Chapter 18

18

DIANNA

D ianna's nose itched and she scrunched it up.

Something light grazed it. She sniffled, then rubbed it.

"Dad, she's waking up."

"Mathew, I told you to leave her alone."

"But she's waking up."

Her eyes fluttered open and she gasped, finding Mathew's bright blue eyes staring at her.

"You slept a long time," Mathew said.

Dianna blinked a few times. It was dimmer than she would have expected it to be for a Saturday morning. Then again, kids like Mathew didn't typically sleep in. She yawned and stretched her arms over her head just as Tristan came into view with a steaming mug.

He held it out and offered her an apologetic smile. "Good morning."

She sat up and accepted the cup. Her fingers curled around the warm ceramic and she breathed in the scent of peppermint tea. That's why he smelled like that.

Mathew hopped up onto the couch beside her and held out her cell. "Your phone keeps buzzing."

Her eyes flew wide and she nearly dropped her drink in her lap. "Oh my gosh. I forgot about Brielle."

Tristan's brows furrowed. "I let Shane know that you were staying here for the night."

She gasped, her eyes darting to Mathew then back to Tristan. The implication of what he'd just said could have meant anything depending on how he'd phrased it to his friend. "You didn't tell him that we…" She glanced at Mathew again; the words slept together were on the tip of her tongue, but she knew better than to assume that. Tristan didn't seem like the type to brag about his exploits with women.

Tristan stared at her, his face a mask of confusion. He couldn't possibly be unaware of what he might have started, could he?

Mathew reached for a book from the coffee table. "Will you read to me?"

Tristan sighed. "Hey, bud? How about you get breakfast first. Then you can see if Dianna is ready to read to you."

"Okay." Mathew climbed off the couch and headed for the kitchen.

"In answer to your concern. No, I didn't make it sound like anything sordid was occurring, though I don't think Shane would believe it if I had."

She nearly asked him why he would assume such a thing, but he answered for her before she could.

"This place is only so big and there's a seven-year-old boy living here. Not to mention, I heard plenty about your family dynamics. I wouldn't dare press you into anything of that nature."

Heat bloomed in her face, filling her cheeks, racing down her neck, and settling in her stomach. Dianna looked away and brought her mug to her lips to take a sip of the scalding liquid that probably would have felt hotter if her face wasn't already burning up with embarrassment. "Thank you," she whispered.

"That being said, Mathew is right. Your phone has been very active this morning, so I would suggest calling whoever it is that is clearly worried about you to assure them of your well-being."

There was no way this blush would leave her face any time soon. She should have known better than to think her absence would go unnoticed.

Tristan glanced toward the kitchen and then brought his steady gaze back to her. He tucked her hair behind an ear and gave her a quick, adrenaline-inducing kiss. "You don't know how much I wanted to do that since I woke up this morning," he said softly.

Her gaze followed him as he stood and headed for the kitchen.

"Okay, bud. What's for breakfast?"

"I want what Dianna's having."

"You don't like peppermint tea."

"No. I mean I want what she wants. Miss Dianna?"

"Yeah, bud?" She didn't dare turn around. She could feel Tristan's gaze drilling into her and she wasn't quite ready to scrutinize the next step their relationship had taken yet.

"What do you want for breakfast?"

"What is your dad going to make?"

Mathew sighed. Tristan chuckled and moved around in the kitchen.

"What are you making, Dad?"

"How about pancakes?" Tristan offered.

"I don't want pancakes."

Dianna's mug hid her grin as she got to her feet and headed toward the kitchen. "Mmm. Pancakes sound yummy. But only if I get to eat mine with honey instead of syrup."

Mathew made a face, and it took everything in her power not to laugh. He wasn't thrilled with that idea. "I want pancakes. But I still want syrup."

"Sounds like a plan." Tristan moved toward the fridge, but not before another intense gaze passed between them.

For a few moments, she took in the scene before her in the kitchen. All of this was just surreal. One second she was on a date, sharing her first kiss with the guy, and the next she was woken up by his son.

Dianna gripped the mug a little tighter, attempting to quell the rapid beats of her heart. This was okay. Everything would be okay. She'd been here multiple times before. Nothing was amiss.

But something didn't feel right.

Too fast.

Too new.

She placed her mug on the coffee table. "Actually, I'm gonna go."

"Right now?" Tristan deposited the pan he was holding on the stove.

Mathew stared at her with confusion.

Dianna nodded. "I'm sure I can get a ride from someone. If I can't, I'll borrow a horse."

"That's ridiculous. I can take you." Tristan moved over to where his coat hung on a coat rack and slipped his arms into the sleeves. "Mathew, get your boots."

" No ." She said it too quickly, but as she did, she closed her eyes and held up her hand. When she opened them, Tristan was in front of her, holding her upper arms.

"Hey. It's okay. I can take you," he said.

She shook her head. "It's not that. I just—I need to clear my head—alone." Her gaze darted to Mathew and her heart melted. When she brought her focus back to Tristan, she gave him her best reassuring smile. "Everything is fine. I'm fine. Just let me catch my breath for a bit, okay?"

He frowned. "But?—"

"Dad."

They both turned to Mathew.

"Remember when I need a break sometimes?"

Goosebumps erupted on her arms and she rubbed at them furiously. This kid, who wasn't even eight years old, knew exactly what she was going through. It might only be a temporary understanding, but there it was.

Tristan swung his focus back to Dianna and his hands dropped. "Sure. Okay." He rubbed the back of his neck, putting some distance between them. "Would you like to come by tonight for dinner? With all of us?"

She swallowed hard, not sure if her anxiety attack would be settled by then. But then one more look at Mathew and it was like that small innocent face could ground her, reminding her she could do hard things. Dianna nodded. "How about we do dinner and decorate some Christmas cookies."

Mathew's face brightened and he nodded vigorously. "Can we, Dad?"

"Of course, bud. How about you go brush your teeth while I walk Dianna to the club."

Without complaint, Mathew darted toward the bathroom.

Tristan didn't close in on her, something she was grateful for. Instead, he tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "You okay? I didn't overdo anything, did I?"

"What? No. Of course not. It's totally all me." She rubbed her arms again. "Sometimes I put myself in these situations and don't realize how they're going to affect me. I'm fine. We're fine. Promise."

A line formed between his brows.

She moved forward and placed her hand against his cheek, fighting against her instincts to run and find shelter. "Last night was the most fun I've had in a long time. I'm glad we did it."

He covered her hand with his own, then turned his face and kissed the inside of her palm. "Good. Me too."

Chills raced from where he kissed her down her arm and along her spine, causing a flurry of sensations.

"You're certain you don't want me to take you home? It's not that far."

Dianna nodded. "I'll call one of my sisters. You cook some breakfast for Mathew, and I'll see you later tonight." She shifted to head toward the door, thinking how nice one more kiss would be. But she knew better. She needed to regain control of the situation the best way she knew how and that was by taking some time to herself.

And possibly distracting her racing thoughts by cornering Brielle and finding out how last night went for her.

Grace's truck pulled up in front of the club and she shifted in her seat as she rolled down her window. She gave Dianna an incredulous look. "Do you know how much trouble you're in?"

Dianna grimaced, darting toward the truck and climbing inside. "Is Dad mad?"

Her sister gave her a blank look. "Dad? I don't think he's realized you're not home. No, it's Bri. She's livid."

"Brielle's mad? What happened?"

"I don't know, but when she found out you called me to pick you up, she started stomping around the kitchen and slamming cabinets. Dad went to town early this morning, so thankfully she didn't wake him up."

"I still don't get why she'd be mad."

Grace's focus swept over Dianna's outfit and a small frown marred her features. She didn't say anything, but Dianna could tell she was curious as to what exactly had happened.

Dianna sighed. "I assure you, anything you're concocting in your head is going to be ten times worse than what really happened."

"What did happen? No one could get ahold of you last night, and with the snow…" She peeked at her sister once more before driving out of the parking lot. "We were worried, Dianna."

Guilt washed over her. She hadn't thought about how worried everyone would be.

Dianna glanced at Grace and mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"You should be. You can't just disappear like that without a word. None of us know this guy. The only saving grace was that Brielle was on a date with your boss and Shane seems to know Tristan well enough to put us all at ease."

Shoulders slumped, the exhilaration from the night before had all but dissipated. There would be no talking about the amazing experience she had. Everything was overshadowed by her poor choices.

She sat in silence, mentally preparing herself to be lectured by Brielle, too. Though that didn't seem all that fair. Brielle was the queen of disappearing acts around here. She could pick out a guy, spend the whole evening with him and come home after everyone was asleep without caring a lick about what her sisters thought.

The more Dianna thought about it, the more disgruntled she became. By the time she got to her room, she'd slammed three doors and stomped every step she could. Why did the rules get to be different for Brielle and not for her? She should be able to do what she wanted without the threat of her sisters putting her into a corner and telling her she was a bad person.

She yanked open the door to her bedroom, then let out a surprised scream. "Brielle! What are you doing in here?!"

Brielle sat on Dianna's bed, her ankles crossed and a book open on her lap. She didn't even react.

" Brielle ."

Her sister looked up from the book and snapped it shut. "I don't even know what you like so much about these books."

"I asked you a question."

She put the book aside and sat up straighter. "Well, that's ironic. I have a question for you too."

Dianna sighed. "Fine. Just lay it on me. Tell me how terrible I am for making you worry and?—"

"Did you kiss him?"

Her head snapped up, gaping at Brielle. "What?"

Brielle scooted to the edge of the bed, a smile filling her face. "You kissed him, didn't you?"

"I—well, yeah—but?—"

"Okay. So tell me the truth. Are you an item? Or are you taking it slow? Because I could see it go either way." Her eyes narrowed. "Or are you following in my footsteps and you're not going to let it go any further?"

"Wait, so you're not upset? But Grace said you were slamming cupboards and stomping around this morning."

Brielle tilted her head. "Was I? Oh yeah. That's probably because Shane sent me a message this morning thanking me for a wonderful night."

"And that made you mad ?"

"Not that . The stuff that came after it. He said he didn't want to start anything serious."

Wait a minute. Brielle was upset that a guy didn't want anything serious? Her head ached and she shook her head. "I don't get it."

"Shane said he had a great night but that we were too different, and he wished me luck."

"He said that?" Even to Dianna that sounded harsh.

"Right? I mean, I agree with him. There's no way I would want to be locked into a relationship with him. Do you see me being the doting wife? Ha! In his dreams."

Dianna shuffled across the room and sat on the edge of her bed. "Okay, so you're not upset."

Brielle groaned. "Why aren't you getting this? He's not allowed to break up with me."

"But you weren't together in the first place."

"That's beside the point. No one breaks up with me because I'm the one who breaks up with them." She waved her hand through the air. "None of that matters because I'm in here to figure out what's going on with you and your date. You didn't come home. That took guts. What would you have done if Dad caught you?"

Dianna sighed. "I don't know what I'm doing."

"Do you like him?"

"Of course I do."

Brielle scooted beside her and nudged her shoulder. "Do you want to see him again?"

"I'm going to see him tonight."

"Then what's the problem?"

Dianna stared at her hands. "I'm scared."

"Oh. Well, that's normal."

A huff burst from her chest. "How would you know? You've never had a long relationship." The room dropped a few degrees in temperature and Dianna suddenly realized how that probably sounded. "I didn't mean?—"

"No. You're right. I haven't risked anything. But let me tell you something. The things you want the most are the hardest to get and the most worth the effort. If you like this guy, if you like his kid, and you're happy when you're with them, then take a chance." She bumped Dianna's shoulder with her own. "And I'll stand with you one hundred percent of the way. Just do me one favor."

"What's that?" Dianna croaked, emotion in her throat.

"Please don't set me up with any more guys—especially Shane."

Dianna let out a tight laugh and Brielle gave her a side hug. She hadn't expected it, but Brielle had managed to put everything into such simple terms that helped her realize she was on the right path.