Page 61 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
“It’s reality, and I’m not upset over it. I’m just soaking it in and processing the finality of it.” She gazed into his caring eyes and knew she had to be completely honest with him. “There’s more. I have to ask you something that’s going to seem like I’m rushing our relationship, but I don’t mean to. I just don’t want to hold you back. You’re in your midthirties. Are you ready for a family?”
He cringed. “Can we not call thirty-fourmidthirties?”
“I just meant that maybe you were ready. I know you want a family, and I do, too, one day. But I’m not anywhere near ready, and just like you didn’t want to hold me back from achieving my dreams, I don’t want to hold you back from the things you want, either.”
“I want a family one day, Serena, but I’m in absolutelynohurry. I want time to build our relationship as a couple.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek and said, “You could never stand in my way, because my path includes you from here on out.”
Relief washed over her. “I didn’t realize how worried I was about that. But wow. It’s like a weight just fell off my shoulders.”
He chuckled and lifted her onto the hood of her car. “We’re made for each other. I thought you were the one who had to convince me of that.” He wedged his big body between her legs and said, “Besides, Supergirl, we haven’t hadnearlyenough naked time together yet.”
Chapter Sixteen
DRAKE PULLED OPEN the doors to Serena’s office building Wednesday afternoon, excited to see the look in her eyes when he surprised her. He couldn’t shake the worry about the pressure their relationship was putting on her. Only the evenings brought relief, when they’d catch up and she’d rave about her job and her team. That’s why he’d been thrilled this morning when he’d received a call from a vintage guitar dealer who was going out of business. His store was about half an hour from Serena’s office, and Drake had jumped at the chance to review his stock.
As he crossed the marble lobby and stepped into the elevator, giving a cursory glance to the guy in a suit standing by the button pad, he thought about their calls the last few nights. Serena’s life was falling into place. Last night she’d gone out for drinks with the receptionist from her office and Gavin. He wasn’t thrilled about the dude, but he trusted Serena, and if he were honest with himself, he’d rather she had a male coworker looking out for her than no man at all while she was out in a new city at night.
“What floor?” the guy asked.
“Oh, sorry. Fourteen, please.”
The guy pushed the button and said, “That’s my floor. Who are you going to see?”
“Serena Mallery. She’s a designer with KHB.”
“And a fine one at that. You’re in good hands.” He held out his hand and said, “Gavin Wheeler, also a senior designer with KHB.”
And the guy who had drinks with my girlfriend last night.He shook Gavin’s hand, trying to put the sharp, preppy dresser and Serena together. She was so laid-back, it was hard to picture. “Nice to meet you. I’m Drake Savage.”
“Ah, yes. The elusive Drake. The cookie man, resort owner, and the guy who’s got her drawing little hearts on her notebooks.”
Drake chuckled. “Sounds like my girl. I heard you had drinks last night.”
“Someone’s got to watch out for the women in this office. Although, from what I’ve seen, Serena can be a real tiger. I doubt many guys could pull the wool over her eyes.”
“She’s strong, that’s for sure.”
“Did she tell you she went head-to-head with the big boss this morning for taking her juniors on an initial client visit?”
“No, but that doesn’t surprise me. She stands up for what she believes in. Hopefully it didn’t get her in any real trouble.”
Gavin shrugged. “All I know is that the door was closed for a long time, and when Serena finally came out, I asked how it went and she said if they expect her to run a team, then they need to give her the space to do it right.”
Drake cringed inwardly. He’d been around enough to know that some executives didn’t like to have their decisions challenged. “That’s my girl,” he said as the elevator opened on their floor. “She doesn’t know I’m here, by the way. I was in the area and wanted to surprise her.”
“Come on. I’ll take you back to see her.”
He followed Gavin through the elaborate offices, which were vastly different from their offices at the Cape, and exactly what Serena had always talked about getting into. Guys in suits and women in professional dresses and slacks moved busily about. He was glad he’d thought to clean himself up a bit and wear slacks and a dress shirt.
Gavin pointed across the room to a glass-walled office. “That’s her office, but she’s probably still in the conference room with her team.”
He led Drake down a hall to a glass-walled conference room. Drake took a moment to watch Serena through the glass. She was dressed in a curve-hugging white dress with a black panel down the center and high heels. Her hair was pinned up in a sexy twist as she leaned over a set of drawings, talking with a skinny blonde and a tall, slim, bearded guy. His pulse ratcheted up, not just because she looked hot in that dress, but also because Serena had made it. Whether she was testing her boss’s patience or not, she was making a name for herself in one of the biggest design firms in the industry. His heart filled with happiness, and he vowed once again to do everything he could to support her success. He prepared himself to give her a kiss on the cheek andnotgrope her fine behind.
“Look who I found in the elevator,” Gavin said as they walked into the conference room.
Serena turned, and her whole face lit up. “Drake!” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him square on the lips. “You’re here! Why? And yourhair!” She ran her hands over his new short cut.
“I think she’s glad to see you,” Gavin said.
