Only You

by Francis Ray

  “He’d be prouder of you for loving us and giving us love and understanding, for helping to make us who we are today,” Sierra returned, meaning every word.

  Ruth tilted her head in a gesture similar to her daughter’s. “I might have done my job too well. You’re too independent at times.”

  “I don’t know how to be any other way,” Sierra said. In her younger years it had been to hide the hurt of not fitting in, but as the years passed, her self-reliance and poise had become a natural part of her.

  Ruth nodded. “You’re going, then.”

  It wasn’t a question. “Yes.”

  Sadness entered her mother’s dark eyes. “The longest you’ve ever been away is the ten days you went to Europe with your senior class. You could be gone for months.”

  “If I get the job.”

  “You’ll get the job. You’re too good not to.” There wasn’t a shred of doubt in Ruth’s voice.

  Sierra wanted the job more with each passing moment, but she had to be realistic. “Only the best work for Navarone Resorts and Spas.”

  “That’s what he’s getting in you. The best.”

  Sierra fought not to squirm. “Mr. Navarone probably won’t be there. The executive director of human resources will make the final decision”

  “That’s who I meant.”

  “Oh,” Sierra said, knowing her mother was too sharp not to understand her slip.

  Once again her mother surprised her by standing, signaling the conversation was over. “You’re going to have a lot to take care of before then. You’d better get to it.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ruth brushed a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear. “You have a compassionate, strong heart with a sharp intelligence to guide you … if you stop long enough to think.”

  “I have thought about this.”

  “Then you’ll go with my blessing and my love.”

  Sierra hugged her mother. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

  Ruth straightened and stared at her daughter, her eyes as sharp as a dagger. “If not, he will have me to deal with.”

  This time there was no mistake as to who “he” was. Sierra, for once, remained quiet.

  Once her decision was made, Sierra was anxious to set the wheels in motion. In the seclusion of her office, she called the number listed in the letter.

  The phone was answered on the third ring. “John Perry.”

  Sierra hadn’t expected the number to be the direct line of the executive director of human resources. “Good afternoon, Mr. Perry. This is Sierra Grayson from Santa Fe.”

  “Ms. Grayson, how wonderful to hear from you,” he said, his voice filled with warmth. “I hope this call means you’re accepting our invitation. I was very impressed with your résumé.”

  His last sentence caught her off guard. Blade’s company would hardly keep all the résumés on file; then she recalled her Web site with her bio and resume. Blade was behind Mr. Perry’s sudden interest, she was as sure of it as her family was. “Thank you.”

  “Would two weeks, say the eighth of April, be convenient?” he questioned.

  “Perfect.” She needed time to discuss things with her boss, then prep another agent with her listings. There was also the slumber party she’d planned for the girls from Second Chance, the outreach center for teenagers that Morgan had founded. All were ex-substance abusers, but being drug-free presented another problem: the teenagers who had never used drugs didn’t want anything to do with them. Sierra did all she could to help them with the transition back to a healthy, happy life. The whole family had helped the center at one time or another.

  “Wonderful. My secretary will call you within the hour and discuss travel arrangements.”

  She laughed. “You move fast.”

  “Something I learned from my boss. I’ll see you on the eighth.”

  Was that just an arbitrary comment or a hint? It didn’t matter. She was going to keep this professional. “The eighth it is. Good-bye, and thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.”

  “Good-bye, Ms. Grayson.” As soon as John Perry hung up the phone, he dialed his secretary’s number. “Delores, you can overnight the other letters to the prospective realtors for Navarone Place. Please add that they will have to clear their schedules to be in Dallas by the eighth. Please remove my name and private number and replace it with your information. Ms. Grayson is expecting a call within the hour for her travel arrangements. I know you’ll see that her trip is seamless.” Hanging up, he quickly dialed a number he seldom used.

  “Navarone.”

  “Mr. Navarone, Ms. Grayson and the other candidates will arrive in Dallas on April eighth. I will arrive on the seventh to ensure that all goes well.”

  “Thank you, John.” Blade disconnected the cell phone and stared out the window on the twenty-ninth floor of Navarone Resorts and Spas in Tucson.

  “You’re sure about this?” Shane, his friend for over twenty years and head of security for Navarone, was sprawled in the cushioned chair in front of Blade’s desk. The position was deceptive. Shane never relaxed. He had good cause.

  “No,” came Blade’s slow answer. He had never been less sure of anything, but he didn’t seem to be able to stop himself. For years nothing except business had held his attention … until Sierra.

  “Just checking. Everything is in place.” Shane came lazily to his feet—all six-feet-plus of him. “The chopper is ready to take us to the airport, then we take the jet to Mexico.”

  “Let’s go.” Blade turned sharply and headed toward the door. Work always helped him push everything else from his mind. He hoped it would again.

  Before Luke took early retirement from the FBI he was a top agent. Not even a bullet had deterred him from capturing his suspect. Luke used that same dogged determination in his office to gather information about Blade Navarone. There was not a lot to read, but Luke knew if you were powerful enough, and Blade certainly was, you could influence what was or was not written about you. Luke needed answers and facts. He knew where to get them. He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed.

  “Daniel Falcon.”

  “Daniel, Luke. I need some answers.”

  “Is everyone all right?” Daniel asked sharply.

  “For the time being.” Luke quickly explained the situation. “What I need to know is if he’ll come at her head-on or do I need to pay him a visit and teach him some manners?”

  “Man.” Daniel sighed the word. “I still remember Sierra in pigtails.”

  “Long gone,” Luke told him. “Is Blade Navarone as ruthless with women as he is in his business dealings?”

  “I was called ruthless before Madelyn came into my life.” Daniel said, his voice softening at the mention of his wife.

  “That’s not making me feel better,” Luke said flatly. Daniel was a good man, a loyal friend and first cousin, but if you crossed him there was no place on earth you could hide from his wrath.

  “Then know this: Blade fights fair.”

  Luke rubbed the back of his neck. The tight muscles remained. “There has to be a reason besides the incident with the embezzler to explain his reputation for being cold-blooded.”

  “There are several,” Daniel said, and Luke tensed. “One I distinctly remember. Four years ago Blade tried to buy two hundred acres from a rancher in Jackson Hole for his resort. The owner said he’d rather slow roast in hell than sell to an Indian.”

  Luke cursed under his breath.

  “Blade bought the land around the bigot. Landlocked, the rancher lost everything, but not before he sent his daughter to try and soften Blade up,” Daniel said, distaste in every word. “Blade sent her packing. A month later he purchased the land for back taxes.”

  “That took time.”

  “Almost two and a half years,” Daniel answered. “He’s fair, but if you come at him the wrong way he’ll come back hard. He’ll slap you down and that’s where you’ll stay. He doesn’t care how long it takes.”

/>   And he wants Sierra. Luke blew out a breath. “You never answered my original question: is he ruthless with women?”

  “I’d say no. Nothing I’ve seen or heard about him indicates he’s that type,” Daniel said. “In fact, women usually come on to him, and it’s not just his money. He’s a handsome devil.”

  “Why Sierra?” Luke gritted out.

  “As you pointed out, the pigtails are long gone.” Daniel chuckled. “Being a big brother is hard. I well remember Kane and Matt wanted to beat me to a pulp when I was fighting falling in love with Madelyn. If I had been around when Dominique was in Dallas dating Trent, I’m not sure how I would have handled it.”

  “Sierra is not falling in love. She is just going to sell real estate,” Luke said, his voice tight.

  “Then why are you so worried?”

  Luke scrubbed his hand over his face. “Sierra is too reckless at times. I don’t want her to get hurt.”

  “I’ve never stood in your shoes, but I’d say trust Sierra. Blade is obviously interested, but he will accept a no.”

  That was Luke’s dilemma. He’d seen Sierra’s expression when Blade’s name was mentioned, how her face softened, the wistful expression in her eyes. Luke wasn’t sure she’d say no.

  “If you want, I can give Blade a call, ask him to back off, although I’m not sure he’ll listen,” Daniel said into the silence. “He can be a law unto himself.”

  “Just like you when you wanted Madelyn.”

  “The same goes for you and Catherine.”

  Luke blew out a hard breath. “No power on earth could have stopped me from loving her, marrying her. But my intentions were honorable.”

  “I hate to say this, but were they initially?”

  “I’ll kill him,” Luke snarled.

  “Sierra won’t thank you for it any more than Dominique would have. Cuz, as difficult as this is, you’ll have to stay out of it,” Daniel said. “If you try to interfere, you’ll make Sierra think you don’t trust her to make the right decision.”

  “It’s Navarone I don’t trust.”

  “Amounts to the same thing.”

  Luke glanced up as the door to his office opened. “Morgan just came in. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “I never thought of it before, but I’m glad Daniel Junior is a boy.”

  Luke’s gaze went to the wedding photo of him and Cat on his desk. For them there would never be any children, but he blessed the day she came into his life even if she had been pointing a gun at him. “Bye and thanks, Daniel.”

  Morgan glanced at the nineteen-inch computer monitor, then at his brother. “What did you learn from Daniel?”

  Before Luke could answer, his door opened again. Brandon and Pierce stalked across the room.

  “What are we up against?” Brandon asked.

  “How can we protect her?” Pierce wanted to know.

  As usual and fitting, they looked to Luke for leadership and answers. This time he wasn’t sure they were going to like what he had to say. “I’d rather say this once.”

  As one they all turned to the door and waited. In less than two minutes there came a knock at the door.

  “Come in, Mama.”

  Ruth Grayson wasn’t any more surprised to see her sons than they were to see her. She took the seat Morgan held for her because it was expected and because none of them would sit until she did. “Luke?” Ruth questioned.

  After the death of their father, Luke had become the one his mother looked to. He never wanted to let her or his family down. He was well aware that as each of her sons had married, she had let them and their brides have their space … until now.

  “Daniel confirmed what Faith said. Women chase Blade, not the other way around,” Luke said, but somehow those words didn’t make him feel any better.

  “So why pick on Sierra?” Brandon wanted to know.

  “She’s out of pigtails,” Luke said with a wry twist of his mouth.

  “Your sister is beautiful, intelligent, resilient, and resourceful,” Ruth Grayson told her middle child. “She is coveted by many, but only one man will match her fire and spirit.”

  “Mama, if you have the man for Sierra, it would be a good time for him to make his appearance.” Luke rounded the desk and hunkered down to her. “Sierra sometimes acts before she thinks.”

  For a moment, just a moment, fear flashed in his mother’s dark eyes; then it was gone, replaced by the lioness fierceness all of her children were familiar with. “If he causes her any pain, he will regret it.”

  Luke squeezed Ruth’s hands. There was no need for further words. Sierra would have her chance, but all of them would be watching, waiting. If Blade hurt her, he’d regret it until the moment he died. They’d make sure of it.

  FOUR

  From the second-floor terrace of the Navarone Place sales and information center, Blade waited for Sierra to emerge from the car that had just pulled up in front of the W hotel next door. First her long, shapely legs emerged, then her incredible upper body. She looked breathtaking in a magenta-colored suit with a straight short skirt.

  He remembered her smile, the punch it sent to his mid-section. That hadn’t changed. He hadn’t really expected it to, but he had wondered.

  As soon as she straightened, John Perry was there to greet her, his trusty administrative assistant, Delores, by his side, ready to take any requests their latest arrival might have. There had been a car for the other invitees as well, but Delores had met them at the W alone.

  Sierra’s long, straight hair whipped around her shoulders. With a practiced sweep of her hand she smoothed the swirling black mass around her head, letting it fall over her left shoulder. Blade’s hand clenched. He recalled the silky texture, the urge to bury his face in it, then later staring at the diamond comb she’d left. He’d been as reluctant to sever all connection and send the comb back as he had been to send its owner away.

  He’d thought he’d forget her in time. Instead she had occupied his thoughts more with each passing day. He usually didn’t make mistakes and only mildly considered that he might be making another one by ensuring that they’d meet again.

  He almost smiled as he noted the amount of luggage being unloaded. There were three pieces of monogrammed multicolored Louis Vuitton suitcases. The invitation was for a week. Apparently, his information was correct; Sierra loved to shop. Besides her close-knit family, her only indulgences and passions were clothes and their accessories.

  Blade planned on adding another passion. Himself. He’d build on the attraction that had leaped between them the second they met, the kiss that seared both of them that night on the beach. His body tightened with sexual hunger.

  He hoped it was quick.

  He had never missed or wanted a woman as much as he missed and wanted Sierra. His love for his wife, Mary, had been that of a young man, almost worshipful. He didn’t understand what he felt for Sierra, but it wasn’t love. After losing Mary he’d promised himself that he would never love another woman, but he wanted Sierra with a growing fierceness that couldn’t be denied.

  He’d tried.

  When he finally accepted it wasn’t going to happen, he’d given her name to John Perry and left it up to fate, or so he had told himself. Watching John escort Sierra inside the W hotel, Blade knew it wasn’t. He didn’t stand over his employees in management, but all of them would follow through on any suggestion he made.

  During the time he and Sierra had spent apart, he had personally looked into her background. He hadn’t wanted Shane or any of his men doing it. By then Blade had accepted he was possessive where Sierra was concerned, a first with a woman. He hadn’t liked snooping, but it had been for her safety.

  He had to know, if he decided to follow through with taking her, that she could stand the pressure. She could. Besides being the cousin of his rival-turned-friend, Daniel Falcon, she was her own woman.

  Soon she would be his woman.

  “I hope you’ll find this suite satisfactory,” Joh
n said, stopping just inside the lavish suite on the top floor of the hotel. Luxury surrounded her. On the table was a huge bouquet of cut flowers dominated by pink and yellow roses. A huge fruit basket crammed with goodies sat on the black lacquered table in front of the low-slung sofa. A bottle of sparkling cider and a bottle of water were in separate silver wine buckets.

  “It goes without saying to please feel free to partake of anything from the minibar,” Delores said. “If there is anything that you might like added, my card is by the phone on the desk.”

  Sierra had pulled out all the stops for clients in the past and recognized when it was being done. Behind the smiles, John and his secretary wore, they were nervous. There could only be one reason. Blade.

  “I can’t think of a single thing that would have made my trip more pleasurable or add to this suite.” She glanced around the room. “Navarone Resorts and Spas certainly knows how to pamper prospective employees.”

  “We want you to be comfortable.”

  If Sierra hadn’t been watching John, she might have missed the almost imperceptible flicker of his lashes when he spoke. Something wasn’t right. “Is everyone else on this floor?”

  “Unfortunately, there was a mix-up with reservations,” Delores hastened to explain, the smile on her attractive face a bit thin. “We’re all two floors down.”

  If Blade had been there, Sierra would have strangled him. He couldn’t have made it any clearer that he wanted her separated if—no, when he made his move. “Is that right?” Sierra didn’t even try to keep the annoyance out of her voice. “Perhaps a room can be found for me on that floor.”

  John looked at Delores with something akin to panic in his face. His secretary didn’t let him down. “Before you make that decision, Sierra, why don’t I show you the rest of your suite?”

  Sierra followed out of courtesy, but moments after seeing the queen-size bed framed in black, the spacious black marble bath with a seven-foot Roman tub, a separate glass-enclosed shower, acres of glass with makeup mirrors, her resolve to move weakened.