Chapter 7

Sierra

WALKING INTO STARBUCKS, I TOOK in a deep breath and let the aroma of coffee invade my body. It had been almost five days since I’d seen or talked to Dodge. I was now officially on vacation for the next two weeks.

“Hey, Sierra. You off today?” Jackie, the barista, asked as she began ringing up my normal order.

“I am and I think I’m switching it around today.”

Making a funny face as if she was completely surprised, Jackie laughed. “Wow, okay throw it at me.”

Smiling, I said, “I’ll take a chia tea Frappuccino double blended with soy and no whip.”

Jackie placed her hand on her heart and said, “No coffee! Are you ill?”

Giggling, I shook my head. “Nope, just trying to change things up a bit. I need spice in my life.”

Jackie laughed and gestured to a guy sitting in the corner. He was wearing a UT baseball cap, a black T-shirt and running shorts. “You want spice, sweetheart get to know the hot dude in the corner. He’s been coming in every morning for the last four days and let me tell you, his eyes scream spicy!”

Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled when I looked at the hotty sitting in the corner. Turning back to Jackie, I winked. “He’s a looker.”

Jackie’s face fell. “He’s a looker? That’s all you got, Sierra?”

Laughing, I said, “Okay, I’d do him, no questions asked. Better?”

Jackie’s eyes lit up as she looked over my shoulder and smiled the brightest smile I’d ever seen.

“You’d do who?”

My body ignited the moment I heard Dodge’s voice. He’d left me horny and crazed out of my mind the last two times I’d seen him. I was going to have to buy an extra BOB at this rate.

Glancing over my shoulder, I moaned as I rolled my eyes. “Why are you here, sport?”

Smiling and giving me a wink, Dodge said, “I wanted coffee.”

Placing my hand on my hip, I glared at him. “This Starbucks is nowhere near your house or work. Why do you come here?”

“I like the scenery. I’ve had some pretty amazing things happen to me at this Starbucks,” Dodge said before turning and placing his order with Jackie. I stood there with my mouth hanging open.

Getting a hold of myself, I smirked as I said, “So in other words, since you’re not at the bar anymore, you pick up your fuck buddies here?”

My chi tea was called out just in time as Dodge turned and glared at me.

Spinning on my heels, I walked up and grabbed my drink and sauntered on over toward the hot guy in the corner. Sitting down, he glanced up and smiled. Trying to appear sexy in my Victoria’s Secret boyfriend pants and black Sam Hunt T-shirt, I smiled back.

Peeking up at the counter, I noticed Dodge was still talking to Jackie. Probably trying to pick her up. Asshole. Rolling my eyes, I let out a sigh and took a sip of my drink as I eye fucked the hell out of the hot guy. Tilting his head, he gave me a wink, stood up and walked over to me. Before he had a chance to sit down, Dodge walked up and kissed me on the cheek.

“Baby, you have no idea how much I missed you in my bed last night,” Dodge purred as he moved his lips down to my neck and licked it. Licked it! He fucking licked my neck.

Hot guy froze, as did I. What in the hell?

Raising his eyebrows, hot guy changed direction and headed right on out of Starbucks. I wanted to jump up and start shouting out for him to come back. Glancing up to Dodge, I shot him daggers.

“Do you have any idea how much I loathe you right now?”

Laughing, he pulled out a chair and sat down.

Dropping my mouth open, I said, “I don’t remember inviting you to sit down, but now that you chased off the only hot guy in the room . . . please, have a seat.”

Dodge chuckled and placed his hand over his heart as if mortally wounded. “Ouch.”

“What do you want anyway?” I asked as I took a sip of my tea.

Leaning back in his chair, Dodge rested his right foot on his left knee, and the way he stared at me caused my body to shudder. I prayed like hell he hadn’t noticed.

“You mentioned you were off; I figured you still came here for your morning coffee, so I took a chance.”

Pressing my lips in a fine line, I shook my head. “You took a chance? Did you need to talk to me about my divorce?”

Dodge’s smile lit up the room. God how I loved that damn smile of his. Ugh. Why did he have to be so damn good looking? And that stupid scruff on his face. I wondered what it would feel like against my skin? I bet he could take a girl to heaven and back with just the touch of that scruff against . . .

“Sierra? Are you even listening to me?”

Shaking my head to clear my dirty thoughts, I smiled. “No. Sorry. I was thinking about the hot guy who just left.”

Dodge dropped his right leg and leaned forward. “Needing to get laid, huh?”

Placing my drink to my lips, I took a sip and let out a soft low moan. “Mmm . . . so damn good. What were you asking me, dickhead?”

Dodge laughed and it rolled through my body and warmed me instantly. Ugh. He needed to leave. “I’ll take that as a yes, you need to get laid.”

“You wanting the job, Dodge? After all, I heard you were good at making people forget things.”

Dodge’s smile faded and he sat back like he remembered I had witnessed his interlude with Ryn. Maybe I do have an effect on Mr. Walker after all. “W-what?” Dodge stuttered.

“Me getting laid, are you up for it?” I said with a purr.

Dodge swallowed hard as he searched for his voice. Was that sweat forming on his brow? Hiding my smile, I raised my eyebrow and waited for my answer.

“I’m your lawyer, Sierra. We need to . . . um . . . stay focused.”

Oh. So that’s how he wants to play this. “Focused, huh? Got it.” Standing, I gave Dodge a smile. “Well, since we don’t have any business to talk about, I think I’m going to go search for another hot guy. According to my lawyer, I need to get laid. Have a good day, Dodge.”

Feeling his eyes burning into my back, I held my giggle in until I walked out of Starbucks. Making my way down the street, I headed back to my house when I heard Jackie calling out my name.

“Sierra! Wait!”

Stopping, I turned and waited for her. “Did I forget something?”

Smiling, she shook her head. “Oh, no! You didn’t forget anything, but I wanted to ask you if you’d like to go out tonight with me and a few friends of mine. It’s girls’ night.”

Girls’ night? I hadn’t had a night out with the girls since Ryn moved. “Okay! Sounds like fun. Where and what time should I be there?”

Jackie smiled and did a little jump. “Eight, and we’re all meeting at 219 West.”

Grinning, I said, “I’ll be there.”

Jacking clapped. “Be ready to spice things up!”

Tossing my head back with a laugh, I gave her a thumbs-up. “Yes! Totally spicing it up on all fronts.”

Glancing over Jackie’s shoulder, I watched as Dodge walked out of Starbucks and headed to his truck. In a way, my heart was broken just a little that he didn’t come after me.

Men.

They all suck!

***

My nose was buried in my Kindle app on my cell phone as I walked up the steps to my house. I stopped and finished up the last few sentences to get to the end of the chapter.

“Whatcha reading?”

Jumping, I screamed and my cell phone went flying. Placing my hand over my chest, I dragged in deep breath after deep breath as I tried to calm my beating heart.

“What in the hell is wrong with you? Ohmygod! You asshole. My heart is pounding.”

Dodge stood there leaning against my front door, looking all hot.

Bastard.

“You left before I could talk to you.”

Rolling my eyes, I headed back down the stairs to get my phone. “Well, I assumed you had nothing of importance to talk about. Now, if you have something to say about my divorce, or the possibility of some stranger breaking into my house, I’m all ears. Otherwise, leave.”

Reaching down, I picked up my phone and let out a gasp. “No! No, I just got this iPhone!”

My phone had landed face down on a rock and the whole screen was cracked. Turning, I pointed to Dodge as I gave him my best death stare. “This is your fault!”

Frowning, he pushed off the door. “My fault? How in the hell is this my fault?”

“You scared me, dickhead. That’s how this is your fault.”

Shaking his head, Dodge glared at me. “You do know if you call me that in court, you’re sure to lose the case.”

“Ugh! Oh my gosh! Why are men so . . . so . . . just . . . ugh . . . my god, you’re all just . . . just . . .”

Dodge lifted his eyebrows and leaned in closer like that would make me find the words that were lost.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I turned and headed to my car. Unlocking it, I got in as Dodge shouted, “Where are you going now?”

Holding up my phone, I yelled, “To fix my phone!”

Placing the keys in the car, I turned and nothing happened. No, please don’t do this to me. You’re a brand new car for Christ’s sake!

Dodge tapped the driver’s side window as I dropped my head back against the headrest. “Go away! You’re like the reverse of a good luck charm!”

Opening the door, Dodge leaned in and got so close to my face, I had to fight like hell not to grab him and kiss him.

He smelled so good. I had to find out what cologne he wore and then spray the hell out of my sheets with it.

I did not just think that.

“Damn, isn’t this car fairly new?” Dodge asked as I smelled the mint from the gum he was chewing.

Fuck. My. Life.

“Yes, Dodge. It’s about six months old. Maybe more, I don’t know.”

“How do you not know? What month did you buy it in?”

Snapping my eyes open, I glared at him. “Fuck if I know right now, Dodge. I can’t think straight! My phone is broke! My kind of newish car is broke! You’re invading my personal space, I need so desperately to get laid and you’re not helping any, and I . . . I . . .”

I am such an idiot. I did not just say that out loud. Did I?

Reaching for my hand, Dodge pulled me out of my car, forcing me to slam into his body.

Breathe, Sierra. Deep breaths . . . in through the nose . . . out through the mouth. Focus. Focus on anything other than the muscular body you’re pressed up against right now. Or the fact that you’re slowing getting lost in the most beautiful blue eyes ever.

Dodge slipped his hand behind my neck as my heart dropped to my stomach. His eyes fell to my lips, causing me to lick them. The moment he whispered, “Fuck,” I wanted to cry out yes! A million butterflies took off in my stomach at the mere idea that Dodge was going to kiss me.

Moving in closer, Dodge brushed his lips across mine and I grabbed onto his arms to steady myself.

“We have to stay focused, Sierra.”

Letting out a whimper that made me sound like a desperate whore, I whispered back, “Focused. I am totally focused, Dodge.”

Just like that, Dodge let go of me and took a few steps back. “I’ll take you to get your phone fixed.”

My head was spinning out of control as my heart broke a little bit more. I wasn’t sure how many more times I would be able to handle Dodge rejecting me. Fighting to hold back the threat of tears, I turned away and headed to my front door. “I’ll get it fixed later, along with the car.”

Dodge grabbed my arm. “Sierra, please wait.”

Shaking my head, I didn’t dare look at him.

I was sexually frustrated.

I was starting to fall for a man who clearly didn’t feel the same about me.

And I was scared shitless that my husband was watching my every move.

“Not now, Dodge.”

Unlocking the door to my house, I walked in, shut the door and turned off the alarm. Leaning against the door, I slowly slid down and sat on the floor as I cried.

“Fuck. My. Life,” I said as I sobbed into my hands.