*
A few orgasms later, they finally emerged from the outdoor shower. She always kept an extra set or two of towels outside and quickly grabbed a couple, handing one to Drew.
“I’ll hang our clothes up to dry after I wash them.”
“Thank you.” He smiled at her, making her heart flip in her chest. “We are doing this completely backwards. Or sideways. Unconventionally. I need to take you out on a proper date.”
Wrapping a towel around herself, she walked inside the house. Drew followed close behind. “I don’t feel like going out tonight. That would require dressing up, and I’d rather hang out here. Let’s get something to go instead. I’ll call Jack’s to place an order after I get dressed.”
“You don’t want a date?”
Glancing at him over her shoulder, she enjoyed the look of shock on his face. She knew he didn’t shock easily. “Is that a problem?”
“No.” He ran a hand through his short, wet hair. “I should get my suitcase. I’m allowed to change, right?”
“No suits,” she teased.
“I have casual suits.”
“Then I guess you’ll have to go naked.” She let the towel drop and heard his sharp intake of breath. Slowly, she rummaged around her dresser drawers, pulling out a pair of lacy panties and a soft t-shirt, forgoing a bra.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” He came more fully into the room, his towel practically hanging on his lean hips.
“You don’t think this is appropriate to pick up take-out?”
A possessive look entered his dark eyes. “No wife of mine will ever been seen like that except by me.”
Thrills of pleasure ran through her at his words. She made to take off her shirt. “I can always wear less.”
“I can always put you over my knee,” he murmured.
Was he serious? “You can always try.”
“Is that an invitation?”
“No, it’s warning.” Oh yeah, she was definitely out of her league with Drew. A hint of doubt tried to claw its way inside of her, but she refused to let it get a foothold.
He was her husband now, five-year limit or not, and no matter what, she would convince him that marriage was forever.
Chapter Ten
Never had Drew had this much fun with anyone. Hell, he didn’t think he’d ever been this relaxed in the past seven years. Maybe it was a combination of mutual satisfaction, great company, and good food.
Sitting on Hannah’s back deck, with the sun setting behind them, they ate take-out from Jack’s fine Italian Dining and watched the tide roll in. It was perfect. From the red wine to the light breeze, to the stars beginning to twinkle at dusk.
“Do you know how awkward it is to have to call a guest because they left their strap-on in the bathroom?” she asked.
Drew nearly choked on his fettuccini noodles. “You had to do that?”
She nodded. “I filled in at customer service once. Never did it again.”
“Informing guests of their left behind sex toys too much for you?”
“Yeah. It’s one thing to find them, quite another to actually have to call the guest, and then have that person describe it in detail to make sure it’s theirs. The trip to the post office isn’t all it’s cracked up to be either when you’re out of boxes.”
For the umpteen time that night, Drew laughed so hard that his cheeks were starting to get sore. “Is that a policy?”
“Strap-ons? I think that’s purely a personal decision.” Winking at him, she took a sip of wine.
The witch. “Ah, no. Calling guests when they leave something behind.”
She frowned. “You don’t think it’s a good idea?”
“Actually, I think it’s great customer service.”
Her frown gave way to a smile. “My grandparents instituted the policy. I’ll keep it when I take over once they retire next year.”
“You own the place now, remember?” Or she would as soon as he had the deed put in her name.
Her cheeks pinkened. “That’s so odd to hear. I own The Magnificent Dunes. Wow.”
“Who will you hire to manage it?”
She gave him a look. “I plan to manage it.”
Though he fully supported breaking glass ceilings, he didn’t relish the thought of Hannah away from him during the spring and summer, and there was no way he’d move Montgomery Industry to the eastern part of the state. Like her, he had to actually be at his company’s flagship building in order to make sure it ran like a well-oiled machine.
“How can you manage it from Charlotte?”
“Um, I won’t. I’ll manage it from here and on site.”