I didn’t mind. In fact, I liked that he knew. I decided everyone should know.
Meanwhile, Dave hit Tim in the back of the head. “What’s wrong with you?”
“What?”
“That was rude.”
“What? What did I say?”
“He doesn’t want you talking about her that way and neither do I.”
Tim dropped the paper he was reading and tossed his hands in the air. “I didn’t say anything.”
I grinned at their bickering; it reminded me of my brothers. “No, no. It’s fine. Tim didn’t say anything untoward.”
Dave narrowed his eyes on me. “He needs to learn respect.”
“But she’s loud with Jethro. A woman isn’t that loud unless she’s having the time of her life. She’s got to be starving. That’s all I’m saying,” Tim tried to explain again, which only served to piss Dave off more and make me laugh harder.
“Jesus Christ, Tim. Shut your fucking mouth.” Dave hit him again.
“Watch your language, New Jersey.” Tim swatted Dave’s hand away.
Dave moved to smack him again but stopped when the sound of the front door opening pulled our collective attention away from the hole Tim had been digging. I looked at Dave. He looked at me. All three of us moved for the foyer.
But the tension left me when I heard Hank Weller’s voice call, “Hey. Anyone home?”
“We’re back here,” Tim hollered back, releasing a relieved breath, taking his seat again.
Dave also stopped and his shoulders relaxed, though he whispered to me, “I know it’s his cabin and all, but I don’t like how he lets himself in. How can I keep her safe if people drop in unannounced?”
“He comes by?”
He nodded. “He used to call and she’d beg off, say she was too busy. So he started coming by unannounced, at least once a week for the last month.”
“Why?”
“He’s just like the rest of them.” Dave gave me a single eyebrow lift, his tone telling me everything I needed to know.
I crossed my arms as Hank appeared in the doorway, watched as the expectant smile on his face wavered when he caught sight of me.
“Jethro.”
“Hank.”
He straightened, his eyes narrowing as they took in my bare feet, jeans with no belt, and white T-shirt. “What are you doing here?” Hank asked.
“Making Sienna scream,” Tim mumbled too low for anyone but me to hear.
“What was that?” Hank looked between the two of us.
“Nothing.” Dave glared at Tim, apparently he’d also heard the big man’s mumble, then pointed to the kitchen counter. “Do you want some coffee? We just made some.”
“Uh, sure.” Hank made a show of looking around the kitchen and then sidestepping and glancing over his shoulder to the living room. “Where’s Sienna?”
Tim started, “She’s—”
“She’s still asleep.”
Hank’s eyes widened, his eyebrows jumping high on his forehead. “Still asleep? It’s past ten.”
“So it is.” I nodded once.
My business partner inspected me again. “She never sleeps past seven, let alone ten.”
I didn’t like that he knew when Sienna slept, so I allowed an edge of irritation in my voice as I put the question to him, “Why’re you keeping tabs on Sienna’s sleep habits, Hank?”
My business partner stepped fully into the kitchen and mimicked my stance. “Why’re you here, Jethro?”
Dave cleared his throat and tapped Tim on the shoulder. “I think we’ll finish our breakfast in the, uh, other room.”
Tim grabbed his coffee cup, newspaper, and half-eaten doughnut and followed Dave out of the kitchen, leaving Hank and me swapping glares.
Neither of us spoke for a full minute or more, likely because we both already knew the answer to each other’s question.
Finally, Hank asked, “You decided to ignore my advice?”
The fact Hank was the first to break the silence was unsurprising. He’d always been impatient, too curious for his own good.
“Did you give me advice?” I leaned my hip against the kitchen counter.
“You know what I’m talking about.” He crossed to the coffee maker and poured a cup, giving me his profile. “When she leaves you in the dust, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I studied the unhappy curve of his mouth, saw he believed his own words. “Why are you really here, Hank?”
“Same as you, I suspect. I like her. She’s beautiful. She makes me laugh. She tells great stories. She makes me feel good.” He turned to look at me, blowing steam from the coffee cup and taking a sip before adding, “Except, Sienna and I are friends. When she leaves, I’ll still know her. Whereas, you . . .” He shrugged, his eyes full of sympathy.