Page 87 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

The moment his strong arms closed around her, she forgot her mission and lost all her apprehension. She clung to him tightly and kissed him.

She felt as if she’d come home.

All that she had intended to say was forgotten when he took her into his arms. After a moment, she moved out of his embrace. “Blake, you hired me to finish this job for you, and it will never get done if we don’t stop kissing.”

He grinned. “So? I can live with that.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “Eventually, you wouldn’t want to. You paid me a lot of money for this. You might as well have your new wing finished, and I’ve bought some expensive artwork.”

“All right. I’ll listen.”

“I want you to look at what we’ve done. After I change, I’ll get things set up in the office you said I can use.”

It was late afternoon before she emerged from her shower, dressed in stone-washed jeans, boots and a blue knit shirt. She left her hair loose and went to find Blake.

She brought him into the office where she had sketches spread on a long table along with 3D designs on her iPad. Blake studied them quietly. “Look through the iPad for pictures of how the artwork, sculptures and furniture for each suite will look. Go ahead.” She stood by the table, watching for his reaction.

“This is perfect, Sierra,” he said, pointing to a sketch of a bedroom. “This will be my room.” He closed the distance between them to place his hands on her shoulders. “I knew you’d do the best possible job.”

Warmed by his praise, she smiled. “Thank you! I’m thrilled you’re happy with it, and I’ll let Lucinda and Eli know because they deserve as much credit. They are really good at this.”

“This is just perfect,” he said, studying her. “I don’t know how the hell you can leave a career you’re perfect for. Do you know how many people would like to have half the talent you do, and they’re in the business? You selected what I would have selected,” he said, turning to look at her intently. “That’s interesting, Sierra, because we don’t see eye to eye on anything else in life. Well, maybe a few things.”

She ignored his flirting. “Thank Lucinda and Eli. They found a lot of those pieces. They took note of what you like when we toured your house.”

“That they did. These are perfect. I’m glad I hired you.”

Her gaze ran over him. She could still feel her heartbeat speed up when she looked at him or thought about kissing him.

How could she be so drawn to him or find him so exciting when they were totally different?

Memories tugged at her senses, and she gulped for air. She wanted to be back in his arms, and she suspected she would be soon.

The next day Lucinda and Eli arrived, and Sierra stayed in her own suite that night. For the rest of the week and through the one following, workers were coming and going, goods were delivered to the ranch and there was constant activity from early in the morning until about nine in the evening. Blake left for business in Dallas and they talked each day, but she didn’t see him.

The next week Blake went to California. Sierra, Lucinda and Eli stayed at the ranch to be available for the contractor and make sure everything was going well. They all worked hard to get everything finished by the deadline.

On a weekend trip home to Kansas City, Sierra’s worries and priorities shifted as a new concern emerged—one she’d never dreamed she would have.

She could not ignore her body—she might be pregnant with Blake’s baby.

A few hours later, Sierra stood staring at the results of the pregnancy test. Blake had taken precautions, always. But she knew that condoms were not always effective, even when used appropriately. Apparently, this was one of those times.

Her head swam, and for a moment she felt faint. She sat in a chair, putting her head down, hoping the dizziness would pass.

Looking again at the results of her test, she shook her head. “No,” she whispered. She couldn’t be pregnant.

What would she do? What would Blake do?

She had no answers to those questions. All her life, her family, her friends, her school, her activities, her jobs—everything had been harmonious, satisfactory, even fantastic. She had a big, loving, happy family. She’d had success. She had wonderful friends, and she was in a second great career. An unwanted, unplanned pregnancy, being tied to a man she wanted and yet couldn’t have—how would she cope?

She placed her hand on her flat stomach. She was carrying Blake’s baby.

Panic gripped her, and she felt light-headed again. She had planned her life in the usual manner—marriage then children. It had never occurred to her that her life would not follow that pattern.

She wanted a doctor’s confirmation in addition to the pregnancy test.

With a sigh, she calmed down only slightly. Deep in her heart, she knew the test wasn’t mistaken. She was going to have Blake’s baby.