Chapter 131: House Party with a Twist

The Sanders had handled the situation too cleanly; she was still investigating. However, every action leaves a footprint, and when the truth came to light before the public, the Xanders would have to figure out how to wrap up their act. Contemplating that scenario made her somewhat joyful. “Mr. Yeager, do you have a moment? Let me buy you a drink.”

Sierra was rarely as happy as she was today: there was hope for her grandmother’s illness, and she’d heard about Denise’s mishap. What could make today any better? Seeing her good spirits, Jonathan naturally wouldn’t dampen the mood. They didn’t head to a bar but bought some liquor and went back to his place.

Sierra had wanted to invite Dickson, but Jonathan stopped her. “Give him some more time.” Jonathan’s point made sense; Sierra didn’t insist, and they both headed back to his place.

“Jonathan, I’m really happy,” Sierra clinked her beer with Jonathan’s, beaming. “I’ve never been as happy as I am today. It would’ve been perfect if Shane hadn’t shown up.”

“Me too,” Jonathan said, his gaze meaningful. He had always known Sierra was a gem, but he hadn’t realized she was a once-in-a-lifetime find. Fortunate to be the one to discover her, he couldn’t help but be thrilled.

Sierra seemed to handle her drink well, Jonathan thought, until just one beer later her demeanor started to slip. Her words slurred slightly, and her gaze at Jonathan was becoming blurred—her next words proved Jonathan’s guess right.

“Jonathan, you’re really… handsome.” A sober Sierra would never say such a thing, and her next move surprised Jonathan even more. Under the influence, Sierra’s usual prudence vanished, and she slowly leaned toward Jonathan. Their breaths mingled; Jonathan’s eyes darkened. He could have pushed Sierra away, but he didn’t.

Watching the lips merely inches from his, his gaze deepened. “Sierra…” He whispered her name, then watched as Sierra looked up. He noticed her hazy eyes fixed on his lips and felt his normally steady heartbeat quicken. He sat there, letting Sierra come closer, and just as her lips were about to touch his, Sierra’s face turned away.

Her light lips didn’t land as he expected but brushed past his cheek. Watching Sierra collapse next to him and fall asleep, a flicker of amusement and disappointment crossed Jonathan’s face. He touched his cheek, where the soft brush had left a trace. He looked down at Sierra, already passed out on the couch, his expression unreadable. His gaze lingered on Sierra’s lips. Her lip color was pale, deepened slightly by the alcohol, making them look exceptionally moist, tempting one to taste them.

Realizing his thoughts, Jonathan’s eyes flared with heat. Yet, he still refrained. Instead, he harshly pressed on those pale lips until he saw them redden and swell slightly, then he let go. Touching his fingertips, they retained the soft, delicate feel he imagined. Jonathan watched Sierra for a while, then leaned…

He touched her face before leaving the room.

With Sierra gone, he no longer needed to hide himself. He poured a strong drink and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his demeanor shifting dramatically. He seemed to be pondering something, his gaze sharp and resolute. Jonathan was never one to dwell on things. Having realized his possessiveness over Sierra, he had made his decision quickly. Now, realizing his feelings for Sierra were more than just possessive, he accepted this quickly too. He admitted to himself that he had feelings for Sierra. With that thought, Jonathan downed his drink and made a phone call.

“Plans have changed; I need to stay in Maviston a bit longer.” After speaking, he hung up the phone, ignoring the protests on the other end. Jonathan was never one to dwell on things. Since Sierra was special to him, he was even less likely to let go.