Begin Again (Beautiful #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’d achieved everything I’d hoped to when I arrived in Chicago last year, and while most people would dream of my kind of success, I hated the man it made me. Sienna squeezed my hand and again it felt wrong. I looked into her brown eyes and like many times before, compared their color to the explosive green ones I’d spent my entire life in love with.
    “You okay, baby?” she asked, giving me a smile. Her long blonde hair was tied up in a pony tale high on her head and I found myself wishing it would somehow magically change to the fiery red color that fueled my demons and haunted my dreams. I got myself into quite the situation as far as Sienna was concerned. She was my boss’s daughter and somehow she found her way to my bed. Admittedly, it was only six months ago, and while I’d spent the majority of our semi-relationship being riddled with all-consuming guilt, she temporarily soothed the loneliness that threatened to drown me. I got hopelessly drunk one night and after she took pity on me, I spilled my guts and told her how I had lost the love of my life. It hurt to think about Demetria and how broken we’d left things, which is why having someone like Sienna was so… convenient.
    “Yeah,” I replied. “Just anxious to get home and see everyone.” And Demi. Part of me wondered if bringing Sienna with me was a good idea but at the same time I didn’t want to attend Grayson and Huntley’s wedding alone. Jeff would be Demi’s date but I was still worried that she’d moved on and if I had to be subjected to seeing her with someone else then I at least I wouldn’t have to be alone. Sienna curled deeper into my side but it felt wrong to wrap my arms around her so I didn’t. Instead, I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Grayson’s number. He answered on the second ring.
    “Hey bro,” he greeted happily. “What’s up?”
    “Nothin’ much, just waiting to board the plane and get my ass home,” I replied.
    “Yeah man, we’re looking forward to seeing you. Hunter keeps asking when his uncle Brody is going to be here, it’s driving me crazy.”
    I chuckled, smiling at the thought of my Godson.
    “I can’t wait to see the Lil’ man either.”
    Grayson clears his throat and the other end of the line filled up with a somewhat awkward silence before he spoke again. “Is Sienna with you?” he asked hesitantly. The tone of his voice did little to cover his concern.
    “Yeah, why?”
    “Listen man,” he began. “I’ve booked you into a hotel for the week. You know we’re doing renovations to the ranch, so you can’t stay there. I made reservations under your name until you leave on Sunday.”
    “I thought we were staying with you and Huntley?”
    He sighed heavily. “That was the plan, but Huntley…” he hesitated.
    “Huntley what?”
    Grayson muttered ‘shit’ on the other end and I was pretty sure he was brushing his hands through his hair. I’d seen him do it a thousand times. “Huntley doesn’t want you staying here with another woman,” he said. “I guess she’s still pissed about everything and she doesn’t want any drama before the wedding.”
    I responded with a sigh of my own and had difficulty suppressing my anger. Huntley was fiercely protective of Demetria and I granted her that but I was tired of being made to feel like the villain. I was also hurt. Hell, I was still hurting. I’d just learned to live with it.
    “Alright Gray,” I said, giving in. “Send me the check-in info and I’ll stop by at your place once we’ve arrived.”
    “I’m sorry,” he replied. “I tried reasoning with her but fuck, she’s stubborn and I didn’t want to fight with her over this shit so close to the wedding. She’s been stressed enough as it is.”
    “Don’t worry about it. I understand. I know you guys were caught between a rock and a hard place when all that shit went down with Demi and me. I get it.”
    Sienna looked up at me, a frown between her eyes. She watched me