Chapter 12

Dodge

SIERRA HELD PRINCESS ALMOST THE entire trip down to the coast. We only stopped once for Princess to go potty. There was something so flippin’ sexy about Sierra holding my dog in her lap and loving on her. I’d never admit it to Sierra, but I loved that damn dog. She kept me company and gave me someone to talk to.

Looking away, I fought to keep the crazy emotions down. I knew I was falling more and more for Sierra, but when she mentioned things like us being friends, I didn’t know how to read her. One minute she looked at me like she wanted to kiss me, the next it was as if she wanted to knock the hell out of me.

Sierra seemed to be really nervous and I had no idea why. Kind of like I had no idea why my father invited Sierra along on a family only vacation, but I wasn’t going to argue with him. When Sierra was around, the happier I felt. Sierra’s leg was bouncing up and down as she looked out the window. Reaching down, I took a hold of her hand. “Sierra, is everything okay? You don’t seem like yourself.”

Sierra’s eyes caught mine as she sucked in a breath. Good lord she had the most beautiful blue eyes. I could swim in them for the rest of my life.

“Um . . . I just . . . I guess I’m nervous about the hearing and all. I’m ready for this to all just be over so I can move on with my life. What if he wins, Dodge? What if they push it back again?”

Damn. The last thing I wanted was for her to be nervous. “Don’t be nervous. I promise you, Robert is not going to win this and they have exhausted all extensions. The judge assured us the hearing will go on as planned. It’s going to be in our favor.”

Sierra glanced down and asked, “How do you know that, Dodge?”

Placing my finger on Sierra’s chin, I lifted her eyes to mine. “Because I’m not about to let him hurt you anymore, and I’m your lawyer now. Didn’t you know you had the best lawyer in Austin?”

Giving me a weak grin, Sierra said, “No, I thought you were just known as the best lemon drop maker in Austin.”

Grinning, I moved my hand to the side of her face and gently brushed her tear away. “Please don’t cry, short stack. I can’t take you crying. You’re probably one of the strongest women I know next to my mother. Please don’t worry.”

Giving me a slight smile, Sierra asked, “How is your mother feeling?”

Smiling, I said, “The chemo has taken its toll on her, but she is doing amazing. This whole weekend is about celebrating her win over cancer.”

My heart dropped to my stomach with the way Sierra was looking at me.

Chewing on her lower lip, Sierra whispered, “I’m honored to be able to meet her.”

Swallowing hard, my body ignited at the idea of introducing Sierra to my mother as something more than just a friend. Or a client. No, Sierra was so much more than that. So. Much. More.

Giving Sierra a smile, I was barely able to find the words to speak. “She’s going to fall in love with you.”

Turning, I looked out the window as the ferry docked.

Ten minutes later, we were pulling into my parents’ beach house driveway.

“Awe, Grams is here.”

“Oh shit,” Sierra whispered as her body slumped over.

Making my way to my mother, I gave her a kiss on the cheek and then moved on to my Grams. They both looked beautiful.

“Mom, you have some color back,” I said as I gave her a once-over.

“This sea air agrees with me,” she said as she glanced over to my father.

Em walked up to me and hugged me. “Introduce us, Aaron.”

Turning, I saw Sierra holding Princess. Smiling, I motioned for Sierra to walk over. Was that . . . fear . . . in Sierra’s eyes? Huh. Interesting.

Em immediately pulled Sierra into her arms before I could even introduce her. “Sierra! It’s so nice to meet you! I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Em, Aaron’s sister.”

Widening her eyes in surprise, Sierra asked, “You have?”

Em giggled. “Oh yeah, Aaron talks about you all the time.”

My mouth dropped damn near to the ground. “Well don’t believe anything he says about me,” Sierra said, trying to act completely normal. Em pulled her head back in surprise.

“Don’t be silly. He speaks highly of you. Said you’re the best thing that’s happened to him in a long time.”

What the fuck?

Sierra’s eyes snapped over to me. Laughing, Sierra looked around. “What are you looking for?” I asked as I took Princess from Sierra’s arms and handed her to Em.

“Hidden cameras.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “Why?”

Looking at Em and then back to me, Sierra shook her head. “I don’t believe for one minute you’ve been spreading good cheer about me, that’s all.”

My heart dropped and I tried to like hell to ignore the sadness in Sierra’s eyes.

“Okay, kids, it’s my turn,” my mother said as she made her way over to Sierra. “Hello, Sierra.”

Returning my mother’s hug, Sierra smiled that sweet smile of hers that made my knees weak. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Walker.”

Letting out a laugh, my mother pulled Sierra in for another hug. Jesus, why is she being so lovey-dovey with her? “You can call me Kate. Brice has spoken highly of you.”

Sierra looked confused. “Brice?”

“My father,” I said looking between my dad and mom. What in the hell is going on? Why is my whole damn family acting like Sierra is my girlfriend? Gram made her way over to Sierra and gave her a once-over before pulling her into her arms and hugging the shit out of her.

“Oh my! Those blue eyes are beautiful. Here I thought Aaron had the most beautiful baby blues. Yours are beyond breathtaking. What amazing babies they’ll make.”

Sierra smiled and then dropped it as she stared at my Grams. “Um . . . babies? What babies?” Glancing back at me, I shrugged my shoulders. I could tell Sierra was just as confused as I was.

Slapping her hands together, my mother spun around and looked at me. “Aaron, show Sierra to her room. I have her in the guest room next to yours.”

“What?” Sierra and I said at once.

“I . . . I thought I would be in a guest house or something,” Sierra said as her voice cracked.

My mother looked at Sierra like she was insane. “Don’t be silly, Sierra. Change into something casual, sweetheart. We are going to get down and dirty for lunch.” My mother gave Sierra a wink and walked into my father’s arms.

My mother was my father’s entire world. I had to admit, with me giving in and working at the law firm, they both seemed to be so much happier. Even I had been happier. I missed my other job, but being a lawyer was what I was meant to do. I felt it in my bones. Once I finally admitted it to myself, I found myself longing to prove to my father I had what it took to be a great lawyer.

Em walked up to me and whispered, “They’ve been like this all morning. It’s kind of cute!”

Nodding my head, I watched my father wrap his arm around my mother’s waist as he led her back into the house. I wanted that. I wanted a love that made me smile like my father was smiling at my mother.

Clearing her throat behind me, Sierra walked over to my truck and pulled out her bag and the two dress bags. Quickly making my way over to her, I took them from her.

“Dodge, I’m so confused.”

Letting out a nervous chuckle, I said, “Me too.”

Letting out a sigh, Sierra climbed the stairs up to the entrance of the house. Stopping, she turned to me and said, “I thought . . . well . . . I thought we would be going over the trial and I would be staying away from the family. Like in a guesthouse or something.”

Pulling my head back in surprise, I stared at Sierra. “Why in the hell would you be staying away from the family? Sierra, you’re a friend of mine. My family wouldn’t treat you any different.”

Nodding her head, she smiled weakly. “Of course. But I’m also a client. Let’s not lose sight of that, Mr. Walker.”

Frowning, I hesitated before turning and walking into the house as Sierra followed me.

Five minutes later, I was walking Sierra into the guest bedroom next to mine. I wasn’t sure how I would be able to sleep at night knowing Sierra would be in the room right next to me. Spinning around like a little girl, Sierra giggled. “Oh my goodness. This is the cutest room I’ve ever seen. Who decorated it?”

Looking around the room, it was done in blues and whites. “My mother.”

Smiling, Sierra flopped down on the bed. “It’s breathtaking. It makes me feel like I’m at the ocean. Something about it is . . . calming.”

Setting her bag down, I smiled. Sierra laid back onto the bed, and I quickly fantasized what it would be like making love to her. Our first time would be slow, so I could memorize her body. Learn what she liked and didn’t like and then spend the rest of the night pleasing her.

My dick jumped in my pants as I looked away. “Do you need to freshen up or anything before we leave for lunch?”

Sitting up, Sierra stared at me. It was almost as if she had been thinking the same thing I was thinking. “Sure. Um . . . yeah. I should probably do that.”

Backing up toward the door, I nodded. “Great. Okay well I’ll meet you back downstairs.”

Giving me a weak smile, Sierra bit down on her lower lip. “Okay.”

Spinning around, I grabbed the doorknob and yanked it open. I needed to get out of her room before I stripped her down naked and we had a different kind of lunch.

***

“The Crazy Cajun is Mom’s favorite place to go every time we come to Port Aransas,” I said as Sierra sat across from my mother.

“I’ve never eaten here,” Sierra said as my mother gave her a shocked look. Em sat on one side of Sierra, while I sat on the other across from my father.

“Never?” Mom asked.

Sierra let out a nervous chuckle. “Nope, never.”

Glancing over to me, my mother gave me a smile. “You’re in for a treat then.”

Sierra smiled politely.

“Your home is beautiful, Mr. and Mrs. Walker,” Sierra said with a sweet smile.

“Please, sweetheart, call us Kate and Brice. There will be no Mr. and Mrs. this weekend.”

Sierra nodded her head and glanced at me, confusion lacing her face. She’d already been confused as hell with my father inviting her. His excuse that we were running out of time seemed reasonable, until he began questioning me about Sierra. I knew my father could see right through me in regards to my feelings toward Sierra.

Em and Sierra were going on and on about some new movie they both wanted to see. My mind couldn’t focus on a damn thing. Every time Sierra’s body brushed up against mine, or her arm touched me, a jolt of electricity raced through my body and I swear it stopped my heart.

“Oh, Aaron! You have to take Sierra crabbing tonight,” Em said as she bounced around in her seat.

“What?” I asked.

Em tilted her head and looked at me with a smile that said she knew exactly what I was thinking about. Smirking at her, I rolled my eyes and looked at my father.

What. The. Hell. He was looking at me the same way.

“Crabbing! Aaron, Sierra just told me she has never been crabbing.”

Looking at Sierra, I laughed. “You own a house on South Padre. How have you never gone crabbing?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Sierra smiled. “I dunno. Just never have. Never had anyone to show me.”

Em let out a little squeal. “Now you do!”

I was about to say something when the waitress came over with a large pot. Dumping the food on the table, my mouth watered at the shrimp, crab legs and boiled potatoes.

Glancing over to Sierra, she looked like she had just seen a ghost. “Jesus H. Christ. They have the heads on still,” Sierra whispered as she grabbed onto my leg and stared at the food on the table. “You like shrimp, right?” I asked as I picked one up and ripped the head off and handed it to Sierra. She swallowed hard and then looked at me. Something inside me knew she was about to get sick.

Jumping up, I yelled out, “Oh, shit!”

Sierra put her hands over her mouth as I quickly pulled her up and hauled her outside with my parents and Em all calling out for us. Something kicked in and the idea of Sierra being sick had me wanting to do anything I could to take it away.

Pushing the exit door open, I picked up Sierra as she cried out, “Put me down! I’m going to hurl!”

Taking her around the building, I put her down. “Are you okay? Sierra, take a deep breath in and slowly blow it out.”

Then she did it. That move you do when you’re attempting not to throw up and your whole body jumps and your cheeks puff out. Shaking my head, I said, “Hold it in! Hold it in!”

Shaking her head, Sierra turned and let it all go. Reaching for her hair, I pulled it back as Sierra threw up. Turning away, I gagged a couple of times until I got myself under control by singing an AC/DC song out loud to drown out her throwing up. Who would have thought, badass Sierra couldn’t take the head being pulled off of a shrimp?

Sierra had a weak stomach. I was going to have to remember that little detail for future torturing.