Chapter 21
Something wasn’t right. Sierra turned away from the light shining in her face, not ready to wake up yet, before it hit her.
Light didn’t shine across her bed until far later than she usually got up. She hadn’t planned to sleep late enough for that, or she would have closed the drapes.
Why hadn’t she closed the drapes?
It took a moment for her brain to wake up enough so she could remembered going to bed the night before. With a groan, she rolled over to look at the clock. Nine-thirty. Way past when she would normally be up, but then she stayed up way past when she would normally be in bed too.
For a moment she wished she could pull the blankets up over her head, sleep a little longer and there would be a redo of the night before. Especially the part where she’d called Blake. Had she really told him she’d fallen in love with him?
Not that it wasn’t true, but how pathetic was it that she, a small-town girl who had to work for her living, fell for the big city millionaire? Especially since he couldn’t possibly feel the same, or he would have said it last night, when she’d made her own confession, right?
Maybe it was late enough, and Blake had been tired enough, he wouldn’t remember it. She could hope, but she wasn’t going to hold her breath on that one.
Deciding she’d wallowed in self-pity long enough, Sierra rolled out of bed and grabbed her phone from the top of the dresser as she shuffled into the bathroom.
She used the facilities, washed her hands, and made a face when she spotted her own reflection but quickly looked away and hurried out of the room. She didn’t have the energy to deal with the crazy hair and racoon eye makeup yet. Not until she’d gotten some coffee.
In the kitchen she dropped a fresh pod into the coffee maker, made sure she had a cup under the spout, she only needed to make that mistake a few times before she’s learned that lesson, and hit the start button.
While she waited for her coffee to brew, she looked at her phone for the first time since she’d picked it up. There were several texts waiting for her, all from Blake.
They started out simply. Asking if she was up yet, then nothing for almost an hour before he asked the same thing again. Then another half an hour after that. Another a few minutes later. Still asking if she was up yet. The only message to change the pattern was the last, and it had been left only about half an hour before she’d woken up.
It left her frowning at the little screen.
Blake:When you get up, go look on your front porch.
She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip before heading for the door. She didn’t have any neighbors close enough to care she was in her pajamas and her hair was a mess. Besides, she was curious about what he’d sent her.
There was nothing there when she opened the door, so she stepped outside and looked around. That was when she spotted him.
Blake slouched in one of the two anti-gravity lounge chairs she kept on the porch for quiet evenings. She stood a moment, wondering how long he’d been there and how long he’d been asleep.
She knew from experience those chairs were comfortable, but the angle of his neck made her worry he’d wake up hurting. Besides, she’d never tried to sleep in one.
“Blake, babe.” Sierra kept her voice low when she spoke, not wanting to startle him.
He didn’t move, so she tried again, a little louder.
“Blake, come on, wake up. That can’t be comfortable.”
This time he began to stir. He shifted and stretched, making Sierra worry he would tip the chair over, then opened his eyes.
“Good morning.” He grinned at her.
How had she managed to fall for a morning person? Someone this cheerful in the morning was irritating, but somehow, she found herself smiling back.
“What time is it?”
“A little after nine-thirty How long have you been here?”
“Not quite half an hour.” He pushed the footrest part of the chair down as he sat up. He’d planned to leave at seven but had woken early and had gotten lucky that the pilot had some of the same ready early issues that he did. They’d been able to leave much earlier than he’d planned. “How did you sleep?”
Sierra’s face heated as she remembered the call from last night again. Was that why he was here? Could there be any other reason?
“Hard. But you couldn’t have slept much, or well in that chair. Come on in and have some coffee. I’ll see if I have anything we can have for breakfast.” She turned and went inside, sounds of him following letting her know she didn’t need to say it again.