Page 23 of Taming Drew

Lily’s voice catches. “What do you mean committed? Wait. That’s none of my business.” She sighs. “But if you hurt her, I’ll have my husband’s cousins take you out in the desert and lose you.”

Shit, even my agent thinks I’m a bad guy. “I won’t hurt her. I’m done doing that.”

She blows out her breath, and the pause ratchets up my feelings of regret. “She told us how you treated her in high school. You’re lucky she didn’t smother you in your sleep when she stayed with you after your concussion.”

I laugh. Apparently, she didn’t tell you about what we shared last weekend. That’s okay. I like that it’s just between me and Chloe. “I didn’t realize at the time that I hurt her. I thought she’d benefit from having someone help her with her weight. Being the chubby girl isn’t easy in high school, but I added to that. She knows I’m sorry.”

“Fine. Just be good, and maybe the owners will find someone else to focus on.”

“Okay. Thanks Lily. Bye.”

“Drew?”

I turn to Chloe’s voice. “Yeah?”

“Where were you?”

“Oh. Nowhere. Just thinking about the upcoming season. Sorry.”

“Okay. I like my steak medium, please.” She steps up, and her scent envelops me. “How long have you lived here?” I pull her into my body, holding her back against my front, nuzzling her neck.

“I moved here when we moved to Dallas. It’s close to work and the schools are great.”

“When do you think you’ll let me meet Freya?”Way to blurt it out. Ugh.

She spins slowly in my arms and strains to look up at my face. I bend down and take her mouth in a gentle kiss.

She breaks the kiss. “I’m not sure. I don’t usually date, so there’s never been a reason to introduce her to any man before.”

My body stiffens at the thought of her and other men. She cringes, starting to duck her face.

“Wait. I was thinking about you and other men.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t have other men.”

“And I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.” My mouth finds hers again, and she gasps. I swallow her moans, pulling her harder against me. The sizzling steaks break my concentration, and I move to the grill to flip the steaks. She leans against the balcony railing watching me. “I want to meet Freya.”

Various emotions flash across her face before she settles on her typical questioning expression. “Soon.”

I poke at the steaks and use the fork to place them on the clean platter she brought out. “These are ready.” She leads us back into the apartment, and I place the platter on the small table by the window. Chloe has placed candles and put folded napkins on the plates. The flowers I brought her sit in a vase as the centerpiece. I guess she liked them enough to put them on the table.My heart warms.Maybe I can do this boyfriend thing.

Chloe’s cocked head catches my attention. I point. “The flowers.”

“Yes. Thank you again.”

“I wasn’t looking for you to thank me. I’m just glad you like them.”

“Of course I like them. They’re beautiful, and I appreciate you taking the time to get them for me. I don’t remember the last time someone gave me flowers.”

We sit down at the table, which is full of the sides and the fresh smelling bread. I place the napkin on my lap, imagining what it would be like to live with Chloe and her daughter in an actual home.

Chloe cuts into her steak. “Thanks. This is perfect.”

I smile. “You’re welcome. How’s your family?”

Her hand stops moving on her second bite. She puts down her fork and frowns. “They disowned me when I got pregnant in college. It was against God that I wasn’t married.”

“The guy wouldn’t marry you?”

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