“I don’t know about being a couple, Sierra. Everyone there was connected, and they all looked happy about it. But…”
“But you don’t know if you can do that,” she finished quietly.
“I want to be what you need,” he said. “I’m trying to. But I don’t know if I can open up as much as you want me to.”
She shifted in the seat, and her face was pale in the darkness. “That’s honest,” she said quietly. “We can go slowly.”
Nick took her hand, and her fingers curled around his. Something inside him loosened. “Okay. Slow is good,” he said.
Neither of them spoke as they drove into town. He parked at the curb in front of her apartment and helped her out. “I have to go back to Chicago for the weekend,” he said. “Some of my current projects need attention. Are you going to be all right for a couple of days?”
“I’ll be fine,” she said. Her shoulders seemed to relax. “I know you can’t spend all your time up here. You have a business to run.” She absently rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb. “I have a lot to do at the work site, anyway. I’m determined to figure out who is behind our problems.”
“Don’t take any stupid chances,” he said, tightening his grip on her hand. “Promise me.”
“I won’t do anything stupid,” she assured him. “I’m going to call some of the carpenters’ references and talk to Vern at the lumberyard. That’s all.”
Her face was pale in the moonlight, and her hair curled around her face. He wanted to tangle his hands in those curls and kiss her. To pull her against him and spend a long time tasting her. “I don’t want to leave,” he murmured.
“You have responsibilities in Chicago,” she said. “I understand that.”
He’d meant he didn’t want to leave her tonight. But apparently Sierra wasn’t ready for that.
Maybe he wasn’t, either. Maybe he needed to figure out what he wanted before they took that step. “I’ll see you on Monday,” he said.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
NICK DROVE A LITTLE TOO fast down the dirt road leading to the work site, wincing when he couldn’t avoid one of the ruts. Since he was going to spend more time here, he was already researching different vehicles. The sleek sports car was fun in the city, but not very practical here in the country.
His chest muscles relaxed when he spotted lights inside the trailer and Sierra’s SUV parked next to it. When he’d stopped by her apartment and she hadn’t answered the buzzer, he’d figured she was out here. But he couldn’t banish the worry that crept in. It was barely sunrise. She should still be sleeping.
Parking beside her car, he grabbed the plastic bag from the seat next to him and hurried up the steps. Before he reached the top, she opened the door.
“Nick!” She stepped aside so he could enter the trailer. “What are you doing here?” There were dark circles beneath her eyes and she hadn’t braided her hair.
He wanted to sweep her into his arms, but he shrugged and said, “This is where I work.”
Her face a careful mask, she closed the door and leaned against it. “When did you get back in town? Last night?”
She sounded disappointed, as if she’d been waiting for him, and he took a step closer. Then stopped. “Just now,” he said.
“You drove here overnight and you came right to work? You must be exhausted.”
He drew a deep breath. Over the long weekend, he’d understood he needed to be more open with Sierra. “I had a nap in a rest area. I’m tired, but I wanted to see how you were doing. When you weren’t at your apartment, I figured you must be out here.”
“I’m fine. I’m here because there’s a lot to do and I wasn’t sleeping well.” Her hands trembled, and she laced them together. Was it from lack of sleep, or was she nervous?
“I thought about you over the weekend, Sierra,” he said, holding her gaze. “I got something for you.”
Nick watched, fascinated, as color washed Sierra’s face. Her eyelids were slumberous and her hair was a wild mass down her back, although it was obvious she’d tried to tame it.
He picked up the bag he’d dropped on the floor, and handed it to her. “See how these work for you.”
She opened the sack and pulled out a shoe box. Giving him a puzzled look, she removed the lid. As she lifted out the high-tech, lightweight boots, he suddenly felt stupid. He’d gotten boots for a pregnant woman who was probably already self-conscious about her looks. What kind of dumb-ass gift was that?
As she examined them, turned them in her hands, hefted them to test their weight, her eyes filled with tears. He shoved his hands into his pockets, wishing he could snatch them back and erase them from her memory.
“You got me new boots.” Her voice was soft with wonder, and her eyes swam as she looked up at him. “The right size. They’re so light. And easy to put on.” She sniffled. “This is the best present anyone’s ever given me.”
“You’ve gotten some pretty lame gifts, then,” he muttered.
She dropped the boots and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You thought about what I needed,” she said, her voice fierce. “You figured out what would work. You went out of your way to find them.” She reached up and cupped his face. “Thank you, Nick.”
“You’re welcome.” Heat crept up his cheeks. “It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s a very big deal.” She let him go and sat in her chair to put the boots on. When she stood, she rocked back and forth a few times, then walked around the trailer.
She stopped in front of him, grinning. “They’re perfect. They feel so good—like I don’t even have to break them in. And so light. Thank you.”
He watched her admire the boots. “Now I guess I won’t have any excuse to help you take them off.”
She lifted her head to meet his gaze. “I loved watching you undo my boots,” she said in a low voice. “And your foot massage. I loved that, too.”
“Yeah? Then I guess I’m good for something.” Neither of them looked away. In the silence, he heard waves crashing onto the beach. Birds sang in the trees surrounding the lot. His heart beat heavily in his chest.
Deep in the whiskey-colored depths of her eyes, hunger stirred. He watched it, fascinated, as his own hunger leaped to life. Hunger that was always there, humming below the surface.
SIERRA CURLED HER TOES in her new boots as she watched Nick. She’d thought about him all weekend. Wished she’d kissed him before he left. Wished they’d done more than kiss.
Nothing was decided. Nick wasn’t sure if he could be what she needed, and neither was she. But he’d brought her boots. She wanted him. And he wanted her.
“Sierra,” he murmured. His mouth touched hers tentatively, as if afraid she’d back away.
If she had a brain in her head, she would. But she leaned against him, deepening the kiss. His arms came around her immediately, pulling her snug against him, and she twined hers around his neck. His hair was as soft as she imagined it would be, and he groaned when she tunneled her fingers through it.
He slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her harder, and she opened for him. He savored her, stroking his tongue over hers as if memorizing her flavor, learning every inch of her mouth.
He caressed her as they kissed, his fingers roaming from her shoulder to her hip. His hands trembled as he skimmed the sides of her breasts.
When she shuddered against him, he cupped her breast, and her nipple hardened against his palm. His kiss deepened and tasted of desperation. Need. Urgency.
She yanked his shirt from the waistband of his jeans and slid her hands beneath it. His skin was hot over his tense muscles, and soft hair slid through her fingers as she touched his nipples. Satisfaction surged through her when she felt them harden.
With an inarticulate cry, he burrowed beneath her sweater and made an impatient noise when he found her T-shirt. Moments later, his hands were on her skin. His callused fingertips scraped over her, making her shiver. When he cupped her breasts, she
moaned into his mouth and sat heavily on the desk, her legs trembling too much to support her.
“Sierra,” he whispered as he pushed her sweater and T-shirt up to her neck. Before she had a chance to become self-conscious about her ugly maternity jeans, he’d opened her bra and taken her breasts in his hands.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured as he caressed her. He touched her nipple, and she sucked in a breath and flinched.
He froze. “Did I hurt you?”
“No,” she managed to say. “They’re very sensitive.”
“Okay.” He fumbled at her back and rehooked her bra, then smoothed her shirt and sweater down as she opened her eyes.
“Nick.” She trapped his hands against her. “I didn’t mean I wanted you to stop. I wanted you to…” She felt her cheeks redden. “I meant it felt good. More intense. More arousing.” She swallowed, desire still an aching need inside her. “Touch me again. Please.”
He put his hands over her once more and kissed her deeply. His thumbs brushed her, and even through her sweater it made her cry out. “Nick! Please!”
His hands tightened, then he pulled her against him. His erection strained against her belly, and his palms roamed over her back. He kissed her again, then eased her away.
“You’re killing me, Sierra,” he muttered, his forehead against hers. “I want to peel off your clothes and kiss every inch of you. I want to watch you as I touch your sensitive breasts.
“But I’m not going to make love to you on top of a desk. In a construction trailer.” He let her go slowly, each finger sliding away individually. His smile was shaky. “At least not the first few dozen times.”
“And after that?” she managed to say.
“All bets are off.”
The baby moved, and she smoothed her hand over her belly. They wouldn’t be making love on a desk anytime soon.
A truck door slammed outside the trailer. They had company. Nick straightened her sweater, tucked his shirt into his jeans and smoothed her hair. “Tonight,” he whispered, “we’ll go on a date. All right?”
He wanted to take her on a date. Warmth bloomed in Sierra’s chest, and she nodded. Then, as footsteps started up the stairs, she slid into her desk chair and turned blindly to her computer. Nick picked up the shoe box and put her old boots inside, then shoved them beneath his desk. “I’m going to get some sleep,” he said, smoothing a hand down her hair. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”
“Okay,” she said, her heart still racing.
Mark opened the door, and Nick nodded. “Just got back from Chicago and checking in,” he said. “I’ll see you later.”
Nick’s car rumbled to life, the sound fading as he drove off. When it was quiet again, the contractor said, “You guys got here early.”
“I was here before six. Nick showed up a few minutes ago.” Long enough to leave her breathless and wanting.
Mark looked over her shoulder at the schedules she had on her desk and the notes from her conversations with the workers’ references. “You make any progress with that?”
“I think so. There are two carpenters I’m focusing on. And a few guys from the lumberyard.”
“Who are the carpenters?”
She took a deep breath. “I’d rather not say. You work with these guys all the time. I don’t want to make any unfounded accusations.”
He held her gaze for a moment, then nodded. There was a shadow in his eyes as he looked away. Did he suspect, too?
SHE WATCHED THE CARPENTERS all morning, wondering if she was right. A delivery of plywood for the outside walls of the house was due this afternoon, and she was going to pay attention to who signed for it. And who delivered it.
She was on hold with the company supplying their shingles when she heard Nick’s car. She swiveled in her chair and smiled as he walked in. He stopped in the doorway, then closed the door behind him and kissed her.
Before she could sink into the kiss, he moved to his desk and dropped his briefcase. “I’m on hold with the shingle people,” she said.
“Problem?”
“I hope not. They’re getting cold feet about letting us have the solar ones. They’re still experimental, the regional sales manager says, and claims they don’t have enough stock.”
“Is that Rich Salazar?”
“Yes. We’ve already sent him a deposit, and now he’s trying to back out.”
“I know him. Want me to talk to him?”
“I can handle it.”
Nick’s expression froze for a moment. “Okay. Let me know if you need help.”
Accepting help from him wasn’t admitting weakness. He knew a lot of people in the business. If he could convince that weasel Salazar to give her the shingles, she should let him. “Nick, I’m…”
She heard a truck rumbling down the road, and she held the phone to her ear as she watched it arrive. It was the plywood. And one of her two suspects hurried over to accept the delivery even before the truck stopped.
Almost as if Kyle had been waiting for the guy.
Sierra glanced at Mark, sorry about what was going to happen next. She’d noticed a little tension between the two men, but Mark looked out for his brother. He was going to be devastated.
Kyle signed the invoice, then glanced around. Before he handed the clipboard back to the driver, he pulled what looked like a wad of cash from beneath the clip and shoved it into his pocket.
Sierra memorized the driver’s face and scribbled down the truck number, then dropped the phone on her desk and watched Kyle stroll back to the framed-out house, swinging his hammer back and forth. As the truck pulled away, Sierra ran out of the trailer.
“Kyle, I need to speak with you, please,” she called as she walked toward him.
He froze, then glanced over his shoulder. He must have seen the suspicion on her face, because he dropped the hammer and raced toward the trees at the back of the property.
She ran after him. “Kyle, stop. I just want to talk to you.”
He ran faster, and she followed him into the grove. He glanced back as he crashed through the undergrowth, but kept going.
As she followed him, her toe hit something solid and she stumbled forward. She grabbed for a handhold, but her fingers slid off the slippery bark of a birch tree, and she went down hard—her belly hitting a piece of concrete. Pain, fierce and terrifying, shot through her. As she rolled to the side, her hands already reaching for her abdomen, she barely noticed the other pain in her thigh.
“SIERRA?” NICK CALLED as she dropped the phone on her desk and flew out the door. As he followed her out, he saw the delivery truck pulling away and one of the carpenters fleeing into the woods. Sierra was running full speed after him.
“Damn it, Sierra, wait a minute,” he called. But she either didn’t hear him or didn’t intend to stop, because she kept going. As she disappeared into the stand of birch and maple trees, he took off after her.
When he reached the grove, he heard a rustling sound, but didn’t see her or the carpenter. “Where are you?” he called.
“Nick?” She sounded weak, as if she was out of breath. “I’m over here. In the trees.”
He hurried toward the sound of her voice and saw her lying propped against a tree, her hands on her stomach. He began to run.
Her eyes were closed and she was drawing in deep breaths. He crouched beside her. “What happened? Did he hurt you? Are you okay?”
She opened her eyes, and her fear made his own gut clench. “Tripped on a chunk of concrete.” Her booted foot nudged at a solid mass hidden by some ferns. “This stuff wasn’t here a few days ago. Someone must have dumped it.”
She sucked in a breath and grabbed his sleeve. “I landed on my belly, and it hurts,” she panted. “Oh, God, Nick. It hurts.”
“Is the baby all right?”
“I don’t know.”
He lifted her shirt and saw a dark line of bruises already forming below her navel. He put his hand there, not sure what he would feel. “What?”
she said. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re bruised.” He lowered her shirt. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”
As he lifted her off the ground, he saw the gash in her leg. Blood poured out of it, saturating the dead leaves next to her. “Oh my God.”
Setting her down again, he yanked his belt out of the loops on his jeans and slid it around her thigh, pulling it tight.
“You cut your leg, too.”
Blood continued to seep sluggishly out of the cut in her jeans, even with the tourniquet. Dread rolled through him. “What the hell were you thinking, Sierra?” He picked her up and headed for his car. “Why were you running after that kid?”
“I… I didn’t think,” she said. “I saw the driver give Kyle money, and went outside to confront him.”
“I was right there, Sierra. So was Cameron. You didn’t think to ask us for help?”
“Why are you yelling at me?” She gripped the collar of his sweater behind his neck. “I made a mistake.” Her voice caught. “And I haven’t felt the baby move since I hit the concrete.”
Nick’s anger vanished, replaced by terror. “He doesn’t move all the time, does he? He’s probably okay.” He eased her belly closer to his chest as he half walked, half ran toward his car. “Women must fall when they’re pregnant.” Not onto a sharp piece of concrete. “Your body is engineered for that.”
She clutched him more tightly. “You’re such an architect.” He heard tears in her voice.
He ran faster for his car as Mark hurried down the stairs. “What happened?”
“She was chasing the guy who’s been stealing from us and she fell. It was your brother.” Nick opened the sports car and slid her inside. “I’m taking her to the hospital.”
As soon as he got in the vehicle, Sierra reached for his hand and gripped it tightly. He squeezed hard, then had to let her go as he maneuvered his sports car through the ruts in the lane. He cursed himself for having such an impractical car. He should have gotten something else already.
“Do you have a towel?” Sierra asked. “I’m bleeding all over your seat.” Her breath hitched. “And onto my new boots.”
For Baby and Me Page 16
