He laughed. "Imeantwhat part should we start at?" He gave me a long, rakish look. "Me showing up to see you in that dress?"
"Forgetthat," I said with a teasing laugh. "Iwant to reliveyoutaking it off."
"So, you're gonna put it back on?" He nodded against the pillow. "Hey, I’m game ifyouare."
From here, I couldn't evenseemy dress. And the thought of leaving this bed – even for an instant – seemed far too unbearable. "Or…" I said in my flirtiest tone, "we could start with what happenedafteryou took it off."
As I said it, memories of last night came flooding back. I'd been dizzy with champagne and desire. But this morning, I was high on something else.
Love.
I'd known this last night. But I knew it more so today. Sure, I hadn't confessed it, but Ididfeel it, and I had a sneaky suspicion that I wasn't the only one.
Last night, the way Drake had made love to me – it had felt like coming home. And now, after waking up in his arms, the feeling had only grown, making a mockery of all my concerns.
There was a ton to think about, and later, I would take all the time in the world. But now, I didn't want to think. I wanted to feel, which was probably just as well, because soon, thinking became utterly impossible as Drake and I made love in the muted morning light.
By the time we'd finished, my heart felt like a big festive balloon ready to burst with happiness – until a familiar pin gave it a little prick.
Chapter 31
Gwen
I tensed with sudden alertness. Something on the floor was vibrating. I pulled away from Drake and sat up in the hotel bed. As I rubbed at my eyes, I asked, "Is that yours or mine?"
Drake shifted under the covers and said with a sleepy smile, "If you mean the phone, it's not mine."
I glanced toward the windows as I tried to get a sense of the time. Judging from the light, it was still morning, but the snow had stopped, leaving nothing but gray gloom in its place.
Had I drifted off?I hadn't meant to. But I must've, because in the hazy recesses of my brain, the vibrating had been going on for a while.
I turned away and peeked out over the side of the bed. Last night, I'd brought along my smallest purse – a little black one containing only my wallet, my cell phone, and house keys plus those clunky eye-glasses tucked somewhere in the bottom.
With sleepy eyes, I scanned the floor, taking in my discarded red dress and Drake's black trousers along with random undergarments and shoes.
Finally, I spotted the little black purse on the floor near the nightstand. Last night, I'd dropped it near the main door of the suite. And now, it took me a moment to recall retrieving it earlier this morning and placing it within easy reach so I wouldhave my cellphone handy just in case.
As my head cleared, I leaned over and reached inside the purse with one hand. I poked around until my fingers found the phone. It was no longer vibrating, but when I brought it up for a closer look, I saw five missed calls – all from my mom.
This couldn’t be good.
I was just about to call her back when the phone vibrated again. When I answered with a nervous hello, my mom said in a frantic whisper, "Thank God you finally answered."
My heart leapt into my chest. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"You might say that." Her voice rose. "I need a ride."
"From where?"
"Not fromwhere.From who." She gave a choked sob. "He is such a jerk."
Oh, no."You mean…" I tried to think. "Ted?"
"No," she said, sounding a little miffed."Tim."She sighed. "And who's Ted?"
Sometime or another, I was pretty sure therehadbeen a Ted. But that was hardly important now. "So, what happened?"
"He's a liar, that's what."
