Page 16 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
“Lights,” she said too breathily, and flattened her hand on a page.
Drake put his hand beside hers, covering the tips of her fingers with his own. Sparks raced over her skin. She lifted her gaze to his, and the air between them thickened with desire as it had last night. Confusion and lust muddled her thoughts.
So much for steeling herself against all of the emotions last night had unleashed.
“You okay?” he asked casually.
“Mm-hm.”Just feeling ridiculous for thinking last night meant something.“It’s just been a crazy few days. Sorry.” She shifted her gaze to the lighting book, trying to pull her head out of the darkness she’d fallen into, and leaned forward a little more, purposely causing her hair to fall around her face and blocking his view of her. “These are the lights I’m thinking about. The shelving units and the hardware to hang the instruments should be installed this weekend. I figured I’d come down next Friday night and work through the weekend to help get things set up.” Even though she couldn’t see his face, she felt the heat of his stare, and her words continued tumbling out nervously. “If we order the furniture today, it will be here in time for the grand opening, which we also need to talk about. I’ve spoken to the newspapers and the local radio stations. We’re set for two weeks from Saturday, on the twelfth.”
He moved her hair over her shoulder. She held her breath at the intimate touch.
His brows were knitted as he studied her face. “You talk like you’re on speed only when you’re nervous or drunk.”
“Not true,” she lied.
He shifted positions, leaning his butt on the edge of his desk beside her. He reached for her hand, holding it gently, and brushed his thumb over her skin in the same slow rhythm he’d stroked the leather, rooting her in place. “Talk to me, Supergirl.”
“Don’t call me that.” She pulled away and crossed her arms, angry that he was so calm and upset with herself for caring. “I don’t feel verysuperanything right now.” She wanted to shake him, smack him, or run as fast and as far away as she could. The trouble was, she also wanted to climb him like a ladder and take the kiss that had taunted her for far too long. All those emotions tangled together, twisting and turning inside her until she felt like she might explode.
His eyes remained deathly calm, trained on hers. “Because of last night?”
“What do you think? I’m so freaking confused and angry right now I can’t see straight,” came out before she could stop it, each word laced with venom. “What was that last night? I felt like I was back in ninth grade again!”
“Ninth gra—”
“Do not tell me you don’t remember the night you backed out of the duet!” Angry tears burned, but she forced them back. “You leaned in and—forget it! I’m not reliving that moment either. But I deserve an answer about last night.”
“I’m sorry!” he growled. “I didn’t mean to—”
“Oh, now it was amistake?” The pain in her heart brought fresh tears. With trembling hands, she began gathering the swatches and books from the desk.
“No, Serena.” He grabbed her arm.
She wrenched her arm away. “Don’t,” she warned. “I feel like I don’t even know you anymore.”
He hauled her closer, ignoring her struggles. “You know me better than I know my freaking self. It wasn’t a mistake, okay? It just wasn’t fair to try to kiss you when you’re about to move away.”
She twisted out of his grip again. “You’re darn right it’s not.”
She slammed her laptop closed, stacked the books on top of it, clutching it all to her chest, a barrier between them. She was breathing too hard, tears slipping from her eyes. “I was so in love with you as a kid. Do you have any idea how hard it was when you turned me away back then? Well, I’m not a lovesick teenager. This timeI’min control, and there’s no way I’ll let this throw me off course. Do you have any idea what kind of trust it took for me to accept this job with you in the first place? How hard I had to fight my feelings for you to make it work? It’s beenfour years, Drake. We have been working side by side forfour years, and now that I’m finally moving on, you pull this crap?”
“I wasn’tpullinganything.”
He stepped closer, his eyes boring into her with so many emotions she could drown in them. Hurt and confusion gnawed at her. He must have noticed, because regret rose in his eyes, and he ground out a curse.
“C’mon, Serena. Can we just talk without you bolting?”
“Fine!” she shouted. “You’ve got two minutes.”Before I start crying.
“You are my best friend, my partner in crime. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you.”
She squared her shoulders as a tear slipped down her cheek. She swiped at it and said, “Here’s a fun fact for you. You failed.Epically.”
He shifted his eyes away, gritting his teeth, and when he looked at her again, the raw torment in his gaze cut straight to her heart.
“I’m truly sorry, Serena,” he said in a softer tone. He lifted his hand as if he was going to reach for her. He must have thought better of it, because he pulled it back and said, “Don’t let my stupidity ruin our relationship.”
“Friendship,” she clarified. “Why did you do it? Do you have any idea what kind of slap in the face it was for you to do that to me for a second time?”
