Page 41 of Bayside Heat
Rick’s response was immediate. We thought you blew us off. Hurry your ass up.
A brisk breeze, sunshine, and the sound of the bay kissing the shore were welcome companions as they ran down the beach. Drake looked forward to their morning runs, even in the winter, when the bitter cold brought them to the streets rather than the beach. Running took all the starch out of him before work each day, and catching up with the guys was always a nice way to start the day. They knew when to give each other space and when to push—emotionally and physically. Drake caught up to Rick and Dean about half a mile down the beach.
“You don’t look like a guy who finally got his girl,” Rick said.
Before Rick and Dean had fallen for their significant others, they’d dish about the women they’d gone out with. There was no way Drake was going to share any intimate information about Serena. “Yeah? Well, you look like a guy who’s about to get his ass kicked.”
Dean snickered.
“Tabling this discussion,” Rick said with a smirk. “Moving on to more important things, like why the hell didn’t anyone warn me that there was so much shit to plan for a wedding?”
“Emery said you were having a simple beach wedding,” Dean said. “What’s so complicated? Get someone to officiate, throw on some nice clothes, and get hitched.”
“You’d think so,” Rick said. “But Desiree is arranging tasting sessions with Brandy up in P-town. Tasting sessions. It’s a cake. It could come from the grocery store and no one would care.”
“Brandy’s doing the catering for our grand opening, too. Don’t you remember Serena and I doing a tasting with her last month? And that’s not a wedding. You really don’t understand women,” Drake said. “Desiree’s probably been dreaming of her wedding day forever, like most women. She wants everything to be perfect.”
“I’m glad you understand, because she wants all of us, guys and girls, to go to the tasting. She said our wedding plans should include all our friends.” Rick smirked.
“Great,” Drake said flatly.
Rick chuckled. “And flowers? Who knew picking them out could be so hard? Desiree set out pictures of different bouquets all over our bedroom. She said she needs to see which one feels right.”
“I knew I liked her,” Dean said. Having previously owned a landscaping business, he was all about flowers and plants. Now, not only did he manage the grounds of the resort, but he also maintained the gardens at the hospital where he’d once worked as a trauma nurse, as well as at LOCAL, where his grandmother lived.
Rick scowled. “You just wait. When are you and Emery going to tie the knot?”
They split up to run around a couple sitting on the beach, and while Dean and Rick talked about weddings, Drake’s mind traveled back to last night, to the moment he’d lifted Serena into his arms and had finally kissed her—and then he revisited every touch, every taste, every one of her sweet sounds. He’d made a damn liar of himself. But now, in the light of day, listening to Dean and Rick talk about their weddings, when he should feel selfish and apologetic, he didn’t. And given the chance, he’d do it all over again. That probably made him even more of a selfish prick, especially since he’d been right. On the cusp of what should be the most exciting time of Serena’s life, he’d confused the hell out of her.
“Drake!” Rick grabbed his arm and yanked him around a log he’d nearly run into. “Whoa, dude. Now you look like the guy who got the girl. What the hell happened? You zoned out for that last two miles.”
“Serena,” he said absently as the resort came into view. Wow. He really had zoned out. He hadn’t even registered turning around. “She happened to me.”
“It’s about fucking time,” Dean said.
“Does that mean you’ve given yourself permission to be a mere mortal?” Rick asked.
Drake was not in the mood to be given shit. “What…?”
“The other day you said you were man enough not to fuck with her head,” Rick reminded him. “It took you four years, but you finally realized you’re only human? Jesus, Drake. If I’d have known that all it would take was for her to get a new job, I’d have practically kicked her out the door ages ago. Do you have any idea how painful it was to watch you two together every time we went out?”
