But even as he approached, grey eyes sparkling in the afternoon sun like they had flecks of crystal in them, Sierra felt a long sigh of relief leave her chest. She hadn’t known she’d been so tense before now. Beck’s presence seemed to have relaxed things a bit.
Even Lasso, who was her closest companion, seemed unbothered by the approach of the burly, sexy hulk of a cowboy.
There was just… something about him. And before she could cut the thought off, the idea of asking Beck for help occurred to her with all the speed of lightning striking a tree in a thunderstorm.
After all, Harrison had said the dragon’s talon meant that Beck owed her. And she badly needed a favor right now.
Maybe fate had brought them together.
Sierra was usually the one who helped others. Who went out of her way to lift others’ burdens and show kindness in this cruel, unforgiving world. But just once, it felt like something good could possibly come out of helping another person.
“How are you this afternoon?” Beck asked, tipping his well-loved Stetson to her as he stopped ten feet from her, almost filling up the entire space in front of her porch just standing there by himself.
He was even being nice. Maybe that was a sign she should ask.
“I’m all right, thank you,” she replied cordially. His face was much more handsome when it wasn’t screwed up in that growly expression as well. And his eyes, when they weren’t glaring or glowering, were downright captivating to watch as he looked her over.
Beck took a step forward, and Sierra noted that she didn’t feel fear at his approach as she had with Ross. Only something pulling, something new and interesting she’d never felt before.
He took off his hat and looked to the side. “Can we talk?”
“Of course,” she replied, stepping onto the porch and motioning for him to sit in one of her chairs. He hesitated for a moment, then lowered himself slowly onto the chair, and it creaked and groaned.
For a second, she wondered if the old chair could even support the weight of his sheer bulk. But then he relaxed against it, seated a few feet from her now, looking so big in the rocker, and she got the sudden impression that Beck would be absolutely perfect for a certain job.
But did she dare ask him?
“What brings you out here?” she asked, taking her seat next to him.
Lasso sat between them, listening eagerly.
“I came to apologize for my behavior earlier, ma’am,” Beck said, sitting forward and clasping his hands in front of him. “I shouldn’t have said those things I said. At least not how I said them.”
With each passing second, Sierra was getting up the gumption to ask him. After all, he did owe her a favor. What wrong was there in asking?
Perhaps he even came to offer to help her after how their last exchange had gone.
Maybe her luck was finally picking up.
“I wanted to thank you again for saving my life, Sierra.”
Just the sound of her name on his lips sent a little thrill of something foreign down her fingers.
Then he looked at her squarely, expression calm, and she knew she was going to ask him as soon as he finished whatever was on his mind.
“I also came to tell you that I wasn’t being harsh back at Dragonclaw, but I did mean what I said at the end.”
“Mean what?” A sudden feeling of vertigo was starting to churn her insides. What was happening?
“You really are better off without me around. In good conscience, I can’t do that favor for you. I just had to let you know.” He was dead serious. “For what it’s worth, I’m real sorry.”
Sierra felt all her hopes start to fall as wetness bit at the corners of her eyes.
Sorry wasn’t the half of it. Unbeknownst to Beck, for one bright moment, he’d been her only chance of help.
And he’d only come back to turn her down for a second time before she could even ask.
The desperation and hopelessness of the situation hit her, and she turned away from him, hoping he couldn’t see the tears in her eyes.
She’d been stupid to think that even for a moment, this man could help her.
As usual, she would just have to do everything alone.
4
She was leaking. Why the hell was she leaking?
Beck felt far more nervous realizing he’d somehow hurt this gorgeous woman than he’d ever been while facing a basilisk.
Fighting? That was easy. It was practically all he was good for. But conversating? He’d never had much practice outside the ranch.
His only friend outside the Dragonclaw cowboys was TJ, a man he’d known a long time whom he sometimes went wandering with.
But TJ knew Beck wasn’t much for talk.
Beck’s heart thudded as Sierra turned away, attempting with little swipes at her eyes to hide her tears from him.
For some reason, the human was upset that Beck wasn’t going to be able to do her a favor. For some reason, she was disappointed.
What in tarnation would she want a brute like Beck on her land for? If she needed help, he’d be sure to get someone else for her. A pretty boy like Clancy was what this soft-spoken little thing should want.
Even if it was Beck who wanted his hands on her. Beck who wanted to grip her hips tightly and pull her close. Beck who—
“I’m sorry,” Sierra said with a little sniffle that broke him. “It’s fine. Not about you. Just one of those days.” She waved a hand, not facing him. “You’re free to leave.”
Then she stumbled toward the house, breaking into a jog as she fled from him.
She hadn’t wanted him to see her emotion. He didn’t exactly blame her.
But he still wasn’t certain why she was so upset when all he’d said was he shouldn’t be the one to help her.
What was it about
