Page 12 of Hot Mess Christmas Express

“Partially, yes,” she admitted, winking back at him. Caleb let out a groan, his eyes clouding over.

“Hey, man, are you sure you don’t want to come over tonight?” a tall, fair-haired man asked, interrupting them again. Sienna was pretty sure this guy had been the other groomsman, but it was hard to tell with him out of the tux.

So much for thinking you’d be able to have a conversation…

“I’m sure. Not going to crash your Christmas Eve with Courtney. I have a date with Netflix and Chinese delivery anyway,” Caleb joked.

“Well, if you change your mind, just head on over.”

Caleb nodded before giving the guy a one-armed bro hug. Sienna felt more than a little awkward standing there, as if she were eavesdropping on the conversation rather than having been the one interrupted.

“Sorry about that.”

“Netflix and Chinese, huh?”

“Yeah. Christmas looks a little different since Dad died,” Caleb told her, the sadness returning to his eyes. Sienna’s heart squeezed, and she had to fight the urge to throw her arms around him and pull him close.

“Then stay here,” she said, the words popping out before she’d fully thought them through.

“What?”

“At the Seven Swans. Spend Christmas with us. It’s not super fancy or anything, but we have a good time.”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

Sienna’s stomach lurched. She knew that tone. It was the same one he’d used with her in his office the day she'd shown up as his new Cosmas rep. Polite but practiced—making it perfectly clear that he was uninterested. Of course he didn’t want to stay. Just because they’d had mind-blowing sex all night didn’t mean that there was anything more between them. The last two years proved that. What the hell had she been thinking?

“I mean, you wouldn't be. My mother would love to have you. But I get it. So, enjoy your takeout, and I guess I’ll see you around.”

Spinning on her heel, Sienna made the quickest exit she could, heading straight for the reception desk. Her brother, Ian, smiled at her briefly as he worked on checking out an older couple. There was a tickle at the back of her throat, her own personal telltale sign that tears were on their way. She just needed to make it to the office behind the reception desk. Once she was there, she could cry.

No, she wasn’t going to let herself cry. Just because her life was a train wreck didn’t mean she could throw a pity party over this. The sex was good, and sure, she had hoped it could be more, but it was what it was. She’d deal with it—just as she had the first time.

“Sienna! Wait,” Caleb shouted, rushing across the lobby. Grabbing her elbow, he spun her around to face him, stepping in closer to her so they were almost touching. He must have seen the tears welling in her eyes, because his brow furrowed in concern almost instantly. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” she lied. She was not going to let him know that he’d gotten to her. She was stronger than that.

“Don’t nothing me. Not after last night.”

Sienna huffed out a sigh, turning to look away from him. She wanted him to stay more than she could put into words. She just couldn’t handle being rejected by him—again. Didn’t matter how strong and independent she was, a girl could only take so much.

Then again, one didn’t get what they wanted by not speaking up.

“You used your brush-off tone. The same one that you used two years ago. I can take a hint, Caleb.”

“Sienna, that wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry if it came off that way. I truly don’t want to disrupt your time with your family. So you tell me what you want me to do.”

“Stay. Spend Christmas here. With us.” With me…

“You’re sure it won’t be an issue?” His voice was rough, but his guarded expression made her believe it was more him not wanting to overstep, rather than the disinterest she’d taken it for a moment ago.

“My brother-in-law, Asher, crashed every major family event for years before Kellie finally took pity on him and married him. They’re used to it,” she said with a laugh. It was only half true, but Caleb didn’t need to know that.

“Then I would be honored to spend Christmas with you. Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“That you won’t let yourself be caught under the mistletoe with anyone other than me.”

Sienna’s insides lit up, much like the brightly lit decorations all over the lobby. Warmth spread through her as she stepped closer to Caleb, staring into his eyes.

“Promise.”