Chapter Seven
Sienna woke to bright sunlight coming through the thin drapes. She heard something down the hall and hurriedly got dressed, brushed out her hair, and went in search of him.
He turned as she walked in. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“What do you want for breakfast?”
She shook her head. “Just coffee.”
His eyes pinned her in place. “You’ll eat something.”
“Kane, I never eat breakfast.”
“You’ll start this morning. Have a seat on the other side of the counter.”
She sighed and obeyed him, scanning the kitchen. It was beautiful and spacious and looked like he actually used it. He had an expensive-looking coffee pot and toaster. His appliances were all brushed stainless steel and granite with grays, browns, and creams swirled throughout. It was beautiful.
Every time she learned something about him, it made her realize that much more how she would never fit into his life. She was from the hood and had grown up with gang members and a drug-addicted mother. Those were things she could never overcome, no matter how hard she worked.
He slid over a plate with a piece of buttered toast, a jar of jam, and a small glass of orange juice. “Have that, and I’ll get you coffee. All right?”
She turned back to her toast, ate every bite on the plate, drank her juice, and took her dishes to the sink to wash and put on the drainer.
When she turned, he held up a to-go cup with her coffee. “Do you need any sugar or cream?”
She shook her head. “No, black is fine. Thank you.”
They rode the elevator down to the third floor, where the business owners had their offices.
Her eyes widened at the activity. “How many owners are there?”
“There are six of us. We all used to work together in Chicago and decided to open a firm. We moved to Arkansas because it’s in a good area and was extremely cost-efficient. The area had nothing like what we supply, so we were in demand. We hadn’t planned for it to grow as quickly as it did. We talked about bringing more people in.
“One of the owners, Travis, just brought in a highway patrolman. It’s a long story, but they met when he found his little. The partners have talked about making him a partner eventually.”
“Are there any more of your partners that have littles?”
“Not with the partners. Travis is the only one so far. You’ll meet the rest of the partners sometime soon.”
“Do I get to meet the other woman?”
“Oh, absolutely. I’ll talk to Travis. I think having another woman in your life will be good.”
“I didn’t get a chance to have many friends growing up.”
“Then that makes it even more important.”
She smiled up at him as they walked down the hallway. “I’d like to talk to Riley today, if possible?”
“You can call her any time, baby. I’ll get a phone for you…”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s going to happen.”
Sienna sighed and looked around Kane’s office. Although it was very masculine, he had pictures on the wall and things on the shelves.
“Hey.”
She twirled toward the door where Draven stood, his head just about hitting the top of the jamb.
“Good. Come on in and close the door.”
Draven walked over to one of the chairs on the other side of the desk from Kane, and then his gaze slid over her, setting her teeth on edge.
Draven’s eyes sparked. “I see Tiger has gotten some sleep.”
“Yes, I did,” she retorted.
Kane grinned and shook his head. “How about the both of you get along?”
“I’m trying,” she said.
Draven snorted. “No, you’re not. I don’t have to open my mouth, and you take offense.”
“It’s not hard. It’s the way you look at me.”
“Really? How is that, pumpkin?”
She rolled her eyes at the pet name. “Like you don’t trust me, but at the same time, you want to…”
He tipped his head to the side and grinned. “Want to what?”
“You know.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You’re just being a butthead,” she snapped.
Draven threw back his head and laughed heartily, which made her want to kick him.
Kane chuckled. “How about we talk about you?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
“Have a seat.”
The only other chair was next to Draven unless she wanted to sit on the sofa across the room. She sat in the chair and peeked at Draven, almost cringing at the intense look in his eyes as he stared at her.
Kane got her attention. “Tell him what you told us last night.”
“All of it?”
“Yes, baby.”
Sienna started off with where she came from and her mother. She started getting worked up when she realized the magnitude of what her life was at that moment.
Kane stood and walked around the desk to crouch in front of her and took her hands. “Everything’s going to be okay, honey.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know these people.”
“No, but I know people like them. Draven and I will figure this out.”
She sighed and nodded.
“You said you like to read?”
She glanced at Draven and saw his cold look before she turned back to Kane and nodded. “Yes.”
“I’ve got another laptop you can use until we get one for you.”
“No, really, I’m good.”
Kane sighed. “You’re going to fight me every step of the way, aren’t you?”
She looked shocked. “No, I just don’t want to take advantage of you while you’re helping me.”
“You’re not, and you’ve got to have something to do unless you want to watch TV?”
“I’ve never watched TV. My mom and I could never afford one, and the only other place I ever slept was the camp, and Noah didn’t have one there either.”
Draven grunted. “So, you don’t know about the Kardashians or Jersey Shore?”
He was confusing her. “No. I’m sorry. Does that make me bad?”
Draven grunted. “No, it’s a plus. Both shows are shit, and people that watch them are idiots.”
“Tell us what you really think, Draven,” Kane said sarcastically and then laughed.
Draven snorted. “Don’t give me that. You’ve said before that the only people who watch those types of shows are ignorant and lazy.”
“Lazy?” she asked.
Kane nodded. “Yeah, they’re on the sofa, spending their time watching other people live their lives, which are fake, instead of living their own.”
She was still confused about what they were talking about, so she kept quiet. It seemed like she’d already gotten on Draven’s bad side. She wasn’t going to push it.
Draven stood. “I’m going to get a file going for us on the Crips.”
“Thanks, man.”
She watched him leave and then faced Kane again.
“Let’s get you that computer, and we’ll download some books that interest you.”
Twenty minutes later, she was sitting on the sofa in his office reading. She enjoyed it. She’d always had to hide her books, but now she could read whenever she wanted. That was another huge reason her leaving the neighborhood was the right decision.