Page 19 of Falling for Sierra

“A few minutes.” He lifted his glass and motioned to hers, which had been refilled without her even noticing.

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“I did, but you didn’t hear me.” He flicked a look at her earbuds. Sierra’s face heated at the thought of him watching her like that. “We weren’t exactly quiet either.” He glanced around the room, which was even louder than it had been when she’d put in her headphones. “Besides, I enjoyed a chance to see you doing what you love. And it was clear you love writing.”

Sierra glanced down at the notebook still open on the table, then back at him. “You think so? I mean I do love it, but I wouldn’t have said that it shows.”

A small smile curved Blake’s lips. “Sweetheart, you are sitting in a crowded bar, so lost in your writing that you don’t notice any of it. Not me coming in and joining you, not Anna bringing us both drinks. That kind of focus is rare and that alone shows how much you love it.”

“That’s sweet, thank you.” She had to look away. Something about the intense look in his eyes made her a touch uncomfortable, but the moment soon passed, and she turned back. “How was your trip?” She closed her notebook and tucked it into her bag, determined to focus on him now, and not the story she’d been lost in for the last two hours.

“Uneventful.” He shrugged and glanced around the room.

Sierra picked up her soda and took a sip. “What are you in the mood for tonight? Are you hungry? Did you eat? The food here’s not bad.”

“I’m good unless you want something.”

The rumble of her stomach reminded her she had intended to order dinner but had gotten caught up in her story and forgotten.

“I forgot to eat earlier, so I’d like to get something, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, what’s good?”

Sierra couldn’t help but smile as she realized he asked that everywhere they went. She flagged down Anna and asked for a couple menus, and after talking about it a few minutes they placed their orders.

“How was your week?” Blake asked once Anna had left again.

“Good. I only had a few showings and an open house, but I kept busy at the office with paperwork and phone calls.”

“And how was your writing?”

“Okay.” She lifted one shoulder and let it drop, not comfortable going into details about her story, at least not now. It was too fresh in her mind, too raw. She knew from experience she was too close to the story to want to share it yet. “I had a hard time getting started this evening, but I think you saw I got past that.” She gave him a lopsided smile hoping he wouldn’t notice her nervousness.

She hated showing anyone a project before it was done. And this one was nowhere near done, so she wouldn’t be sharing it with anyone soon. She could only hope he wouldn’t ask to see it because she didn’t know how he would take her telling him no.

“How was your week?” He had asked about hers, that made his fair game.

“Long. I couldn’t wait to finish what I had to get done so I could get back here.” Blake looked off into the distance as he paused.

She wasn’t sure if he was looking at something across the room or just staring at something neither could see while he seemed to think.

“I’m so tired of Denver and the rush to get everything done. I’m eager to get things set up here and move as much of my daily life here as I can. Ideally, I’d spend a few days a month in Denver and be able to do everything else from home.”

“What if we can’t find what you want here?”

Blake reached across the table and covered her hand with one of his, pulling it across the table so they met in the middle.

“I’m beginning to think I can have a home that isn’t exactly what I want, as long as it’s here. I could look somewhere else, but I can also take a place with good bones and a good foundation and add what I want.” Blake met her gaze. “I’m not sure I can find what I’ve found here somewhere else.”

“What is it you’ve found here?” She didn’t look away from his gaze, but wondered what he was thinking.

“Someone who haunts my every thought.” He squeezed her hand then pulled away to leave his hands folded on the table in front of himself. “I don’t think I spent a single hour in the last week that I didn’t think about you at least once.” Blake shook his head and stared at the window a moment before turning back to her. “You know, if I hadn’t had to keep telling myself to focus on the project at hand, I might have been able to come back two days ago.”

“You’re blaming your poor productivity on me?” Sierra couldn’t help the teasing smile that crossed her face.

“No, that’s all on me. But I might have been able to get more done, or like I said, get back here sooner, if I’d had better self-control.”

She watched him a moment, not sure how to respond. She’d tried to make it a joke about him blaming her and he hadn’t been doing that, but still.

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