Page 59 of Bayside Heat
“I like you all edgy and hot for me,” she said seductively.
“I’m hot for you every damn 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 need a panty change.”
“That does not make 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 alongside whipped 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 with you.”
Serena took a moment to breathe before 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.
