Page 31 of Just This Once (Blackhawk Security)

“Duh, Sis. I know that.”

Siera took a deep breath. Let it out. “Yeah, I know. Sorry. It’s driving me crazy that something’s going on with you and I can’t do anything about it. I’ll call you back as soon as I can. I love you, Jack.”

“Yeah, I love you too, See.”

Sierra clicked off the phone and closed her eyes. Took a deep breath. Finally turned to face Cody, who was watching her with an inscrutable expression.

“So you love this guy Jack,” he said.

Chapter 12

Cody struggled to keep his expression neutral as he waited for Sierra to respond. Hearing her say those words to this guy Jack had been a punch to his gut. A blow to his chest.

She drew a deep breath. Shoved her fingers through her hair. Picked up a spoon from the table and rolled it between her thumb and forefinger. Set it back down and wrapped her hands around her coffee mug.

“Yes,” she finally said. “I do. I love Jack.”

Hearing her repeat it made him want to double over. Howl his anger and his pain. But he held himself together. “But you made… slept with me last night and this morning.”

She nodded, dropping her eyes to her coffee mug. Picked up the spoon and stirred her coffee, even though the cream was already thoroughly mixed in.

He wanted to rail at her. To ask what the hell was wrong with her. You didn’t have sex with a guy if you loved someone else.

He hadn’t thought Sierra was that kind of woman. A player. Someone who didn’t think twice about sleeping around on the guy she loved.

He trusted his judgment, but it had failed him with Sierra.

Finally Sierra raised her head. “I shouldn’t have said it,” she said. “Not in front of you. But I didn’t think. I was worried. A guy wearing a ski mask tried to break into his apartment last night. He didn’t succeed, but I’m really scared.”

“Yeah,” Cody said, clenching his hand into a fist in his lap. “Not good form to tell a guy you love him in front of the guy you just slept with.”

“What?” Sierra frowned. Stared at him as if he were speaking Chinese. “That’s not… it’s not like that. Jack isn’t my boyfriend. My God! You think I’d have mind-blowing sex with you then talk to myboyfriendand tell him I love him the nextday?”

Cody shrugged one shoulder. “Wouldn’t bother some people.”

“I’m notsomepeople,” she shot back. “I can’t believe you actually thought I’d do that. That you believed I have a boyfriend but still slept with you.”

She actually looked hurt, and discomfort trickled through him. Maybe he’d been wrong. But how else was he supposed to interpret what she’d said?

“So if he’s not your lover, whoisJack?”

She stood up and moved to the window. Stared out into the side yard for what felt like hours. As time stretched more and more taut, he cleared his throat. “Fine,” he said. “If you say Jack’s not your boyfriend, I believe you.”

“Doesn’t sound like it,” she replied without turning around.

“Yeah, well, maybe I jumped to conclusions.”

She took a deep breath. Another. Wrapped her arms around herself, and he saw her shaking. As if bracing herself to say something difficult.

Finally, she turned slowly and stared at him, fear in her expression. Her eyes were guarded. Wary. Taking another deep breath, she said, “Jack is my brother.”

An ocean of relief rushed through him, and Cody sucked in a breath at the intensity of it. That wassonot good. Swallowing, he forced himself to say, “Yourbrother? Why is that such a big deal? Why didn’t you just say he was your brother?”

“It’s complicated.” She leaned against the counter, gripping it with both hands, as if that slab of granite was all that held her up. “There are only two other people who know that Jack is my brother. My mother and my father.”

“Why all the secrecy?” Cody stared at her. He’d known she had secrets. But he hadn’t thought they were about her family.

Sierra closed her eyes. Drew in a shuddering breath, then looked directly at him. “I keep your secrets. You damn well better keep mine. If I tell you some things, will you swear never to tell anyone else? Ever?”

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