Only You by Francis Ray Page A

either on the canal, inland, or on the breathtaking Caribbean coastline. The exotic setting would be like no other.
    “We’re six weeks ahead of schedule,” Sam Crane, the construction foreman, said proudly. He was a tall man with a thin, serious face and an eye for detail. “We should be finished with your residence in a month.”
    It had been Blade’s practice to have a place on-site to oversee construction, but also to see if there were any flaws in design. “As always, you and your crew have done an excellent job.”
    “We have a good incentive.” Sam chuckled. “Can’t have Dave’s crew in Dallas get the best of us.”
    Blade didn’t need any reminder about Dallas. As hard as he worked, thoughts of Sierra still managed to show up. The week was up. Tonight the winner would be announced. He hadn’t been able to think of anything else. “I’ll tell your brother that when I return this afternoon.”
    “Do that. And don’t forget to tell him, while he’ll be sweltering soon, I’ll be on the beach.” Sam shook his head. “Sure glad I won that coin toss.”
    “I’ll tell him.” Blade extended his hand. “See you soon.”
    The handshake was firm. “Safe travel.”
    Hands in his pockets, Blade went to the car waiting to take him to the airport for the two-and-a-half-hour flight to Dallas. He just wished he knew what he was going to do after the winner was announced.
     
     
    S ierra was nervous. She knew she’d sold well, but so had Ted and Erma, the Realtors from San Francisco.
    Blade, tall, dark, and self-assured, entered the private dining room. Sierra’s pulse raced. Her nervousness increased. Shane and the other man she’d seen with them at the hotel in San Francisco were a step behind.
    “Oh my,” Willie Jackson, the Tucson Realtor, whispered, and sat up straighter. “I hope my heart can take this. I wonder if the men with Mr. Navarone are available.”
    It wasn’t lost on Sierra that the woman thought Blade unobtainable. Apparently there were few women in his life, which suited Sierra. Willie could drool over Shane and the other man all she wanted. Sierra understood their appeal. Women would be drawn to their dark, dangerous looks.
    Whereas Shane’s hair was closely cropped, the man with him had thick curly black hair that brushed his razor-sharp cheekbones. His forehead was broad, his nose slightly bent as if it had been broken, but it gave him a rakish appearance. His eyes were hard, with an unblinking stare.
    The woman wouldn’t know if she wanted to run to him or away. Yet even as the thought formed, she knew instinctively that before she took one step away, he’d catch her. Once she was caught, he’d make her scream for mercy or beg for pleasure.
    Although Shane didn’t look as foreboding, there was something lethal about him. He could be merciless.
    Both were broad-shouldered, both gorgeous. Neither held the appeal, the magnetic pull, Blade held for Sierra. Other men simply didn’t exist when he was in the room.
    Blade went directly to the head of the rectangular table. The two men with him positioned themselves on either side of him. John gave him an envelope, then stepped back.
    “Good evening,” Blade said. “I want to thank each of you for your hard work. Of course, each of you will receive a check for your commission. As you were informed previously, the decision is final.” He opened the envelope and unfolded a sheaf of paper. His head lifted, his face expressionless. “The winner, with three sales, is Sierra Grayson.”
    Sierra didn’t know what she expected … yes, she did. She thought Blade would be happy. He wasn’t. Her chin jutted.
    “Congratulations, Sierra.” Ted hugged her. “If I’d had another day, things might have been different. I had two.”
    “I was way behind with one,” Erma, the other Realtor from San Francisco, said. “I knew it was over when you had all those ladies in for tea in one of the models. Wish I had thought to do