Exposed on Ice

11

Chapter 11 – Ronan Vale

Morning comes too f*****g early.

I’m not even sure I slept properly, but my eyes snap open like my body’s decided we’ve had enough rest for one lifetime.

Brilliant.

I stare at the ceiling for a second, trying to remember where the hell I am—

Then it hits.

Right.

Sienna.

Baby.

Chaos.

I drag a hand over my face and sit up slowly, the blanket slipping off my chest. My neck protests immediately.

“Fantastic,” I mutter. “Love that for me.”

Sleeping on the couch? Not ideal.

Sleeping on the couch while there’s a girl in my bed?

Even less ideal.

I scrub a hand through my hair and stand, stretching slightly before heading toward the kitchen.

Coffee.

That’s step one.

Because if I have to deal with Caleb storming in here like an overprotective psycho later, I’m going to need caffeine.

Lots of it.

I’m halfway through making it when I hear the bedroom door open.

Soft.

Careful.

I don’t turn right away.

I don’t know why.

Maybe because I’m not entirely ready to see her again after last night.

After that moment.

“Morning,” she says quietly.

Yeah.

Too late.

I turn.

And there she is.

Hair messy. Same clothes. Barefoot.

And somehow she still looks—

Fuck.

I clear my throat. “Morning.”

There’s a pause.

We just… look at each other.

Again.

This is becoming a problem.

“You sleep?” I ask.

“A little,” she says. “You?”

“Define sleep.”

That gets a small smile out of her.

Worth it.

I pour coffee into a mug and hold it up slightly. “You want?”

She hesitates.

Then nods. “Yeah. Please.”

I grab another mug, pour, and hand it to her.

This time, when our fingers brush—

It lingers.

Just a second longer than necessary.

And I don’t pull away immediately.

Neither does she.

“Thanks,” she murmurs.

“Yeah.”

We’re standing too close.

Again.

Shocking.

I step back first this time.

Progress.

“So,” I say, leaning against the counter, “baby still alive?”

She blinks.

Then laughs.

“Wow. Stellar morning question.”

“I aim high.”

“He’s fine,” she says, taking a sip. “Still asleep.”

“Good. Means we’ve got… what, ten minutes before chaos?”

“Maybe fifteen if we’re lucky.”

“f**k yeah. I’ll take it.”

She shakes her head, but she’s smiling again.

And there’s something about that—

Something easy.

Too easy.

A knock suddenly echoes through the apartment.

Loud.

Sharp.

Right on cue.

We both freeze.

Then slowly turn toward the door.

Sienna exhales. “That’s him.”

“Yeah,” I say. “I figured.”

I push off the counter and head for the door, already bracing myself.

This is going to be fun.

I open it.

And there he is.

Caleb Cross.

Standing there like he’s about to murder someone.

Probably me.

“Morning,” I say casually.

He doesn’t respond.

Just looks past me.

Into the apartment.

“Where is she?”

Straight to the point.

Love that.

“She’s fine,” I say. “Relax.”

“I’ll relax when I see her.”

“Jesus, you’re dramatic.”

His jaw tightens. “Ronan—”

“Sienna’s fine,” I repeat, more seriously now. “Come in or stop glaring at me like I kicked your dog.”

He steps inside without another word, eyes scanning the place like he expects to find something suspicious.

Which—

Fair.

Sienna appears in the hallway a second later.

“Caleb,” she says.

His entire posture shifts instantly.

Protective mode activated.

“You okay?” he asks, moving toward her.

“I’m fine.”

“You stayed here?”

His eyes flick to me.

Sharp.

Accusing.

Ah.

There it is.

“Yeah,” she says calmly. “My car broke down, remember?”

“That doesn’t mean you had to stay the night.”

I cross my arms. “What did you want me to do? Leave her on the side of the road?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Sounds like it.”

“Ronan,” Sienna cuts in, her tone firm. “Stop.”

I shut up.

Barely.

Caleb exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair.

“Where’s the baby?” he asks.

“Asleep,” she says. “In the bedroom.”

His gaze flicks toward the door.

Then back to me.

“You put my sister in your bed?”

Oh, for f**k’s sake.

“It was the only place for the baby to sleep,” I say. “Relax, mate. I took the couch.”

He studies me.

Like he’s trying to decide if I’m lying.

Or if he should punch me.

Honestly?

Bit rude.

“I didn’t touch her,” I add, voice flat.

That does it.

Sienna’s eyes snap to me.

“Ronan!”

“What?” I shrug. “That’s what he’s thinking.”

Caleb clenches his jaw.

“Damn right it is.”

“Good. Glad we’re all on the same page.”

“Jesus Christ,” Sienna mutters, rubbing her forehead. “Can you both not do this right now?”

We both go quiet.

For her.

Only reason.

There’s a beat of silence.

Then—

A soft cry comes from the bedroom.

Right on schedule.

Sienna turns immediately. “That’s Oliver.”

She disappears into the room before either of us can say anything else.

And just like that—

It’s me and Caleb.

Alone.

Tension thick as hell.

He looks at me.

I look at him.

“Well,” I say. “This is fun.”

“Stay away from her.”

There it is.

I huff out a quiet laugh. “Bit late for that, don’t you think?”

His eyes narrow. “I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

We hold each other’s gaze.

Neither backing down.

Because here’s the thing—

I don’t know what the f**k this is yet.

What’s happening.

What it means.

But I do know one thing.

I didn’t help her last night just to walk away like it meant nothing.

And that?

That’s probably going to piss him off even more.

“Relax,” I say finally. “She’s not some fragile thing.”

“I know that,” he snaps. “That’s not the problem.”

“Then what is?”

He hesitates.

Just for a second.

Then—

“You are.”

I smirk slightly. “Fair.”

Because honestly?

He’s not wrong.

Not even a little.

And that’s exactly why this is going to get a whole lot more complicated.

Fast.