Diamonds Are Forever - Brooke St. James Page 0,44

clarify."

"How? We've never talked about it."

"Yeah, but I can just tell. I see you, I see how you react to things. I wasn't going to even try to do that."

I took a deep breath. "It's just that I came all this way and I could see where you would think that we would… I didn't want you to be surprised when I said I was going back to my own hotel."

"What hotel?" he asked looking surprised.

"The Birchwood."

"You're staying in a different hotel?" He was obviously perplexed. "You said you took a shower before you called me, and I guess I figured you were in a room, but I never would've dreamed it was in a different hotel. Why don't you want to stay here?"

"Because the Birchwood was a lot more affordable," I said laughing a little.

"What? No." Drew hesitated but then opened his mouth to speak again. "Okay, first, just know that I'm not expecting things to happen between us, Lucy. I wasn't implying that when I said we should go upstairs. Do I want things to happen? Yes. I really do. But I understand and agree with everything you were saying about being patient. I already knew we weren't going to…" He paused, trailing off and staring at me before adding, "I would like you to stay here, though, and I would like a proper kiss."

His eyes roamed down to my mouth when he said those words. He was barely touching me, and it caused all sorts of bodily sensations. I thought he might go ahead and kiss me right there that second. He was looking at me like he was about to, but instead he spoke again.

"And we seriously can't have you staying in a different hotel. That's not happening. I'd be worried about you. We'll get you a room here. I already had one booked earlier, so I know they're not full. And I'm paying for it. I assumed you knew that. I'm getting your room and flight and whatever else you need or want. I'm the one who asked you to come here."

He was speaking slowly, staring at me like I was the object of his affection. I didn't necessarily feel like I deserved that type of attention from him, but I smiled at him knowing I was going to try to earn it.

He was into me, and I was into him. There was just no better feeling in the world. Actually, there was something even better. Drew loved Mac. We had already talked about Mac tonight, and I could just tell by the things he would say that Drew loved him. Mac was an incentive for Drew and not a drawback. That was a beautiful thing. It's something wonderful when someone you love loves someone else you love.

Thinking about it made me want to mention something I hadn't mentioned earlier. "Hey Drew?"

"Yeah?"

"You said something in your video—at the very end. You said I love your guts." I tilted my head just slightly. "Did Mac tell you that?"

"Yes," he said, laughing. "Isn't that adorable? It's like I hate your guts, but with love."

I nodded and smiled along with him, but I was so curious. Mac and I only said that phrase in the context of really saying we loved each other.

"How did he say it?" I asked Drew. "Did he tell you it's what he and I say to each other, or did he just say it to you?"

"No. He just said it to me. He said he loved my guts. I had to think about it, but then I realized it was like that other phrase turned around. I thought he made it up on the spot for me getting him a milkshake. I thought it was the cutest thing."

"So, he just told you he loved your guts?" I asked, still in disbelief.

"Yeah."

"When?"

"At the Carson's that day."

"What did you say to him?" I asked.

"I told him I loved his guts too."

I looked away, blinking when my eyes stung like I might cry.

"Why, was that the right thing to say?" Drew asked.

"Yeah, definitely," I said, acting casual even though I was holding back tears. My son had told Drew he loved him in a very special way, and Drew didn't even know it. "I just think it's sweet that he told you that," I said.

"Yeah, I thought it was really cute." Drew sat up, looking for a clock. "Hey, let's go get your stuff and check you out of that other place," he said, switching gears.

He