Page 15 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
“How many more candidates do you have lined up for tomorrow?” he asked.
They’d interviewed several people for her position, and Drake had found something wrong with each and every one of them.
“Two. But don’t worry. Harper agreed to work from eleven until three each day until we find someone. That’ll get you through the busiest hours. I’ve contacted temp agencies, but Drake doesn’t seem very receptive to that idea.”
He nodded. “Harper’s fine. Thanks for all your hard work. Listen, I know you’re crazed, getting everything done for the music store and the resort and trying to figure out how to move your life to Boston, but I just want you to know how much we appreciate all that you’ve done here. Don’t let Drake’s bad mood mislead you. You know how he hates adjusting to new things. This is hard on him. He’s going to miss you a heck of a lot. We all are.”
“We both know that’s not true,” she said quietly. They’d made major design changes at the last minute when they were redecorating the cottages, and he’d never flinched. “Drake has no trouble adjusting to change. He has issues with me leaving him in a lurch. But thank you for the kind words. I know how much you appreciate my helping out. I’ve loved every minute of it.” She stole another peek into Drake’s office. He was sitting at his desk now, watching them. His eyes were sad, and the smile that appeared was clearly feigned. She quickly shifted her attention back to Rick. “I’m going to miss all of you, too. Even the growly one in there,” she said more lightly than she felt.
“Desiree said the girls are helping you finish packing tonight. Is there anything us guys can do to help?”
“Other than showing up for the goodbye party tomorrow night? That’s all I really need. A happy send-off, because I know I’ll cry all the way to Boston despite being excited to start my new job.”
“That I can do, but no tears, please. You’ll only be a short drive away, and I have to deal with my brother losing his mind. I’m not sure I can deal with both.” Rick stepped around the desk and embraced her. “I’m going to miss your smiling face.”
Serena breathed deeply, trying to ease the emotions bubbling up inside her. “Thanks. Now my makeup will smear.”
“You don’t need it anyway,” he said as he dug his keys from his pocket. “I’m heading down to Yarmouth for a meeting. Text if you need me.”
“Okay. I hope your day gets better.” She inhaled deeply, grabbed the design swatches and catalogs she’d collected for the music store, and her laptop, steeling herself before heading into Drake’s office.
He was standing by the window again. She wanted to confront him about last night, to get it all out in the open like they usually did when something was bothering them. But her pulse was racing just thinking about actually saying it out loud. And if it hadn’t been analmost kiss, she could do without another dose of mortification.
“Drake? Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.” He turned around with a cold expression that quickly warmed totepid.
She swallowed hard, as hurt as she was angry. “I have all the design elements for the shop, but I want your final okay before I approve the orders.” She set the books on the desk, spread out the fabric swatches, and opened her laptop, glad to have something to focus on besides the questions zooming through her mind. Drake moved beside her, standing so close she felt his tension as her own.
“You sure you’re okay to do this right now?” she asked. “We can go over it later or tomorrow morning if you need some time to…processwhatever happened with Rick and Dean.”
“I’m fine.” His lips tipped up just enough for her to know hewantedto be okay with their interactions, but clearly it would take as much effort for him as it was taking for her.
She leaned over the laptop, navigating to the site she wanted to show him. “I know we agreed on the sofa already, but I found this one and contacted the distributor. If you like it, they have one that was custom made for another shop, but that customer ended up going with something else. I like the rounded back, and it’s a little longer than the other, but it would really help define the sitting area. People like things that are unique, and I think the shape alone will encourage people to stay longer, pick up a music book or an instrument, and get comfortable. The more time spent in the store the better. We always say the key to returning customers is developing friendships, right?”
He leaned over her shoulder, his chest brushing against her back, sending her mind reeling to last night, when she’d been teasing him about showing him pictures and he’d tugged her against him. She’d laughed from the teases, but also as a cover from the awareness of his hard body and the strength of his arms, which had gripped her in unexpected ways. She’d wanted to turn in his arms, to confront him about why he’d pushed her away all those years ago.
“Yes,wedo,” he said in a low voice that she swore oozed with seduction. “That’s a very cool couch.”
Ohmygosh. I’m doing it again.She pushed those lustful thoughts away, telling herself itwasn’tseduction she heard but the sound of Drake restraining his anger over her quitting. Or maybe over last night’s miscommunication?Oh boy.Now she was dizzy.
He leaned forward a little more, pressing his body more firmly against hers. “What would we tie it to?”
Shoot.She hadn’t imagined it. Her mind swam back to his comment about tying up women, and she breathed a little harder.It’s official. There are some things a person says that can never be forgotten.
He reached for the fabric swatches with one hand and placed his other hand on her hip, warming her through the thin material of her skirt. He touched her all the time. Why was she suddenly noticing it so much? And why did she have butterflies in her stomach?No, no, no.This could not be happening.
“One of these?” His warm breath sailed over her cheek.
“Yes, for the chairs.”
“Ah, makes perfect sense. I like this one.” He held the swatch of distressed burgundy leather and slowly rubbed his thumb over it.
She imagined his thumb sensually stroking her skin.
“How about you?” he asked just above a whisper. “Do you like leather?” He dropped the swatch and picked up the shinier fabric sample. “Or something softer?”
“I…um…” Her mind went straight to the gutter. “That one’s great,” she said quickly. “I thought about mocha, but everyone uses shades of brown. This adds a splash of color, and I found these great lighting elements that can be ordered in any color.” Oh no, now she had verbal diarrhea. She fumbled with one of the lighting books, opening to a marked page to try to distract herself from her overactive hormones, which were on freaking fire.
