Page 27 of A Place Like You

Well, there are other reasons why I’ve carefully built these walls around my heart. The defenses I’ve constructed to shield myself from pain and disappointment.

Drake’s enticing presence, his easy charm, stirs a yearning within me, a carnal hunger for affection and sex. My heart longs for love. My skin aches to be touched. I want to taste his mouth, feel his hands . . .

He’s not close, but I can imagine the firmness of his lips, his taste—feel the warmth of his touch against my skin. But I know that indulging in such fantasies is dangerous. The appeal to satiate my needs clashes with the reasons to resist—the knowledge that he’ll leave, the secrets I carry, the potential for heartbreak.

So, I make an effort to resist him. Behind a small, subtle smile, I hide my emotions, a mask to shield myself from vulnerability.

Remember, he’s your employee.

Next week, he’ll be working for me, but I don’t trust men like him—men who seem too captivating, but they’re too temporary. Not with my heart.

But can I resist him?

With every breath, I am reminded of how much I long to be seen, to be cherished by someone who understands the depths of my soul. Not that Drake is capable of such, but I wish I could have someone like that in my life.

He could at least fulfill my fantasies. Drake’s magnetism is undeniable, his appearance tantalizing. And as he stands before me, my heart wrestles with the vulnerability of admitting what I yearn for.

“Enjoying your night?” he asks, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue. The way his gaze lingers on me sends a jolt of anticipation through my veins. It’s been so long since I’ve had someone like him in my life—someone attractive, someone who stirs something inside me that I can’t quite put into words.

I let out a soft chuckle, trying to maintain a sense of composure. “Sure.”

“Where’s Milo?” he inquires.

I show him the baby monitor, a silent reassurance that my son is sound asleep. “Sound asleep since eight,” I respond, a mixture of exhaustion and relief washing over me. Being a single mother has its challenges, but moments like these make it all worthwhile.

Drake’s eyes flicker with interest. “Shouldn’t you be doing the same? Resting, I mean.”

A wistful smile tugs at my lips. “I’m not tired. Usually, I would be hanging out with my friends. Saturday night is like our girls’ night out, but Sutton is in Evergreen, Regina had a family thing to attend, and Jez is closing the bar,” I share, inadvertently revealing more about myself than I intended.

He bobs his head a couple of times, as if understanding why after midnight I’m still wide awake. “So it’s just you tonight? Do you want some company?”

I gesture toward the empty chair beside the table where the wine sits, its ruby hues reflecting the flickering fire. “Do you want some wine?” I point toward the second glass of wine I bought in case Sutton escaped her parents’ house a day earlier or Gina decided to come by.

“I might be alone, but I’m still having wine, relaxing with the company of a good book. It was a stressful week.” I share a knowing smile with him.

Drake’s gaze lingers on me, his eyes conveying a warmth that sends a tingle down my spine. A magnetic pull urges me to lean closer, to kiss him, but I steel myself against the temptation.

I must resist.

Must resist.

Must.

Resist.

But how long will I be able to resist him?

Chapter Sixteen

Wren

“Why are you still up?” I inquire, steering the conversation toward him, attempting to distract myself from an impossible fantasy.

Drake, me, and any surface in my house.

No, focus on him. Maybe I can find out why he doesn’t sleep much. I recall him saying that he operated on a different schedule. It could be code for I take naps all day, or I have trouble falling asleep. Insomnia is more common than people want to admit.

“I was hanging with two of my brothers when Gael joined us and mentioned you were still outside.” He scans the area. “At the mercy of people.”

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