Page 97 of Bayside Heat
“That doesn’t fill me up,” she said. “It only makes me hungrier for real food.”
He leaned down and kissed her.
“Hey, lovebugs,” Desiree called from behind them.
They turned and greeted Desiree, Rick, and Violet. Desiree and Rick looked beyond happy, holding hands and smiling. Desiree’s hair was pinned up in a ponytail.
“Don’t you mean hump bunnies?” Violet smirked. Her raven hair was wild and loose around her shoulders. She wore her typical summer duds, one of her many black bikini tops and a black miniskirt, along with her biker boots, of course.
“Violet!” Desiree chastised. “Why do you always have to make something nice sound dirty?”
“Who says dirty isn’t nice?” Violet shot back.
“I’m with Vi on this one. Sorry, Des,” Serena said as they stepped onto Dean and Emery’s patio.
“Hey, are we still planning to go tubing after the wedding tasting a week from Saturday?” Drake asked, thinking about getting Serena back out on the water.
“Yes,” Rick said.
“We’ll need it after all the wedding gushing I’ll have to listen to,” Violet added.
Dean came outside carrying a tray of bowls. “How’s it going?” His hair was sticking up all over, he was shirtless, and he had a big red hickey on his shoulder.
Emery followed him out, looking flushed and carrying several boxes of cereal. “This is the last time we host,” she said a little breathlessly. She dropped the cereal boxes on the table, set her hands on her hips, and said, “Hosting breakfast is way too much pressure.”
Drake squeezed Serena’s hand. “Maybe my girlfriend should give you a lesson in planning.” He still couldn’t believe she’d not only set up the store and their usual grand opening while living hundreds of miles away, but she’d managed to book one of the biggest rock stars around and had kept it a secret.
“Yeah, here’s a hint. Don’t give up sex to feed other people.” Serena looked around nervously. “Oh geez. For a second I forgot Matt and Mira were taking Hagen to the go-karts today. She has given me strict orders never to talk about our sex life around her.”
They all laughed and began pouring cereal into their bowls.
“Why don’t you two go finish your fuckery and get cleaned up,” Violet said to Emery and Dean, who were standing at the other end of the table, kissing and whispering. As they disappeared into the house, Violet turned her attention to Serena. “What you did for Drake was beyond kick-ass. I’m sorry you missed it.”
“You’ve been there for everything big in his life,” Rick said. “It stinks that you couldn’t be there.”
“Tell me about it.” Serena poured milk into her cereal and pushed it around in her bowl. “But what really matters is that he got to experience it. Thanks again for all your help, for keeping the secret, and for all the pictures and the video. It wouldn’t have gone over so well without your help.”
“Listen, what’s a small-town girl to do when things get tough and you’re working hard to get your fill. Don’t stop believin’, right?” Rick chuckled.
“Absolutely,” Violet said. “You’ve got to hold on to that feeling.”
“Otherwise it just goes on and on,” Desiree chimed in with a pleased-with-herself sparkle in her eyes.
Drake laughed. “All right. I get it.”
Serena belted out the chorus to “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and they all joined in. Drake scrubbed a hand down his face, trying to hide his amusement. He was so in love with her, and every playful thing she did made him fall even harder.
Desiree rushed over and pushed a napkin in front of Drake, fluttering her lashes, and spoke in the breathy voice of a teenager. “Can I get your autograph, Mr. Rock Star?”
“You guys are fools,” Drake said goodheartedly.
Desiree hugged him. “Fools who love you, best soon-to-be-brother-in-law in the world.” She went around the table hugging each of them. When she got to Violet, Violet rolled her eyes. “One day you’re going to be the hugger and I’ll be the huggee.”
