said.

“Make it two.” Carson freaking Irish, like a ghost who came out of nowhere, sat next to her.

She was secure in her observational skills, but damn, she hadn’t even seen him come in. She blinked at him. “Seriously, stalk much?”

“I swear I didn’t know you were going to be here. I was back at that booth and saw you walk in. Besides, I’m the one who introduced you to this place.”

Sienna bit back a reply because Carson was right. Maybe she’d subconsciously come here because she’d wanted to see him? No, she refused to believe that. She was simply hungry. For food. “Did you just get off work?”

He nodded and she realized he looked exhausted, so she decided not to needle him. Much.

“Rough day?” she continued.

He scrubbed a hand over his face and took the beer placed in front of him with a nod of appreciation. “You could say that.”

“Want to talk about it?” She wrapped her fingers around her Guinness, letting it settle in its frosted mug as she traced her finger from the top of the glass to the bottom.

“Not really. How about you? Did your day get better?” There was definitely a hint of amusement in his tone now.

“Well, I didn’t have to jump into any more bodies of water, so I call that a win. Plus…I’m pretty sure my brother has fallen for someone.” Seeing Brodie all smitten had been a surprise.

Carson shot her a sharp glance.

“Not Daniel—he’s obsessed with your sister. Something you know. You were at the freaking wedding.”

He grinned then and it softened all of his hard features, making her panties melt just a little bit. She’d never understood the phrase panty-melting before Carson Irish.

“True,” he said. “It’s the only reason he’s alive.”

“I’m going to pretend you’re just joking.”

“I am. But there was a time when I wanted to punch his face in.” Carson’s expression went all surly for a moment.

“You and me both, but at least he got it together and married Kathryn.” And now Sienna had a new sister. Another reason she wasn’t going to play with fire, aka Carson. She didn’t want to screw up their family dynamics.

“So what are you doing after this?”

“Going home, maybe a hot bath, then bed. I’ve got a lot of paperwork to do tomorrow. I never realized how much paperwork would be involved with being a PI.”

He grinned and she really liked that look on him. “It’s a lot more sitting in cars and waiting on stuff to happen than you thought, huh?”

She laughed lightly. “Yes. But I still love it. I like puzzles, mysteries—and I really like helping spouses uncover when their significant others are trying to hide stuff from them. It’s just so shady and gross.”

He nodded, watching her thoughtfully. “Did you have a bad breakup?”

She blinked at the abrupt personal question. “Why?”

“Not that I think I’m God’s gift to women or anything, but you and I have chemistry. And don’t deny it,” he said when she opened her mouth to do just that. “Because I know you weren’t faking with me. But you refuse to see if we can take it any further. Plus you take a whole lot of joy in ‘sticking it to,’ and I’m only quoting you, ‘asshole men.’”

She took a sip of her beer, mulled over her response as a mournful Irish ballad played in the background. Finally she cleared her throat. “First, yes we have chemistry.” So much. And no, she hadn’t been faking her orgasms. So many orgasms. “Second…you’re my sister-in-law’s brother. That’s way too messy and complicated.” And those were two things Sienna did not deal with. They’d had sex, sure, but…yikes. More would not work. Nope.

There was more to it than that but she was so not going to give Carson the real reason.

Instead she continued, “And yes, I do enjoy sticking it to assholes. They deserve it. I like to believe I’m helping deal out a little cosmic karmic justice. It has nothing to do with any particular man or…whatever. I love my brothers. They’re amazing. So is my dad. And so are a ton of other guys I know. I’m not a man-hater.”

His gaze narrowed slightly. “What guys?”

She snorted softly as their burgers were placed in front of them. “Please tell me you’re not jealous.”

He lifted a shoulder. “Well, I’m certainly not going to lie to you.”

She blinked at his words. “Are you always so honest?”

“With you.” Carson watched her intently, his blue eyes vivid in the dim bar.

Damn it. He really did always say the right thing.

She looked away from him and down at her burger. It looked as if they’d added an extra slice of cheese. Her mouth watered. “I’m about to show you a good time,” she said to her food, which made him throw his head back and laugh.

“I love that I never know what’s going to come out of your sexy mouth,” he murmured. Then he took a bite of his own burger.

She…didn’t know how to respond to that. She did, however, like sitting there with him with the quiet buzz of the bar around them.

When she was with him, the silence was never uncomfortable. No, it was more companionable. He was content with just being with her too.

She swore he was like the perfect man for her.

Except…he didn’t like her job. Didn’t like that she got put in dangerous situations. And she wasn’t going to change who she was for anyone.

Not even the sexiest man she’d ever known.

“Damn it,” he muttered, breaking into her thoughts.

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