There were a lot of pressing things to think about. The case that had blown wide open had ended with one of the biggest drug dealers in the city behind bars. The arrest had put a feather in Sienna’s cap but shutting down his business meant more to her than the prestige. One more bit of slime off the streets.
Not to mention the fact that in all the activity with the drug squad, Sienna had missed another fitting for her sister’s wedding. With it happening this weekend, she was running out of time.
Something tugged on Sienna’s heart. Something she wouldn’t name or acknowledge. She felt in awe that her sister had the kind of courage to embrace love without fear. Michelle had always been the type of person who fit in and made friends easily.
Not the same for Sienna. She’d always been apart, no matter how hard her foster parents, Lynne and Scott, had tried to pull her into their family. Sienna had played it safe and kept her heart sheltered.
“If you hit that bag any harder, you’ll rip it open.”
The sound of Lana’s voice made Sienna smile. “What are you doing here? Isn’t it bleacher day? Your leg muscles will get flabby.”
“Naw. That’s tomorrow.”
Sienna turned to see Lana walking across the deserted gym. She was dressed in the same attire as Sienna, a black sports bra and tight Lycra shorts. Her long brown hair was tied into a ponytail.
“Don’t you firefighters have your own facility?” Sienna said in a teasing tone.
“Sure, we do. But you know how much Iloveto sweat with you.”
When she reached Sienna, she took hold of the bag. “How did it go Friday night with the SEAL?”
“You were right, he’s good, and Kate knew what she was talking about. He made me scream,” Sienna growled and hit the bag.
Lana’s eyebrows rose, a knowing look in her eyes. “All night, I hope.”
“No, I got a call from headquarters and had to work.”
“God, Sienna.”
“I had a hot fling with the guy, in the elevator no less, so ease up. I was almost naked in public.”
Lana laughed. “Well, that’s something.”
“Hey, there’s a lot more to A.J. than just his body.” Sienna huffed out a breath, striking the bag with a front kick that drove Lana a few inches backward. Sienna followed with a quick series of jabs. “A whole lot of dangerous stuff. Sex is easy, Lana, and this thing with A.J. hascomplicatedwritten all over it.”
“He’s a SEAL. They’re gone usually. I’m sure he won’t bother you much.”
He’s bothering me all the time, Sienna thought. She imagined him sprawled on a bed waiting for her. All that sleek, hot muscle on display, lying there hard and ready for her. She remembered his eyes, alive with a personality that drew her almost beyond her will to resist. “I hope not. He’s not someone who would be right for me.”
“You know this after one encounter with him?” Lana asked, bracing herself as Sienna took a few more hard swings at the bag.
“I know he’s unconventional and that irks me.” She slammed her fist into the bag so hard she felt the vibration up her arm.
“That’s because you’re a control freak,” Lana said matter-of-factly and smiled.
“It takes one to know one,” Sienna countered.
Lana shrugged. “I don’t deny that I’m a control freak. I think as public servants, there’s a lot of pressure on us and we don’t want to fail. Because our failure affects real lives.”
“Your father still putting pressure on you to make captain?”
“Nothing changes there. He’s been telling me that since I was old enough to understand. Don’t change the subject. I think we want to control the situations, you with criminals and me with fire.”
Sienna dropped her arms, suddenly feeling the fatigue in them from the constant punching. Her thighs were screaming from the intense kicking.
“What else is bothering you?”
“Nothing.”