D
inner was wonderful. Sierra even managed to forget how much she missed Blade and enjoyed her meal with Luke and Catherine. After dinner Sierra called Shane and asked him to bring the car around. The look of surprise on Luke’s face when he saw the Titanium Maserati coupe was priceless.
“It’s a perk,” Sierra told him before he asked as she slid inside.
“Nice,” Catherine said, getting into the front passenger’s seat.
“It is, isn’t it?” Sierra let down the window on the passenger’s side and spoke to Luke, still on the sidewalk: “We’re waiting.”
Slowly he got into the back. “This is Blade’s doing.” It wasn’t a compliment.
“The man knows how to build resorts and residences, and pamper clients and employees.”
“That he does.” Sierra glanced in the rearview mirror at her brother’s tight-lipped expression, then pulled away, hitting 50 MPH in two seconds. Catherine, who drove a Porsche, loved the stunning bodywork and luxurious interior as Sierra had expected. Just as she’d known Luke wouldn’t.
In the front seat, the women ignored his opinion that no one on the road should be driving a car that reached speeds of 200 MPH. He didn’t care how well it was engineered or that it switched from manual to automatic.
After their luggage was in the trunk, Sierra handed Catherine the key. “Why don’t you try her out?”
“I was hoping I could.” Catherine kissed Luke on his clenched jaw and got behind the wheel.
Luke, who couldn’t deny Catherine anything she wanted, swallowed and climbed back inside. Sierra enjoyed teasing him by suggesting Catherine consider buying herself one. She could keep her bottled water and lipstick in the refrigerated console.
Back at Sierra’s place, Catherine had taken Luke’s hand in hers and assured him that she’d never do anything that would cause him to worry about her. They’d said good night and, hand in hand, gone to the guest bedroom.
Sierra watched them go. Sadness swamped her. To be able to share that unique link with another person had to be the most incredible feeling in the world. Blade hadn’t even called her. Her arms wrapped around her waist, she slowly went to the master bedroom. The wide bed with the half canopy and plush silk headboard she sat against to read or work increased the feeling of loneliness.
She didn’t like missing a man, but there was nothing she could do about it.
S
ierra woke up early the next morning determined not to brood. She worked on another marketing plan and did paperwork until a little after eight, when she called Martin, thankfully not waking him up, and asked if he could prepare breakfast.
He loved cooking and was delighted. He turned stubborn on her and refused to serve them at her place. Well aware that her kitchen might have staples but nothing to prepare the caliber of food Martin was capable of, she reluctantly agreed. He assured her that he’d see them at the penthouse at nine.
Hanging up the phone, she took a long bath, then curled her hair. The curls wouldn’t stay long, but she needed a little lift. Her plan not to think about Blade wasn’t working very well. Finished, she dressed in a white wrap dress and slipped a chunky turquoise bracelet on her wrist and turquoise-colored sandals on her feet.
Finished, she left her bedroom to wait until Luke and Catherine woke up. In the great room she wanted to pace but made herself pick up the book she had been trying to read the night before Luke and Catherine’s arrival. Moments later, Sierra shut the book and got to her feet.
Men. Why do they have to make things so difficult? Would it hurt Blade to call me?
Sure, she could call him, but she somehow knew that he needed to be the one to reach out.
All of her brothers except Luke had some doubts when they were dating their future wives. Not that she could compare whatever it was between her and Blade with what her brothers and wives had, she quickly told herself. She was just thinking metaphorically. Men dithered and worried. Only Luke had never swayed from his belief, despite the odds, that he’d make Catherine his one day.
He had. When he wanted something there was no turning him around. In that, he and Sierra were most alike. She might be impulsive in some things, but in others she was methodical, weighing the odds, counting the costs.
The price for caring for Blade could be a very broken heart if she wasn’t careful. He cared for her, but was it enough to get past whatever put that look of torment on his face and stole his smile? Was she strong enough to risk the heartache if he couldn’t?
“What are you thinking?”
Sierra turned to see Luke, her protector for as long as she could remember. “That you and I are a lot alike.”
He walked to her. “You take chances; I don’t.”
She started to point out that he had taken the greatest chance of all, falling in love. Just then there was a knock at her door. She glanced at her watch. Eight forty-five. “We’re going upstairs for breakfast. It’s probably Jenkins coming to get us. Martin doesn’t like to be kept waiting to serve.”
“Who are they?” Luke asked.
“I’ll explain later.” Sierra opened the door. Her eyes widened. Happiness rolled through her.
Blade had thought of this moment almost every hour while he was gone. He’d never missed a woman, missed anything, as much as he’d missed Sierra. The chopper had barely settled on the roof before he was out. He’d taken the stairs two at a time when the elevator didn’t open immediately.
She had never looked more beautiful, with her hair curling softly around her face. He was going to enjoy mussing it up. His hungry arms reached for her. With a small gasp she stepped back.
His brow furrowed; then he followed her frantic gaze over her shoulder to the tall, imposing man standing several feet behind her. Rage hit Blade. While he was thinking of her, barely able to work, she had been with another man! He’d even left Shane to protect her, Martin to cook for her.
The right thing to do was leave before she saw how much she had hurt him.
No, that wasn’t the right word,
he thought as his fists clenched. Disappointed him. Yet somehow he couldn’t get his feet to move. He wanted too badly to rip the man’s face off.
“Good morning. You must be Blade Navarone.”
Blade pulled his gaze from the man and saw a striking woman. She wore a welcoming smile, elegance, and a silk couture suit.
“I’m Catherine Grayson.” She curved her arm lovingly around the man. “Have you met Luke, Sierra’s brother?”
Brother
. Blade’s sharp gaze went to the man again. Tall, handsome, challenging.
“Blade,” said a voice from behind him that he recognized as Shane’s. “I see you’ve met Sierra’s brother and his wife. Martin sent me up to tell you that breakfast is waiting for all of you on the terrace.”
No one sent Shane anywhere unless he wanted to go. He was trying to keep Blade from jumping to the wrong conclusion. Too late. Blade knew he’d made a complete ass of himself.
“Why did you give Sierra such a dangerous car?” Luke asked.
“He didn’t give it to me, Luke,” Sierra said, trying to smile, but it kept slipping. “It’s a perk.”
“I’m asking Blade,” Luke told his sister.
Blade didn’t need Shane’s nudge in his back to know that if he didn’t work through his embarrassment, Sierra’s big brother, whom she adored, would think Blade was an idiot. “The car is an extension of Navarone Place, luxurious, elegant, a bit elitist.”
“So are several other cars that don’t reach two hundred MPH,” Luke pointed out.
“But they don’t run on a flat, have safety features like collapsible steering wheels and breakaway engine mounts, nor can they stop on a dime and give you change,” Blade said, finally finding his footing. “All of which, after riding with Sierra, I know she needs.”
“I drive just fine,” Sierra said, her lips curving into a pout.
“You let her drive that car without seeing her drive first?” Luke asked incredulously.
“She’s one of the most competent, responsible people I’ve ever met.” Blade’s brow furrowed when he looked at Sierra, sensually beautiful. “I never guessed she was a speed demon.”
“I am not,” Sierra said, but there was no heat in her voice. He realized she was trying to help him. He needed all the aid he could get.
“And after you found out?” Luke asked.
“I’d already offered her the car. I’m sure you know how impossible it is to talk your sister out of something she wants,” Blade told him.
“Granted. But if I really thought she was at risk, I wouldn’t give her a choice,” Luke came back.
Blade knew they had moved past talking about the car. He was being given fair warning. “The car is fast, but it’s safe or I wouldn’t have offered it in the first place. Her well-being comes first.”
Luke studied Blade for a long time, then did the unexpected. He extended his hand. “Luke Grayson.”
“Blade Navarone.” The handshake was firm, the black eyes direct. He was being given a pass for the time being. But if Blade hurt Sierra, he might be the one getting his face ripped off.
S
eeing Blade and Luke shake hands, Sierra breathed a little easier. She’d seen Luke in his “big brother” mode and it wasn’t a pretty sight. He had a low boiling point … unless it involved his family—then watch out.
Blade was still being watched and weighed, but at least Luke was willing to give him a chance. Sierra looped her arm through Luke’s, telling him without words that she thanked him.
She was independent enough not to need her family’s approval of the man she dated, but she wanted it. “I think we’d better go to breakfast before Martin dumps everything out.”
“I’m starved. Let’s go.” Catherine crossed to Blade and took his arm. “Mr. Navarone, this place is fabulous, but I understand all of your properties are.”
“Thank you. Please call me Blade. If you ever wish to stay at any of them as my guest, please let me know.” As if an afterthought he glanced back over his shoulder as he started down the hall. “You, too, Grayson.”
Luke grunted. Catherine laughed softly. Sierra’s lips twitched. She’d call Catherine later and thank her for helping smooth things and for her willingness to give Blade a chance. Sierra had the best sisters-in-law in the world.
As for Blade, he might have been thrown when he’d initially seen Luke, but he’d recovered nicely. She’d take him to task later for thinking she was fooling around with another man.
B
lade had barely inserted the key when Jenkins opened the door with a greeting before showing them directly to the terrace. Martin, muttering under his breath, served them the moment they were seated.
“I see what you mean,” Luke said to Sierra, then blessed the food.
“Wait until you taste the food.” Sierra leaned over to her brother, who sat to her right at the small rectangular table. “He and Brandon are both excellent chefs.”
“You’ve eaten a lot of meals here?” Luke added butter to his grits, placed a fluffy cheese biscuit on his plate, then cut into the thick slice of honey-cured ham.
Sierra took a bite of fluffy scrambled eggs before answering. Luke might appear casual, but she knew better. “If you had a choice between cooking, going out to a restaurant which may or may not be consistent, or eating food like this, which would you choose?”
“Martin.” Catherine bit into her crisp bacon.
Luke tasted his food before answering. “The man can cook.”
Sierra laughed. “Exactly. Martin even brings me lunch. I couldn’t ask for better.”
Luke looked at Blade. “I hope it stays that way.”
“There’s no reason for it to change.” Blade set his coffee cup down. He turned to Sierra. “My staff and I will do everything to ensure her tenure here is one she won’t forget.”
“You already have,” she answered, the words slipping from her before she had a chance to guard them.
“With your elegant residence, a luxury sports car, and a five-star chef at your disposal, I can see why,” Catherine said.
Sierra threw her sister-in-law a grateful smile for helping her out once again. She knew Luke had seen the wistful look she’d given Blade, heard it in her voice. She just prayed he hadn’t seen the longing, too.
“
S
tay safe and try to keep to the speed limits,” Luke told Sierra, giving her one last hug before getting in the waiting limo. Catherine was already inside.
“I will.” Sierra felt a knot in her throat as she waved and watched the car pull away. Blade had put his driver and car at their disposal. He’d squashed their objections by pointing out that they might have a difficult time getting a cab after the seminar. The streets around the university were narrow and heavily congested.