Page 2 of Falling for Sierra

Her smile turned blinding instead of the casually friendly it had been. “My name’s Sierra. Sierra Fulham. We’ve got an appointment to look at some properties tomorrow morning.”

So that was it. She was the realtor he was in town to meet. It made a little more sense now how she knew his name.

“I take it you don’t get a lot of out-of-towners looking to buy?”

“No, we do. Just not anyone as exacting about what they’re looking for, not at first and without a bit of coaching.”

“What do you mean?” Now he was intrigued. If people didn’t know what they were looking for, why would they start house shopping? She looked down at the notebook on the table, then back up.

“Your email was specific. You have certain things listed that are must-haves, others that you want but aren’t deal breakers, as well as a few things you don’t want at all. Very few people are that organized before they come to me. Usually, they have a budget and rough idea of what they want… three bedrooms, two baths, and a pool, or something like that.”

Blake frowned. He couldn’t imagine being ready to drop the money he would spend without having a decent idea of what he wanted, or what would fit his needs. He might have more money to spend than the average shopper, but he wasn’t interested in buying now only to find two or five or even ten years down the road he’d bought too quickly and needed to do it all over again. He wanted a place to raise the children he hoped to someday have, and he wanted it to be the right home.

“I’ve got several places lined up that meet your requirements.” She leaned to one side, opened the leather briefcase he hadn’t noticed in the seat beside her, and pulled out a thick file. “Would you like to see them now or wait until tomorrow?” She looked up at him, her pale blue eyes wide with anticipation.

“Let’s hold off until tomorrow. I came in here to relax a bit, unwind after the trip.” He nodded toward the notebook still open in front of her. “Were you working?”

She glanced down at the notebook and flushed. “Not really. I was just taking a few notes.” She tucked the file back into the briefcase and turned back to him.

Blake suspected there was more she wasn’t saying and instead of saying anything, he just watched her. One brow lifted. Sierra’s flush deepened.

Now he was intrigued. He wanted to know what she was up to, but he wouldn’t push. If she wasn’t ready to share, he wouldn’t force the issue.

The waitress appeared next to their table, and Blake placed his order.

“Do you have any Glenmorangie?”

“We do.”

“Then that’s what I want, neat.”

“Which one?”

“You have more than one?”

“We have original and Lasanta.”

“I’ll have the Lasanta, please.” He turned to Sierra. “Can I get you another?”

“I shouldn’t. We’re working together. I should buy your drink.”

“Non-sense. Tonight, we’re just Blake and Sierra. If you don’t want another, that’s fine, but if you do, let me get it for you.” He smiled as he waited for her answer.

After a moment, she nodded.

Blake turned back to the waitress. “And another of whatever she’s drinking.”

The waitress turned to Sierra. “A strawberry margarita?”

“Yes, please, Anna.” Sierra took a sip, draining the last of the frozen slurry from the bottom of the glass before setting it aside.

The waitress picked up the glass and walked away.

“I don’t mean this as the pickup line it’s going to sound like, but come here often?” Blake asked as he watched the woman seated across the table.

Sierra laughed. A loud, full belly laugh that touched something inside him. “I do, but that’s not how I know Anna. We went to school together.” She glanced around the room. “In fact, I know almost everyone here.”

Blake shook his head slowly, his eyes never leaving her as he remembered what it was like to know everyone. As a kid it had been the bane of his existence. He couldn’t do anything without word of it making it back to his parents before he did. Now, as an adult, the idea was more appealing.

---