Dances with Monsters(109)

"Separate rooms?" Mr. Carnevale demanded.

"Yes, sir."

"Dad," Drew said pointedly. She hated being discussed like she was neither present nor an adult; her father had always been like this, even with her older sisters, her entire life, but since the attack it had become so much worse.

"I'm just tryin' to make sure you're gonna be okay, sweetie," her father said. He lifted a finger. "My daughter better be safe wit' you."

"Yes, sir," Heath replied. "She is and she will be. Absolutely."

"All those violent guys, you can't keep an eye on her the whole time if you're fightin'," Mr. Carnevale went on. "I don't like the idea of her bein' alone. I know how these guys can be, especially with a pretty girl standin' around."

"She won't be alone, sir," Heath said. "My family is coming with me as well. My older brother and my father will be present. Drew will be in good hands while I'm in the ring."

"She better be," Mr. Carnevale said. "I told you before, I got a rifle and a shovel and a whole lot of connections."

Heath's mouth twitched and Drew knew he wanted to laugh. "Yes, sir. Roger that, sir."

Mr. Carnevale nodded, then stepped forward and extended his hand. Heath immediately grasped it, and they shook. Drew felt both touched and embarrassed; she loved seeing her father and Heath getting along but hated that she felt like such a helpless infant at times. She knew that was just how her father was, and how he'd always be, but it never ceased to annoy her.

"Okay," Drew said. "Heath has to be going now!" She looked up at him. "Right? You have to get to the gym. Or someplace that's not here."

He smiled down at her. "I do need to be going. Sir, ma'am," he turned back to her parents and shook hands with them both again. Drew had to roll her eyes when she saw her mother's eyes go wide and her hands flutter a little when Heath turned to her. "It was a pleasure as always."

"Goodbye, Heath," her mother said with a big smile. Her father merely nodded at him. Drew grabbed his arm and hustled him out of the kitchen toward the door.

"See? That wasn't so bad," Heath told her. "And your dad is fine with you coming with me. Now it's just up to you."

"Right," Drew said. "I guess that was about as painless as it's going to be."

"Now you just have to deal with how pissed he is that you were late," Heath added. He smiled innocently.

"You made me late!" she hissed, shoving his arm a little. "You were supposed to wake up and take me home!"

His smile turned mischievous as he opened the door. He glanced over her shoulder then leaned down, tilting his head until his lips were just a breath away. "You just seemed to sleeping so peacefully, all of a sudden," he murmured teasingly. "No clue why, though. I didn't want to wake you up."

"You know why," she murmured back, her annoyance forgotten as memories flooded her mind and her face heated up.

He laughed and leaned in, kissing her chastely. "What are you up to the rest of the day, after you leave here?"

"Working on my dance," she said.

"Thought you said the studio was being remodeled?"

"It is," she replied. "I'll just work on it at home. I don't prefer that, but, I really need to nail this thing. You?"

"Sparring and film," he replied. Drew realized that between both their endeavors, they likely wouldn't be seeing each other that evening.

"Drew!" her father's voice shouted. "Let's go."

She sighed and made a face, then smiled. "Duty calls," she said lightly. "Will you text or call me later?"

In reply, Heath leaned forward again and brushed her lips with his. It was reminiscent of their first kiss; sweet, almost loving, but there was just the slightest edge of the lightning hot passion that they'd managed to develop between them. She wanted to deepen the kiss but he suddenly pulled away.

"Have a good one, ma'am," he called, looking over her shoulder. He squeezed Drew's hand. "Talk to you later," he added, then with another wave to Drew's mother, he left, jogging toward his car. Drew sighed and turned around, seeing her mother standing against the counter with her arms folded. She was smiling widely.

"Mom," Drew said, but she couldn't stop smiling herself. "Please."

"I like that boy," her mother said. "So sweet. Such a gentleman. So good-looking, too."

"He is," Drew said simply. "All of those thing."

"Your father likes him, too," Mrs. Carnevale added as they walked back into the kitchen. "Don't let him fool you."