Sweet Heat at Bayside(52)

     



 

"I didn't kick you in the butt when you told me I was going in the wrong  direction with that one idea I had for Seth and Jared, did I?"

He shook his head. "That's how I know you're not a jerk. We can make  this work. We can build something incredible of our own, taking on  clients who respect us and, equally important, clients we respect."

"You're serious?" Her pulse quickened with the idea. "You'd move to the Cape? You know sand and designer suits don't mix well."

His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. "You know I'm itching to get  out of here. Let's blaze a path together. Shift into success with  Mallery and Wheeler. The perfect tagline."

Goose bumps rose on her arms. "Mallery and Wheeler. I like it. You're sure? Because you know I have strong opinions."

"I wouldn't respect you if you didn't. Of course, we'd want to review  Justine's books, just to make certain everything's on the up-and-up,  have a partnership agreement drawn up, and that sort of thing. But I say  we make this happen. Why spend our lives working for other people?"

"You know what? I'm in!" She pushed to her feet, feeling lighter than  she had in weeks. She thrust out her hand and said, "To Mallery and  Wheeler."

There was a knock on the door, and they both turned as Suzanne peered into the office.

"Serena, can I see you in my office, please?"

If Serena looked half as guilty as Gavin, she was in deep trouble. But  the twisting in her stomach told her she was making the right decision.



DRAKE POPPED OPEN a beer Monday evening and threw a steak on the grill  behind the office. He'd spent the day working at the music store with  Carey and Maddy. They worked well together, and the store was already  starting to get a following of twentysomething musicians who liked to  hang out there. He had no doubt that was due to Serena's brilliant  surprise and the fact that Boone had signed all sorts of paraphernalia  before leaving. They'd sold out of it the same day, but people still  came by to see the place where Boone Stryker had played.

His phone rang, and Serena's name appeared on the screen. "Hey, babe."

"Hi," she said breathlessly. "Sorry it's so late. I had a late meeting. I  have so much to tell you. Are you sitting down? You might want to sit  down for this."

"Nope. Standing by the grill, what's up?"

"I'm doing it. I'm buying Justine's business! Gavin's brother, who's  some kind of accounting wiz, looked over Shift's books this afternoon,  and we met with an attorney to draw up the offer. She'll have it in her  hands by nine tomorrow morning, but I've already given it to her  verbally, and she said it's good. She's going to take it. And today  Suzanne gave me a hard time about not charging enough billable hours. I  will be so glad to get out from under that corporate stuff. I can't  believe it, but I'm doing it, Drake! I'm buying Shift!"

"Whoa, babe. Slow down," he said, trying to keep up with her and tamp  down the sting about how much she'd done without even communicating her  decision to him first. He knew he had no business being irritated. This  was her decision, her life, but he still felt left out. "That's great  news, but how did you get the money?"

"Oh my gosh. I'm so excited I forgot to tell you! Gavin and I are  partnering together. Fifty-fifty, right down the middle. Mallery and  Wheeler! Can you believe it? It's perfect!"

Drake bit back a curse. "Babe, you won't take my money, but you'll take money from a guy you've known for a month?"

"I'm not taking his money. We're business partners, Drake, like you, Rick, and Dean."

"Whom I've known my whole life. How do you know you can trust this guy?"

"I just know. Why are you so upset?"

"Because I don't want you making a mistake," he said as he paced.  "Partnering in business is complicated on so many levels. You have no  idea if this guy is honest or not."

"Actually, I do," she snapped. "He's been nothing but honest with me  about everything-work, life, friendships. I trust my instincts, and you  should, too."

"You're talking about a ton of money, babe. You're sinking twenty-five grand into this with him. Anything can happen."

"It's twenty-nine grand," she said harshly. "We have to pay for the  attorney and our partnership agreement and other things. But you know  what?" Her voice escalated. "I'm not arguing about this with you. You're  right, Drake. Anything can happen, and I'm confident something  wonderful will happen. Tomorrow, after Justine officially accepts our  offer, I'm giving my notice, and in two weeks I'll be back at the Cape,  with you, and that's pretty darn wonderful if you ask me."         

     



 

His hand curled into a fist. "You're right, it is. But I'd feel better  if I had Gavin checked out. My buddy Reggie Steele is a PI. I'll call  him tonight and get a report before you sign off on the deal. Just in  case."

"Whatever. You do what you have to do."

"It's for your protection, Serena. Not for me."

"Is it? Or is it jealousy?"

"C'mon. This is business. I trust you. You have to know that. You're  with the guy every frigging day. You have drinks with him, sing karaoke  with him. The guy brings you cookies, Serena. If I didn't trust you, I  wouldn't still be with you. But you're my girlfriend, and you might not  be willing to take my money, but no way will I sit back and watch you  possibly make the biggest mistake of your life."

"Way to trust my instincts."

"That's not what I mean. Listen, if he's on the up-and-up, then I'm all  for it. But how can you know without doing your due diligence?"

He was answered with silence.

"Serena," he said in a softer voice. "I love you. If this is what you  want, I want it for you. But can't we agree that having him checked out  is smart business? It has nothing to do with not trusting you, or being  jealous, and everything to do with wanting to protect you."

She was quiet for a second, and then she said, "Shoot. That's Justine  calling on the other line. I really need to take it in case something's  wrong. I'll call you back after."

The line went dead.

"No. No, no, no."

Rick and Desiree came around the corner of the building. "What's going on?" Rick asked.

Drake shut off the grill. "Serena's making an offer on Shift-with Gavin as her business partner."

Rick and Desiree exchanged an uh-oh look. "Okay, well, you said he's a good guy, right?"

Drake glared at him. "I meant for hanging out with, not handing  everything she's ever worked for over to. She's so stubborn. I told her I  wanted to get him checked out. You know, due diligence, as we would on  any business partner. We don't know this guy from Adam."

"But she does," Desiree reminded him.

He scrubbed a hand down his face. "Yeah, I know."

Rick held his stare. "What are you going to do?"

"You mean besides having Reggie Steele check him out? I have no idea." He stalked toward the office.

"Drake-"

Rick started to follow, but Drake stopped him with a cold stare. Then he stormed inside, taking the steps two at a time.





Chapter Twenty-Three




"I KNOW, CHLOE!" Serena said into the phone. "I'm over-the-moon excited.  Once you told me to take M-O-M out of the equation, everything fell  into place."

"You know if you were doing this for Drake, it would be okay, right? You're not Mom. You could never be her."

Serena nodded, even though they weren't on a video chat. "I know. Thank  you. Listen, I gotta go. Justine and I were on the phone forever, and  I've been trying to reach Drake. He's not answering my calls or my  texts."

"He's probably at the music store or out for a run."

"Maybe, but he was pretty upset with me. He wanted to have a PI check out Gavin and I was … less than okay with it."

"You're so frigging bullheaded. He was only trying to look out for you."

Tears burned in Serena's eyes. "Yeah, I know. I gotta go." She ended the  call and tried Drake again. It rang three times before sending her to  voicemail. She didn't leave a message this time. How many times could  she plead for forgiveness?

She called the music store, and when that went to voicemail, too, she  realized she was an idiot. If he wasn't answering his phone, why would  he answer the music store phone?

She called Mira next, and the second she answered, Serena said, "Have you seen Drake?"

"No. Why?"

"We had a fight. I've been calling him for almost an hour and he's not  answering. If you see him, please ask him to call me." She pushed the  gas pedal to the floor, needing to get rid of her frustrations.

Less than two minutes later, red-and-blue lights appeared in her  rearview mirror. She threw her purse over the bottle of champagne on her  seat. "Just perfect."

By the time she reached Bayside, she was a teary-eyed, angry mess, and  so relieved to see Drake's truck, she nearly kissed it. She sprinted up  the stairs to his apartment, hearing music vibrating through the closed  door. She didn't even slow down to knock. She pushed open his door and  stormed through his living room.