Page 82 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

“I was ambitious, eager to see what I could do in interior design—it was an exciting time. I accomplished a lot until finally I reached a point where I wanted to be here and work here. Life changes.”

Relaxing, he stretched out his legs. He wanted to sit close beside her, but he knew she would prefer he stayed right where he was. To his surprise, he enjoyed just sitting with her the way they were now. Twice he heard the deep chimes of a grandfather clock from the hallway, and he knew the hour was growing late, but he didn’t want to leave her.

When she stood, he came to his feet. “It’s late, and tomorrow will come early.”

He helped her switch off lights until there was only the dim glow from the stairs. He grasped her upper arm and turned her to face him. “Come here just a minute,” he said, wrapping his arm around her to draw her close and kiss her before she could protest.

The moment his mouth covered hers, she melted against him. He held her tightly, kissing her, wanting her and wishing they were alone, back on his ranch.

When she stepped out of his embrace she was as breathless as he was. Her big blue eyes were wide, filled with so much desire that he couldn’t get his breath and had to struggle to control the urge to take her upstairs.

He wanted to kiss her again, but he let her go. He couldn’t understand the reaction he had to her. Seeing her family, her background, should have emphasized their differences and how foreign her life was to him. With her positive view of the world, she shouldn’t have been able to hold his interest more than a few hours. Instead, she not only held his interest, she set him on fire and had ruined his sleep for nights.

“It’s late,” she said softly, walking away. He caught up with her and walked in silence to her bedroom door, where she faced him.

“Goodnight. I’ll see you shortly after sunrise.” She stepped inside and closed the door without waiting for him to reply.

Blake lay awake in the dark for a long time in a room that had to have been shared by both of her brothers because it still held high school trophies and memorabilia. He couldn’t sleep. He wanted Sierra in his arms. How long would it take him to forget her after she finished the job for him and went home?

If he had asked himself that question two weeks earlier, he would have thought it would take a day to move on, take someone else out and forget Sierra. He knew better than that now. In her quiet way, she had ensnared him. For the first time, he realized he had finally met a woman who might be difficult for him to say goodbye to.

Maybe if he could get his fill of sex with her, it would be easier to walk away. He’d be happy to test that theory when they returned to Dallas.

Saturday was a warm spring day. Sierra walked into the kitchen as her mom checked on biscuits in the oven and her dad scrambled eggs. Dressed in cutoffs and a blue knit shirt, her sister Ginger set the table, while her sister Lenora helped her niece, two-year-old Penny, with her oatmeal. To Sierra’s surprise, Blake poured orange juice into glasses on a tray to carry to the table. As he looked up, she drew a deep breath. In tight jeans that emphasized his narrow waist and long legs, Blake made her pulse jump. His brown knit shirt revealed muscles hardened from ranch work.

“Good morning. I’m here to help,” she announced. As his gaze swept over her, she was suddenly aware of her cutoffs and clinging red knit shirt. She tried to ignore the tingles his one glance caused.

“Great,” her dad said, holding out a spoon. “Come stir these eggs, and I’ll see about the strawberries.”

From that moment on, she had little chance for more than a “good morning” to Blake, but she was acutely aware of him as he moved around the kitchen helping with breakfast.

“Where are the guys? Are they still asleep?” she asked. “Blake, why are you the only male besides Dad who is cooking?”

“Rita and Damon’s car broke down, and your brothers have gone to help them,” Homer Benson said, slicing washed strawberries. “One of the pickups has a flat, and Roger and Jason are changing it. Blake volunteered to go help, and they told him to stay to help me.”

“Well, aren’t you nice,” she said, smiling at Blake. “Thank you.”

“Happy to help,” he said, his words friendly even though his dark eyes held unmistakable desire.

She stirred fluffy yellow eggs, and they soon had breakfast on the table as her other nieces and nephews began to appear. They sat to eat breakfast, and Blake held a chair for her, his hands brushing her lightly as he helped her before sitting next to her.

All through breakfast, she was aware of him at her side. The family included him in their conversation as they always did with any visitors. Soon her brothers, sister, brothers-in-law and more kids joined them.

Sierra was busy the rest of the day, but she searched for Blake in the crowd, hoping he was enjoying himself. At one point, he had joined in helping with games, participating with the kids. He seemed to truly care about the children and the people around him. His actions were so different from what he said in their conversations. Maybe making money wasn’t his sole focus in life. But that knowledge didn’t make it easier to resist his appeal. In fact, she was getting more involved with him.

She’d hoped he would get a glimmer of what his money was doing. She hoped this weekend would interest Blake in the agency, in her father’s church and in the people whose lives he could change. And he could so easily contribute. She was certain he supported charities, but she was equally certain his support was simply writing checks and letting others handle the donations for him. She wanted him to get up close and personally involved with the kids and people his money helped.

They hadn’t been at the picnic five minutes when Bert appeared with Nan beside him. “We’re so happy you’re here for this picnic,” Nan said. “And you brought Blake Callahan. That’s great.”

“I think he’ll enjoy being here.”

“How’s the job going, Sierra? Do you think you’re halfway through yet?” Bert asked. “We miss you here.”

“The job is going well, but I miss the agency. No, I’m not halfway through yet, but I’ll be home for good before you know it. Bert, will you set this basket on the long table with the red plastic cover? Nan, you can come help me over here.”

“Sure,” Nan said, smiling broadly. “Bert worries all day, every day about you,” she said as soon as they walked away. “Nothing new there. I want to say hello to Blake.”

“Say hello and whatever else you want,” Sierra said, smiling at her assistant, aware Blake had local women and some of the teenage girls fluttering around him. In minutes, Nan stood talking to Blake while Sierra carried another basket of food to a table.