Sweet Heat at Bayside(42)

     



 

"I know you're upset about missing Drake's surprise and his grand  opening," Gavin said as they headed into the parking garage after the  KHB event. "But you did well in there. Your clients, and your team, love  you."

"Thank you. You did, too," she said as they entered the garage. "I can't  believe they do this every month. Don't you get sick of it? It seems  like more of an excuse to eat expensive food, drink, and brag about  KHB's newest design awards than anything else."

Clients had showed up in droves, and Suzanne gave each and every one of  them a good bit of attention, which Serena was actually impressed by. "I  can see the value in doing it every once in a while, but every month  seems like overkill."

"Hey, if I were Suzanne, I'd do something once a year, and I'd invite current clients as well as past clients."

"Yes! Exactly. Fewer events could yield higher returns, bringing back  past clients and making everyone want to attend because it's special. I  spent my internship working for a design firm in Dartmouth and learning  from my sixty-plus-year-old boss. That man had been around. He's since  retired and sold his company, but he believed grassroots marketing  efforts and personalized service went a lot further than putting on  airs. And I have to tell you, that shaped my thinking."

"That's a good thing. Companies who rely on spending to earn end up  having more trouble when economies tank." Gavin pointed to his car.  "That's mine."

"Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and I'll see you Monday."

"You too. And, Serena, I know it seems like you're constantly fighting  the system, but I want you to know that I appreciate the fact that you  stand up for what you believe in. You're a refreshing change to have  around and a good reminder of how much I've changed." The sincerity in  his eyes shone in stark contrast to the usual lightheartedness she saw.

"Really? What happened to your small-town roots keeping you grounded?"

He shook his head with a wry smile. "A stubborn chick showed up and  unknowingly made me realize that I accept crap even when I don't agree  with it. Maybe it's time for me to change that."

She took a few steps toward the row her car was in and said, "Why do I  have the feeling I'm going to be blamed for something bad in the near  future?"

He laughed as he unlocked his car and waved.

She sat in her car and watched the video of Drake again. Elated for him,  she sent off a quick text before leaving the garage. More than 11,000  views. I'm dating a rock star! I'm not above kicking the life out of  fangirls, so don't get any ideas, Mr. Hottie. Xox.

Two and a half hours later, she climbed out of her car at the resort and  inhaled the salty sea air. She followed the undercurrent of smoky wood  toward the Bayside community center, where Hagen was sitting on Drake's  lap roasting marshmallows beside Mira and Matt. Emery held a stick over  the fire, and behind her Dean stood with one hand on her shoulder,  talking on his cell phone. Serena's entire being exhaled, releasing all  her stress and disappointment.

Hagen hopped off Drake's lap, and as Drake took the marshmallow off the  stick, Hagen spotted Serena. He dropped the stick, getting sticky  marshmallow all over Drake, and sprinted toward her, yelling, "Auntie  Serena is here!"

"Don't touch her-" Mira called out.

She scooped Hagen into her arms. Her eyes met Drake's as he rose to his  feet, pushing away all the shadows in her heart. A bottomless sense of  peace came over her, and she knew this was where she was meant to be.  This was home. But her life had become complicated, and she had no idea  what home really meant anymore.

"Hey, kiddo!" She kissed Hagen's cheek.

"We're making s'mores," he said as he wriggled free. "Uncle Drake is  using two pieces of chocolate instead of graham crackers because we ran  out. See?" He held up his sticky chocolate fingers.

Mira rushed over. "I'm sorry! I tried to stop him."

Serena looked down at the forest-green V-neck dress she'd worn to the  event. There were little chocolate handprints on her hip and shoulder  and a chocolate smear across the three sheer lines of material at her  waist. After spending the day doing her best to look and act  professional and comfortable, being prim and proper and saying all the  right things, careful to sit with her knees together and watch her  language, she couldn't help but laugh.

She ran her finger along the chocolate on her dress and touched it to  Hagen's nose, earning silly giggles. "I wonder if you can convince Uncle  Drake to make me one, too? I think chocolate will go a long way  tonight."         

     



 

"Uncle Drake, will you make her a s'more?" Hagen ran to Drake as he approached and tugged on Drake's shirt.

Drake reached down and patted Hagen's head. "I'll make her anything she wants, buddy."

"Hey, gorgeous." Drake reached for her hand, pulling her against him and  kissing her smiling lips. "I didn't expect you tonight."

"I couldn't stay away," she said honestly. After watching the video again, all she'd wanted was to be in his arms.

"You blew me away today, Supergirl. I want to hear all about your day."

He kissed her again, and all she could think about was how he blew her  away every day with his endless patience and encouragement.

Drake looked down at her chest pressed against his sternum. "I'm getting marshmallow in your chocolate."

She lowered her voice and said, "Careful. If you get any on my skin, you might have to lick it off."

Heat flared in his eyes. "Hagen," he said without taking his eyes off  Serena. "Let's get busy melting those marshmallows. Uncle Drake has an  insatiable appetite. We might need to use the whole bag."





Chapter Eighteen




DRAKE AWOKE TO Serena's soft lips kissing their way down his stomach. He  didn't even try to suppress his smile as he threaded his fingers into  her hair, loving the feel of it-and her hot mouth-against his skin. He'd  wanted to take her home the minute he'd seen her beautiful face appear  in the darkness last night, but they'd stayed at the bonfire catching up  with the others for almost an hour before they'd finally turned in.

She kissed her way back up his body, passion brimming in her eyes, so  different from the joy that had radiated off her when he'd seen her in  her office. That happiness had driven him to toy with the idea of buying  the guitar store that was going out of business in Boston. Leaving the  Cape had never been in his plans, but as he'd come to realize, neither  had a life without Serena.

"I love you, Supergirl," he said vehemently. "I have loved you for as long as I can remember."

"A big YouTube star like you?" A rascally look rose in her eyes. "I bet you say that to all the fangirls."

"Only the really special one who loved me before I was famous."

The emotions in her eyes told him how she felt before she said another  word. But when she said, "I loved you when you were a skinny teenager  carrying around a beat-up guitar and too cool to like me back," sweetly  and honestly, he got all choked up.

"I was never too cool for you. You've always been out of my league." He  pressed his lips to hers, then said, "And just so we're clear,  sass-mouth, other than family, you're the only woman I've ever said  those three words to."

Her eyes filled with darkness so alluring, so lustful, his mouth  watered. His every fantasy come true. The woman he loved, every gorgeous  curve his for the loving.

"Take all of me, rock star," she whispered.

"So trusting," he whispered as he pressed kisses to her cheeks. "So sweet.

Don't worry, baby. I'm not going to cross any lines you don't want me to."

"I love you. With us there are no lines."

As their bodies became one, his words played in his head-you're the only  woman I've ever said those three words to-and he knew she'd also be the  last.



A LONG WHILE later, they stumbled, sated and more in love than ever, over to Emery and Dean's for breakfast.

"I still can't believe Emery wanted to host breakfast," Serena said in a  hushed whisper as they neared Dean and Emery's cottage. Emery wasn't  teaching yoga that morning and had announced at the bonfire last night  that they were hosting breakfast today. "She can't boil water without  setting off the smoke alarm."

It was almost the truth. Emery had set off the fire alarm at her and  Dean's cottage twice over the winter. The first time she'd forgotten to  put water in the pot and burned it while taking a bath. But the second  time, from what Dean had claimed, it was just as much his fault as  Emery's. He'd found her in the kitchen wearing only her panties while  she was cooking eggs, and they'd ended up in the bedroom for a very long  time.

"Don't worry, babe. I'd never let you go hungry. I've got plenty for you … "

Drake pulled Serena closer, kissing her bare shoulder. He loved this  particular sleeveless sundress. It was black-and-white and pattered like  a bandanna. The top fit like a tube top from the eighties, clinging to  her, while the rest was loose and short. She looked like she belonged on  the beach, which was his favorite place to observe her. She was a beach  girl at heart, and as he pondered that thought, he realized she hadn't  been out on the water in a while.