Page 29 of Bayside Heat
“It’s a bad idea,” she panted out.
Her words, along with the roar of a motorcycle, crashed through his reverie. He released her like he’d been burned. “Bad idea. Right. Sorry.” I’m a fucking prick.
“No—” She grabbed his hand, leaning closer. “This isn’t a bad idea. That’s what the lie is. We’re not making a liar out of you. You just had a bad idea in the first place.”
A series of successive taps on the window made them both jump.
“Fuck.” He rolled down his window, and Violet peered in. “Hey,” he ground out.
Violet’s gaze sailed over Serena, and Drake fisted his hands to keep from shifting in his seat and blocking Violet’s view of Serena’s lust-filled eyes, tousled hair, and pert nipples poking against the thin material of her top.
“You guys coming in?” Violet arched a brow. “Or coming out here?”
THERE WERE NO words to describe the feeling of walking into the crowded, dimly lit bar between Violet, who was smirking like she’d caught Serena and Drake having sex, and Drake. Drake radiated sexual energy as he hulked beside her like a bodyguard who’d been told not to touch his charge. He practically growled at the men who dared look at her. They’d been there for a while, and she still hadn’t calmed down. She swallowed hard, shifting in her seat. The man hadn’t even kissed her on the mouth and he’d practically melted her thong off.
The erratic beat of the music amped up the thrum of heat buzzing inside her as she watched Drake carry their drinks from the bar. His eyes blazed into hers, fiercely sexy and haltingly arresting. She touched the bracelet he’d given her, remembering how he’d held her stare with a wicked look in his eyes as he’d wound it around her wrist. She knew she’d see that look late at night when she was alone in the dark, reliving the feel of his lips on her cheek, his hot breath warming her to her core. But for now she tried to push the memory away, drinking him in as he approached. His cocksure stride drew the eyes of nearly every woman he passed. He looked scrumptious in the black linen shirt she’d given him last Christmas. It had quickly become one of her favorites because he always left the top buttons open, giving her a peek at the dusting of chest hair beneath. Some guys were too hairy, others shaved or waxed their chests, but Drake had the perfect amount of chest hair, and now, as he closed the distance between them like a lion stalking his prey, she imagined what it would feel like against her breasts.
Violet leaned back in her chair. Her black top rose at the hem, exposing an inch of tanned skin above her hip-hugging black leather miniskirt. She took a picture of Drake with her phone. Then she handed the phone to Serena and said, “Don’t drool on it.”
Serena rolled her eyes and shoved the phone back to Violet. “It’s not what you think.”
“Enlighten me,” Violet said with a smirk. “Because that blond skank is trying her best to seduce him, and he can’t take his eyes off you.”
Serena glanced over, and her insides flamed at the way he was looking at her. And just as quickly, jealousy clawed its way up her spine at the sight of a pretty blonde pawing at his arm. She didn’t know what to make of what had happened in the truck, but she knew what she wanted to make of it. And she knew that might not be smart for all the same reasons Drake had so diligently outlined for her yesterday.
Her gut twisted as he leaned down and said something to the blonde. This time tomorrow she’d have no idea where he was or who he was with. Panic gripped her. She shifted her eyes to the dance floor to try to calm her nerves. They weren’t even a couple. It shouldn’t matter what he did or who he was with, despite those few scorching moments in the truck. As it was, she had no idea who he was with most nights. Sure, they texted often, but she didn’t pry, and he didn’t offer details. She only knew that in the mornings they either met up at Summer House for breakfast with their friends, or he arrived at the resort shortly after her, on his way back from his morning run. She was sure he’d been with women over the years, but she couldn’t remember him having anyone by his side even once when they were out as a group.
