The girls obediently trotted down the hall and he waited for Drew to catch up, taking her hand and pulling her close. He hung back for a moment and leaned down for a quick kiss.
"Having fun?" he murmured.
"Yes!" Drew exclaimed. "The girls are a blast. Your family is really great, Heath."
He smiled in reply and led her down the hall. Drew glanced at the clock on the wall and was surprised to see that it was already well after eight o'clock. The afternoon and evening had passed quickly between sitting outside in the lowering evening sun—listening to stories from John and Connor and Lana, talking about current events, their likes and dislikes—and holding an impromptu dance class with the two small girls. She had genuinely enjoyed herself and liked his family immensely.
John shook her hand, then brought it to his lips to peck it quickly.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, sweetie," he said with a smile. "I can see why my boy likes you so much."
"Thanks," she said, returning his smile a little shyly. "It was nice to meet you, too, John. Maybe I'll see you at the end of the week, for the tournament."
"I hope you do come," John said. "It would mean a lot to him if you were there."
"John, leave her alone," Heath spoke up from a few feet away where he was hugging his nieces goodbye. "She's still thinking about it."
"I hope you come," Lana exclaimed, surprising Drew by pulling her into a quick hug goodbye. "It would be nice to have another woman there. My God, all that testosterone just really tests your patience sometimes. Even more so than having kids." She smiled at Drew.
"I'm—I'm planning to go," Drew said, seeing Heath's head lift to look at her in surprise. "I'll see you all there. And keep you company," she added to Lana.
"Excellent!" Connor said, reaching out to give her a quick one-armed hug. "You'll like it. It's exciting. Don't listen to my wife."
"Okay," Drew agreed with a laugh.
Heath accepted another round of kisses from his nieces before pushing them gently in Drew's direction.
"Say goodbye," he instructed and the girls ran to her, hugging her around the legs and waist, depending on what they could reach. Drew wobbled from the impact of their enthusiasm.
"Whoa," she said with a laugh. "Hey, it was nice meeting you guys. Remember to point those toes and bring your passés up nice and high behind your knees on your piqués, okay?"
The girls nodded solemnly and promised they would while Heath shook his head at Connor, looking mystified.
"She just said a whole bunch of words I don't get," Connor said, in response to the look Heath gave him. Everyone laughed.
"As long as they get it," Drew said, winking at the girls. "If your girls work hard you can be in my class when you get a little older. Okay?"
"Okay!" they both chimed. Lucy tugged on her hand. "Come back and see us soon, okay, Drew?"
"I will," Drew promised. "Be good for your parents."
When they were in the car and heading back toward the city, Heath reached over and took her hand.
"Had fun?" he asked, even though he already knew she had. She smiled at him, realizing he was probably more apprehensive about the meet than she'd noticed before.
"Lots of fun," she replied, squeezing his hand. "Your family is great."
"Is that why you said you'd come to Smackdown?" he asked her quietly. "Or because you felt peer-pressured?"
"I want to come," Drew said sincerely. "Really and truly I do. I'm in." The wide grin she got in return took her by surprise and for a minute she was lost in how great his smile was.
"Good," he said. "That makes me happy." That made her happy and she could only smile back at him.
They drove along in silence until they neared Bloomfield. Drew bit her lip and smiled to herself. If she had anything to say about it, the night wasn't over yet.
"You should probably just come over to my place this time," she said, the fingers of her other hand stroking over his. "Since I obviously can't trust you to keep proper track of my time."
He glanced over at her. "You might be right about that," he said quietly, his voice sounding a little deeper somehow. "Just to be on the safe side, of course."
When they arrived, Drew hopped out of the car and hurried to stand at the door, waiting for Heath to catch up with an impatient look.
"What's the hurry?" he asked with a smirk.
In reply, she grasped his waist and pulled him toward her, pressing up on her toes to reach him. In heels, she never had to stretch so far but their height difference always struck her when she was flat-footed. She brushed his lips with hers, in the way he always did to her, smiling when she felt him lean into her a little more. Silently she turned around to unlock the door, and pulled him inside after her. His hands stayed on her waist as he followed her up to the third floor. When they reached her door, she turned around to face him again and he gave her a little push until she was pressed against it. He moved in until his body was completely flush with hers and took the lead in kissing her this time. He sucked gently at her bottom lip and Drew found that she had to restrain herself from the sudden urge to wrap her leg around the back of his thigh.