"Did I wake you?"
He shook his head. "I've been awake for a while, wondering how long I had to wait before I could make love to you again without you thinking I was a letch."
"What if I like your lechery? We have years to catch up on, and we are going to be apart until next weekend. That leaves a lot of time for my body to forget how good you feel."
He nuzzled against her neck and said, "You think you'll forget, huh?"
"Uh-huh," she said breathlessly. "Maybe you should keep reminding me."
His wicked mouth claimed hers, kissing the fib right out of her as he drove her to the brink of oblivion and then sent her soaring to the clouds.
Later, after they'd loved each other thoroughly in her bed and again in the shower, greeting the day in a way she'd only dreamed of, Drake pulled on a pair of tan shorts and a green T-shirt, both of which hugged him in all the best places.
"What are you gawking at?" Catching her watching him in the mirror as she put on a pair of dangling peach earrings to match her peach-and-white tie-dyed tank top and khaki shorts, he circled her waist from behind.
She turned in his arms, so full of happiness she thought she might burst. "I've been crushing on you for so long, I keep expecting you to vanish or for me to wake up from the best dream ever."
His low laugh was music to her ears. He kissed her again, and then he swatted her butt. "This is no dream, sweetheart. Come on. Let's go find your grocery store and explore." He dug a palm-sized notebook from his backpack and handed it to her. "I started a list for you … well, for us."
"A list?" She flipped to the first page, taking in his familiar all-capped handwriting.
HARBORWALK
INSOMNIA COOKIES (OPEN UNTIL 3AM!)
FANEUIL HALL MARKETPLACE
THE CHEERS BAR (CHEERS BEACON HILL)
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
DUCK BOATS
FENWAY PARK
BOSTON TEA PARTY SHIPS & MUSEUM
AQUARIUM
BLACKBIRD DOUGHNUTS
"You found an all-night cookie place?" She launched herself into his arms. "When did you have time to do this?"
"When I couldn't stop thinking about you and your new life and I realized how much I wanted to be a part of it. I want to explore Boston with you and see your gorgeous smile and your eyes light up when you see some of those things for the first time."
"Who knew you were so romantic?"
"Definitely not me," he said as he pushed his feet into a pair of loafers. "But you're annihilating everything I thought I knew about myself."
"I prayed to the devil to get you to stop being so restrained around me. Where do you want to start exploring?" she asked excitedly.
He checked the time on his phone. "I promised Hagen I'd take him sailing today, so I have only a few hours. I've got to be on the road by noon, and I want to make sure we get your groceries so you don't have to stress over that."
She'd forgotten Mira had mentioned the sailing trip. Knowing he drove all that way just to be with her when he had to rush back made their time together even more special.
"I'm Supergirl, remember? I can get my own groceries, and according to the handy-dandy list you made me, Insomnia Cookies will make sure I don't starve. I say we explore."
He chuckled. "Okay, Supergirl. Exploring it is."
She put on a pair of cute sandals and they headed outside. It was a gorgeous, cool morning, made even brighter by the feel of Drake's hand claiming hers.
"Let's head toward Faneuil Hall Marketplace and see what we can find," she suggested.
"I'm yours until noon. You lead, I'll follow." He leaned in for a kiss.
How could something as simple as a kiss make her swoon like a schoolgirl? Yet here she was, grinning so hard it hurt, her heart racing like he'd just proposed, as they crossed the street.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" he asked casually.
"Yes and no. I'm confident about my skills, but I am a little out of my element here. I hope my creativity hasn't become too Cape Coddish."
"It's not like you've only been decorating beach cottages with Shift. And look at what you've done with the music stores and the resort. I don't think you're too Cape Coddish at all."
She waved at the high-rise buildings, the traffic on the four-lane streets. "I know, but there's definitely a difference between the corporate business world on the Cape and here. That's what I'm nervous about. That and fitting in with city people."
"Look around you, Supergirl." He motioned toward the people walking by. "They're just people."
"City people," she pointed out. "They think differently than we do."
"And you have always thought big. You're the perfect blend of corporate woman and beach girl." As they waited for a light to change, he gathered her in his arms and said, "I'll tell you what. Anyone gives you a hard time, you send them my way. And next weekend, when you come home to help with the music store, I'll make you feel better."
"Now, that sounds promising."
The light changed, and a few minutes later they crossed over the water and stopped to enjoy the view. It was so different from Wellfleet, with all the tall buildings along the shore and no sandy beaches.
"It smells different from Wellfleet," she said. "But it still makes me feel closer to home to see the water."
Drake put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. "I'll bring sand next time. We'll fill up a baby pool with it and put it on your balcony. Do you have a balcony? I don't remember seeing one."
"No, but I read about a rooftop deck. We can put it there, throw on bathing suits, and … It still won't be home," she said. "But if you're with me, it'll be close enough."
They talked about the music store as they continued walking.
"Did you connect with Carey?" she asked. Carey Osten was a free-spirited musician and record aficionado who had helped Drake run several of his stores over the years. Carey traveled often, and usually lived in his old Dodge van. Though he owned a cell phone, he wasn't married to it like most of the people they knew. Sometimes it took him weeks to return calls.
"He got back to me yesterday. He's on his way back from California. He'll be at the opening, ready to run the store. I confirmed with Cree, too. She's all set." Lucretia "Cree" Redmond was in her early twenties and dressed like a mini-Violet. She had an affable personality without the snark Violet so proudly touted. Cree played several instruments, and although she worked for their friend Sky in her tattoo parlor in Provincetown, she had agreed to also work part-time at the music store.
"I spoke to Cree, too, and Maddy and Evan. That's a few more things off our to-do list." Madison Barber was in town for the summer visiting her sister, Lizzie, and had also agreed to work part-time at the music store. She was in her early twenties and lived in Harborside, Massachusetts, not far from the Cape. She and Evan Grant, the son of their friends Bella and Caden, had graduated from college together in Harborside. Evan lived and worked full-time on the Cape and had offered to help out with the grand opening.
They talked about the minutiae of opening another store-supplies, insurance, modifying the employee handbook, and a number of other things. Drake was as organized as Serena was, and even when they disagreed, they always found a way to compromise. She loved how in sync they were when it came to business. As long as that business isn't me leaving the resort, she mused.
"Check out Kane's Donuts!" A young guy handed them a flyer with mouthwatering pictures of doughnuts and a coupon for twenty percent off.
"Where is this?" Serena asked. "We have to go there!"
Drake kissed her again. "That's the look of surprise I adore."
He was stealing so many kisses, acting like they'd always been a couple, and Serena realized, in many ways, they always had.
The guy gave them directions to the doughnut shop around the corner. The aroma of cinnamon, chocolate, warm pastries, and coffee surrounded them.
Serena moaned, clutching Drake's arm. "I want to bathe in this smell."
His eyes darkened, and he pressed his cheek to hers, speaking in a rough voice. "I'll fill your bathtub with doughnuts. You bathe in it, and I'll lick you clean."
He gave her neck a little bite, sending sparks skittering through her.
Oh boy. How was she going to eat now?
"Hey there, lovebirds," the pretty blonde said from behind the counter as she set a tray of powdered doughnuts behind the glass display. She wiped her hands on her apron and set one hand on her hip, flashing a friendly smile. "What can I get you?"
Her warm blue eyes swept over them as they drooled over the delicious-looking options. Drake didn't hesitate, ordering for both of them.
"We'll take two iced coffees, a Chocolate Orgasm, and a Boston cream doughnut."