Ronni groaned her reluctance, but agreed. “Fine. But you say the word and...” She balled her right hand into a fist and punched it into her left palm with a smirk.
Sierra rolled her eyes and let out a breath. “Thank you. You are the bestest, best friend in the world.” She wrapped Ronni into a vise-like bear hug and then dragged her by her hand back to the couch to sit.
“You love her,” Ronni singsonged, drawing an evil, but amused look from Sierra.
Love.
The word had Sierra fidgeting in an instant. The last time she was in love, it had ended horribly. But Kara was not Jen. She knew that, yet the fear remained. She had kept her heart under lock and key ever since and she wouldn’t give it away easily, even though the magnetic attraction between them was more intense than she had ever experienced. Their connection was special and that meant something, but love? That was a heavy proclamation not to be made after one date.
“It’s too soon for that, but I definitely feel something. I can’t explain it. It’s…different…nice.” The goofy grin returned. “We’ll see.”
“You know it’s a real thing, love at first sight, right?” Ronni awaited a rebuttal, but received only a curious tilt of the head. “My Great Grammy Ida fell in love the moment she saw my Great PaPa Jim. They enjoyed fifty happy years together until he died. Trust me, you’re in deep, Sierra, so I hope you’re ready and I hope your little doctor is too.”
Sierra sat quietly in deep thought. Kara’s actions had spoken volumes about her intentions. If love was their destination, they would get there at their own pace. For once, Sierra didn’t feel like racing. A content smile hiked the corners of her mouth. She kicked her feet up and enjoyed the moment. No drama and no pressure. For the first time in her life, she felt...happy.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The work day had been less than productive and Kara had Sierra to blame. It wasn’t that Sierra had repeatedly called or texted in a disruptive way. Quite the opposite. Sierra had sent one text that morning to say thank you for a wonderful evening and that she was looking forward their next date, which they had yet to fully plan. Not because either was hesitant, but because they had both been too stuck in their lust-filled stupor last night to manage much more than a “see you soon” as they finally managed to pry themselves apart.
Whatever it was about Sierra—her smile, those eyes, the confident aura she exuded, or the slightly masculine “take charge” manner—Kara had been lured in hook, line, and sinker. Even now, a full…she glanced at her watch…fourteen hours and thirty-six minutes removed from Sierra’s presence, her heart still sped up and a smile crept its way onto her lips at the most unexpected moment. She wanted nothing more than to rush out and explore this unexplainable draw to Sierra, but there was work to be done.
Kara laughed. Since when had this ever been a problem for her? Suddenly, her chest tightened. This was precisely what she’d spent her life trying to avoid. She was quickly becoming “that woman.” The one who would fall hard and lose herself in someone else, forgetting her own purpose and goals. She wouldn’t allow that to be her. Even though she had already achieved most of her goals, she refused to become consumed by another person.
Another thing Dr. Kara Davies refused to be was clingy. That was a problem other women, like Jamie, had—wanting to be around her constantly. She had never understood it, never felt the intense desire to be in someone’s presence all the time. That is, of course, until she met Sierra. It was exciting and infuriating and she knew she should run for the hills and bury herself in work. She felt safe there. In control. Her legs and her heart, however, refused to allow it, no matter what logic her mind presented.
The simple beeping of her cell phone, resembling a heartbeat monitor, broke through the rambling of her mind. The ringtone was enough to register an incoming call, but not obnoxious and irritating—especially when she was with a patient. Her whirling thoughts, caught in the shifting tides of the war between her desires and her fears, quieted upon the intrusion of her phone. Her mind calmed, her body filled with warmth, and she was once again surrounded by the pleasantly lingering undertone of all things Sierra.
“Well you sound extra perky today, Kara. Can I assume you’ve finally grown a pair and hooked up with that beautiful woman who’s been dying to have you?”
“Just say it, Nicole.” Kara sighed, but couldn’t stop a slight smile from creeping onto her lips. Though she couldn’t see Nicole’s face, she was certain there was a feigned look of “who me?” all over it.
“I don’t know what you mean, Kara.”
“I can hear you smiling, Nicole.”
“All right. All right. I told you so.” She laughed with satisfaction. “And while we’re at it, you’re a highly intelligent woman, Kara. Why do I always have to point these things out to you?”
“That’s why we’ve been such good friends and partners. My strengths are your weaknesses and vice versa. We balance each other out. Thank you for that.” Kara spoke with sincerity. Nicole had always had her best interests at heart.
“Well…this is a historical moment. The ever-stoic Doctor Kara Davies has gone sappy on me. First you fall in love, next you recite Hallmark cards. I may have created a monster.”
“Stop it, please. I am not in love with Sierra and we didn’t hook up, but we did enjoy a nice date,” Kara defended.
“Whatever you say, my dear.”
“Did you kiss?”
“We did.” Kara’s entire body heated at the memory.
“And how was it?”
Kara paused before answering. She should probably look up an appropriate word for how fantastic the kiss was, but all she could come up with on the spot was, “Heavenly.”
“Sounds amazing.”
“It was,” she gushed.
“I’m going to do you a favor then. I’m faxing you the contract for Sierra to review before we meet. You can use it as an excuse to see her, because if I know you, you’ve already talked yourself into hiding.”
“I have not.”
“Mhm. Have you talked to her today?”
“Only a text this morning.”
“And when is your next date?”
“We haven’t made a solid plan yet.”
“Mhm. Stalling. Typical.”
“I’m not and stop saying ‘mhm.’ It’s annoying.”
“I know this is new to you, this being in the position of wanting someone, but trust me, you don’t want to ignore this one.”
Words were absent, but a quiver in Kara’s gut told her that Nicole was right. She had her fears and while she has fought the urge to withdraw, running and hiding had been her pattern over the years.
“Take the contract. Go see Sierra. Plan your next date. Or better yet, go on another date tonight.”
“What if I push too fast? What if-”
“Kara,” Nicole interjected. “After she showed up on our clinic doorstep, I doubt that would be a problem,” Nicole said with a light air of humor. “Live a little. I know what you’re afraid of, but I know you and that won’t be a problem in the long run—not if she’s the right one for you. You’ve worked hard. You deserve to have some fun, maybe even find someone to share your successes and dreams with.”
“Now who’s a Hallmark card?”
“Kara…”
“Okay, okay. I will. I’ll let my hair down and go crazy.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Wait. Scratch that. Go do something I wouldn’t do. Stop thinking so much and be adventurous.” With a wild laugh, Nicole bid her a good day and hung up.
Kara set her phone on the desk and leaned back. It was all so silly. She would never be so hesitant in any of her other pursuits, so why should Sierra be any different? There were a myriad of answers, but right now she needed food and a walk—and perhaps some chocolate. Chocolate solved all problems.
By five o’clock, Kara was ready to call it a day. She had managed to get on task after a short lunch break at the picnic bench outsi
de. The fresh air and half of a dark chocolate coconut bar had cleared her head. The all-encompassing urge to see Sierra again hadn’t dulled, though she had found a way to push it to the back of her mind. And thanks to Nicole’s perfect timing, she was no longer trying to talk herself into hiding away at home. Not that she needed an excuse, but she now had business to justify a stop by Sierra’s house.
As she packed up for the night, the butterflies in her belly circled, making her nervous and giddy at the same time. Unbelievable. She chuckled to herself in the middle of her empty office. Denying that she liked the exuberant feelings Sierra stirred up in her was useless. She was enjoying it immensely, feeling as light and fluffy as she had when she first learned to drive a motorcycle.
Throwing her bag over her shoulder, she continued her introspection on the way to her car. The intense sexual attraction to Sierra had created an itch that was begging to be scratched. She had never wanted anyone the way she wanted Sierra, making her thankful the woman hadn’t been an actual patient of hers. That would’ve required ethical boundaries. Still, she might have to ask Dr. Marsden to perform the manipulations during Sierra’s experiments, because touching her was wonderful torture and it clouded her mind at work. That was one thing she wouldn’t tolerate. She was nothing if not a consummate professional.
Once settled in her Jeep, she turned the engine over and cranked the radio. A few minutes without thinking was much needed. Navigating the roads with ease, she sang along to every upbeat song she could find on her satellite radio, changing the channel whenever a slow ballad made an appearance—those songs didn’t match her mood and she refused to have her vibe broken.
The ride to Sierra’s house in the quaint town of Sisters, just outside of Bend, passed quickly—a pleasant surprise given the time of day. She pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine, but didn’t get out right away. Instead, she stared at the simple tan and white two-story house that sat in the middle of the block. There was nothing fancy about it, not even much in the line of landscaping, but the grass was mowed and the two hedges were neatly trimmed. As she glanced down the road, she took notice of the fact that only a few of the homes had manicured lawns and beds of flowers. It was a quiet, low-key neighborhood that was wonderfully unpretentious, which suited Sierra perfectly.
Kara shifted her focus to the front door and her confidence waned like a torch just before it burnt out. Doubt and insecurity sidled up to her like long lost friends.
“You deserve to have some fun.” Nicole’s words echoed in her brain. The reminder provided enough of a kick to get her out of her Jeep and striding up to the door with the contract tucked neatly inside a red folder. As she approached, her body buzzed with anticipation. She had been dying to see Sierra again. To kiss her. To hold her. To feel that indescribable rush coursing through her body leaving her breathless and dizzy.
But would it be the same today? What if it had been the product of the buildup? What if the excitement was gone now that she had finally had a taste? What if…
There was no what if. She was an idiot and Nicole was right. Stop self-sabotaging and see where the road goes. Have fun.
“Have fun,” Kara repeated, this time out loud. After delivering three tentative knocks on the white steel door, Kara waited. Her right foot tapped rapidly, irritatingly, though she was powerless to stop it. The nervous energy had to go somewhere and like lightning searching for ground, it had chosen her foot as its exit point. The sound of footsteps approached from inside and her folder crinkled under her grip. Nerves gave way to excitement, but when the door swung open, her excitement dwindled.
“Hey, Doc McHottie. What’s shakin?” Ronni greeted with youthful enthusiasm. Her bright blue eyes brimmed with happiness, as if she had never threatened Kara at all.
Still weary from their last two encounters, Kara inwardly groaned, but schooled her features and forced a smile she was certain looked as insincere as it felt. “Hello, Ronni. Is Sierra here? I have some papers for her to look at,” she explained in her best professional voice.
“No. Sierra’s not here right now. Would you like to leave it with me?” Ronni replied with a mocking robotic voice.
Kara rolled her eyes. Dealing with Ronni was exhausting. “When will she be home? I’d like to go through them with her.”
Ronni leaned to her left and propped a hand on her hip as she eyed Kara up and down. The gleam in her blues had since given way to suspicion. “Mhm.”
Kara’s jaw tightened. She was coming to dislike the word “mhm” more and more.
“You know…” Ronni glanced at the clock on her left. “Sierra should be back within a half hour or so. She went for groceries. You want to come in and wait?”
Looking back at her car and then at the woman who seemed determined to make her life hell, she exhaled in defeat, “I’ll wait.” Damn libido. Kara’s drive to see Sierra outweighed her discomfort with Ronni. Her hand clutched tightly to the folder as she walked past Ronni and stopped inside.
“Don’t sound so happy,” Ronni muttered as she shut the door behind them. She brushed past Kara, plopped onto the sofa, and resumed her video game, leaving Kara an awkward bystander in the entryway.
Watching in silence, Kara was impressed with the gaming skills on display. Slow, quiet steps carried her to a seat in the corner, where she made herself comfortable from afar. Ronni had most likely given the guys at the lab a lot to think about during her visit.
During a break in stages, Ronni stood up and stretched, her eyes landing on Kara crunched in the distant corner chair. Her head cocked to the side as if sizing her up and she asked, “Do you play? We can play a game while you wait.”
The offer seemed sincere, but Kara suspected it had something to do with the challenge presented at their last meeting. It was obvious Ronni wanted to rub her face in the dirt, but what she didn’t know was that Kara was quite the skilled gamer herself. Time to educate her.
Maintaining innocence, Kara answered, “I’ve played some, but I don’t think it would be fair.”
“Aww, come on. I’ll even let you pick the game. What do you like? Zombies? Hockey? War? Here,” she motioned to the pile of games on the floor, “your choice.”
Kara, not moving from her spot, replied with little interest, “Zombies will be fine. I mean, you’ve played one shoot ‘em up game, you’ve played them all, right?”
“If you say so, Doc.” Ronni set up the game and Kara took a seat beside her on the couch. Care to make a little wager?”
A slight tip of the head and a furrowed brow by Kara led Ronni to reveal her proposal. “When I win, you’ll buy me a large bottle of Buffalo Trace whiskey.” Ronni smirked, confidence oozing from her pores.
It took all Kara had to contain a smirk of her own as she contemplated the question, what did she want when she won? “Hmm...okay. If I win…” Keeping with the façade of gaming ineptitude, she held a timid demeanor. “I want you to apologize for the other day and promise to lighten up. Dating is hard enough as it is without death threats.” Kara waited for Ronni to respond with a nod, then quickly added, “Oh, and a six pack of Bottomed Out Stout.”
Ronni’s lips tensed, as if sensing something was amiss, but she was quick to shrug it off as she nodded and thrust out her hand to shake. “I hope you’re ready for an ass kicking.”
Kara ignored the dig and readied herself for battle. You’re going down, Ronni.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Sierra burst through the front door in a panic, sending one of her brown bags of groceries scattering across the floor as she threw them to the side. The loud shrieks and screams she’d heard from outside had sent her heart into her throat. Fearing the worst, she had charged to the rescue, but now stood still as a statue as she processed the scene in her living room.
There was her best friend and her soon-to-be-girlfriend, or so she hoped, jumping and screaming in a heated competition. Confused as to how this had occurred, but relieved it hadn’t been something serious, she picked
up her mess and put away the perishables.
Even with the ruckus she had caused, Kara and Ronni hadn’t noticed her return, allowing her to watch from afar. Much to her surprise, Kara was winning, and Ronni clearly wasn’t happy. Their spirited verbal exchanges had Sierra chuckling as she cracked open a bottle of Knobby Tire Ale and waited for the battle to end.
“Last stage, Doc! Gonna need more than that big brain of yours to beat me,” Ronni gloated despite Kara being in the lead. But it was close.
Kara kept her eyes glued to the screen and smirked as she said, “Bring it, chump change.”
The nickname caught Ronni by surprise, giving Kara a jump on the final shootout. Several minutes later, a winner was crowned.
“Noooo! How is that possible?” Ronni fell to her knees in defeat. Her head dropped and her chin fell to her chest.
Behind Ronni’s crumbled form, Kara threw a victorious fist pump into the air as a wide, pearly-white grin split her face. She bent over and gave her a pat on the back and said, “I’m a geek. Never underestimate our powers.” Kara laughed as she stood, but fell silent when her sight landed on Sierra standing quietly in the corner.
Kara’s eyes lit up and she skipped across the room. “Hey you.” She pulled Sierra in and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
“Hey back.” Sierra grinned. Her arms circled Kara’s waist, holding her close as she savored the moment. The free and easy smile on Kara’s lips. The way those green eyes looked deep into her soul. The heat of Kara’s body as it molded into her own. The feeling of intimacy, as if they were the only two people in the world.
For a second, they were. Nothing and no one else mattered. Not the garbage truck whirring outside. Not the ringing of a phone. Not even her best friend twenty feet away trying to comprehend her defeat. It was brief, but amazing, filling Sierra with warm fuzzies—something, she noted, she wouldn’t mind enjoying on a daily basis.
Ronni got to her feet and grabbed her phone—the distraction reminding Sierra that they, in fact, were not alone. Too bad, because she could have stood there all day. With the mood broken, curiosity got the better of her. She poked her chin in Ronni’s direction and asked Kara, “What did you do to my best friend?”
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