What He Craves (5 page)

“Please don’t stop.” I waved my fork at her. “I couldn’t be
any happier for you. You have busted your ass for that law firm. You deserve the
promotion, and so much more.”

“Did I tell you I’m getting my own
assistant
?” she
asked, bouncing in her seat. “And a real office. With a door and everything.”

“You did.”

“I just can’t believe it. I mean, sure, I’ve been working
hard. But to finally have someone recognize all that hard work.” She licked her
lips, pushing her empty plate away. “Was that meal insanely delicious or what?”

“It was.” I smiled down at my own plate, which was empty
too.

“Can I make a confession?” Jill asked.

“Sure.”

“I’m a little scared. About the job. What if I can’t handle
it? What if I fail?”

“You won’t. You’ve never failed at anything.”

“What about the ski trip from hell?” she asked.

“Except for that.”

“I’m still scared.”

“I get that.”

The waiter hurried over, asked if we were interested in the
dessert menu, and, when we passed, gave us the bill. Jill sent him off with her
credit card.

I was watching him shuffle away when I caught some movement
out of the corner my eye. I looked.

Shane.

He wasn’t alone.

Ohmygod.

“Bristol?” Jill tapped my hand. “What’re you staring at?”

I jerked my gaze away and pulled my lips into a smile. “Oh,
nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew. But I was wrong.”

Jill swiveled in her chair, following the direction of my
gaze before turning back around.

The waiter returned, set the leather folder with Jill’s
credit card and receipt in it, thanked us, and within minutes, we were headed
for the exit. As I followed Jill, Shane’s words echoed in my head.

I don’t want another submissive. I want…a girlfriend. A
lover. A partner.

How long ago had he said that? And did he ever say, for
sure, that he wanted those things with me?

But what about,
It’s over. There’s no one else.

And
, I’m a stubborn ass sometimes, and I’ve learned some
of the issues I have run deep.

My belly sank to my toes.

Shit. Exactly what kind of issues are we dealing with?

Maybe I was being a fool, putting all my trust in a man
who’d told me he wasn’t trustworthy.

As I buckled myself into Jill’s car, I said, “I’ve changed
my mind. I think I will take up Drake on his offer. What could a cup of coffee
hurt?”

My best friend looked genuinely pleased. “I don’t think
you’ll regret it.” She shifted her car into drive and punched the gas, and we
zigged through the parking lot and out onto the street. “And by the way, when
you marry him, I will be your maid of honor right?”

Marriage?
“Jumping the gun a little, aren’t you?”

Smiling, she shrugged. “Maybe a little. So what’s your
answer.”

“Yes. Of course you’ll be my maid of honor. Whomever I
marry. Whenever I marry.”

If I marry.

I was my number one critic, but tonight, even I had to admit
I looked good. Having ignored Shane’s phone calls for the next twelve hours--I
didn’t trust myself not to say something I’d regret--I was just about finished
getting ready for my coffee date with Drake. It turned out he wasn’t hard to
track down after all. Jill and I found him on the internet and within minutes I
was chatting with him on the phone. Twenty four hours after I’d spotted Shane
having dinner with Alexis, I was about to see my ex-boyfriend for the first
time in years.

I was really nervous, despite telling myself it was only
coffee. It wasn’t like I was going to have sex with him or anything.

I did one final mirror check before scurrying toward the
door, expecting him at any moment. As I flew past Jill, she gave me a whistle
and exclaimed, “Girl, you’re going to kill him tonight.”

“Thanks.” I smoothed my hands down my dress, fingertips
hitting skin much earlier than I would’ve liked. “Are you sure this dress isn’t
too short?”

“It’s short but not slutty. You’re good.” She gave me two
thumbs up.

“Okay.” The bell rang, and my heart jumped. “He’s here,” I
said to no one in particular.

“Open the door!” Jill yelled.

I tugged on the hem of my dress again then opened the door.

My god, he looked great. He’d aged, yes. But aged well. Very
well.

“Wow,” he said as he stepped inside.

I couldn’t help smiling. “You look pretty good yourself.”

He extended his arms, welcoming me to step into them, and I
did. But the hug felt a little strange. Not the way I remembered it. “It’s
great to see you again,” he said as I moved out of his embrace.

“Great to see you too.”

He glanced past me, catching sight of Jill sitting on the
couch, watching us. “Jill.”

“Drake. Treat my girl right this time, or I will personally
kick your ass!”

He raised his hands in a sign of surrender. “I’ve made some
mistakes in the past, but I’ve never repeated them.” His gaze slid to mine.

I felt my face warm. What was he trying to say? Did he think
he might want to try to start over with me?

I wasn’t sure I was ready to even think about that.

I wasn’t sure he was ready to think about that either.

“I made a seven o’clock reservation,” he said as he placed a
hand on the small of my back, touching me like Shane. It didn’t have the same
effect. “We should get going.”

“Reservation? For coffee?” I asked as I checked to make sure
I had my phone in my purse.

“I’m hoping you won’t mind joining me for dinner…? I just
flew into town an hour ago. Didn’t want to grab something on the run and be
late picking you up.”

“Sure. Okay.” I headed outside and down the walk. There was
a Mercedes parked in my driveway. Years ago, when we’d been dating, Drake had
driven a rusty old Ford. “Wow,” I said as he pulled open the door for me.
“Looks like things have been going well for you.”

“Very well,” he said. He shut the door, circled the car and
folded his beefy frame into the driver’s seat. “I started my own business, have
been living and breathing work since we broke up.” His gaze met mine. “I wasn’t
lying when I said I needed some time to get my life together. I meant it. And I
spent every day working my ass off to do just that.”

“So, it wasn’t a line,” I said in a joking tone. The fact
was I’d convinced myself it was a lie when he’d said it. An excuse to dump me
for someone else.

“It was the honest truth,” he said, looking sincere. “When I
contacted you again, a couple of years after we broke up, I was
so...disappointed to hear you were involved with someone else. I figured I’d
lost my chance.”

He started the car and the engine purred like a big jungle
cat, like Shane’s car. It accelerated smoothly as he steered it down my road
toward the intersection. “What about you? How have things been?”

“Well, overall okay. Mom died.”

Driving, he flicked a glance my way. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You know we were never close.” I played with the
strap of my purse.

“I do remember that. But I’m still sorry. I’m sure you
grieved.”

“I guess I did in my own way.”

“Everything else is okay?”

“Sure,” I lied. It wasn’t the time or place to mention the
fact that I’d just lost my job and was maybe a month or two away from
foreclosure. I’d fallen a little behind on my mortgage before I’d lost my job,
thanks to the added burden of keeping up Mom’s place. The inflow of cash from
Shane had allowed me to get out from under that sinking ship, but hadn’t been
enough to get my payments caught up.

As we pulled up to a light, he slid his hand under mine and
lifted it. “No ring?”

“No ring.” I added, “What about you?”

“No ring here either. It’s been six months since the divorce
was final.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. It was an amicable split. Julie and I just weren’t
right for each other.” He smiled, reminding me why I’d fallen so hard for him
years ago. His smile was nearly as arresting as Shane’s. Nearly. “I’m glad we
got in touch,” he said as he wove his fingers between mine.

“Me too,” I admitted. Unlike him, I was warring with
conflicting feelings. I was glad to see him. He looked great. And I could see
he’d spent our time apart accomplishing something really important. But when he
touched me, I felt a little uncomfortable. Kind of…guilty. Like I was doing
something wrong.

That irritated me. A lot.

I wasn’t doing anything wrong.

There was no commitment between Shane and me. He was having
dinner with other people. I could too.

Could, yes. But that was one thing I’d never done. I’d never
gone out with one man when I was seeing another. Not for dinner. Not even for
coffee.

Tightening my hold on Drake’s hand, I studied his profile
while he drove. He was every bit as handsome as Shane. Younger, yes. But just
as sexy. Just as strong. And, from the looks of it, maybe just as successful
too.

My body did respond to his touch, especially when his thumb
dragged across the top of my hand. But it wasn’t the same as it was with Shane.
Shane could merely look at me, and I was tight and hot and wet.

Give Drake a chance. What do you have to lose? Not even
Shane is confident the thing with him can work.

We turned into the parking lot for Delo’s, the same place
I’d gone with Jill. The same place I’d seen Shane with that witch from the
party.

We held hands as we walked inside. I let go when we stepped
up to the hostess’ stand. And my gaze went right to the table where I’d seen
Shane as we followed her to our table.

Of course, he wasn’t there now. But a little stab of pain
burned in my belly nonetheless.

Bastard.

We were escorted to a table in the back. Drake made a point
to pull out my chair and push it in for me as I sat, then he took his seat. He
gave me a long, lingering look. “It’s so great seeing you again.”

“You said that already,” I responded with a chuckle.

“I know. I figure I’ve got some ass kissing to do since I’ve
been MIA for years.”

“I suppose I shouldn’t disagree with that statement.”

The waitress hurried over, introduced herself and asked for
our drink orders. Drake ordered a bottle of wine, and off she scurried to get
it for us.

“Tell me everything I’ve missed,” he said as soon as she was
out of earshot.

“Well, there isn’t much to tell,” I started.

But with his prompts and encouragement, I kept talking. Only
taking a break here and there when the waitress came with our wine, or to take
our order, or to bring our food. By the time we’d finished the  main course, I
was stuffed and out of news to share with him.

“Enough,” I said, placing my napkin on top of my plate.
“I’ve had enough to eat, and I have been talking too much.”

“I’ve enjoyed every word,” Drake said, reaching over to take
my hand again. “I’m sorry I couldn’t have been there with you. Especially when
your mother died. The timing was bad.”

“Not your fault. You didn’t know my mother was going to die.
Nobody could’ve known that.”

He flagged over our waitress and asked for the check then
poured the last of the wine into our glasses. With my fingertips resting in his
palm, I sipped the wine. It was sweet and smooth, delicious. I’d had just
enough to feel a little warm on the inside but not so much that I was drunk.

“Your turn,” I said. “I want a full blow by blow description
of the past few years, just like I gave you.”

“Hmm,” he said, lifting his glass and smiling a crooked grin
that made me feel a little warmer. “That’ll take a while.”

“We’ve got all night,” I stated.

He lifted a brow. “Do we?”

The waitress returned with the check, and Drake pulled out
some cash, closed it in the leather folder and stood. “If that’s the case, then
let’s go somewhere quieter, where we can…talk.”

He escorted me out to his car, opened the door for me. I
didn’t recall him being so polite back when we’d dated. But then again, we were
both young back then. Young and stupid and impulsive…and immature. It appeared
from the outside that Drake had done a lot of growing up between then and now.
I imagined I had too.

He drove with an arm resting on the back of my seat, just
like he did years ago. Back then, I felt cozy sitting beside him as he drove. I
would lean close to him, rest a hand on his thigh. Now, I stayed in my seat, my
hands in my lap. Old music played on the radio, from our high school days. It
brought back memories. Stolen kisses. Dances in the gym. The thrill of first
love.

“…the company’s revenues doubled in five years, and we’re
projecting even more aggressive growth in the next five,” Drake jabbered,
sounding proud of his accomplishments.

“That’s amazing,” I said as I stared out the window. A
fleeting image of Shane popped into my head. I smacked it down and turned to
focus on Drake.

“Do you live alone?” he asked as we rolled to a stop at a
light.

“Yes, I do.”

“Good.” He turned, heading toward my place. “I’m currently
staying with some friends. It isn’t the ideal situation. But I wanted to take
my time and find just the right house.”

“Where are you looking?”

“I haven’t decided. If you could buy a house anywhere, where
would you buy?”

“Anywhere?”

“Sure.”

“I’d buy a farm in southern France. Or maybe a seaside villa
in Spain.”

He chuckled. “I meant in Michigan.”

“Ah. Probably somewhere out a bit, away from the ‘burbs,
where I could have some land, privacy, quiet.”

“Hmm. Sounds nice.” The corners of his lips curled up. “I’ll
keep that in mind.”

“For what?”

“Like I said, I want to buy the right house. The perfect
house.” He turned into my driveway and cut off the engine.