Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)(14)

I looked at her. “Impressive. What does the title mean?”

She flashed her teeth. “That I don’t drive clients around showing them residential properties.”

Ouch.

“But feel free to keep my business card in case…your friend needs to hire a company to oversee a full remodel or restoration of his commercial property. I specialize in coordinating all aspects of revitalizing retail spaces—any size from six hundred square feet to sixty thousand square feet.”

I tucked the business card in my front pocket after making sure it listed her contact number. “To be honest, I didn’t even know that was a thing.”

“A very real, very complicated thing which doesn’t leave me time to act as a real estate guide for you or anyone else.” She pushed up from the desk. “My assistant, Nikki, will give you a list of reputable Realtors we deal with.”

“So that’s it?” I said tightly.

“No BS, Boone. What do you really want from me?”

“Professionally? I want a Phoenix native to help me navigate all the suburbs and figure out the best, safest and most affordable place for my friend to live. You are obviously an expert in the real estate field—which, yes, I mistakenly took to mean you could show me specific apartments, condos and houses for rent. But your skill set being way above that pay grade doesn’t change the fact I still would like your help.”

“Why are you pressing me on this?”

Think fast, man. “Because I trust you. If there’s no commission on the line then you can be completely honest about my options.”

“You mean your friend’s options,” she said sharply.

Fuck. I almost blew that. “Yeah. You can help me narrow down my buddy Raj’s choices.”

“Why does Raj trust you so much?”

“Because I’m trustworthy.” Except you’re lying like a motherf*cker right now, aren’t you? And what is going to happen when she finds out? I’d worry about that later; right now I had her on the hook.

Then something Kyler had mentioned clicked and I played my only trump card. “Besides, you helped Mase find the McMansion he bought last summer. Kyler wouldn’t shut up about how everything went seamlessly with you involved. Even when residential rentals and sales aren’t in your wheelhouse.”

“That big-mouthed asshat,” she muttered.

I moved in closer. “Would it really be horrible spending a few hours with me this morning?”

Sierra got that squinty-eyed stare as if she was envisioning her daily schedule.

So I quickly added, “Or I can come back this afternoon. Or even tomorrow sometime if that works better for your schedule.”

“Actually, today is the only day this week that my morning schedule is flexible.”

Do not punch your fist in the air and shout Boo-yah! “So you’ll do it with me?”

Those tawny-colored eyes of hers snapped to mine. “Excuse me?”

“You’ll give me an overview of Phoenix?”

She sighed. “You are such a pushy bastard, West. But yes.” She eyed the file folders on her desk. “I didn’t really want to deal with all of this quarterly stuff anyway.”

“I’m happy to be your excuse for ditching office work for a few hours.”

Sierra smiled at me and my heart damn near burst. “You tried to get me to ditch school with you once.”

“I remember. Feeling flush with cash for a change, I offered to buy you a DQ chili dog. I promised to have you back in time for fifth period. You turned me down.” My eyes searched hers. “Why?”

“Because I didn’t want you spending your money on me,” she said softly. “I knew how hard you worked for it.”

Being this close to her, smelling her perfume and watching the pulse pounding in her throat…I’d wanted this, but I had no idea how to act on it because I had zero experience with starting a relationship.

My conscience snapped, I’m pretty sure luring her in with a lie is the worst possible option.

Sierra sidestepped me and returned to her brusque demeanor. “I’ll need to speak with my assistant before we go. I’ll pick you up at the main entrance in ten minutes.”

“I have a call to make”—total lie and wasn’t I just turning into f*cking Pinocchio?—“so that’ll work.”

I assumed she’d loosen up once we left Stepford Central. During my twenty-three-minute stint in the reception area, I’d watched Sierra’s colleagues, whose icy demeanors were identical to the one she’d perfected. I couldn’t blame her for following the crowd, especially if she was trying to blend in.

But she’d never blend. She never had.

After taking the stairs to the first floor, I cut across the blacktop to a small grassy area with a stone bench. What rocket scientist decided it’d be a great idea to plant grass in the damn desert? With time to kill, I checked my cell phone and saw that my dad had called again. With only a seven-minute window before Sierra pulled up, the callback couldn’t go long and I’d be done with it. I dialed and immediately began to pace.

He answered with a gruff, “Hello.”

“Hey Dad.”

“I started to think you wouldn’t call me back. It’s been a few weeks.”