Page 1 of The Reluctant Flirt

Prologue

“Shoes speak louder than words.” – Jimmy Choo

Eight years earlier…

Sierra Lourde reached up with trembling fingers and touched the delicate chain around her neck. The breath stuttered in her lungs, making it difficult to grab a deep inhale. With half closed eyes, she fought for control. This was the most important day of her life. She could not lose her shit.

The white wedding dress itched her skin. The veil tickled her nose. Her pearl-encrusted Jimmy Choo shoes—which she’d scored for fifty percent off—pinched her feet. And she felt moments away from doing the runaway bride thing.

Mom, am I making the right decision?

The desperate question pinged from her thoughts into the universe. Sierra waited for an answer. A sign. Anything to help her calm down, open the door, and walk down the aisle to the man she was supposed to desperately love.

After a few precious moments, her eyes flew wide open as her answer echoed in the small waiting room of the chapel.

Nothing.

What had she expected? Neither of her parents had given any type of sign they were still with her over the past year. All of those people who gushed about feeling energy and receiving signs were liars. Or even worse?

Mom and Dad didn’t care enough to stick around to watch over their daughters.

The pain flared, raw and messy, but as usual, she had stuff to deal with and little time for self-reflection. In a few minutes, she was set to marry Patrick. Her first serious boyfriend. Her first love.

He was a good man. They’d met in college, and he was easy to be with, easy to care for. Besides being kind, he was ambitious and would provide a good financial foundation. God knows, since there wasn’t much life insurance after her parents’ death, she needed a solid plan to keep taking care of her sister, Aspen. The bitterness mixed with her grief, offering a cocktail that didn’t taste like champagne.

Once, she’d been like Aspen, and believed her parents were living the ultimate love story. All of her friends dealt with divorce or conflict. They were jealous of her parents’ constant honeymoon phase, even if the physical affection was sometimes embarrassing. It was only later Sierra began to lose the rosy blinders and realize the cost of such an intense love was ranking second. Or third.

Mom and Dad always chose each other first.

Sierra and Aspen were often left alone. Her parents were on a lifelong adventure that didn’t seem to include their children. How many times had she woken up to find Mom and Dad packing to leave for a big outing, confident Sierra and Aspen could take care of themselves? How many times had they forgotten to leave groceries, or pay bills—too focused on their next big experience?

Sierra was in fifth grade the first time they decided she could handle a long weekend by herself. She’d tried so hard not to be a baby and cry; to be adult enough to take care of Aspen while her parents took a vacay. At night, she’d been terrified of the dark and the creepy noises coming from the basement, dreaming of monsters snatching them forever. When her parents called Sunday night to let her know they were delayed, Sierra dealt with breakfast, packing lunches, and making sure they made the bus for school.

Mom and Dad declared she’d done so well, they felt comfortable doing it again.

And now, those exact pursuits had caused their deaths. A last-minute island trip on a small single engine plane ended in disaster. The crash killed the pilot and her parents instantly. Once again, leaving Sierra alone and in charge.

She paced back and forth, her long train trailing behind her. This past year had been a blur and nonstop roller coaster ride. Endless nights crying with her sister and puzzling out their next steps. Struggling to make sure Aspen had what she needed to continue college. Packing up her parents’ belongings and quickly becoming the adult she needed to be.

When Patrick proposed everything had suddenly made sense. She’d have both stability and a way to keep Aspen in college. It was time to grow up and make some tough decisions for her life.

Who cared if she was suddenly having doubts about how much she loved him?

Sierra grew up knowing love was the most important thing to live for. Mom always advised to choose a partner who completed your heart and changed your life. She’d show them endless movies and cite books where love saved everyone in the end. Aspen had fallen into the dreamy goal, and was now embroiled in a relationship with her English professor. Sierra disapproved of the whole toxic affair, but Aspen insisted Mom would’ve understood.

Sierra may not feel the magical butterflies with Patrick, but it was a decision best made with her head rather than heart. After all, look what had happened to her parents. To Aspen. To anyone who sacrificed everything to go after a reckless longing of the heart.

Disaster.

Pain.

Death.

She’d be different.

Marrying Patrick would be the start.

The breath suddenly rushed into her lungs as she confirmed her decision. Sierra listened to the mocking silence. Her hand rose to her neck again, running her index finger across the smooth white gold surface, the slight bump of rubies spelling out the word LOVE.

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