Page 72 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

She saw a crooked smile as he shook his head. “Only with company. Otherwise, I always feel too busy. I expect to take the time, but I don’t ever get around to it.”

“That’s dreadful. You’re missing wonderful, peaceful evenings. What about when you and your brothers get together on holidays?”

A cold look filled his eyes, and he shifted his gaze away from her, looking over his yard. “We’re getting together more and more, but still not always on holidays. Growing up, until I was in high school, I was never part of their family. Our mothers were never on friendly footing, and my mom and I were cut off from even knowing them all the years I was a little kid.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, meaning it.

He smiled. “I had a good childhood. You look as if I’m one of the big disasters you need to help.”

“I know better than that, but I’m sorry about your family. Family is the biggest part of my life.”

“Mom showered me with love and kids accept life as it comes.”

“Oh, yes, they do. I just thought you and your half brothers were close from the way you spoke of them.”

“We are now, thanks to Cade. If our father comes to Texas, I stay away. He and I don’t speak—or, to put it more accurately, he doesn’t acknowledge me,” Blake said, and this time she heard the flat tone of his voice that she guessed hid anger and hurt.

She thought of her own big, close-knit family, and realized that while Blake was enormously wealthy, he didn’t have some of the simpler things in life that were far more important to her.

“How did you ever get to be friends with Cade if you grew up without associating with him—or am I asking too many questions?”

“No, you’re not,” he answered, his voice remote and casual. “I think I mentioned we both played football in high school so we were thrown together a lot. We got to be friends, and he introduced me to his brothers. All of us played ball. Our parents were out of the picture a lot at that age, and we all became friends. When we got to know each other, none of them had any hostile feelings toward me, and I didn’t have any toward them.”

“That’s great, Blake,” she said, glad that he’d found those relationships even though his father hadn’t acknowledged him. “I think your father made a huge mistake when he cut you out of his life.”

“I certainly thought he did,” Blake said lightly, smiling at her. “Enough about the dad I don’t even know. So who’s the guy in your life, Sierra? Do you have anything serious?”

“Nothing serious, and there’s really no guy right now. Since I moved back and started working with the nonprofit, I’m so busy. I have a few friends who go out together on Saturday nights, but most of my time is spent with family. There’s no one special. There sort of isn’t time right now.”

“I can understand that,” he said, stretching out his long legs. “Ditto for my life. I have friends, but I’m busy and I travel for work. I figure someday that will all change, but right now, I’m deeply involved in my business. These are the years to build a career.”

She smiled. “I think that last is a bit of advice directed at me in particular.”

“I try not to lecture, but yes, it is. I’ll never understand the choices you’ve made. You could have invested your time, energy and money in a business that would grow and hold value. Instead, you’ve invested in people—you’ll never know if they’ve done the right thing with what you’ve given them. They may not even be grateful.”

“I don’t feel that way about my work. I guess you don’t understand mine and I don’t understand yours,” she said lightly, but meaning every word. “So you have the biggest and best chain of luxury hotels. Will they keep you happy when you’re not working? Will they entertain you? No family, no love, no companions, no laughter and fun. All you have are hotels and money. Makes no sense to me.”

“I told you—this won’t go on forever. I’m young, energetic and ambitious, and I want to build my chain of hotels now. There’s time for love and laughter later when I have a fortune. I have moments when I enjoy myself and the others in my life. I know how to have a good time. Let’s take last night for instance—”

“Never mind,” she interrupted hastily and shook her head, smiling. “I remember last night without you bringing it up again. No matter how much we talk about our views, I doubt we’ll ever understand each other.”

“Maybe not,” he stated, leaning closer and lowering his voice. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a great time together or become friends. There are times when I enjoy life to the fullest, and I suspect you do also.”

Tingles raced through her as she saw the hot desire blazing in his brown eyes.

“I’m amazed you took tonight off from work and social appearances,” she said, knowing he had a very active social life that was chronicled in papers and Texas magazines.

“I can forget completely about work when I want to,” he said quietly, his voice dropping another note. He stood and closed the distance between them, grasping her wrist lightly to pull her to her feet.

Startled, she gazed up at him as his arm circled her waist and he leaned close to kiss away what she had been about to say.

Her heart thudded the instant his mouth covered hers. For a fleeting moment she started to push against him and step away, but then she was lost in sensation, spiraling away in a kiss that made her heart race.

Hot kisses made her want more as she ran her hands across his strong shoulders. When his palm drifted lightly over her breast, she gasped with pleasure and strained for his touch.

She didn’t know how long they kissed. She was lost in him, his hands moving over her until she felt his fingers tugging at her blouse. Holding his wrist, she looked up at him. “Let’s back up,” she whispered, trying to catch her breath while she stepped out of his embrace. “This isn’t why I’m here.”

“You’re the one who told me I’m missing out. That I need to learn how to really enjoy life. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy it.”