Sierra
“Fuck me,” were the words that flew out of my mouth as I stopped midway down the stairs and saw Cameron standing there.
“Excuse me?” He smiled.
Oh what the hell, I thought. This was me on most mornings after I drank, and with him going to be working on my house, I was sure this wasn’t the last time he’d see me like this.
“Sorry. I look like shit. Get used to it and I need coffee.”
He chuckled as I walked past him and he followed me into the kitchen.
“Coffee?” I asked.
“Sure.”
“Rosa, two coffees.”
She rolled her eyes at me as she took two cups from the cabinet. “No looks today, Rosa.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have drank so much last night and then you wouldn’t look like this,” she said as she moved her hand up and down in front of me.
Again, Cameron chuckled. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the office?” he asked.
“I took today off. I have work I can do at home, but I think I’m just going to relax by the pool today.”
“Yeah, she just took the day off as of fifteen minutes ago. You just can’t do that, Sierra. I have meetings scheduled,” Kirsty said with irritation.
Rosa handed me my cup. “Listen, I’m the CEO. It’s my company and I can take a damn day off. I’m hung over and just need to relax by the pool. Cancel the meetings. Reschedule them. I’m not going in today.”
Kirsty sighed. “Fine. I’ll be at the office if you need me.”
As Kirsty walked out, I heard her yell from the hallway. “Your painting is here.”
“Oh good. Tell them to bring it in the kitchen,” I yelled.
A handsome-looking man walked into the kitchen with the painting I bought last night. “Are you Sierra Adams?” he asked as he looked me up and down.
“Yeah. That’s me.”
He had a smirk on his face. “Can you sign here, please,” he said as he handed me the pen.
“What’s that look for? Haven’t you ever seen a woman hung over before?”
His eyes widened and Cameron looked at me. “Sorry, miss. I think you look good.”
“That’s better.” I smiled as I handed him the pen and paper back. “Thank you for delivering this. Have a good day.”
He walked out and Cameron began to laugh. “What?” I asked.
“You totally had him flustered.”
“Well, then, he shouldn’t have looked at me like that.”
“You’re right; he shouldn’t have. But look at the way you’re dressed. He couldn’t help it.”
I bit down on my bottom lip because I thought Cameron was telling me in a subtle way that I looked sexy. I took the wrapping off and revealed my painting.
“Do you like?” I asked as I looked at Cameron and Rosa.
“It’s pretty. What is it?” he asked.
“The streets of Italy. See this café right here?” I asked as I pointed to the painting. “That’s the last place my dad and I had breakfast together before he died.”
Cameron looked down. “I’m sorry. It’s a beautiful painting.”
“How much did that cost you?” Rosa asked.
“Ten thousand.”
“Ten thousand dollars for a painting! You’re joking, right?” Cameron asked.
“No, I’m not. Not only was the painting special to me, but the money is going to Haven Hall for domestic violence.”
“Oh. That’s a good cause, but still.”
I didn’t expect him to understand. I was sure ten thousand dollars was a shit load of money to a guy like Cameron.
“Can you hang it for me?” I asked.
“Where do you want it?”
I walked over to the empty wall by the table. “Right here. That way, I can stare at it when I eat breakfast and think about my dad.”
“You don’t eat breakfast in here,” Rosa said.
“Well, I’m going to start.”
“You two need to scatter. I’m not used to having people in the house while I’m trying to clean. Now go. You’re throwing off my mojo.”
“I’ll go get my tools and hang that painting for you. Then, I’ll get started on your closet. Paolo should be here soon with the drywall.”
“I’m going to get dressed. Just make sure it’s centered,” I said as I walked out of the kitchen and upstairs to take a shower.
****
Cameron
I went to my truck and grabbed my tool box. The thought that she paid ten thousand dollars for that painting still filled my mind. I walked back to the kitchen and Rosa poured me another cup of coffee.
“This is the last of it,” she said.
“Thanks, Rosa.” I smiled.
I was digging through my tool box, looking for the anchors and nails to hang the picture, when Rosa walked up behind me.
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
I turned my head and looked at her. “No.”
“Hmm,” she said. “Why not? You’re a handsome, hardworking man.”
“Thanks, Rosa.” I laughed. “I just haven’t found the right girl yet, I guess. Plus, I’m not staying here in California for long, so it would be silly of me to meet someone here, form a relationship, and then have to leave.”
“Hmm. We’ll talk more later. I have work to finish.”
She was nice lady. The way she and Sierra went back and forth was funny. I hung the picture on the wall and took a step back to view it. That was when I heard her voice.
“Thank you. It looks great there,” Sierra said.
I turned around and she was standing behind me in a sun dress. Her hair was still wet and wavy, and she had put on some light make-up.
“You’re welcome. Are you done upstairs?”
“Yeah. Do you need to get started up there?”
“I want to get the plastic put down before Paolo gets here with the drywall,” I replied.
“Rosa’s up there, cleaning up my mess. Give her a few minutes and then go up. I’ll be doing some work by the pool if you need me.”
There was a knock at the door and it was Paolo. “Hey, man.” He smiled.
“Hey, Paolo. Did you get the drywall?”
I walked with him to his truck and we carried in the sheets of drywall. “Be careful; there’s a lot of stairs,” I said.
We made it up the stairs and into the bedroom. “Wow, look at this room,” Paolo said.
“Wait until you see her closet.” I laughed as I shook my head.
Paolo walked in and looked around. “Why are we expanding this? This is like another bedroom.”
“She needs more shelves for her shoes.”
“More shoes? My God, look at all the shoes she already has.”
Just as Paolo said that, Sierra walked into the bedroom. “I’ll tell you what I told Cameron. If you’re going to walk the path of life, you might as well do it in style.”
He walked out of the closet with a smile on his face. “I like the way you think.”
“Thank you.” She smiled back.
I introduced them and then Sierra walked back out. She just needed to get a rubber band for her hair.
“Wow, dude. She’s really hot. Shit. I’d tap that ass. Out of my league or not.”
“Don’t talk like that and I don’t want to talk about her. Let’s get to work.”