Absolutely Famous(69)

“You … you can stay here that long?”

“For you, anything.” He has that look on his face that I’ve come to love and associate with everything Drew; honest, open, caring. He means what he says and then follows through. Sometimes I don’t like the way he goes about it, but what he does is always for us, for me.

When I don’t answer right away, I see a flicker of doubt on his face and I hurry to set his mind at ease. “I’d love for you to stay, more than anything. I don’t want us to be apart again.”

“Me either.” He lowers his mouth to mine and presses his tongue against my mouth, causing me to gasp. Drew wastes no time diving in when my lips part, kissing me like I’m the only person on Earth. Right now, in this moment, it feels like we are the only two people on Earth, so right for each other even when things go so horribly wrong for us.

He stops and brushes his thumb across my swollen lips. “I love you Sydney. Now let’s get dinner, I’m starving.” He gives me a huge grin, revealing his panty-dropping dimple and my heart flops around in my chest gasping for air.

“Okay.”

Drew takes my hand again and leads me to the elevators. I push the down button and wait, thinking about our conversation. He’s going to be here, in London. With me until the renovation is complete. I’m so excited that I can’t stop grinning like a complete idiot. I look over at Drew, who is chatting a few steps away with Steve, and feel the electricity between us crackle, igniting the tiny nerves that pulse through my body. I’m getting turned on and he’s not even touching me. How does he do it?

The elevator dings and Drew steps over, taking my hand in his. When the doors open, I step in without looking. Not paying attention, I crash into a very surprised Oliver Clarke, who drops the stack of papers that he had been holding and they flutter to the floor around us.

“Sydney?” he says in surprise, looking me slowly up and down.

“Sorry Oliver, I didn’t see you. I … I wasn’t … I didn’t think,” crap! “I’m so embarrassed,” I squeak out trying to gather all of the papers.

“I’ve got it Sydney,” Oliver says as he takes them from my hands.

I feel Drew’s large presence behind me and he puts his big hands on my shoulders possessively. “I’m Andrew Forrester, and you are?” His voice is cold, hard. He definitely didn’t miss Oliver checking me out, that’s for sure.

“Oliver Clarke, project manager for Vertigo. You must be Sydney’s boyfriend?” Neither of them makes a move to shake hands.

“That’s right, I am.” I turn and glare at Drew over my shoulder. He’s acting like a total ass.

“I’ve uh, heard good things about you,” Oliver says unconvincingly. “Visiting London, are you?”

Holy crap Oliver, stop making conversation and let us leave! The testosterone is spiking to dangerous levels around me.

“No, I’ll be here with Sydney until the project is over,” he says calmly, stepping out from behind me and taking my hand. “If you’ll excuse us, we have reservations,” he says signaling Steve to get the elevator.

“No problem.” Oliver steps out of the way so we can leave, “See you tomorrow then, Sydney.” He looks at me once more, then turns and walks into the club.

I say nothing, my mouth gaping open and closed like a damn idiot. Drew drags me by the hand into the elevator and smashes the button for the ground floor. I know he doesn’t want to say anything in front of Steve, but he’s way too angry to stay quiet. “What the fuck was that?”

“Which part? The part where you got all caveman and practically clubbed me and dragged me out by my hair or the part where you acted like a total douchbag to my boss!”

I hear a snicker behind me and see Drew scowl at Steve for his very uncharacteristic laughing.

Drew turns his body so he’s face to face with me. “The part where that asshole eye-fucked you with me standing right there! Is he doing that every day when you work together?”

“What? No! You’re crazy.” I dismissive him even though I know he’s right. Oliver is attracted to me, I’m not stupid. And my crazy sex-starved hormones reacted to him today so now he has ideas in his head that I unintentionally encouraged.

“Sydney, I’m not crazy. That guy wants to fuck you,” he growls.

“He does not! We work together and that’s it.”

“We’ll see.” Drew narrows his eyes.

I put my hands on my hips and stare him down. “I just want it to be noted that I dressed conservatively just like you requested, and according to you I was still hit on buy a guy. Now you know that what I wear out has no basis for whether or not men look at me,” I snap.