Sierra

Cameron and I climbed out of bed, got dressed, and headed downstairs for breakfast.

“Good morning, Rosa.” I smiled as I made my way to the coffee pot.

“Would someone like to explain to me why there’s a stain on my apron? And don’t lie to me because I washed it yesterday before I left.” She waved a spoon at us.

I glanced over at Cameron as a look of fear swept over his face.

“Sauce from the pasta last night?” I spoke.

“It’s not red.”

“We had alfredo.” I smiled as I poured Cam and I a cup of coffee.

“No you didn’t. The leftovers are in the refrigerator. And don’t blame it on some spilled white wine either.” She nodded at the two glasses sitting by the sink with a few drops of red wine left in them.

“I’m sorry, Rosa,” Cameron spoke. “It must be oil from the salad dressing or something.”

I snickered and Rosa glanced over at me with a narrowed eye.

“What is so funny?” Her voice was demanding.

“Oh, nothing.” I lightly laughed. After a few moments of silence, I glanced over at Cam. “She’s going to find out anyway.”

He shot me a look.

“There’s one thing you need to know if you’re going to live here. You can never lie to her. She has this weird sixth sense like she’s psychic. She knows everything.”

“What did the two of you do in my kitchen!”

I waved my hand in front of my face. “Cameron was wearing only your apron when I came home last night.”

“Sierra!” he shouted.

Rosa’s eyes widened as she took off her apron, tossed it on the floor, and then held out her hand with her palm facing up.

“What?” I looked at her as I sipped my coffee.

“You’re buying me a new apron. Cash, please.” She placed her other hand on her hip.

“Fine.” I sighed as I took my wallet from my purse, pulled out a twenty and ten-dollar bill, and handed them to her.

She looked down at the money and then cocked her head at me as her brow raised. Rolling my eyes, I took out another twenty-dollar bill and placed it in her hand.

Her brow arched again as she stood there tapping her foot.

“Oh, come on, Rosa. Fifty dollars is enough for a new apron.”

“Not for the one I want. I don’t buy cheap quality,” she spoke.

Sighing, I pulled out a fifty-dollar bill and narrowed my eye at her as I placed it in her hand.

“Thank you.” She smirked as she folded up the bills, tucked them in her bra, and proceeded to walk out of the kitchen while mumbling in Spanish.

“I want to see the receipt,” I shouted at her.

“Does this mean we’re not getting breakfast?” Cameron asked.

“I guess not. What would you like? I’ll make you something.” I smiled.

“You know what? I’m not hungry anyway, so coffee will be fine.”

I leaned against the counter holding my coffee cup between my hands and narrowed my eyes at him.

“You’re always hungry, Cole, and today is no different. You’re just scared for me to cook you something because you know I can’t cook.”

“Not true, babe.” He looked down.

“Ha!” I pointed at him. “You’re lying.”

“Who’s lying?” Kirsty asked as she flitted into the kitchen.

“Where’s breakfast?” James asked as he looked around.

“Cam is lying and there is no breakfast today. Rosa got mad at us and walked out of the kitchen,” I spoke.

“Damn. I’m hungry,” James pouted. “I was hoping she’d make those spice pancakes I love.”

“What did the two of you do now?” Kirsty asked as she poured herself and James a cup of coffee.

“Nothing,” Cameron replied.

“She got all bent out of shape because there was a stain on her apron.”

“That’s weird. She always gets food or something on it.” Kirsty sipped her coffee.

“It was a special kind of stain.” I smiled.

“Sierra!” Cam shouted.

“Let’s just say Cam was wearing it while cooking dinner for me last night.”

“So,” Kirsty spoke. “That’s what aprons are for.”

“Did I fail to mention that he wasn’t wearing anything else?”

James spit out his coffee as the roar of laughter fell from his mouth.

“Jesus, Sierra. Why don’t you just put it up on a billboard on the expressway?!” Cameron shook his head.

“Cam, that would be dumb.” I cocked my head.

“I have to go.” He walked over to me and kissed my lips. “We’re starting the Luxe job today.”

“Good luck, baby.” I smiled as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Thanks. Have a good day at the office.”

He walked out the door and Kirsty cleared her throat in the obnoxious way she always did before she had to say what was on her mind.

“Don’t.” I pointed at her.

“Just saying that you better prepare yourself for when he finds out,” she spoke.

“He’s not going to find out.” I grabbed my purse. “Let’s go. We need to stop and get a breakfast sandwich or something. I’m starving.”

****

As I was sitting at my desk, contemplating what I was going to have for lunch, my cell phone rang, and when I looked over at it, I saw Cameron’s handsome face on the screen.

“Hello there, sexy,” I answered.

“Hello, gorgeous. Hey, what are you doing right now?”

“Just finishing up some work before heading to lunch. Why?”

“Meet me at Danny’s Tacos in ten.”

“For a lunch date?” I twirled my hair around my finger.

“Yes, for a lunch date. I only have about an hour.”

“I’m on my way.”

I grabbed my purse and flew out of my office.

“Going to lunch, Sasha, and I don’t want to be disturbed. If anything comes up, I’ll deal with it when I get back.”

“Okay, Sierra.”

Since James wasn’t anywhere to be found, I took a cab to Danny’s Tacos. When I got there, Cameron was standing in line.

“Hey there, hot stuff.” I came up behind him and kissed the side of his neck.

“Hi, babe.” He smiled as he turned and kissed my lips. “The usual?” he asked.

“Yeah.” I hooked my arm around him. “How’s work going today?”

“So far so good.” He smiled as he brushed his lips against mine. “I’m really happy about these jobs. In a couple of days, we’re starting over at Patina. I’ve got a few guys ready to work. The only problem is I can’t promise them a permanent job until I get more work.”

“You will. Don’t worry. Word will spread and you’ll be so busy, you won’t know what to do.” I grinned.

“That’s my dream, babe.”

It was our turn in line, so Cameron ordered our food and we took it to a bench that sat across the street from the truck. As we were eating, my phone rang. It was Delia.

“You better answer that,” Cam spoke. “Don’t be rude, Sierra. She is your mother.”

I rolled my eyes.

“But I don’t have any tequila on me.” I smirked.

“Sierra!”

“Fine!” I huffed as I answered her call. “Hello, Mother. To what do I owe this unexpected call?”

“Hello, Sierra. We’re coming to your house tonight for dinner.”

“Excuse me? Who’s we?”

“Clive, Ava, and I. I want to see what kind of work your boyfriend does. I’m thinking of remodeling a couple rooms at the house.”

A sick feeling grew in the pit of my stomach.

“Does it have to be tonight? I don’t know what time I’m getting off work.”

“Please. You’re the CEO. You can leave whenever you want. We’ll be over around six thirty. I’ll call Rosa now and have her start preparing dinner.”

My head started to spin at the thought of having to deal with her tonight.

“Okay. See you later,” I spoke as I ended the call and threw my phone in my purse.

“What was that about?” Cameron asked.

“Delia, Clive, and Ava are coming for dinner tonight. She wants to see what kind of work you do because she’s thinking of remodeling some rooms at the house.”

“Cool. More work.” He smiled.

I leaned to the side and cocked my head at him. I couldn’t believe those words came out of his mouth.

“Not cool, Cam. It’s Delia. You want to work for her? You’ll be in Hell and there will be nothing I can do to save you.”

He rolled his eyes and a small smile crossed his lips.

“I don’t care who it is. It’s work and that is something I need. Who knows, maybe she’ll tell all her rich friends and then they’ll want to remodel as well.”

“I have rich friends,” I pouted.

“I know you do. But remember, I’m getting these jobs on my own. You didn’t call Delia asking her to do this. Did you?” His eye narrowed.

My jaw dropped as I glared at him.

“Really, Cam? Do I ever ask Delia for anything? Or call her, for that fact?”

“Nah, I knew you wouldn’t. Hurry up and finish your tacos. I have to get back to the club.”

I finished my tacos and called James to come pick me up.

“I’ll see you later, babe.” He placed his thumb on my chin. “Try not to stress out about tonight. It’ll be fine.”

“Says you.” I frowned.

He smiled as his lips gently brushed against mine.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He hopped into his truck and drove away. A few moments later, James pulled up. Climbing inside, I shut the door and leaned my head back against the seat.

“What’s wrong, Sierra?” he asked as he looked at me through the rear-view mirror.

“Delia, Clive, and Ava are coming for dinner tonight. Delia wants Cam to remodel some rooms at her house.”

“Oh.” He snickered. “Cam’s a strong guy. He can handle Delia.”

“I’m a strong person and I can’t even handle her.”

“He’ll be fine. Delia’s got connections. This could work out in his favor. Don’t forget that.”

“I have better connections.” I smiled.

“You’ve done enough. Stay out of it, Sierra.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled my ringing phone from my purse.

“Hello, Rosa.”

She started yelling at me in Spanish and the only word I caught was “Delia.”

“English, Rosa.”

“Delia called and gave me the menu for tonight. This is short notice, Senorita. I’m a very busy woman and you know this. I have plans for tonight.”

“And what plans do you have, Rosa?”

“Plans.”

“What plans.”

“Plans.”

“You’re lying! I’ll include an extra two hundred dollars in your next paycheck.”

“Make it three,” she spoke.

“Two fifty and that’s my final offer.”

“Two fifty will be fine. I have to go to the store now.”

“Make sure there’s a full bottle of tequila in the house. In fact, buy a couple extra bottles.”

James couldn’t contain his laughter as he drove me to the office. My head was already pounding at the inevitable tension that was going to unfold tonight.