Page 84 of Bayside Heat
Drake chuckled. “Sounds like my girl. I heard you had drinks last night.”
“Someone’s got to watch out for the women in this office. Although, from what I’ve seen, Serena can be a real ballbuster. I doubt many guys could pull the wool over her eyes.”
“She’s strong, that’s for sure.”
“Did she tell you she went head-to-head with the big boss this morning for taking her juniors on an initial client visit?”
“No, but that doesn’t surprise me. She stands up for what she believes in. Hopefully it didn’t get her in any real trouble.”
Gavin shrugged. “All I know is that the door was closed for a long time, and when Serena finally came out, I asked how it went and she said if they expect her to run a team, then they need to give her the space to do it right.”
Drake cringed inwardly. He’d been around enough to know that some executives didn’t like to have their decisions challenged. “That’s my girl,” he said as the elevator opened on their floor. “She doesn’t know I’m here, by the way. I was in the area and wanted to surprise her.”
“Come on. I’ll take you back to see her.”
He followed Gavin through the elaborate offices, which were vastly different from their offices at the Cape, and exactly what Serena had always talked about getting into. Guys in suits and women in professional dresses and slacks moved busily about. He was glad he’d thought to clean himself up a bit and wear slacks and a dress shirt.
Gavin pointed across the room to a glass-walled office. “That’s her office, but she’s probably still in the conference room with her team.”
He led Drake down a hall to a glass-walled conference room. Drake took a moment to watch Serena through the glass. She was dressed in a curve-hugging white dress with a black panel down the center and high heels. Her hair was pinned up in a sexy twist as she leaned over a set of drawings, talking with a skinny blonde and a tall, slim, bearded guy. His pulse ratcheted up, not just because she looked hot as hell in that dress, but also because Serena had made it. Whether she was testing her boss’s patience or not, she was making a name for herself in one of the biggest design firms in the industry. His heart filled with happiness, and he vowed once again to do everything he could to support her success. He prepared himself to give her a kiss on the cheek and not grope her fine ass.
“Look who I found in the elevator,” Gavin said as they walked into the conference room.
Serena turned, and her whole face lit up. “Drake!” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him square on the lips. “You’re here! Why? And your hair!” She ran her hands over his new short cut.
“I think she’s glad to see you,” Gavin said.
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.
