“Hi, Harper,” he calls, making a beeline straight for me. He leans down, kissing the side of my cheek. “For you,” he says, holding out the bouquet.
“These are beautiful. Thank you, Drew.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“Barf,” Harper says, mock vomiting. “On that note, I’ll be leaving.” She stands, and I follow, coming around and pulling her into my chest.
“Thanks for lunch, Harp. Love you.”
“Anytime. Love you more.”
We get one final squeeze in, and she heads out, leaving Drew and me to ourselves.
Drew pulls me into him. “God, you smell good,” he says into the crook of my neck. I squirm under him. “I thought she’d never leave.”
“You just got here.” I giggle, sounding like a teenager.
“And still . . . she couldn’t have left soon enough. I want some time with my girl.”
“And what do you plan to do with that time, Mr. Lawson?”
“I have some ideas,” he says, stepping back and looking around the room. “For starters, that desk would work really nice.”
“Nice for what?” I ask coyly, playing into this game.
He taps his chin. “Let me think.”
“Chess?” I say, batting my eyelashes.
“Definitely not chess.” He grins. “I’ve already captured the queen.”
“Oh, you think so, do you?”
“You disagree?” he says, and I back up, preparing to say something contradictory. “Perhaps I need to be more aggressive and solidify my win.” He jumps forward, capturing me in his embrace. I squeal, but it’s lost as his mouth fuses to mine.
I melt in his arms, opening up to allow his tongue entry into my mouth. The expert way in which he kisses me only manages to make me want every part of him. Right now. In this office.
I pull away. “You’re right,” I say, and he quirks a brow, a grin forming on his lips. “This desk will work perfectly.”
“Checkmate.”
I’d lose to him every time if it leads to this.
58
Drew
My phone rings. I ignore it, but it starts ringing again.
I answer. “Yes, Mother?”
I haven’t spoken to her in over a month. Not since the last time when she did what she did. At first, I was avoiding her. Then I was dealing with the club, then Monica and Bailey. I can’t avoid her forever.
“I’m sorry, Drew. I shouldn’t have ambushed you with Allison last month.” I stay quiet. “I know you’re still angry, but will you consider coming tomorrow for dinner? Let me make it up to you,” she says, her tone hopeful.
“I’ll have to get back to you.”
“But, Drew,” she whines. “Gretchen Long is in town from London and would love to catch up with you. She’s such a beautiful girl, and her parents—”
Unbelievable. She should save her apologies since she clearly isn’t sorry. “No. Mother, you are ridiculous.” I look over at Bailey, whose eyes are wide in question.
“Then just come for dinner. No girls. No setups. I promise.”
I want to say no. I should just tell her to go to hell, but then I have an idea. “I’ll come, but I’m bringing a date.”
“Oh? A date! Fabulous. Who is it?” she says excitedly.
“A girl I’ve been dating. She’s a nice girl, Mom. Please, don’t frighten her.”
Bailey’s eyes go even wider as she mouths, “What?”
“I wouldn’t. Do I know her? Who are her parents? Are they members of the club?”
And so it begins.
“No, Mother. You do not, and no, they are not members of the club. I like this one. Please be cordial.”
Bailey smiles her big, beautiful smile. I can tell she’s thrilled with this.
“Drew Lawson, you insult me. I would never. I’m excited. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
I hear the click on the other line, and I look up at Bailey.
“Going to see your mom?”
I nod. “Yep. Hope you’re ready.” I chuckle.
59
Bailey
Holy. Shit.
I’m meeting his mother.
Now what am I supposed to do? I’m so not ready for this. Drew Lawson is in a class of his own, and I’m petrified of the woman who birthed him. I can only imagine what she’ll be like. Perfect, that’s for sure. Skinny. No flaws. She definitely has never worked a day in her life.
I groan as my fingers start clawing at the skin on my arm. In the past, there was only one thing that could fix the anxiety coursing through me. Thank God I found a meeting for tomorrow morning, or I don’t know how I would ever survive this.
I dress quickly for bed and only give Drew a small kiss on the lips. It’s soft and sweet, and even though our lips barely touch, it’s filled with passion. It knocks the breath out of my lungs. How can something so trivial affect me so much? I got it bad for him. We both fall asleep quickly.
The next morning, when I finally walk out of his loft, I make my way west to the church I regularly go to now for a meeting when I stay at his place. The meeting starts at eight, so I pick up my pace. I debate finding a cab, but the truth is, although I can afford it, I need to save money to go back to school. That’s one of the things I have been working on since leaving rehab. Looking into a school I can go to in the city to get a degree while I work.