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“Whoa.” With a glass of iced tea in her hand, Sierra jerked as thunder boomed, shaking the chandelier above her head. “God.” She sat back on the soft sofa in the living room, waiting for Dash to get to his ranch. “I gotta be honest,” she spoke to her glass. “I wish you were a shot of whiskey right now.”
Beckett hurried inside. “You all right?”
“Oh!” Sierra spilled tea on her jeans.
“I’m sorry.” He tilted his cowboy hat forward, hiding his eyes. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She set the glass on the table and wrung out her hands.
“Let me get you a towel.”
“It’s okay.” She got a handkerchief from her purse. “I got it.”
“I’m such an idiot.” He positioned his foot halfway off the floor where the toe of his scuffed cowboy boot pointed to the ceiling. “Sneaking up on you in this weather.”
She faked a smile, him making her more on edge than the thunder. “Did you need something?”
He grinned. “I came to ask you that.”
“What’s taking Dash so long?” She ran her hands through her hair. “Said he’d be here by five thirty and it’s almost seven.”
“Probably got held up by the weather.” He sat beside her, too close. “Not sure it was smart for you to come out here with all this going on.”
She jumped at another roar of thunder.
“You’re afraid of bad weather, huh?” He rubbed his calloused hands. “I don’t like storms if they get dangerous, but I like rain. I’d run to the window and watch the rain when I was a kid.” He chuckled. “It brings back memories.”
“I’m the total opposite. Was always afraid of rain. Thunder scares me to death.”
The lights flickered.
Beckett glanced at the chandelier. “It’s always nice to see you. How’s the movie career going?” His small Adam’s apple bobbed. “Got anything new lined up?”
“Beckett.” She watched him under her eyelashes. “I’m sure you keep up with the media. I’ve been blacklisted.”
“I was hoping your luck had turned around.” He put his arm on the back of the couch, behind her.
She kept watch of his hand.
“Hollywood’s full of idiots. How can someone not cast you with how brilliant you are? I love all your movies. I watch them over, and over, and over.”
“That’s sweet. Seems like these days I could use more fans like you.”
“You’ll always have me.” He clenched her knee.
She jerked her leg away.
“I’m sorry.” He took his arm off the back of the couch and sat erect. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“It’s okay,” she lied.
He tossed a crazed gaze her way. “It’s a dream come true being able to spend time with you. I’ve always wanted to get inside your head and ask about your movies. Do you still enjoy acting as much as when you first started?”
“Um...”
Dash walked into the den, stuffing his phone in his pocket. “Sorry, I’m late.”
Thank God.
“I told her it was probably traffic.” Beckett stood, rubbing the thighs of his jeans. “Did you get caught in the weather?”
“It’s not raining yet.” Dash walked off the entrance steps. “But, judging by the thunder and lightning it’s a matter of time. Beckett, why don’t you gather supplies from the storage room in case the electricity goes out?”
“You think it’ll get that bad?” Sierra asked.
“Never know,” Dash said. “This place is creepy as hell with no lights. Beckett?”
“Right away, Dash.” He smiled at Sierra. “Always a pleasure, Sierra.”
She gave a lazy wave. “Bye.”
Dash’s burgundy shirt brought out the richness in his dynamic eyes. “What’s going on?” He sat beside her, his gray slacks wrinkled in the thighs. “I was shocked to get your voice mail about meeting.”
She took a long sip from her tea and set it on the table. “I wanted a drink. I still do.”
“Did you drink?”
She shook her head. “I called you instead.”
“You called me over your sponsor or therapist?”
She nodded.
“It means a lot you’d call me. You’ve come too far to jeopardize your sobriety.”
“My therapist says wanting to drink is not what’s important. It’s why. I tried to figure out the ‘why’ today. Why today?”
“You had a weak moment with the shit you’ve got going on.”
“Nothing has hurt me as much as Dad. I keep thinking about how cold he was at his party.”
“You said you’d let that go so you need to. It’s doing nothing but making you feel worse. You can’t keep putting yourself out there and Ian doing nothing. If he wants a relationship with you he needs to make an effort.”
“You don’t understand Italian men.” She got her glass. “Some have more pride than sense. Dad will fight me to the end so he won’t have to give in.”
“Then fuck him. You’ve gotta look out for yourself first.”
“I wish I didn’t love him so much. If I didn’t it wouldn’t be so hard to walk away. Thanks for listening, Dash. There’s no one I’d rather talk to about this than you.”
“What about Hugh?”
She pushed her lips out to the side. “He’s scouting a location or something.” She cursed herself for crying, but the tears came regardless.
Dash handed her a tissue from his pocket.
“Thanks.” She held it to her mouth. “I don’t like going to Hugh all the time because I feel like I’m bothering him.”
“He’s your boyfriend. That’s what his ass is there for.”
“He’s so wrapped up in the film, and I don’t wanna burden him with my little problems.”
“They’re not little to you.”
Another patch of thunder sounded, causing Sierra to scoot closer to Dash.
“You’re the only one I can come to. I have no right to put you in this position, but I’m so desperate right now.”
He wrapped his arm around her. “It’s okay.”
She settled in his protective embrace. “You’re the only one who’s always been there for me.”
“No matter what happens between us, I’ll always be there.” His peppermint breath warmed her face. “Always.”
“I hate this.” She let him go. “I hate all this crying. It’s all I ever do. Sit around crying like a big baby.”
“It’s good to cry, but you’re here now.” He smiled. “We can get smiles in there too. I’m glad you came because Adeline’s missed you.”
Sierra smiled through tears. “I miss her too. She was always my favorite of your horses. I miss riding her.”
“She had her baby last week.”
“What?” She covered her mouth, squealing. “Adeline had a baby? I didn’t even know she was pregnant.”
“A beautiful little filly. You want to see her?”
“Course I want to.” She jumped to her feet. “Let’s go!”