lies. All he wants is power and control. It’s all he’s ever wanted.”
“Aunt Tay, you called me. What did he say?”
A deep sigh. “Let’s meet, Mea. I can’t do this over the phone.”
Drake leans against the gate, his posture relaxed and lazy. But when he spots me approaching, he straightens. He studies me as I walk toward him, and as hard as I try, I can’t school my features. Not for Drake.
“What’s wrong?” He’s beside me in an instant, stopping me midstride. His hands stroke my shoulders as he searches my face.
I smile even though it’s weak at best. “Not now, okay? We have a rehearsal to get through. Then I’ll tell you.”
Drake doesn’t move. His big body serves as a mountain in my path, blocking me from continuing any farther. “Just tell me one thing, baby. Did he contact you?”
His eyes are stern, hard. The usually dancing light in their depths is still and cold. He’s serious and he wants an answer. Now.
I toss my curls and give him the most honest one I can at the moment. “No. He didn’t contact me.”
Drake’s body sags as he relaxes each coiled muscle. “Thank God. You sure you’re okay?”
His eyes are still full of concern, but relief is there, too.
I’m not okay.
Taking his hand, I lead him through the gate and into the gathering. “I’m fine.”
The other guests have arrived, and we trek down to the shore, where the wedding is to take place the following day.
Dare and Berkeley will pledge their lives to each other while standing near the surf, the rollicking waves serving as the musical score during the ceremony. It’s where they spent their first date. It fits.
Tonight, we’ll practice for tomorrow. And then, to Mrs. Holtz’s horror, we’ll have a rehearsal dinner in Dare and Berkeley’s backyard, barbecue style. It’s something we love to do, and tonight will be no different. Except for the fact that the couple had the food catered in by the same company preparing the food at their dinner reception tomorrow night.
“You okay? Something seems…off with you.” Carrying a plate laden with barbecue and slaw, Greta settles into the chair beside mine.
The rehearsal went off without a hitch, and now everyone in the wedding party has gathered in the backyard for a well-earned meal. I catch Drake’s eye where he’s standing chatting with Dare’s brother Chase. His assessing gaze takes in everything about me: the way I’m sitting, my company, even my plate of food. I send him a reassuring smile, which he returns with one of his own.
I rest my head on the back of my chair. “Just tired. It’s been a busy couple of weeks.”
Greta takes a delicate bite of pork. Chewing, she studies me. “That’s right. I need to come by and see how the studio is coming along. I’m so proud of you, Mea.”
A smile threatens to split my face. My friends can always manage to mask any inner turmoil going on inside me. “Thanks.”
My mind plays through the scenes from my week. Watching Drake and the boys install flooring into my studio. Directing where they should place furniture in the lobby and in my office. Screaming when they almost dropped one of my mirrors. Late dinners with Drake, cuddled up on his couch. I’ve been sleeping with him every single night. He pretty much hates the idea of me going back to my crappy little apartment, and I don’t mind staying in his much nicer house. Especially when we’re in his bed at night. One late night in his kitchen, when we’d just returned from the studio, something he said to me struck a chord in both of us. It changed the air sizzling between us from sexy and flirty to serious and life affirming.
“Nightcap?” I’m fussing around in Drake’s liquor cabinet, trying to find something to mix with the soda he keeps in the refrigerator.
“How about some coffee?” Drake suggests. His hands find my waist, pulling me up to stand before him.
A small smile touches my lips. “You really have changed. No more drinking?”
He wraps his arms around my waist. “I’ll have a beer every now and then. I’m no saint, baby. But for you…yeah. I’m different.”
I unfold myself from his grasp and head into the kitchen, pulling out the single-serve coffeemaker. Putting a mug under the spigot and a tiny plastic coffee cup in the filter, I turn it on. While the coffee brews, I rummage around in the fridge, pulling out cheese to spread on