“Shall we?” my father asked as he opened the front door for everyone.
Sierra reached down and grabbed my hand as she gave me a nervous smile as we walked out to the cars. My parents and Em were taking one limo, and Sierra and I were taking another. Sierra looked at me. “When are we going to work on the questions?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I said, “We have all day tomorrow. Tonight it’s all about celebrating my mother.”
Looking away, Sierra began chewing on her lower lip. Stopping before getting into the limo, Sierra shook her head. “Dodge, this is a family event. Why am I going? Why did your father want me to come?”
Placing my hand on the side of Sierra’s face, I rubbed my thumb across her soft skin. “Sierra, my father knows we are friends. He asked me a few weeks ago. I told him how important you are to me.”
“W-what?” Sierra asked.
Shit. Shit. Shit. I didn’t mean to say that just yet. I had made a promise to myself that as soon as I won this case, I was going to tell Sierra exactly how I felt about her. She was becoming much more than a friend. I could no longer deny my growing feelings.
My parents’ limo pulled off as Sierra stared at me. Shaking her head, Sierra quickly turned and slid into the limo that had pulled up. When I got in, I couldn’t help but notice that Sierra was as far away from me as possible.
Sitting at the table, I watched as Sierra spoke with some asshole lawyer from Dallas. My father had introduced them about an hour ago and the fucker hadn’t left her side since. Placing my drink up to my lips, I finished it off.
My father walked up and slapped my back as he sat down next to me. “What’s your flavor this evening, son?”
Holding up my empty glass, I said, “Scotch.”
Taking in a deep breath, my father pushed it out and sighed. “Aaron. I know I strong-armed you back into the firm, but are you happy there?”
Lifting my glass, the waiter nodded. “Surprisingly, yes, sir, I am. Plus it makes Mom happy. That’s all I care about.”
Letting out a gruff laugh, my father shook his head. “What in the hell are you doing, Aaron?”
Rolling my eyes, I was wondering when my father would start in on me. Things had been too good between us. I chalked it up to my mother’s cancer treatments. I figured my father didn’t want the added stress in his life, or hers. “I have no idea what you are referring to, sir.”
The waiter walked up and handed me another scotch. My eyes looked back over to Sierra and the fucker who kept inching closer and closer to her. Sierra was smiling, but I could tell she was ready for the conversation to end.
Clearing his throat, my father pointed to Sierra. “She is who I’m referring to, Aaron. You didn’t really think I would invite a client to spend the weekend with our family, did you? Or that I would have her attend a ball in honor of your mother if I didn’t have a damn good reason.”
Shrugging, I took another drink. “I just figured you were doing it because I’m friends with Sierra.”
Right then, Sierra looked at me and gave me that beautiful bright smile of hers; I couldn’t help but smile back.
“She has an amazing smile,” my father said.
Nodding my head, I whispered, “She does.”
Placing his hand on my shoulder, my father gave it a slight squeeze. “Aaron, look at me.”
Turning, I looked at him. “That girl needs someone to love her. Someone who is going to pour their heart and soul into her. I knew the moment she sat down in my office she was lost. She also reminded me of your mother. A fighter. You can see it in her eyes. Feel it in her spunkiness.”
Smiling, I nodded. “She is a fighter. I just want her to be happy, Dad. I want to take that asshole husband of hers down.”
My father smiled. “I know you do, but Aaron, there is something I need you to do for me.”
“Of course, Dad.”
“Aaron, you need to listen to your heart. I’m pretty damn sure you’re feeling things you’ve never felt before. You need to open your eyes and see what everyone else around you sees.”
Pulling my head back, I asked, “What do you mean?”
Glancing back over to Sierra, my father said, “I’ve never seen you look at anyone like you do Sierra, Aaron.” Turning back to me, my father looked me in my eyes and winked. “It’s time to open your eyes, son.”
Swallowing hard, I shook my head. “The case.”
Standing up, my father winked at me. “Is in three days, and we are in Port Aransas. I’ve had Chip watching Sierra since she’s been here. No one is following her.”
