Chapter Six #2
“That’s not what I want to hear. I’ll work on that one. This is a big house. We’ll put Eli and Lucinda in the guest houses. They might enjoy the privacy.”
“Actually, they might enjoy the peace and quiet. However, do not make plans for me to move in with you when I’m busy, and so many people are working in your house.”
“I wouldn’t think of asking you to move in with me.”
“Oh, yes, you would, and I’m sure you were planning exactly that,” she remarked, amused and certain she was right.
“Well, I’ll admit the thought crossed my mind.”
Smiling, Sierra continued talking with him for another hour before finally telling him goodbye.
During the week she called Nan to ask about William.
Sierra hoped Blake would really care about the kid.
He had cared enough to give William some attention when they were in Kansas, but that had been easy.
Now, when Blake was back in Texas, it would be a bigger task.
Part of her hoped Blake would make the effort.
For the rest of the week she got a call late every night from Blake, but then he had meetings in California and the calls stopped.
She knew he was busy with his commercial properties, and he was deeply involved in his work.
And she also knew that she should get used to living without his conversation or company.
Sooner or later she’d have to let go because they had no future together.
Blake’s schedule was packed, partially because of things he had put off doing when Sierra was at the ranch, and partly because he worked at finding ways to keep busy to try to forget her.
She was not his type, and the sooner he went on with his life, the better off he would be. All sensible thoughts, but not a solution. He missed seeing her. He wanted to go out with her again, and he wanted her back in his bed.
Blake called old friends, accepted party invitations, kept busy and resisted calling Sierra.
His father had just built a new luxury hotel in Florida, and Blake had already bought nearby land and made arrangements to start construction.
Blake flew out to look, staying in his father’s hotel to check it out, something he did about once a year.
His hotels were taking more business than ever from his father’s.
But even that work made him think of Sierra. He remembered their conversations about his father. She didn’t understand his motives because she had never been hurt the way he had. She had grown up insulated by the love of her family.
He had seen the latest figures on the hotels. He had cut into his dad’s business so much that he expected him to sell his properties.
In years past that small success would have brought more satisfaction than it did now. Was that Sierra’s influence—or was Blake tiring of trying to get a bit of revenge for the years his father had refused to acknowledge him?
Blake thought about the kid at the picnic, William, who didn’t know his father and had lost his mother.
There ought to be some way to help the boy beyond sticking him in a shelter.
The shelter was better than the street, of course, but there must be something that would give him a better chance in life.
Blake made a note to have someone look into it.
That was definitely Sierra’s influence, he thought.
How could she have had such an impact on him in such a short time?
In early April, Sierra flew to Dallas to meet with Blake and his contractor, and make arrangements to commence work. She was jittery, and not sure if it was because she was presenting their final plan for Blake’s approval or because she would be seeing him again.
When she stepped out of the rental car, he was waiting on his porch. Tall and handsome, Blake looked like the Texas rancher he was with his jeans, boots and tan shirt. He came down the steps to sweep her into his embrace.
The moment his strong arms closed around her, she forgot her mission and lost all her apprehension. She clung to him tightly and kissed him.
She felt as if she’d come home.
All that she had intended to say was forgotten when he took her into his arms. After a moment, she moved out of his embrace. “Blake, you hired me to finish this job for you, and it will never get done if we don’t stop kissing.”
He grinned. “So? I can live with that.”
Laughing, she shook her head. “Eventually, you wouldn’t want to. You paid me a lot of money for this. You might as well have your new wing finished, and I’ve bought some expensive artwork.”
“All right. I’ll listen.”
“I want you to look at what we’ve done. After I change, I’ll get things set up in the office you said I can use.”
It was late afternoon before she emerged from her shower, dressed in stone-washed jeans, boots and a blue knit shirt. She left her hair loose and went to find Blake.
She brought him into the office where she had sketches spread on a long table along with 3D designs on her iPad.
Blake studied them quietly. “Look through the iPad for pictures of how the artwork, sculptures and furniture for each suite will look. Go ahead.” She stood by the table, watching for his reaction.
“This is perfect, Sierra,” he said, pointing to a sketch of a bedroom. “This will be my room.” He closed the distance between them to place his hands on her shoulders. “I knew you’d do the best possible job.”
Warmed by his praise, she smiled. “Thank you! I’m thrilled you’re happy with it, and I’ll let Lucinda and Eli know because they deserve as much credit. They are really good at this.”
“This is just perfect,” he said, studying her.
“I don’t know how the hell you can leave a career you’re perfect for.
Do you know how many people would like to have half the talent you do, and they’re in the business?
You selected what I would have selected,” he said, turning to look at her intently.
“That’s interesting, Sierra, because we don’t see eye to eye on anything else in life. Well, maybe a few things.”
She ignored his flirting. “Thank Lucinda and Eli. They found a lot of those pieces. They took note of what you like when we toured your house.”
“That they did. These are perfect. I’m glad I hired you.”
Her gaze ran over him. She could still feel her heartbeat speed up when she looked at him or thought about kissing him.
How could she be so drawn to him or find him so exciting when they were totally different?
Memories tugged at her senses, and she gulped for air. She wanted to be back in his arms, and she suspected she would be soon.
The next day Lucinda and Eli arrived, and Sierra stayed in her own suite that night.
For the rest of the week and through the one following, workers were coming and going, goods were delivered to the ranch and there was constant activity from early in the morning until about nine in the evening.
Blake left for business in Dallas and they talked each day, but she didn’t see him.
The next week Blake went to California. Sierra, Lucinda and Eli stayed at the ranch to be available for the contractor and make sure everything was going well. They all worked hard to get everything finished by the deadline.
On a weekend trip home to Kansas City, Sierra’s worries and priorities shifted as a new concern emerged—one she’d never dreamed she would have.
She could not ignore her body—she might be pregnant with Blake’s baby.
A few hours later, Sierra stood staring at the results of the pregnancy test. Blake had taken precautions, always. But she knew that condoms were not always effective, even when used appropriately. Apparently, this was one of those times.
Her head swam, and for a moment she felt faint. She sat in a chair, putting her head down, hoping the dizziness would pass.
Looking again at the results of her test, she shook her head. “No,” she whispered. She couldn’t be pregnant.
What would she do? What would Blake do?
She had no answers to those questions. All her life, her family, her friends, her school, her activities, her jobs—everything had been harmonious, satisfactory, even fantastic.
She had a big, loving, happy family. She’d had success.
She had wonderful friends, and she was in a second great career.
An unwanted, unplanned pregnancy, being tied to a man she wanted and yet couldn’t have—how would she cope?
She placed her hand on her flat stomach. She was carrying Blake’s baby.
Panic gripped her, and she felt light-headed again. She had planned her life in the usual manner—marriage then children. It had never occurred to her that her life would not follow that pattern.
She wanted a doctor’s confirmation in addition to the pregnancy test.
With a sigh, she calmed down only slightly. Deep in her heart, she knew the test wasn’t mistaken. She was going to have Blake’s baby.
But he was a man who planned to remain single. A man who didn’t know anything about being a dad, about families or about children. He didn’t even want any.
He was also a man who definitely did not want a long-term relationship right now. And she didn’t want to marry him. They wouldn’t be compatible—not beyond the bedroom.
He would probably give her a generous sum of money to support his child, though.
She thought about Blake at the picnic, sitting and talking to William, then later, coaching the boy when he joined the ball game.
He’d never been around children, and yet he’d taken to William immediately.
He’d even asked about the boy in their phone conversations.
He cared, even when he pretended he didn’t, and common sense told her that Blake would never abandon his own child.
Probably, he would insist on marriage even though they were not in love.
With all the bitterness Blake felt toward his father, he would never make the same mistakes with his own family.
Blake would do everything in his power to be a part of his child’s life full-time.
He’d talk her into getting married, or living with him, no matter how unsuited they were as a couple.