Page 42 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
He embraced Drake longer than usual. When they parted, he said, “Are you thinking of moving to Boston?”
Drake shrugged. “I wasn’t,” he said honestly. He made enough money with his music stores that he didn’t need to work at the resort. But the resort had never been about money. It had been Drake’s way of bringing his family back together. Maybe Rick’s advice hadn’t been too far off when he’d said,At some point you’ve got to stop looking out for her and look out for both of you.Maybe it was time for Drake to stop puttingeveryoneelse’s happiness before his own. “But maybe it’s worth thinking about.”
Chapter Twelve
“THERE’S SOMETHING VERY wrong about you being dressed to kill when I’m this far away,” Drake said in a husky voice that made Serena want to crawl through the phone Wednesday afternoon instead of heading into her meeting with Muriel Younger.
She was standing outside the building. She dipped her head as a couple walked by, so they wouldn’t notice the flush heating her cheeks, and spoke quietly into the phone. “If you’re lucky, maybe I’ll show you what I have onunderthis killer outfit on FaceTime tonight.”
He made a growling noise, and she felt it against her skin like his rough, calloused fingers. “Let’s make that a promise, sweetheart, not a maybe, because just that thought is going to keep me on edge all day.”
“I like you all edgy and hot for me,” she said seductively.
“I’m hot for you every minute of the day. Two more nights, baby, and then you’re mine. I hope you haven’t made plans to see anyone else this weekend, because we might never leave the bedroom.”
Her head spun with lustful thoughts. “I like that idea, but the girls might take issue with you hogging all my time.”
The last few days had been a blur. In addition to researching Muriel’s existing offices, studying the layout and designs, and going over the previous presentations her firm had put together over the last few years, Serena began researching the other clients she’d been assigned. She also followed up on the entertainment for Drake’s grand opening, verified delivery dates for the furniture and other items that were still on order, fielded questions from both Justine at Shift and Harper, and tried to keep up with the girls back home via texts, but it wasn’t like she could keep her phone by her side every second. By the time she fell into bed at night with Drake on the other end of the phone, she was exhausted. Playful dirty talk had always been part of their friendship, but the truth behind their feelings had taken it to a whole new level. He revved her up every single night. They’d never taken it further than a few steamy comments, but the thought of being naughty on a video chat with him made her insides thrum.
“A ravenous man can’t be given time limits.” His deep voice drew her attention.
“Okay, dirty boy. Wish me luck, because if I stay on the phone with you, I’m going to lose it.”
“That doesnotmake me want to end this call.”
“Yeah, me either,” she admitted, her temperature rising. “But duty calls. I’ll tell you what. If I have time, I’ll stop at Kane’s and have a Chocolate Orgasm just for you.”
“Mm. Chocolate. I’m adding that to my grocery list for the weekend, right alongsidewhipped cream.”
“Oh my goodness,” she said breathily. “Bye, dirty boy.”
“Later, you sexy thing, and remember, you’ve got this. She’s lucky to work withyou.”
Serena took a moment tobreathebefore heading inside for her meeting. She should have known better than to talk to Drake before her first big meeting, but she missed him. Even though he turned her on endlessly, he also calmed her jitters and made her feel confident and capable in ways no one else ever had. Which was exactly how she felt as Muriel Younger greeted her twenty minutes later. Muriel’s capped-sleeve Elie Tahari black shift had three spearlike cutouts around the high neckline and clung just enough to her rail-thin frame to be business appropriate. Her coal-black hair was cut in a pixie style, like Chloe’s, but while the cut looked soft and elegant on her sister, coupled with Muriel’s black-framed glasses and perfectly penciled eyebrows, hers looked severe.
“Serena,” Muriel said sharp and fast, as if chastising her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Muriel’s firm handshake validated Serena’s initial impression. “Thank you. I’m excited to get started on your project.”
Muriel didn’t crack a smile as she headed for the door and said, “I’ll be out for the next half hour,” without turning to face the receptionist, whom Serena assumed she was talking to.
She followed her out the office door, hurrying to keep up as Muriel sped through another door and up a stairwell to the next floor.
“You’re familiar with Younger, Lynch, and Ryan, I assume?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Serena said, glad she’d done her research. “It’s the largest women-run law firm in the country, the fifth-largest law firm in the region. It was founded by your mother, who is now retired, and you’ve just acquired two more offices in New York and Philadelphia—”
“You’ve done your homework,” Muriel said as they entered the partially unfinished space her company would soon be utilizing and made their way toward the offices along the exterior walls.
A nearly blank slate. Serena’s dream come true.
“We’d like to move our merger and acquisitions team in within sixty days,” Muriel said sharply.
“Sixty days will be tight, with the build-out.”
Muriel’s gaze turned colder. “Sixty days can be done.”
“Yes, of course, as long as there are no major last-minute changes.” Serena made a mental note to discuss the time frame with Suzanne.
