Chapter Seven #3
This pregnancy was something neither of them had expected, and now they had to work it out some way. He just knew he would be there for his child.
The one thing he wouldn’t consider was the question Cade had asked: Was Blake in love with the mother of his child?
On Saturday morning, Sierra dressed in navy slacks and a white silk blouse.
Brushing her hair, she let it fall loosely over her shoulders.
Eli and Lucinda had flown into Dallas earlier and picked her up on the way to the ranch.
She’d be going with the others, the contractor and a photographer Eli was bringing, so she wouldn’t be alone with Blake, which suited her.
She was certain he hadn’t changed his mind, and neither had she.
At his ranch, he opened the wide front door to welcome them all inside.
At the sight of him in jeans and a black knit shirt, she wished she didn’t have the same breathless reaction she’d always had. He stepped back. “Come in,” he said.
After greeting everyone, Blake stood talking to Eli and motioned to them. “We’ll go look at the new wing that all of you have worked on. It’s exactly what I hoped I would get—a fantastic addition to my house, and something I could never have come up with on my own. Let’s look at all your work.”
They entered the open living area with its ceiling that was two stories high. The remaining walls were off-white so the artwork would stand out. The painting over the mantle was an early David Hockney that Eli had managed to find. It was one of Blake’s favorites.
Sierra thought the room was beautiful—sleek lines in the furniture, minimal clutter and so different from the rest of the house. Blake sounded sincerely happy and enormously pleased with the finished wing.
As she looked at him, she felt another pang. She wouldn’t let herself think of possibilities, wishes that couldn’t happen. She wanted love in her marriage, and she didn’t think a union without love would benefit their baby, no matter what Blake said.
She missed him, and she wanted to finish this tour, tell him goodbye and start trying to get over him. She needed to get to the point where she could deal with him without it tearing her apart.
As she looked at him, he turned and his gaze locked with hers. Again, she experienced that sizzling current taking her breath. She didn’t want to feel it or be held in his mesmerizing gaze. But she was, this time like all the others.
She turned her back to him and moved with the group to the next room. Why, oh, why, did he hold such a volatile attraction for her? They were worlds apart, and a baby wasn’t going to pull them together. As far as she could see, marriage would just make things worse.
The last time she was home, she had talked with her mother first and then both parents, and they had agreed with her that marriage without love would be disastrous.
She would have felt better about her decision upon hearing their agreement, except she was certain they would support her in whatever she decided. If she had said she was marrying Blake even though they were not in love, she felt she would have had the same approval from them.
Her sisters were divided on the subject, and her brothers pushed her to marry Blake, but all of them would stand by whatever decision she made, and they would welcome her baby the same as they had all the other children in the family. She already had toys and baby clothes, presents from her family.
When they entered Blake’s bedroom, she spent time studying the art, avoiding looking at the king-size bed because it would stir memories of being with Blake, even though it had been in his other bedroom.
She wanted out of his house, to get away from the ranch and back to her own world in Kansas, doing the work she loved—and beginning to get over her time with Blake Callahan.
Finally, the tour was over. Wendell served trays of delicious-looking food, and the dining room table held more trays and platters.
Since she had come with Eli and Lucinda, she would have to stay until they left, so she drifted around, trying to keep away from Blake, wanting to avoid talking to him.
But then he appeared in front of her. “You don’t have anything to drink. We have orange juice, tomato juice, iced tea—all kinds of drinks. Can I get you something?”
“I’m fine, Blake.”
“If you’ll stay, I’ll get you home later and we can talk.”
She gazed into brown eyes that hid his feelings. “Thanks, but I have a plane to catch, and I don’t think we have anything else to say to each other at this point in time. I still feel the same as I did when we last talked.”
“We still might try to work things out.”
“We have months to figure things out. I’m not staying.”
She could feel the clash between them. Nothing showed in his expression, but she was certain he wasn’t pleased. She turned and walked away, stepping into the kitchen to see if Etta was there. Sierra wanted to say hello and compliment her on the food.
“We’ll miss you here,” Etta said. “You come back.” She patted Sierra’s arm. “His rooms are wonderful.”
“Thank you. A lot of people worked on them.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“Thanks, Etta,” she said, surprised by the last. She couldn’t imagine Blake had said anything to Wendell or Etta about the baby, but she couldn’t recall Etta saying that to her before.
Finally, Lucinda asked if she was ready to leave, and fifteen minutes later she stepped to the door and turned to Blake.
“I’m sure we’ll be in touch.”
“Sierra, the new wing surpassed all my hopes and expectations. Eli and Lucinda are very talented. You’ve got a wonderful eye. Everything in the new wing is perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, thinking how polite they were being with each other. She was aware that Lucinda and a few others standing around could hear their conversation.
“Lucinda and Eli have done a fantastic job. I’m glad you like everything. I have to say thank you, too, Blake. Your generosity will help Dad’s church and the agency immeasurably. We’ll keep in touch to let you know where the money goes. It will do so much to help so many.”
“That’s good. I’ll see you soon,” he said, holding out his hand. She had to take it, and the minute they touched she felt an electric current, a deeper awareness of him.
“I’ll call,” he said quietly, and released her. She joined Lucinda and Eli, who stood beside the rental car. Her back tingled, and she didn’t want to turn around and look to see if Blake still stood at the door watching them.
She didn’t expect to see Blake again for a long time. Would he come around to her way of thinking about marriage?
She hurt. And she knew why. She had fallen in love with Blake. Maybe with time it would diminish.
She fought back tears, thankful that Lucinda and Eli were discussing their art purchases.
Once Sierra got her emotions under control, she joined in the conversation, thanking them for all their hard work and complimenting them on so many excellent choices in art and furniture.
Sierra kept her emotions bottled up until she reached home, a house she had rented near her parents. She finally sank into a chair, put her head in her hands and cried. She missed Blake.
She had to admit to herself that she had fallen in love with a man bent on revenge. She couldn’t marry a man like that. Even more of a stumbling block was the fact that Blake wasn’t in love with her. She never wanted to be in a loveless marriage.
She had gotten pregnant, and she couldn’t change that. She would have Blake’s baby and they would share their child. She’d have to figure out a way to heal her broken heart.