Only You (7 page)

Read Only You Online

Authors: Francis Ray

Tags: #Romance, #Erotica, #African American, #Contemporary, #Fiction

BOOK: Only You
10.88Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
Before Luke could answer, his door opened again. Brandon and Pierce stalked across the room.
“What are we up against?” Brandon asked.
“How can we protect her?” Pierce wanted to know.
As usual and fitting, they looked to Luke for leadership and answers. This time he wasn’t sure they were going to like what he had to say. “I’d rather say this once.”
As one they all turned to the door and waited. In less than two minutes there came a knock at the door.
“Come in, Mama.”
Ruth Grayson wasn’t any more surprised to see her sons than they were to see her. She took the seat Morgan held for her because it was expected and because none of them would sit until she did. “Luke?” Ruth questioned.
After the death of their father, Luke had become the one his mother looked to. He never wanted to let her or his family down. He was well aware that as each of her sons had married, she had let them and their brides have their space … until now.
“Daniel confirmed what Faith said. Women chase Blade, not the other way around,” Luke said, but somehow those words didn’t make him feel any better.
“So why pick on Sierra?” Brandon wanted to know.
“She’s out of pigtails,” Luke said with a wry twist of his mouth.
“Your sister is beautiful, intelligent, resilient, and resourceful,” Ruth Grayson told her middle child. “She is coveted by many, but only one man will match her fire and spirit.”
“Mama, if you have
the
man for Sierra, it would be a good time for him to make his appearance.” Luke rounded the desk and hunkered down to her. “Sierra sometimes acts before she thinks.”
For a moment, just a moment, fear flashed in his mother’s dark eyes; then it was gone, replaced by the lioness fierceness all of her children were familiar with. “If he causes her any pain, he will regret it.”
Luke squeezed Ruth’s hands. There was no need for further words. Sierra would have her chance, but all of them would be watching, waiting. If Blade hurt her, he’d regret it until the moment he died. They’d make sure of it.
 
F
rom the second-floor terrace of the Navarone Place sales and information center, Blade waited for Sierra to emerge from the car that had just pulled up in front of the W hotel next door. First her long, shapely legs emerged, then her incredible upper body. She looked breathtaking in a magenta-colored suit with a straight short skirt.
He remembered her smile, the punch it sent to his mid-section. That hadn’t changed. He hadn’t really expected it to, but he had wondered.
As soon as she straightened, John Perry was there to greet her, his trusty administrative assistant, Delores, by his side, ready to take any requests their latest arrival might have. There had been a car for the other invitees as well, but Delores had met them at the W alone.
Sierra’s long, straight hair whipped around her shoulders. With a practiced sweep of her hand she smoothed the swirling black mass around her head, letting it fall over her left shoulder. Blade’s hand clenched. He recalled the silky texture, the urge to bury his face in it, then later staring at the diamond comb she’d left. He’d been as reluctant to sever all connection and send the comb back as he had been to send its owner away.
He’d thought he’d forget her in time. Instead she had occupied his thoughts more with each passing day. He usually didn’t make mistakes and only mildly considered that he might be making another one by ensuring that they’d meet again.
He almost smiled as he noted the amount of luggage being unloaded. There were three pieces of monogrammed multicolored Louis Vuitton suitcases. The invitation was for a week. Apparently, his information was correct; Sierra loved to shop. Besides her close-knit family, her only indulgences and passions were clothes and their accessories.
Blade planned on adding another passion. Himself. He’d build on the attraction that had leaped between them the second they met, the kiss that seared both of them that night on the beach. His body tightened with sexual hunger.
He hoped it was quick.
He had never missed or wanted a woman as much as he missed and wanted Sierra. His love for his wife, Mary, had been that of a young man, almost worshipful. He didn’t understand what he felt for Sierra, but it wasn’t love. After losing Mary he’d promised himself that he would never love another woman, but he wanted Sierra with a growing fierceness that couldn’t be denied.
He’d tried.
When he finally accepted it wasn’t going to happen, he’d given her name to John Perry and left it up to fate, or so he had told himself. Watching John escort Sierra inside the W hotel, Blade knew it wasn’t. He didn’t stand over his employees in management, but all of them would follow through on any suggestion he made.
During the time he and Sierra had spent apart, he had personally looked into her background. He hadn’t wanted Shane or any of his men doing it. By then Blade had accepted he was possessive where Sierra was concerned, a first with a woman. He hadn’t liked snooping, but it had been for her safety.
He had to know, if he decided to follow through with taking her, that she could stand the pressure. She could. Besides being the cousin of his rival-turned-friend, Daniel Falcon, she was her own woman.
Soon she would be
his
woman.
 
 
“
I
hope you’ll find this suite satisfactory,” John said, stopping just inside the lavish suite on the top floor of the hotel. Luxury surrounded her. On the table was a huge bouquet of cut flowers dominated by pink and yellow roses. A huge fruit basket crammed with goodies sat on the black lacquered table in front of the low-slung sofa. A bottle of sparkling cider and a bottle of water were in separate silver wine buckets.
“It goes without saying to please feel free to partake of anything from the minibar,” Delores said. “If there is anything that you might like added, my card is by the phone on the desk.”
Sierra had pulled out all the stops for clients in the past and recognized when it was being done. Behind the smiles, John and his secretary wore, they were nervous. There could only be one reason.
Blade
.
“I can’t think of a single thing that would have made my trip more pleasurable or add to this suite.” She glanced around the room. “Navarone Resorts and Spas certainly knows how to pamper prospective employees.”
“We want you to be comfortable.”
If Sierra hadn’t been watching John, she might have missed the almost imperceptible flicker of his lashes when he spoke. Something wasn’t right. “Is everyone else on this floor?”
“Unfortunately, there was a mix-up with reservations,” Delores hastened to explain, the smile on her attractive face a bit thin. “We’re all two floors down.”
If Blade had been there, Sierra would have strangled him. He couldn’t have made it any clearer that he wanted her separated if—no,
when
he made his move. “Is that right?” Sierra didn’t even try to keep the annoyance out of her voice. “Perhaps a room can be found for me on that floor.”
John looked at Delores with something akin to panic in his face. His secretary didn’t let him down. “Before you make that decision, Sierra, why don’t I show you the rest of your suite?”
Sierra followed out of courtesy, but moments after seeing the queen-size bed framed in black, the spacious black marble bath with a seven-foot Roman tub, a separate glass-enclosed shower, acres of glass with makeup mirrors, her resolve to move weakened.
“I just happen to have a picture of the rooms the others are staying in.” Delores pulled several snapshots from the pocket of her St. John’s jacket. “They’re nice, but one room, and nothing of this caliber.”
Sierra glanced around the two-room suite with a balcony and a small table and green topiaries, then back at the photos. She loved elegance, space. Both of which she had here.
“Why don’t you sleep on it and, if you’re so inclined to move in the morning, I’ll see if a room on our floor is available?” Delores told her, but the knowing twinkle in her eyes said she didn’t think Sierra would want to move.
Sierra smiled, then laughed. She’d berate Blade later. “John, has anyone ever told you what an intuitive administrative assistant you have?”
“Several times,” he admitted with a relieved smile.
“We’ll let you rest and unpack.” Delores went to the door. John happily followed. “We’re taking all of you out to Al Biernet’s for dinner. They serve incredible steaks and seafood. We’ll meet in the lobby at seven.”
Sierra was tempted to ask if Blade would be there, then discarded the idea. Whether he showed up later would be anybody’s guess. He was as unpredictable as the wind, and as elusive. Besides, she was not the type of woman to chase after a man. This trip was business. “I’ll see you then. Good-bye.”
“Good-bye.”
As soon as the door closed, Sierra went to the phone. She’d called her mother on the drive in from the airport. Not surprisingly, her entire family had come to the airport in Albuquerque to see her off. There had been no further mention of Blade since the day she’d received the invitation, but the fierce hugs and admonishments told her they still worried.
“Manhunters.”
Smiling at the sound of Luke’s voice, Sierra climbed up on the high, plush bed. “I’m here, safe and sound in a wonderful suite.”
“Mama called earlier.”
“I know; I just wanted to tell you not to worry. I know what I’m doing.” They all took their cue from Luke.
“Can’t. It’s written someplace in the big brothers’ handbook,” he told her. “I wish you were here, but I understand you have to do this. Despite everything, we’re all pulling for you.”
No matter what, family stuck together. A lump formed in her throat. “Thank you.”
“You met your competition yet?”
“We’re all going out to eat at seven. I’ll meet everyone then.”
“Including Blade?”
Her hand clenched on the phone. “I’m not sure.”
“If not tonight, he’ll show up eventually, and when he does, if he gets out of line, remember the left hook I taught you.”
“I can handle myself,” Sierra insisted.
“With any man except Blade Navarone I might agree. He’s gone to a lot of trouble to get you where he is. I might admire his tenacity if the woman he was after wasn’t my little sister.”
Sierra moistened her lips. “Blade might pull certain strings, but he won’t leave me without a choice.”
“What if your choice is the one he wants to hear?”
There was a long silence. She always knew her big brother was smart. Could she be just as smart? “Then I’ll call my big brother to come get me.”
“And I’ll be there.”
She didn’t have a doubt. “I’d better get dressed. Tell the others I’ll call when I get back tonight. We can do a conference call.”
“Will do. Now go and do what you do best. Charm the socks off the competition.”
 
 
A
l Biernat’s was a wonderful restaurant with flagstone flooring, aged beams, an impressive wine list, delicious food, and superb service. Two of the realtors, a man and a woman, were from San Francisco. Another man was from Palm Springs. The fourth realtor was a woman from Tucson. Sierra was the youngest and the least experienced.
All of the other brokers had been in the business at least fifteen years and had sold multiple properties listing for over $5 million. Although all were cordial, they all wanted to grab the job of being the exclusive broker for Navarone Place. Sierra had expected the competition to be tough. Blade might give her a chance, but she had to prove herself.
By the time she arrived back at her hotel, she planned to do just that. She was so involved in her plan that she hadn’t thought about what the other realtors would think when she didn’t get off on their floor.
“Sierra, this is our floor.” Mel was in his mid-forties, handsome, trim, and suntanned from Palm Springs. He was also a bit of a flirt.
“There was a mix-up and Sierra is on another floor,” Delores put in smoothly. “We’ll meet in the morning at nine in the lobby and then go to the sales office of Navarone Place. Good night, Sierra.”
“Good night.” The door closed on Mel’s speculative expression. Sierra simply smiled and waved.
Perhaps it was a good thing Blade hadn’t attended the dinner. She didn’t want any doubt that she had won fairly. She might be the youngest, but she was also the hungriest.
In her room, she called her family, then afterwards spent the next hour going through her client list. As soon as she saw the models, she planned on making phone calls and e-mailing photos of what she was sure would be magnificent. If humanly possible, she was going to win.
 
 
T
he four model estates, ranging from twenty-two hundred square feet, two bedrooms, to over eight hundred square feet, two bedrooms, to over eight thousand square feet, four bedrooms, were spectacular. Instead of the usual 3-D models, they had the real thing to immerse themselves in. Prospective residents had multiple choices to make their home in the high-rise their own, including finish-out packages grouped under Classic, French, Modern, and Retro.
Standing in the sales office with the other realtors, Sierra couldn’t wait to start.
“In the leather-bound folder each of you hold are the specs, amenities, everything you need to sell these luxury estates.” John looked at each of them. “As you noted, construction is continuing on the upper floors, but the scaled models in front of you will allow the prospective buyer to be able to see the exact location of each property.
“This sales area will be available to you from nine to five daily. The person with the most contracts signed with cleared checks as of five P.M. Friday is the winner. In case of a tie, the person with the first sale afterwards will be declared the winner.” He glanced at his watch.
“I will be available to you until twelve P.M., when my assistant and I will return to Tucson. It is important that you be self-motivating and able to work independently. Any questions?”
Sierra hadn’t expected there to be any after John’s statement about independence. No one said a word.
“Well. We’ll meet at seven o’clock Friday night at the Stark, a private dining room in the W, to announce the winner. Good luck to each of you.”
The other applicants piled out of the room; Sierra took her digital top-of-the-line camera and began taking pictures of the scale models. She quickly covered all the angles. She had squatted to take a picture of the terrace floor that was open to all the residents when her skin prickled. Slowly she straightened, turning as she did so, knowing she’d see Blade.
She viewed him through the lens, larger than life, bold, daring. Gorgeous, from the jet-black hair tied away from his face to the expensive Italian loafers on his feet. She took the shot, then lowered the camera.

Other books

The Darkest Prison by Gena Showalter
A Dirty Job (Grim Reaper #1) by Christopher Moore
The Random Gentleman by Elizabeth Chater
Back To You by Mastorakos, Jessica
Scholar of Decay by Tanya Huff
Sweetness by Pearlman, Jeff