Page 83 of Bayside Heat
“What else?” he asked. “I see a storm brewing in your eyes, and I don’t want to let you leave until we talk it out.”
“It’s ridiculous. Not important.” She put her arms around his neck and said, “Kiss me. I’ll be fine.”
“But I won’t be fine knowing you’re not really fine,” he said sternly, and that dimple appeared in his cheek. “If this is going to work, we have to be totally honest with each other. Talk to me, Serena.”
“It’s just…I really like Daphne, and I’m happy you guys hired her. She’ll do a great job, but it feels weird being replaced so quickly.”
“Remember how irritated you were when I didn’t hire her right away?”
“I know,” she said sharply. “I told you it was ridiculous.”
“No. It’s not ridiculous.”
“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-four midthirties?”
“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 absolutely no hurry. 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 had nearly enough 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.”
