"What's going on in your beautiful mind?" He kissed her neck, and she closed her eyes, relaxing against his chest.
"You. Me. The Cape. Our friends. My new job."
"And here I thought I'd worn you out too much to think."
She turned in his arms. Her hands slid down his back, and she smiled up at him. "You did, but now that it's over, all that happiness helps me see things more clearly."
"And what do you see?"
"How lucky I am to have grown up where I did, with a mother who wasn't always around."
Every time he thought about her childhood, his blood came to a slow boil. She didn't see much of her mother, just a quick visit a few times a year. He knew perfectly well it was because her mother was still chasing men instead of taking care of herself, which upset Serena. "Why do you consider that lucky?"
"Because if I hadn't grown up where I did, or if I'd had it easy, I might not have ever gotten where I am today, with friends who have stuck by me and showed me that life could be anything I wanted it to be. And I might not have ever found you."
"It's hard to argue with that sort of thinking, but I still would have liked for your life to have been easier."
"Easy is for wimps." She wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him. "I'm Supergirl, remember?"
She was the bravest, strongest woman he knew. "That's not something I'll ever forget."
"Can we bring blankets out here and sleep on the lounger beneath the stars? I miss being outside like this."
"How about we bring the mattress out?"
She bounced on her toes. "Really? You don't mind?"
"Not at all."
"I think you just earned some amazing sexual favors!" She dragged him inside. "Can we order a pizza, too? I'm starved."
She was always starved, and for some weird reason, the fact that she never tried to hide it made him happy.
They set up their bed on the balcony, and when the pizza came, they ate it under the stars. He told her they'd hired Daphne. She was starting work in two weeks and would be coming to breakfast Sunday at Summer House to meet the rest of their friends.
"Really? That's fantastic. I liked her a lot, and I know she'll do a great job. So, you're really okay with me living in Boston?"
"I'm okay with you being anywhere you want to be. I know you have some issues with your job, but overall, are you happy there?"
"Yes. I think so. There's a lot to get used to, but today was great. The design center is incredible, and Gavin turned out to be even more down-to-earth than I thought. I like him. He seems honest, and I think he's a good person. I never would have guessed he was from a small town, but after spending much of today with him, I can see it in the things he says."
She set her plate on the deck and said, "I like everyone I work with, and even though my biggest client grates on my nerves, I don't dislike her. I just want more freedom to design. I'm taking Laura and Spence to see the nerve grater's space next week, and I'm bucking the system a little by taking them with me to meet a new client next week."
"Why is that bucking the system? I thought they were your teammates."
"They are, but it's not like here, where we're all an integral part of things. Or were, I guess. The company is all about prestige and money, so they really like senior designers to meet with clients alone initially, then bring in the team. But you know me. Why waste time with two visits when it can be done in one? I think showing up with a team shows them that they're important enough to have all of our attention, not just mine."
"Just don't get yourself fired, Ms. Blaze My Own Path." He pulled her against him and kissed her.
"As I told Laura and Spence, Mallerys don't get fired. We get fired up."
He nipped at her neck and said, "Fired up. Now, that's something I'd like to explore a little more."
"Mm. Think anyone can see us up here?"
"No, but just in case … " He pulled the blankets over them. "As long as you keep those sexy sounds you make to a minimum, we should be in the clear."
He kissed his way down her neck, earning one seductive sound after another.
"You might want to dial it down a little," he warned.
Her eyes flared with heat. "Maybe you should keep my mouth full so I'm not tempted to make noise."
"Yeah, baby. I like the way you think."
Chapter Fourteen
SERENA SNUGGLED DEEPER into the warmth of Drake's body as sunlight shone through her closed eyelids. She didn't want to open her eyes. She wasn't ready to let the rest of the world into their private haven. She wondered what time it was. She wanted to have breakfast with everyone and catch up on the last week. She had a busy day ahead. She was having lunch with the girls while Drake worked at the resort, and then she and Drake were going to meet the furniture delivery guys at the music store. Mira had texted earlier in the week to ask if Serena and Drake wanted to see a concert across from Mayo Beach tonight, and Serena was excited to do that, too. She'd had a busy social calendar here, whereas in Boston, so far she'd rarely had time to do anything but work.
Drake's thick arm tightened around her belly. "Morning, beautiful. Did you get any sleep, or did your mind whirl all night?"
He'd fallen asleep holding her, and he hadn't moved an inch, except to hold her tighter every time she shifted positions. She'd lain awake thinking about her job and her life and what it might have been like if she and Drake had been together when she was working at the resort. She'd eventually drifted off to sleep and into dreams woven of moments with Drake.
"There was a little whirling, but I eventually fell asleep." She opened her eyes, then immediately closed them against the bright sun. "Why don't we sleep under the stars all the time?"
"Because we live an hour and a half apart," he said groggily. "And we'd freeze our butts off in the winter."
"But it would be nice in the summer months. I get vacation days. Maybe I can take time off next summer and we can do it then."
He kissed the back of her neck. "I'm all for it."
"Mommy! There's someone on Uncle Drake's deck! See the feet?" Hagen's high-pitched voice drifted up to the deck.
Serena bolted upright on the mattress, scanning the ground. Mira was grinning up at her, one hand on Hagen's shoulder.
Hagen waved wildly. "It's Auntie Serena! What are you doing up there?"
Drake groaned, his arm snaking around her belly again.
"Hi, Hagen!" she called out as Drake sat up beside her.
"Hi, Uncle Drake! Are you having a slumber party with Serena?" Hagen looked up at Mira and said, "Mommy, can I sleep on our patio tonight? I want to have a slumber party, too!"
Mira said something to him that Serena couldn't hear. Then she looked up at them and said, "You guys missed breakfast."
"Sorry," Drake called out. He leaned closer to Serena and whispered, "I'm not sorry in the least. Let's go inside so I can feast on you."
He kissed her shoulder, making her stomach somersault.
"Shh. Your nephew is right there."
He pressed a tender kiss to her neck and said, "He can't hear me."
"But he can see you!"
"Okay, buddy boy, time to go," Mira said, turning Hagen away from Drake and Serena. "See you at lunch, Serena!"
"Bye!" Hagen looked back and waved. "Maybe I can sleep on Uncle Drake's deck tonight!"
"Not a chance," Drake said as he brought Serena back down to the mattress and brushed his lips over hers. "Weekends are ours."
"We are not fooling around out here in broad daylight." She tried to squirm out from under him to escape the oral assault he was lodging with his wicked mouth, but he pinned her wrists to the mattress.
His eyes turned dark as night as he said, "Couch? Kitchen counter? Shower?"
"Yes, yes, and double yes!"
Several hours later, after they conquered the couch, counter, floor, and the shower, Serena realized she had no clean clothes. There was no need to pack a bag to come home when she had clothes at her cottage. She put on one of Drake's shirts, tied it around the waist, and wore her shorts from last night.
"Aren't you missing something?" Her panties dangled from his finger.
"I'm not wearing dirty underwear. I'll run to my cottage and grab a pair." Her phone vibrated. She pulled it from her pocket and read Desiree's text. "Desiree said Violet left us a basket with breakfast on the stairs. I'm starved."
"I've got a meal for you."
She rolled her eyes. "I need sustenance. This girl's got to keep her stamina up to keep up with our activities."
On the steps to the apartment she found a basket filled with fresh fruit, two muffins, and a sealed pink envelope addressed to Drake. She carried it to the coffee table and handed him the envelope. "You and Des, huh? How does Rick feel about that?"