Page 28 of Falling for Sierra
“Hmm. I haven’t thought about it much.” She fell quiet again, then after just a few seconds, spoke. “I want to spend it with you. I missed you this week.” She was quiet another couple seconds. Blake didn’t say anything, he was waiting for her to tell him what she wanted to do. “I don’t really care what we do. I mean, ideally, we might spend the day in bed. No. I know. I want to take you to meet my parents. I want them to meet the man I’ve fallen in love with.”
Blake’s heart felt like it skipped a beat. She’d fallen in love with him? He’d been afraid he was the only one falling so hard. He didn’t think she meant to tell him that. He hoped she remembered it in the morning. Blake didn’t think she’d had enough to drink to forget what she’d said to him tonight, but without being there with her, he couldn’t be sure.
“I’d like that. I would love to meet your parents. I’d like to take you to meet mine too.” Hell. He’d even be willing to go home to have his parents meet her. He glanced at his desk, at the last of the papers he had to sign to push the deal he’d been working on through. If he buckled down, he could get it done in the next half hour.
After a little sleep, he could get on the helicopter and head north. He picked up his phone off the desk and typed out a text to Spencer to have the chopper ready by seven, then hit send. At the same time, he spoke to Sierra.
“You sound sleepy. Why don’t you go climb in bed? I’ve still got some things to do here tonight, but I won’t be too far behind you in getting to bed.”
“Bed does sound good.” Sierra’s words were starting to slur.
Blake didn’t think she’d been drinking more but had no doubt the alcohol she’d already consumed was making her sleepy instead.
“Want to take me in there with you, or just head off to sleep?"
“I’m going to sleep. I miss you but I think I might sleep good tonight.”
He didn’t know if that was true, but he hoped she did sleep well. He didn’t after more than a couple drinks. That was only part of why he’d started limiting himself to no more than two drinks a night, if he had any. Tonight, he’d been too busy to have more than a cup of coffee.
“Sleep well, sweetheart. I’m sure I’ll see you soon.” He didn’t tell her he was planning to be there in the morning on purpose. He hated to disappoint her if something came up and he didn’t make it, and he wanted to surprise her if he did.
CHAPTER 21
Something wasn’t right. Sierra turned away from the light shining in her face, not ready to wake up yet, before it hit her.
Light didn’t shine across her bed until far later than she usually got up. She hadn’t planned to sleep late enough for that, or she would have closed the drapes.
Why hadn’t she closed the drapes?
It took a moment for her brain to wake up enough so she could remembered going to bed the night before. With a groan, she rolled over to look at the clock. Nine-thirty. Way past when she would normally be up, but then she stayed up way past when she would normally be in bed too.
For a moment she wished she could pull the blankets up over her head, sleep a little longer and there would be a redo of the night before. Especially the part where she’d called Blake. Had she really told him she’d fallen in love with him?
Not that it wasn’t true, but how pathetic was it that she, a small-town girl who had to work for her living, fell for the big city millionaire? Especially since he couldn’t possibly feel the same, or he would have said it last night, when she’d made her own confession, right?
Maybe it was late enough, and Blake had been tired enough, he wouldn’t remember it. She could hope, but she wasn’t going to hold her breath on that one.
Deciding she’d wallowed in self-pity long enough, Sierra rolled out of bed and grabbed her phone from the top of the dresser as she shuffled into the bathroom.
She used the facilities, washed her hands, and made a face when she spotted her own reflection but quickly looked away and hurried out of the room. She didn’t have the energy to deal with the crazy hair and racoon eye makeup yet. Not until she’d gotten some coffee.
In the kitchen she dropped a fresh pod into the coffee maker, made sure she had a cup under the spout, she only needed to make that mistake a few times before she’s learned that lesson, and hit the start button.
While she waited for her coffee to brew, she looked at her phone for the first time since she’d picked it up. There were several texts waiting for her, all from Blake.
They started out simply. Asking if she was up yet, then nothing for almost an hour before he asked the same thing again. Then another half an hour after that. Another a few minutes later. Still asking if she was up yet. The only message to change the pattern was the last, and it had been left only about half an hour before she’d woken up.
It left her frowning at the little screen.
Blake: When you get up, go look on your front porch.
She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip before heading for the door. She didn’t have any neighbors close enough to care she was in her pajamas and her hair was a mess. Besides, she was curious about what he’d sent her.
There was nothing there when she opened the door, so she stepped outside and looked around. That was when she spotted him.
Blake slouched in one of the two anti-gravity lounge chairs she kept on the porch for quiet evenings. She stood a moment, wondering how long he’d been there and how long he’d been asleep.
She knew from experience those chairs were comfortable, but the angle of his neck made her worry he’d wake up hurting. Besides, she’d never tried to sleep in one.