Then You Happened

by Sandi Lynn

  “He told me he’s getting married,” I said as I took a bite of toast. “And that it won’t change our sex relationship.”

  “What? What a douchebag! What did you say to him?”

  I popped three aspirin. “I told him that I don’t have sex with guys who are in relationships. Then I told him I faked the last orgasm as I walked out the door.”

  “Good for you.” She smiled. “Did you really, though?”

  “Yes.” I laughed.

  “I had a date last night with my boyfriend on batteries. What does a girl have to do to get laid by a real penis?”

  I spit out my coffee as I looked up and saw James standing in the doorway with his arms folded, staring at Kirsty. The look of horror on her face was priceless.

  “Please tell me you didn’t hear that,” she said in embarrassment.

  “Hear what?” James smiled.

  “Morning, James.”

  “Morning, ladies. It’s kind of a turn on seeing the two of you in bed together.” He winked.

  I threw my pillow at him. “Get out of here. I’ll be down in a bit.”

  He laughed as he shut the door and Kirsty grabbed my arm. “Great. Now he probably thinks I’m some horny whore.”

  “Well, you are. Not a whore, but horny.” I smiled as I got up and got in the shower.

  Chapter 4

  Sierra

  When I got out of the limo, I turned around and stared at the Starbucks across the street. I wondered if Green Eyes was in there today.

  “Kirsty, do me a favor and go to my office and make sure the campaigns are ready for the meeting. I’m going to hit up Starbucks. Do you want anything?”

  “No. I can go for you.”

  “No. I’ll go myself. Just go up to the office. James, I’ll see you later,” I said as I walked across the street.

  When I stepped through the door, I didn’t want to make it obvious by looking around for him, so I stood in line with about fifteen other people. This was why I hated Starbucks and always sent either Kirsty or Sasha. I wondered if he was here. I pretended that I was looking at the pictures on the wall. As I scanned each wall, my eyes diverted themselves over to the construction area and bam! There he was, except he didn’t notice me today or at least he wasn’t looking my way. Maybe he didn’t know I was here. Maybe he didn’t see me walk in. Maybe he was just too busy to know what was going on around him. The line was moving rather slowly and, as I was looking up at the drink menu on the wall, I felt someone put their hand on the small of my back.

  “Excuse me, miss. I need to get through here,” the warm and deep voice spoke.

  I turned my head and saw Green Eyes smiling at me as he pushed his way through the crowd of people. His light touch sent chills running throughout my body. Holy shit! He was even sexier up close. He stood about six feet tall. Maybe six one. His light brownish-sandy blonde hair was short and sexy. Did I mention the scruff? Good lord, the scruff on his face was perfect. Not too much and not too little. When I looked at him, he smiled at me and his green eyes looked into mine. I was brought back to reality by the text tone of my phone.

  “Where the hell are you? Are you still in line across the street? You have a meeting in ten minutes.”

  “Tell them I’m running late and I’ll be there soon. I’m the fucking CEO, for god sakes. I can be late!”

  It was finally my turn and I ordered my coffee. Green Eyes walked by and the girls behind me started to giggle.

  “He’s so hot,” one girl said.

  “I know. I love a hard-working man who gets all dirty and sweaty,” her friend said.

  I rolled my eyes because they had to be all of eighteen. But they were right about the “hot” part. As for the dirty and sweaty, not my cup of tea. I grabbed my coffee from the counter and, as I approached the door, Green Eyes opened it and held it for me.

  “Thank you.” I smiled.

  “You’re welcome.” He nodded.

  ****

  Cameron

  I looked over and there she was, the girl that was way out of my league, standing in line to get coffee. I tried not to make it obvious by staring at her the way I did yesterday, but I caught myself stealing little glances. I had to use the bathroom and it was on the other side of the shop. There was a line of people and I needed to get through, so I decided to cut in between the corporate woman and some young girl. This was my chance to get closer to her, even if it was only for a split second. As soon as I said “excuse me,” she turned and smiled at me as she moved up. I was right; she was even more beautiful up close. Damn her. Why did she have to be so beautiful? I needed to get some tools out of my truck and, as I approached the door, so did she. I held it open for her and she thanked me. Her voice was soft with a happy tone to it.

  As I opened the back of my truck, I watched her walk across the street and into the building. She walked with confidence. I could tell just by her actions that she was a strong woman and not a force to be reckoned with.

  “You still gushing over that CEO lady?” Paolo asked as he put his hand on my shoulder.

  “Nah. I don’t gush. Let’s get back to work.”

  ****

  Sierra

  The meeting was a success and we landed a new client.

  “Sasha, come in here, please,” I said through the intercom.

  I walked over to the bar, got out three glasses and the bottle of tequila. Sasha walked in and smiled.

  “Are we celebrating?” she asked.

  “We sure are,” I replied.

  Before I cut up the limes, I handed the salt to Sasha and Kirsty. After I poured the tequila, I handed them their glasses, poured salt on the back of my hand, and got my lime ready.

  “Here’s to landing another account and continuing to grow this company! Woo hoo!” I said with excitement as all three of us drank the shots. “Damn, that’s good.” I smiled.

  My phone began to ring and I walked over to my desk, only to see that it was my mother calling. “Party’s over, girls. Delia’s calling.”

  “Hello, Mother,” I answered.

  “Sierra, darling. Tell me you don’t have plans for tonight? Silly question, I know, because you don’t ever have plans. Anyway, Ava and I are coming over for dinner. I’ve already called Rosa and planned the menu, so you don’t need to worry about a thing. Dinner is at seven sharp, so please don’t be late. See you later, darling. Love you.” Click.

  And just like that, she was gone. I looked at my phone and then at Kirsty. “You’re coming to dinner tonight at my house at seven sharp. You are not leaving me alone with that woman.”

  “Hell, no. I have plans tonight.”

  “What plans do you have? Because I know damn well that if you had plans, you would have told me. You tell me everything.”

  “Well. Uh, I forgot.”

  I set my glass down on the bar. “Oh well. Looks like I’ll have James to keep me company.”

  Her ears perked up like a dog’s when it hears a noise outside. “James is coming?”

  “Yep. Too bad you have plans.”

  “No big deal. I can cancel them.”

  “Are you sure? Because I wouldn’t want you to miss out on something special.”

  “No…no. It’s fine. I’ll be at your house at seven sharp.” She smiled as she opened the door and left.

  I sat down in my chair behind my desk and turned it so I was facing the window. I sent a text message to James.

  “Dinner. Tonight. My house. Seven sharp. You’ll be there or else.”

  “Delia?” he replied.

  “Yep.”

  “Okay. I’ll be by the office to pick you up around six thirty.”

  “I’ll be waiting with a bottle of tequila in my hand.”

  I stared out the window of my office and at the city of Los Angeles. Actually, I stared at the Starbucks across the street. That’s right; my window faced Starbucks. I sat and watched for any sign of Green Eyes. I couldn’t get him out of my head, especially when his hand touched th
e small of my back and he held the door open for me. What the hell is it about him? Why do I feel like a stalker right now? This was not me. But I sat there in my big, oversized executive chair and watched and waited, even to catch a glimpse of him. My phone rang, and when I looked at it, I saw Don was calling. I hit ignore and it rang again. I hit ignore, and it rang again. For fuck sake.

  “What do you want, Don?” I answered.

  “I don’t want you to be upset about Milania.”

  “Who the fuck is Milania?” I asked in anger.

  “My fiancée. I promise nothing between us will change,” he said.

  I rolled my eyes. “What part of goodbye do you not understand? Don’t ever call me again. Before I let you go, let me give you one piece of advice. If you’re going to marry this woman, at least have the decency to stay faithful to her or don’t marry her at all. Goodbye, Don.” “Asshole,” I said out loud.

  I was startled when I heard someone clear their throat from behind. I turned my chair around and nearly stopped breathing when Green Eyes was standing there, staring at me. I suddenly became heated and nervous. The butterflies began to flutter and my heart started to pick up the pace. My lips wouldn’t form any words, so I just sat there and smiled.

  “Asshole, huh?” he chuckled.

  “Oh, yeah,” I said as I looked at my phone. “Just a guy I know who cheats on his fiancée, repeatedly.”

  “Yeah, then he’s an asshole. A big one, in fact.”

  “Can I help you with something?” I asked.

  “Sorry,” he said as he reached in his pocket. “You left your credit card across the street. I overheard the girl saying that she was going to bring it by later, and I was heading over here anyway to the deli down the street, so I told her that I’d drop it off.”

  “Thank you. Thank you so much. I didn’t realize that it was missing.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said, and then looked at my card. “Sierra Adams.”

  He walked over to my desk, and when he handed me the card, our fingers touched. I swear a bolt of electricity penetrated my body. Then that awkward moment happened. You know; the one where you both stand there and don’t say anything because you don’t know what to say? Yeah. That happened.

  “I need to get going.” He smiled as he pointed behind him.

  I got up from my desk and walked over to him. He sure was sexy. Holy shit. I stuck out my hand.

  “Thank you again—” I stopped and looked into his green eyes.

  “Cameron. Cameron Cole.” He smiled as he shook my hand.

  The intensity of our hands clasped around each other was overwhelming. Just as we were saying goodbye, Kirsty walked in.

  “Thank you again, Cameron.”

  “No problem. I’ll see you around.” He smiled and walked out.

  Kirsty stood there with her mouth wide open. “Who in the name of Adonis was that hot-looking guy?”

  “I don’t know. He’s doing some work across the street. I left my credit card at Starbucks and he brought it back to me.”

  She stood there and stared at me with her hands on her hips and tapping her foot.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Something’s off with you, and I think it has something to do with that hot guy.”

  I rolled my eyes and sat down at my desk. “The only thing that’s off is you. Now get back to work before I fire you.”

  “You always threaten that, but think of how screwed up your life would be if I wasn’t around.”

  I looked up at her. “True.”

  She left and I sat there pondering. Green Eyes wasn’t Green Eyes anymore. He was Cameron Cole.

  Chapter 5

  I stepped outside the building and, before I got in the limo, I looked across the street and saw Cameron by his truck. He gave me a small wave and a smile. I returned the favor and climbed inside.

  “Who’s that?” James asked with curiosity.

  “His name is Cameron and he was nice enough to return my credit card that I left at Starbucks this morning.”

  “Ah, leaving-the-credit-card-where-the-hot-guy-is-working-so-he’ll-bring-it-back-to-you-trick. Clever, Sierra.” He smiled.

  “Very funny, James. I’m done talking to you right now,” I said as I put up the privacy window. I looked at him and he was laughing.

  I dreaded dinner with my mother. Ava is my sister and she’s fifteen years old. Delia met Clive, her current husband and Ava’s father, sixteen years ago after her second divorce. She got pregnant three months after they started dating. I swear she did it on purpose to trap him. Clive is in real estate and finance and he’s worth millions. Which is good, because Delia wouldn’t accept anything less. He’s a womanizer. My mother either doesn’t see it or turns the other cheek. Personally, I think he’s a dog. But, Delia seems happy and my father always said she was nothing but a gold digger, so it is what it is.

  I looked at the clock on my phone. It was six fifty. I had ten minutes to get in and get changed before Delia arrived. Just as we walked through the door, Kirsty pulled up. The aroma in the house was amazing.

  “Rosa, what are you cooking?” I yelled from the foyer.

  “Chicken cordon bleu with asparagus and red skin potatoes lightly tossed in lemon and oregano.”

  Kirsty and James followed the smell to the kitchen, and I ran upstairs to change into more comfortable clothes, aka, yoga pants and a tank top. As I was coming down the stairs, the doorbell rang. Here we go, I thought to myself. I opened the door and the first thing Delia did was look me up and down.

  “Hello, darling. That’s what you’re wearing for dinner?” she asked as she kissed both my cheeks.

  “Hello, Mother, and yes. It’s my house and I’ll dress any way I want.” I smiled. “Hey, Ava,” I said as I hugged her. “No Clive tonight?”

  “He’s on business trip in Monaco,” she replied.

  I looked at Ava and she rolled her eyes. She made finger quotes and mouthed, “Business trip, my ass.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh as I put my arm around her and we went into the kitchen. Ava was a very active fifteen-year-old. Delia tried to mold her into everything she always wanted to be. Since she claimed she failed with me, poor Ava was getting the brunt of it. She was in beauty pageants, multiple dance classes, tennis lessons, swim lessons, and private voice lessons. She was a beautiful girl. Tall, long legs, long, blonde hair, and big, beautiful blue eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was crowned Miss America one day. Don’t get me wrong; Delia tried all those things with me, but my heart was in the business world, thanks to my dad. He kept me somewhat grounded and out of the limelight that my mother so badly wanted me in. Clive didn’t care what Delia did to Ava because he was too busy with other things. My thought was that he just let her do what she wanted to keep her quiet.

  “Hello, Kirsty. Hello, James,” Delia said as she walked in the kitchen. “I didn’t know you’d be here tonight.”

  “I invited them, Mother, since it’s my house and my housekeeper that cooked this meal.”

  She shot me a look and then raised her eyebrow at me. “It’s fine, Sierra. Stop getting all defensive.”

  “Dinner is ready. Everyone take your seats in the dining room,” Rosa said as she looked at me and rolled her eyes.

  We did what Rosa asked and sat down. “I thought you were having some things redone in this house?” Delia asked.

  “I just moved in three months ago and I haven’t had time to look into anything yet. I do work for a living.”

  Ava laughed. I could tell that Kirsty and James were uncomfortable. Delia and I never saw eye to eye on things. She blamed my father for that. She claimed that he corrupted my mind with all things corporate. Her belief was to let the men handle the business world while we stood by their sides and looked pretty. She resented my father for taking me into the world of advertising and now I thought she resented me as well. Our relationship wasn’t exactly perfect. When Ryan left me and never came back to Los Angeles, I was torn to pi
eces and all she could say was, “You must have done something wrong or couldn’t be the woman he wanted you to be, or else he wouldn’t have left.” We didn’t speak for three months after those words flew out of her mouth. She did ultimately apologize for hurting and upsetting me. But she never apologized for what she said.

  “Rosa, can you please get me a glass of water?”

  She looked at me and smiled. “Of course, senorita.”

  Rosa and I had a code. When I asked for water that meant to fill the glass with tequila.

  “Rosa, this chicken cordon bleu is too die for. If you ever consider leaving Sierra, you can come work for me.”

  “Rosa isn’t going anywhere, Mother. Stop trying to steal my help.”

  She went to set the glass on the table, but before she could, I took it from her hands. “Thank you.” I smiled as I drank half the glass.

  Once our eventful dinner was over, Rosa brought out a strawberry cake with buttercream icing and fresh strawberries on top.

  “My favorite, Rosa! Thank you!” Ava exclaimed.

  “None for Ava, Rosa. She has her swimsuit tryouts tomorrow and I can’t afford her putting on any weight.”

  The look on Ava’s face was pure disappointment and I could see the fires of Hell in her eyes. I felt bad and I wish I had more time to spend with her. I pulled Kirsty and James aside and asked them to take Delia outside in the back and complain about my landscaping.

  “I’ll be out in a minute. Ava, come here.” I smiled.

  I cut a huge piece of strawberry cake and put it on a plate. I grabbed a fork from the drawer and I took Ava’s hand.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “You’ll see. Follow me.”

  I took her to my bedroom and I set the plate on the desk. “Eat.” I smiled.

  “But—” she said.

  “No buts, Ava. Just eat the damn cake. Forget about Delia and your swimsuit tryouts for one night. Be a kid and scarf down that cake!”

  She smiled at me as she looked at the cake. “You’re the best, Sierra,” she said as she threw her arms around me.