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actually have
relationships with the women he spent time with. He never let any woman close
enough to call it that.
    But Tessa mattered to him, and she
made him want to try.
    Glancing over, he didn’t like
seeing the worried expression on her face as she looked out the window. It
wouldn’t surprise him if Tessa was concerned about postponing their dinner. It
bothered him to think she was only spending time with him because she was
worried he’d fire her father if she didn’t comply with his demands. But how the
hell was he supposed to figure out if she really wanted to be with him, or if
this was all just part of their deal?
    When the car came to a stop in
front of the building where her office was located, Tessa met his gaze, but he
didn’t know what to say.
    See me...the real me.
    Drake bit back the words
flickering through his head, refusing to say them out loud. The silence
lengthened at they stared at one another. He could see the curiosity in Tessa’s
eyes. So many questions unasked, but he knew she wouldn’t push. No one pushed
him for anything he didn’t want to give, but he found himself wanting to give
her more than he knew how.
    “Now that we have a location and
a date, I can send out the invitations.”
    “Good.”
    Tessa hesitated before saying, “I
got the list of your business contacts from Mrs. Potts, but I’m going to need a
list of your personal guests.”
    “I’m in meetings most of the day
tomorrow, but I’ll have it to you by the end of day.”
    “Okay.” Gus opened the back door
of the car for her. She had one leg out the door when Drake said her name,
making her turn back.
    “I’ll be out of town for the next
several days. I have to visit one of my facilities in California, but I’ll be
back on Thursday.”
    “Okay.” She smiled. “I’ll talk to
you soon. Have a safe trip.”
    She got out of the car, and he
watched until she was safely in the building, out of the cold. Gus got back in
the driver’s seat, but didn’t pull away from the curb. When Drake met his eye
in the rearview mirror, he asked, “What?”
    “We’ve been friends a long time.”
    Oh, no. That was never a good
start to any discussion.
    Drake had known Gus for years.
They’d met in the foster care system, and had kept in touch even when they’d taken
separate paths. One had gone to school while the other had chosen the military.
For years they hadn’t spoke a word to one another, but when Gus had gotten
shot, left the service, and returned home, Drake had a job waiting for him. Gus
was a big man, making him an ideal driver and bodyguard when necessary, but he
was also a gentle soul who got teary-eyed during sad movies. It was something
Drake took pleasure making fun of Gus for every chance he got.
    “What’s your point?”
    Gus turned around in his seat so
they were looking at one another. “So, I gotta ask...what the hell is wrong
with you?”
    Drake scowled. “What do you
mean?”
    “Seriously? Way to drop that shit
about your parents—or lack thereof—on your lady. My Kelcie would have smacked
me upside the head for telling her the way you did Tessa. Finesse, man. Get
some.”
    “Don’t tax your brain by using
big words you don’t understand. And she isn’t my lady.”
    “With the way you’ve been acting,
no wonder she’s not. Are you seriously this bad at wooing a woman? It’s almost
painful to watch.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking
about.”
    “Lie to yourself, but don’t lie
to me.” Gus glared at Drake and shook a finger at him. “I’ve watched the two of
you dance around one another these past few weeks—”
    Exasperated, Drake cut him off as
he asked, “When did you turn into such a girl?”
    “Shut up. Just because I’m in
touch with my feelings, that doesn’t—”
    “Jesus, we are not having this
conversation.”
    “Yes, we are. Does Tessa have a
clue that all these dinners you’ve been taking her to are just an excuse for
you to spend more time with her?