Nodding my head, I whispered, “She does.”
Placing his hand on my shoulder, my father gave it a slight squeeze. “Aaron, look at me.”
Turning, I looked at him. “That girl needs someone to love her. Someone who is going to pour their heart and soul into her. I knew the moment she sat down in my office she was lost. She also reminded me of your mother. A fighter. You can see it in her eyes. Feel it in her spunkiness.”
Smiling, I nodded. “She is a fighter. I just want her to be happy, Dad. I want to take that asshole husband of hers down.”
My father smiled. “I know you do, but Aaron, there is something I need you to do for me.”
“Of course, Dad.”
“Aaron, you need to listen to your heart. I’m pretty damn sure you’re feeling things you’ve never felt before. You need to open your eyes and see what everyone else around you sees.”
Pulling my head back, I asked, “What do you mean?”
Glancing back over to Sierra, my father said, “I’ve never seen you look at anyone like you do Sierra, Aaron.” Turning back to me, my father looked me in my eyes and winked. “It’s time to open your eyes, son.”
Swallowing hard, I shook my head. “The case.”
Standing up, my father winked at me. “Is in three days, and we are in Port Aransas. I’ve had Chip watching Sierra since she’s been here. No one is following her.”
Turning, my father started to walk off before he stopped and looked back at me. “By the way, the guest house is empty.”
Widening my eyes, I watched as my father let out a chuckle and walked over to my mother. Leaning into her, he whispered into my mother’s ear. Her eyes looked over to me and she smiled.
Jesus. Did everyone know how I felt about Sierra?
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Em walking up. Stopping in front of me, she smiled. “I think you should ask Sierra to dance.”
Raising an eyebrow, I shook my head. “You told Dad didn’t you?”
Giving me a smirk, Em reached her hands out for me. Taking them, I stood up and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, Em.”
Blushing, Em nodded her head. “That’s what sisters are for.”
Searching for Sierra, I noticed she was slowly backing away from the asshole lawyer who was now trying to back her into a corner.
Smiling, I headed over to the DJ. It was time for me to not only open up my eyes, but Sierra’s as well.
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.”
&n
bsp; 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.”