by Sara Orwig
The moment his mouth covered hers, she melted against him. He held her tightly, kissing her, wanting her and wishing they were alone, back on his ranch.
When she stepped out of his embrace she was as breathless as he was. Her big blue eyes were wide, filled with so much desire that he couldn’t get his breath and had to struggle to control the urge to take her upstairs.
He wanted to kiss her again, but he let her go. He couldn’t understand the reaction he had to her. Seeing her family, her background, should have emphasized their differences and how foreign her life was to him. With her positive view of the world, she shouldn’t have been able to hold his interest more than a few hours. Instead, she not only held his interest, she set him on fire and had ruined his sleep for nights.
“It’s late,” she said softly, walking away. He caught up with her and walked in silence to her bedroom door, where she faced him.
“Goodnight. I’ll see you shortly after sunrise.” She stepped inside and closed the door without waiting for him to reply.
Blake lay awake in the dark for a long time in a room that had to have been shared by both of her brothers because it still held high school trophies and memorabilia. He couldn’t sleep. He wanted Sierra in his arms. How long would it take him to forget her after she finished the job for him and went home?
If he had asked himself that question two weeks earlier, he would have thought it would take a day to move on, take someone else out and forget Sierra. He knew better than that now. In her quiet way, she had ensnared him. For the first time, he realized he had finally met a woman who might be difficult for him to say goodbye to.
Maybe if he could get his fill of sex with her, it would be easier to walk away. He’d be happy to test that theory when they returned to Dallas.
* * *
Saturday was a warm spring day. Sierra walked into the kitchen as her mom checked on biscuits in the oven and her dad scrambled eggs. Dressed in cutoffs and a blue knit shirt, her sister Ginger set the table, while her sister Lenora helped her niece, two-year-old Penny, with her oatmeal. To Sierra’s surprise, Blake poured orange juice into glasses on a tray to carry to the table. As he looked up, she drew a deep breath. In tight jeans that emphasized his narrow waist and long legs, Blake made her pulse jump. His brown knit shirt revealed muscles hardened from ranch work.
“Good morning. I’m here to help,” she announced. As his gaze swept over her, she was suddenly aware of her cutoffs and clinging red knit shirt. She tried to ignore the tingles his one glance caused.
“Great,” her dad said, holding out a spoon. “Come stir these eggs, and I’ll see about the strawberries.”
From that moment on, she had little chance for more than a “good morning” to Blake, but she was acutely aware of him as he moved around the kitchen helping with breakfast.
“Where are the guys? Are they still asleep?” she asked. “Blake, why are you the only male besides Dad who is cooking?”
“Rita and Damon’s car broke down, and your brothers have gone to help them,” Homer Benson said, slicing washed strawberries. “One of the pickups has a flat, and Roger and Jason are changing it. Blake volunteered to go help, and they told him to stay to help me.”
“Well, aren’t you nice,” she said, smiling at Blake. “Thank you.”
“Happy to help,” he said, his words friendly even though his dark eyes held unmistakable desire.
She stirred fluffy yellow eggs, and they soon had breakfast on the table as her other nieces and nephews began to appear. They sat to eat breakfast, and Blake held a chair for her, his hands brushing her lightly as he helped her before sitting next to her.
All through breakfast, she was aware of him at her side. The family included him in their conversation as they always did with any visitors. Soon her brothers, sister, brothers-in-law and more kids joined them.
Sierra was busy the rest of the day, but she searched for Blake in the crowd, hoping he was enjoying himself. At one point, he had joined in helping with games, participating with the kids. He seemed to truly care about the children and the people around him. His actions were so different from what he said in their conversations. Maybe making money wasn’t his sole focus in life. But that knowledge didn’t make it easier to resist his appeal. In fact, she was getting more involved with him.
She’d hoped he would get a glimmer of what his money was doing. She hoped this weekend would interest Blake in the agency, in her father’s church and in the people whose lives he could change. And he could so easily contribute. She was certain he supported charities, but she was equally certain his support was simply writing checks and letting others handle the donations for him. She wanted him to get up close and personally involved with the kids and people his money helped.
They hadn’t been at the picnic five minutes when Bert appeared with Nan beside him. “We’re so happy you’re here for this picnic,” Nan said. “And you brought Blake Callahan. That’s great.”
“I think he’ll enjoy being here.”
“How’s the job going, Sierra? Do you think you’re halfway through yet?” Bert asked. “We miss you here.”
“The job is going well, but I miss the agency. No, I’m not halfway through yet, but I’ll be home for good before you know it. Bert, will you set this basket on the long table with the red plastic cover? Nan, you can come help me over here.”
“Sure,” Nan said, smiling broadly. “Bert worries all day, every day about you,” she said as soon as they walked away. “Nothing new there. I want to say hello to Blake.”
“Say hello and whatever else you want,” Sierra said, smiling at her assistant, aware Blake had local women and some of the teenage girls fluttering around him. In minutes, Nan stood talking to Blake while Sierra carried another basket of food to a table.
Along with all her family, Blake helped cook burgers. By two, soccer, badminton and baseball were in progress.
Mid-afternoon found her and Blake helping with scorekeeping and coaching kids playing baseball. Between innings, Blake paused beside her. “There’s a kid sitting over there who doesn’t play. He’s one who hasn’t played anything so far, and he doesn’t engage with the others. Is there a physical reason, or something else? He’s sitting on the bench with the kids, but he doesn’t talk to them, and they leave him alone, too.”
“That’s William. Maybe you can relate a little, although he’s on a different financial level. His dad abandoned them at birth, and his mom was killed in a car wreck when he was five. He’s eight now, and he lives in the shelter because he doesn’t have relatives.”
“What do you do with a kid like that?”
“Just be friends with him. I’m not a social worker, though there is one who works at the shelter. William doesn’t make friends like some kids do.”
She patted Blake’s wrist. “See, this is where some of your donation will help. We may be able to get more resources for these kids.”
“I think he needs more than what money can buy.”
“I won’t argue that one,” she said, surprised Blake would acknowledge that truth.
“One item your money bought is the automatic batting machine the kids are enjoying today. It sends the ball straight to them, and they have a better chance of getting a hit because when little kids pitch, the ball is all over the place. You see their smiles? We have lots to thank you for.”
“Sure,” he said, gazing solemnly at her before shifting his attention back to the boy who sat on the bench, scuffing his toe in the dirt. “I hope the money helps get more than a batting machine,” Blake said.
He walked away, and when she looked again she was surprised to see him sitting beside William. Blake had a bat in his hands and seemed to be talking to William about playing ball.
She was busy with kids and watching third base, cheering for each child who could get a hit or run in for a score. By the end of the inning, she looked around and saw Blake showing William how to hold the bat.
The next inning, William s
tepped up to home plate. She asked someone to take her place and walked over to Blake.
“I see William is going to play. That was fast work.”
“He hasn’t said a dozen words to me, but he listened and he agreed to give this a try. I told him that people get better when they try and when they practice.”
“Whatever you told him, you got through to him. That’s pretty good, Blake. I’m impressed.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. I want to move closer where I can coach a little,” he said.
“I thought you said Blake had never been around kids,” her mother said, stopping beside Sierra.
“He hasn’t until today—that’s what he told me.”
“Well, then I’m glad you invited him. If he just helps one child, it’ll be really good. Did you tell him that some of his donation went for the batting machine and some of the sports equipment?”
“Yes, I did. If he helps William, that’ll be a small miracle, but in some ways, Blake can relate to William and vice versa.”
“It’s a stretch, but both of them having no dad is a common bond,” her mother said as they watched William swing and miss. Blake talked to him. When William swung again, the ball glanced off the bat and was a foul. On the third swing, the bat connected and the ball bounced away while she heard Blake yell for William to run. The boy on third scooped up the ball and threw it wide, and William touched first base. He turned to Blake and grinned while kids and adults clapped.
“Maybe two lives were changed a little this afternoon,” her mother said. “Blake’s a nice guy, and I’m glad you took the job with him. He’s going to help so many people here. Dad is already making plans about what he can do with the money you’ve given him.”
“I’m glad.”
“Here comes Justin with a skinned knee. I don’t see his mother, so I’ll go help him.” Her mother moved away to take care of one of her three-year-old grandsons.
In minutes Sierra was busy clearing tables, and she didn’t talk to Blake the rest of the afternoon. She saw him with her brothers as they joined a bunch of kids of all ages in a tug-of-war over a narrow part of the winding creek.
They had a cookout for dinner, wanting to send everyone home with a hearty meal. It was eleven when quiet settled at home, and she finally stood at her bedroom door to tell Blake good-night.
“Thanks for all your help today.”
“It was interesting. I’m sure you wanted me to see what you’re involved in, and you wanted to stir my sympathy. Well, you succeeded.”
“Some of those kids have a tough deal.”
“Are you sure Bert isn’t a relative of yours? He quizzed me about how long you’ll have to be in Texas, that sort of thing.”
“Bert worries and he hovers, but his intentions are good.”
“I don’t think his intentions toward me are so good,” Blake remarked.
She smiled at his joke. “He worries about me. He worries about Nan. He’s a good guy. You don’t have to go with all of us to church tomorrow if you’d rather not.”
“I’ll go and see what life is like for you,” he replied.
“That will please Dad. He is always happy to have someone come hear him preach,” she said quietly, looking up at Blake. Beard stubble shadowed his jaw, and his black hair was tousled. Her heart drummed because she wanted to be in his arms, wanted his kisses. She had seen another side to him today, a really good side. His helping her family, caring about people and kids, particularly William, drew her to him in ways that were even stronger than their physical attraction.
This one weekend wouldn’t make him a different man. He was still bent on revenge. But it had changed the way she saw him. There was so much to him that was good.
She would soon have to tell him goodbye. She suspected it would take a long time to forget him, but the sooner they parted, the sooner she would start.
* * *
On Sunday Blake joined Sierra and her family for church and another delicious meal with so many people that he marveled at how well her mother handled everything. After dinner a lot of her family played volleyball, and he joined them, laughing and helping the little kids who joined in.
It was sundown when he told everyone goodbye. Sierra drove as they headed for the airport and his private jet. Relaxed and friendly, he occasionally brushed her fingers lightly, or her nape, or moved a lock of her hair—tiny touches that shouldn’t have even been noticeable, but instead steadily built a longing in her for more.
When they landed, a limo waited to take them to his Dallas home. Following the winding drive, the car stopped in front of a palatial three-story home with lighted grounds. Inside, as soon as he switched off an alarm, closed the door and locked it, he turned to embrace her.
Surprised, Sierra looked up into midnight eyes that conveyed his intent. Her heart thudded.
SIX
“This is Sunday night, and we haven’t kissed since Friday,” he said in a husky voice as his arm circled her waist and held her against him.
While her heartbeat raced, she gazed at him in silence. She had always wanted a marriage like her parents’ because they truly loved each other and their family. That seemed the best possible situation to her. There was no hope of that if she fell in love with Blake. He didn’t know what a loving relationship was. He had no role models, no examples. He didn’t even seem to want that in his life. Right now his goal was revenge—a chilling ambition.
Blake was a solitary person and probably had been for so long that he didn’t even realize he was different from a lot of people. She had seen a good side to him this weekend, but it would be foolish of her to expect him to give up his drive for revenge or his lifelong feelings of resentment about his father. The sooner she and Blake said farewell and parted ways, the better off she would be. She had to cut ties with him…
But it would be after tonight.
Even as she reminded herself of all these things, she was mesmerized by Blake’s brown eyes, breathless because of the intent they conveyed.
Wisdom whispered to walk away while desire shouted to put her arms around him and kiss him in return.
She followed the longings of her body, of her heart. Tomorrow she would be in another state, away from Blake. She would no longer have temptation to struggle with. She’d go on with her life and let Blake Callahan become a memory.
She wrapped her arms around him, winding her fingers in the hair at the back of his head. Holding him tightly, she kissed him, wanting to excite him as he did her, to rock his world as much as he had rocked hers.
While he continued kissing her, Blake swung her up in his arms and headed for a bedroom. As he did, her heart drummed and she clung to him tightly.
Tonight, she wouldn’t think about tomorrow. Tonight she wanted to make love. Would she ever be able to forget him?
* * *
Hours later, she sat with her back against him in a large tub. His arms were around her while he showered light kisses on her neck. She was warm and satisfied. For the moment, happiness filled her. She thought about the weekend and William.
Had Blake really been interested in William, or had his attention to the boy been meant to impress her? She didn’t know Blake well enough to know what he truly felt about William. No matter what the motive, he had helped the boy, and for a short time at least, thanks to Blake, William had broken out of his shell, enjoying life and the kids around him.
“This is perfect, Sierra.”
“I have to agree. I’m glad you went home with me. You may have made a big difference in William’s life. Sometimes kids, even adults we work with, think they’re the only one something has happened to, and William may be one of those. Although he knows there are other kids at the shelter who don’t have anyone.”
“How does he do in school?” Blake asked. He massaged her shoulders, rubbing lightly, his hands warm and soothing.
“I have no idea, but I can find out. My guess is average, or I would have heard otherwise,” she answered qui
etly, scared to hope that Blake would really get involved in William’s life.
“Check and see. Too bad they don’t have a ranch for some of those kids who are old enough. They could learn to care for a horse, to ride, to help out and do chores. It’s a good life for a kid who is willing to work.”
‘We’re doing good to have shelters in the city. We don’t have the staff or facilities to have horses and land.”
They were both quiet, letting the warm water lap against their skin.
He broke the companionable silence to say, “You have a nice family. And your folks have a good marriage.” He combed her long hair back from her face.
“My parents have the best of marriages. They’re very happy.”
“My family had more money—your family had more love. Too bad things can’t balance out.”
“We’re all there for each other. When I quit my New York job and came home, I had everyone’s support.” She paused. “Blake, I’ll ask again—have you ever thought about talking to your dad as an adult? It might be different now. You might find out that you really don’t want to pursue a course of revenge.”
“Don’t try to reform me,” he said, brushing light kisses on her neck, his breath warm against her.
“I wouldn’t think of it. I imagine you’re way too stubborn for me to reform,” she teased. He wound his arms around her and cupped her breasts gently, caressing her, making her close her eyes and gasp with pleasure.
“You’re starting something again,” she whispered.
“I hope I am,” he answered.
“Please remember I have to get up early tomorrow to fly to New York.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered in a polite tone of voice that made her smile briefly, until he twisted her around. When he looked into her eyes, his teasing expression vanished. He pulled her up to kiss her hard and then reached for a condom before he moved her over him. She straddled him as he held her hips and thrust into her, filling her, making her cry out with pleasure while she moved with him until they were in a frenzy of need.