*
“So…who’s your new lady friend?” Keith raised his brows over the rim of his glass. Drake sipped his gin and tonic, leaning against the bar.
“I met her downtown. It was sort of ironic,” Drake informed him. “Fate works like that, I suppose.” He expelled a deep sigh. “Isn’t she gorgeous?” Drake winked, fighting off his raging libido for the hundredth time. Drake would never spill the details of how he and Kelly met. Not that he cared, but he knew Kelly would.
“That she is,” Keith agreed. “You look happy, relieved really,” Keith said, elbowing him in the ribs.
“I am. She’s changed everything,” Drake told him, setting his empty glass down on the bar. Keith knew more about his personal life than any other of Drake’s employees. He was relieved that Keith had attended the event. He was the first one he’d introduced Kelly to. They’d had a pleasant conversation until Colleen had intercepted Kelly, dragging her away to introduce her to the other women.
He had decent people working for him. Drake treated them well and they respected him. A sense of pride warmed through him. It was the clients they had to cater to that could make a pool of sourness fill his mouth.
The event was going smoothly. The women appeared to be confused that he hadn’t shown up with Nina on his arm, their expressions evident. Thank God Colleen had come over, initiating first contact, extending her hand. She had taken Kelly under her wing.
“She appears to be mingling well,” Keith said. Drake noticed Keith’s eyes drift over to where Kelly was chatting it up with a group of Colleen’s colleagues from accounting.
“She is, and to think she was worried,” Drake said mockingly. He flagged down the bartender for another round. Soft yellow light fell from the chandeliers above, making every sleek strand of Kelly’s hair shimmer. Drake bit down hard on his lip. The exposed flesh of her body glinted due to the dress he’d so cleverly selected for her. The garment baited him, pulling him under, filling his mind with brazen thoughts.
“What does she do?” Keith asked, rocking back on his heels.
“She’s in limbo right now. Her parents were ill for a long time. They recently passed, so Kelly is at a bit of a crossroads right now, but—”
Keith finished the thought for him. “I’m sure you can provide her with adequate direction,” Keith said, eyeing him over the rim of his drink, a wicked gleam in his gaze.
“Oh, yeah.” Drake nodded at the bartender, lifting the glass to his lips. He lowered his eyes into his drink, needing to keep it reeled in.
Keith placed his hand on his shoulder, tearing him out of his naughty thoughts. “I’m gonna take off, that okay with you?” Keith asked, fussing with his tie.
“Go,” Drake said, lifting a shoulder. “I’m not far behind you. I’ve had about enough.”
Keith gave him a pat on the back and slipped through the French doors. Drake sat down at the bar, watching the suits and skirts mingle.
Tokens for Tots was an annual charity Drake ran from the end of October until the New Year. They supplied families in need with medical and dental care as well as other support services so children wouldn’t have to go through the holiday season with no turkey, trimmings, or gifts under the tree.
He was thankful that the Cypress Hill Convention Center allowed him to use the space each year to promote the event. The holidays would be upon them before they knew it. It helped to plant the seeds of giving early before everyone exhausted their holiday budgets.
Drake downed the last drink he would have. It was time to tend to other things he had on his list for this evening. He’d networked and socialized. Now it was his time to enjoy Kelly before she insisted he drop her off in those dismal woods. That was his next focal point, convincing her to pack up her tent and make camp with him.
A hand on his arm sucked him back into the glitzy, crystallized ballroom.
“So…who’s your new lady friend?” Keith raised his brows over the rim of his glass. Drake sipped his gin and tonic, leaning against the bar.
“I met her downtown. It was sort of ironic,” Drake informed him. “Fate works like that, I suppose.” He expelled a deep sigh. “Isn’t she gorgeous?” Drake winked, fighting off his raging libido for the hundredth time. Drake would never spill the details of how he and Kelly met. Not that he cared, but he knew Kelly would.
“That she is,” Keith agreed. “You look happy, relieved really,” Keith said, elbowing him in the ribs.
“I am. She’s changed everything,” Drake told him, setting his empty glass down on the bar. Keith knew more about his personal life than any other of Drake’s employees. He was relieved that Keith had attended the event. He was the first one he’d introduced Kelly to. They’d had a pleasant conversation until Colleen had intercepted Kelly, dragging her away to introduce her to the other women.
He had decent people working for him. Drake treated them well and they respected him. A sense of pride warmed through him. It was the clients they had to cater to that could make a pool of sourness fill his mouth.
The event was going smoothly. The women appeared to be confused that he hadn’t shown up with Nina on his arm, their expressions evident. Thank God Colleen had come over, initiating first contact, extending her hand. She had taken Kelly under her wing.
“She appears to be mingling well,” Keith said. Drake noticed Keith’s eyes drift over to where Kelly was chatting it up with a group of Colleen’s colleagues from accounting.
“She is, and to think she was worried,” Drake said mockingly. He flagged down the bartender for another round. Soft yellow light fell from the chandeliers above, making every sleek strand of Kelly’s hair shimmer. Drake bit down hard on his lip. The exposed flesh of her body glinted due to the dress he’d so cleverly selected for her. The garment baited him, pulling him under, filling his mind with brazen thoughts.
“What does she do?” Keith asked, rocking back on his heels.
“She’s in limbo right now. Her parents were ill for a long time. They recently passed, so Kelly is at a bit of a crossroads right now, but—”
Keith finished the thought for him. “I’m sure you can provide her with adequate direction,” Keith said, eyeing him over the rim of his drink, a wicked gleam in his gaze.
“Oh, yeah.” Drake nodded at the bartender, lifting the glass to his lips. He lowered his eyes into his drink, needing to keep it reeled in.
Keith placed his hand on his shoulder, tearing him out of his naughty thoughts. “I’m gonna take off, that okay with you?” Keith asked, fussing with his tie.
“Go,” Drake said, lifting a shoulder. “I’m not far behind you. I’ve had about enough.”
Keith gave him a pat on the back and slipped through the French doors. Drake sat down at the bar, watching the suits and skirts mingle.
Tokens for Tots was an annual charity Drake ran from the end of October until the New Year. They supplied families in need with medical and dental care as well as other support services so children wouldn’t have to go through the holiday season with no turkey, trimmings, or gifts under the tree.
He was thankful that the Cypress Hill Convention Center allowed him to use the space each year to promote the event. The holidays would be upon them before they knew it. It helped to plant the seeds of giving early before everyone exhausted their holiday budgets.
Drake downed the last drink he would have. It was time to tend to other things he had on his list for this evening. He’d networked and socialized. Now it was his time to enjoy Kelly before she insisted he drop her off in those dismal woods. That was his next focal point, convincing her to pack up her tent and make camp with him.
A hand on his arm sucked him back into the glitzy, crystallized ballroom.
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