Page 62 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
Serena took a step back and said, “Sorry. I’m more than glad.Shocked, in the very best way.”
“I’ve got to make a few calls,” Gavin said. “It’s nice to meet you, Drake.”
Drake shook his hand again. “Let me know if you’re ever on the Cape. We’ll grab a beer.”
“Sounds good,” Gavin said on his way out the door.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Serena said again. “Why are you here?”
“I’m checking out some vintage guitars about a half hour from here and thought I’d stop in and surprise you.”
She touched his hair again. “And you cut your hair?”
“I figured I should clean up for your fancy new digs.”
“I love it,” she said. “You look very hot and very professional. Now please grow it out again.” She turned her back to the others and gave him a quick, seductive wink that brought a wave of awareness to his entire body.
“Anything for you, Supergirl.”
“Supergirl?” the bearded guy said. “That’s the perfect name for our chief.”
“I’m not a chief,” Serena insisted. “We’re a team. One for all and all for one. Spencer, Laura, this is Drake. Drake, these are the talented designers I told you about. The best team a girl could ask for.”
Spencer stood up to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. How do you keep up with her? She’s a whirlwind.” He was tall and lean and looked like he belonged at a chic coffee shop with a laptop. He was what Rick called a hipster, with his black-framed glasses and wearing a navy shirt with a white-diamond pattern, a brown sport coat, and dark skinny slacks.
“That she is,” Drake said proudly. He would find it hard to keep up with the fashion of the city, but Serena had seamlessly made the transition.
“No, seriously. She comes up with ideas that blow everyone out of the water,” Spencer explained.
“Serena’s a great boss,” Laura said. She stood to shake his hand. She was pin thin and also fashionably dressed in a pair of taupe slacks and a ruffled white blouse.
“Teammate,” Serena corrected her.
“Bosswho doesn’t mind bucking the system,” Laura said. “Serena took us on an initial client visit, which we never do. It’s amazing how much more we gleaned from hearing the client’s initial thoughts on the project.” She pointed to the designs and catalogs spread out on the table. “We’re only a couple hours into this project, and look. We’ve almost got it nailed down. She’s taken the collaboration process to a whole new level.”
Serena looked blissfully happy, fully alive, the way she had when she was in the design and coordination phase during their first year of business. The way she looked each time they opened a music store. No wonder she was sad when she didn’t get to help bring all of her ideas to fruition with him for the grand opening. He’d unknowingly stolen that joy from her.
“That’s awesome,” he finally said. “Serena’s a remarkable woman. Can I take you all to lunch?”
Serena winced. “I’m sorry. I wish we could, but we have to leave in twenty minutes to get over to the law office we’re designing. I wish I’d known you were coming. I could have rearranged our schedule.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he said, masking his disappointment. “I’m glad I got to see you and meet your team.”
“We had thebestmeeting this morning for a home-library renovation. And Laura’s right. We’re cruising right along with it.”
“I’ll get out of your hair.” He put a hand on her hip and bent to kiss her cheek.
“I’d rather you got tangled upinmy hair,” she whispered in his ear.
He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of it, holding her gaze and wishing he could pull her into his arms and kiss her properly.
“I’m just going to walk him to the elevator,” she said to the others.
“It was great meeting you both,” he said. “Good luck with your projects.”
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” Serena said on the way to the elevators. “My two worlds have collided, and I couldn’t be happier.”
The elevator arrived, and he said, “Wanna bet?” as he pulled her inside.
