Their eyes met and Drew smiled. “If you’d like, we can pick some angels tomorrow, and I’ll take you shopping.”
We.
Lacey liked the sound of that. Part of her thought she shouldn’t, after all she had been through, but the other part, thelouderpart, told her she deserved a man like Drew, even if it was for a limited time.
“I’d love that.”
Drew nodded. “It’s a date. And speaking of, our reservation is in town. I have a car waiting for us.”
Just as they turned to head out, Drew spun her around and kissed her. Dizzy with a newfound lust she didn’t know lived inside of her, she once again allowed her body to meld against his, absorbing the feel of it. His left hand cupped her neck; his right rested on the lowest part of her back.
Blood hummed in her veins as a charge of excitement coursed through her body. She gripped Drew’s arms, steadying herself as she once again allowed herself to get lost in a kiss… in him. His tongue skimmed over her lips as he ended the kiss.
Breathless, she stared up at him. Drew winked… just as Kevin and Candi walked out of the hotel’s gift shop. Sothatwas why he’d kissed her. She couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
Kevin looked at them with narrowed eyes. Clearly, he still didn’t believe she had a boyfriend—which didn’t do much for her self-confidence.
“Well, if it isn’t the two lovebirds,” Kevin said, a hint of indignation in his tone. “Going somewhere?”
Drew spoke first, directing his gaze at Candi. “Enjoying the gift shop?”
She nodded. “Oh yes. They have the prettiest jewelry. Kevin just bought me this necklace.” Candi lifted the diamond that hung from the silver chain. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Stunning,” Lacey said with a smile before looking up at Drew. Suddenly having a boyfriend, fake or not, was just what she needed. “But we should go. We wouldn’t want to be late for our reservation.”
Drew laced their fingers together. “Have a good night,” he said to Kevin and Candi. Lacey gave them a small wave before they stepped outside.
Once settled in the back seat of the waiting cab, she let out a breath. “Thank you for that.”
Drew kissed her cheek. “What are boyfriends for?” He gave her a killer smile, sending tingles down her spine.
He knew when she first kissed him that there was something special about Lacey. But the way her eyes shimmered in the white lights on the Christmas tree as he explained the angels warmed Drew through and through… that took her to a new level.
Part of him was annoyed that Kevin and Candi had appeared, but he was glad to take the opportunity to claim Lacey as his girlfriend. He still wasn’t sure why that was, but right then he didn’t care. What he didn’t understand was the look on Lacey’s face when she realized why he had kissed her. Was she disappointed?
When they arrived at the restaurant, the skirt of Lacey’s dress danced in the warm evening breeze. Her toned legs made Drew’s heart beat a bit faster, and a few other parts decided to wake up as well.
The hostess smiled as they approached her podium. “Welcome to Daybreak Sea. Do you have reservations?”
“Yes. Drew Mitchell, for two.”
“Thank you for dining with us this evening. Right this way.”
Drew placed his hand on the small of Lacey’s back as they followed the hostess to their table. It sat on the perimeter of the room, with an open-air view of the water.
“Will this be okay?” the hostess asked, setting their menus down.
He took one look at Lacey, who stared at the moonlit ocean as if it were an old friend. “Yes, thank you. This is perfect.” Drew pulled out Lacey’s chair for her as the hostess glided away.
Lacey’s smile was contagious. “Thank you, Drew.”
“You’re welcome, but our night is just starting.” The waiter came by and took their drink orders before retreating to the bar. “The island sunsets are beautiful. We missed it tonight, but hopefully we can catch one before your vacation is over.” Drew wasn’t sure how much time he had with Lacey. He hoped they’d be able to watch the golden orb descend behind the blue of the Caribbean water before she left.
Lacey nodded. “I’d love that.” The waiter was back with the bottle of cabernet and poured them each a glass. Before Drew could raise his in a toast, Lacey beat him to it. “To you. Thank you so much for everything you did for me this afternoon and just now in the lobby. This dinner won’t be enough to show my appreciation; just know I’ll never forget it.”
Before he tapped their glasses together, he needed to say something. “First, dinner has already been taken care of.” She conceded with a sigh. “Second, meeting you today, even though the circumstances were a bit… unconventional, has been the highlight of my time on the island.” He furrowed his brows, taking a moment to find the right words. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Lacey.”
She let out a nervous giggle. “You mean someone who kisses random strangers in front of their ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend?”