Chapter 15

Sierra

JESUS H. CHRIST. IF THIS boring ass jerk does not shut up, I’m going to stuff cheese balls in my ears.

“Sierra?”

The moment I heard his voice I wanted to drop to the floor and yell out in pure happiness. Dodge saved me from death by boredom!

“Aaron,” I said in a purr. Bob, or Job or whatever the hell his name was, glared at Dodge.

“Sorry to interrupt, Jacob.”

Jacob! Shit. Damn I was kind of close.

“Not a problem, I was just about to—”

Dodge turned toward me and said, “Dance with me.”

At that moment a slow song started playing. Nodding my head, I looked to Jacob and said, “It’s been nice chatting with you, but if you’ll excuse me.”

Dodge put his hand on my lower back and led me onto the dance floor.

Pulling me into his arms, he moved his mouth to my ear. “You are the most beautiful woman in the room.”

My heart dropped as butterflies went to town in my stomach. The way Dodge was looking at me had me hoping like hell he was feeling the same way I was. “What do you want, Dodge?”

His mouth moved to my neck as he kissed me and whispered against my skin, “Are you ready for the answer to that question, short stack?”

“Are you really asking me that? You interrupted a perfectly interesting conversation with a very handsome, and I might add, single lawyer.”

“Are you in the market for a new lawyer?” Dodge asked.

Letting out a gruff laugh, I said, “Well, the one I have now makes some pretty big promises. I’m hoping he stays true to his word.”

Dodge pulled me in closer to him as I held onto him tighter. “I swear to you, Sierra, I will follow through with what I said. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. I’ll forever pour my heart and soul out for you. I’ll always be here for you.”

At that moment, it hit me what song was playing. “Here I Am” by Leona Lewis. Pulling back, I looked into Dodge’s eyes. “This song.”

My knees went weak when Dodge smiled and said, “This song.” Placing his hands on the sides of my face, Dodge leaned over and brushed his lips against mine as he whispered, “Let me love you, Sierra.”

Grabbing onto his arms, I closed my eyes. My head was spinning. What in the world is happening? Surely I had to be dreaming. Was Dodge truly saying what I was hearing? “I’m . . . wait . . . you’re confusing me, Dodge.”

Dodge placed a soft kiss against my lips. “Aaron. Call me, Aaron.”

Opening my eyes, I whispered, “Aaron.”

“Let me clear it up for you, baby. I’m tired of fighting my feelings.”

Swallowing hard, I asked, “Your feelings?”

“Sierra, I swear to you, I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to you that I will be your everything. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.” Dodge closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Opening his eyes, I sucked in a breath as his eyes caught mine.

“Sierra, I’m falling in love with you.” Letting out a soft chuckle, Dodge shook his head slowly as he pulled me closer to him. “Who the fuck am I kidding? I fell in love with you, Sierra, the first time you bitched me out.”

Smiling, I shook my head. “You tell me this all now when we are in Port Aransas with your parents and sister? Why now?”

“I’m tired of closing my eyes to something that is so clear to me. My head cannot deny what my heart is longing for.”

My heart felt as if it was about to burst from my chest. At the same time, I was scared to death. Did I dare open my heart to Dodge? Looking into his eyes, I already knew the answer.

Yes.

Pulling me close enough in for me to feel his hard on, Dodge whispered, “The guest house.”

Raising my eyebrow up to him, I went to ask him what in the hell he was talking about, but stopped when I heard Kate call my name.

Dodge closed his eyes and let out a moan. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Giggling, I reached up and brushed my lips against Dodge’s. “Hold that thought.”

Pulling me closer to him, Dodge smiled and my breath caught. “I may just die if I’m not buried inside you soon, Sierra.”

My lips parted open as I whispered, “Oh my.”

Trying to get my wits about me proved harder than I thought as Kate tapped me on the shoulder.

Turning, I smiled as Kate glanced between Dodge and me. “Sierra, darling, I want you to meet a dear friend of mine, Marcy, and her daughter, Sandra.”

An older woman stood next to Kate and beside her was a breathtaking brunette with eyes so green I had to pull my eyes away from hers. She had to have been at least four years younger than me. Keeping a smile on my face, I reached my hand out to Marcy first, and then Sandra. The way the daughter stared at me was as if she wanted to rip my eyes out with her fingernails.

What the hell?

Glancing over my shoulder, her face lit up and she smiled bigger. “Aaron. It’s been forever since I’ve seen you. Law school, I believe. Oh no wait, there was that little trip you and I took the Bahamas. Who could forget that getaway!”

My mouth dropped open as I stared at her. Who in the hell talks like that in front of her own mother?

Oh wait. Little rich slut whore bitches do. That explains why she was piercing me with her eyes.

Looking over at Dodge, I couldn’t help but have my heart drop a little at the way he smiled and pulled Sandra in for a quick hug. “Jesus, girl. It has been forever. If my memory is correct, you were the one who wanted to explore the world.”

Swallowing hard, I tried to like hell not to let my imagination run wild. Dodge was smiling at her, but not like how he had been smiling at me less than two minutes ago. My eyes moved away from them to catch Brice looking at me. Taking a sip of his drink, he gave me a wink. Smiling weakly, I took a chance at looking back at Dodge and what was quickly becoming more apparent, his ex-girlfriend, Sandra.

“Biggest mistake of my life,” Sandra purred.

Kate cleared her throat and began talking to me. “Sierra, Marcy and I have known each other since college. Our families used to be very close. We used to go on these crazy family vacations together.” Marcy and Kate both chuckled.

Clearly she was distracting me from Dodge’s conversation.

Politely nodding my head, I tried not to focus on what Dodge and Sandra were talking about. “We really should go on a family vacation, Kate. Once your treatment is finished.”

Kate gave Marcy a huge grin. “Oh, Marcy, a celebration trip. That would be amazing!”

Oh yay! Maybe they’ll go to the Bahamas and Dodge and Sandra can pick up where they left off.

“Oh, Aaron, dance with me, please!” Sandra said as she pulled Dodge out onto the dance floor. Glancing over his shoulder, Dodge looked at me but Sandra gave him another tug, jerking him closer to her.

Kate and Marcy kept talking about the family vacation and how wonderful it would be to get caught up as I watched Dodge take Sandra into his arms and dance with her.

Attempting to keep a smile on my face, I turned and began looking around. My breathing was beginning to pick up as I tried to figure out how to get the hell out of this room.

How in the hell does this happen? How does he go from telling me he loves me to dancing with an ex-girlfriend? Why did I think he would want to be with just me? The bastard was a damn fucking manwhore for Christ’s sake.

I needed air. Now.

Quickly turning, I made my way to the closest exit. Pushing the doors open, it led to the deck that overlooked the ocean. Kicking my shoes off, I grabbed them and made my way down to the beach.

Stopping at the water’s edge, I held my dress up as I stared out into the dark ocean waters and fought to drag air into my lungs. My heart felt like it was about to be ripped from my chest.

“I’ll always be here for you.”

“Sierra, I’m falling in love with you.”

Lying bastard.

Stupid.

Stupid.

Stupid.

I’m so stupid.

Maybe I’m just cursed when it comes to men. If I had my cell phone I’d text Ryn, Azurdee and Kacey right now and tell them I was forever giving up on men.

Chewing on my lower lip, I let out a laugh. Who the hell am I kidding? I can’t give up on men. I’d never have sex again. Maybe just the occasional one-night stand. Yep. That was my new plan. Fuck all men.

Pressing my lips together tightly, I fought to hold back my tears. When I could no longer hold it in, a sob escaped my lips. Glancing back over my shoulder, I closed my eyes and shook my head.

Looking back out over the water, I knew he wouldn’t be there. He found new eye-candy. How easy it was for him to just walk away from me.

Asshole. He probably said all of that just to get into my pants. The trial would come and go within the next week. Maybe he saw this as his chance.

Taking in a deep breath, I looked back up at the clubhouse. Shaking my head, I reached deep down inside and headed back up. I’d find Brice and tell him I needed to get back to Austin and leave.

Yep. That was my plan. As I formulated how I would get back to Austin, I headed back to the party.

Stopping at the door, I took in a deep breath as I stepped back into the room. I instantly saw Dodge . . . with her. They weren’t dancing, but the little slut had Dodge pinned deep in a conversation. They’d be perfect together. Two blood-hungry lawyers.

I hope Princess bites the shit out of the slut.

Pushing through the crowd of people, I headed out of the room. The air hit my face as I gasped for a breath. I hadn’t realized I had held my breath the entire time I made my way through the ballroom.

A hand took a hold of my elbow and I jumped. Turning, I saw Brice standing there.

“Mr. Walker . . . I mean . . . Brice. I was feeling tired and . . . well . . . I was going to see about getting a cab.”

Smiling, Brice walked me to the end of the sidewalk and lifted his arm. A limo came driving up as I practically sighed out loud in relief. “Mr. Dante, my assistant, is still at the house and will let you in.”

Nodding my head, I stepped into the limo. Brice leaned in and gave me a fatherly smile. “Sierra, men are fools. We don’t think or see things the same way women do. God cursed us with this fault.”

Smiling, I fought to hold back my tears. Damn it all to hell. I hated Dodge for making me such a pansy-ass.

“Well, I’ve come to learn that all men are pretty much the same, Brice. If a prettier girl walks into the room, they tend to follow like the dogs they are.”

Brice grimaced. “Ouch. Spoken like a woman scorned.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I leaned closer to Brice. “I’m tired of playing games, Brice. I’m in love with your son and I’m tired of denying it. Clearly he doesn’t feel the same toward me and I need to accept that. We just need to make it through my case, and I know deep down in my heart that Dodge . . . I mean Aaron . . . is going to pour everything he has into winning it. I’ve never been more confident. But my coming here this weekend was a mistake.”

Shaking his head, he chuckled. “Someone needs to bash both your heads together. Sierra, I knew the first time I saw the two of you together you had feelings for each other. My son loves you, Sierra. Please don’t give up on him.”

Looking down, I whispered, “The fight in me is gone, Brice. I’ve tried like hell to keep it alive . . . but . . . I can’t.”

Brice placed his finger on my chin and brought my eyes to his. “No, Sierra. That is one of the things I admire about you. I see that fight in your eyes. I saw it the moment you set foot in my office and I see it now.”

A tear slowly rolled down my cheek. “If only I felt it.”

Brice dropped his hand and shook his head. “My son is about to get his ass kicked.”

Letting out a giggle, I wiped my stupid tears away. “I’m just tired, Brice. Tomorrow will we go over the case? I’d like to head back to Austin as soon as possible.”

Nodding his head, he smiled. “Yes. We’ll get you ready for Robert’s lawyers. Don’t you worry. Go rest, Sierra. I’ll let Kate know you weren’t feeling well.”

“Aaron, too?” I asked.

“Yes, after I kick his ass.”

Laughing at the sound of Brice swearing, I slid further into the limo as Brice told the driver where to go. By the time he was pulling from the country club, tears were streaming down my face.

I hate you, Dodge. I hate you for making me feel weak.