you're hungry."
Tired and hungry, a feeling of defeat washed over her and she took what was offered.
They sat quietly as she finished the pizza. When it was gone he set the plate on the nightstand and gently pulled her onto his lap. He placed a hand on her head drawing it down to his shoulder. She sighed and relaxed against him too drained to fight.
She hadn't felt such an overwhelming need to cry in years. She had managed to keep her life on a very even plain for a long time, and now it was all falling apart. She was no longer used to such emotional turmoil. She didn't know what to cry about first. The fact Drake had disrupted her serenity? That her friends and even the CEO were conspiring against her? The fear of people at work finding out? Or the worst thing of all, that some part of her wanted to give in to what she was feeling.
It felt so good to be in his arms. He was warm and strong, he smelled of outdoors and after-shave. She had been alone for so long, the idea of having someone to lean on was incredibly tempting. Someone to laugh with, to go out with, to curl up in the evenings with. Someone who would hold her when she had a bad day, to kiss her when...
Kate lifted her head and slid off his lap. "Thanks for the pizza. It was good. If you'll excuse me I need to get dressed."
Drake stood up and softly kissed her forehead. "I'll wait for you in the kitchen." He picked up the empty dishes and carried them out of the room, closing the door behind him.
*****
Kate's friends were still at the table when Drake returned to the kitchen.
"I'm glad to see you're still in one piece," Sue observed. "I wasn't sure how you'd be received back there."
"I wasn't either," he admitted. "I think she'll be out in a minute."
"Well," Missy said. "I believe we all have somewhere else to be. Thanks for the pizza, Drake."
The three stood and gathered their things. Sue walked over to Drake and held out a piece of paper. "Here, in case you run out of ideas and need help. She's very cautious, and can be irritatingly stubborn, but if you're willing to stick it out you won't find a more incredible woman."
Drake took the paper and unfolded it. It contained the names and phone numbers of the three women in the room. "I realized she was an incredible woman the moment I met her." He held up the paper. "Thanks, I really appreciate this." They filed out the door, but before Sue was all the way out she turned, "Drake?"
"Yes?"
"We're crossing our fingers for you, but I should warn you. If you hurt her, your life won't be worth living. Have a nice evening." She smiled as she pulled the door shut behind her.
Drake shook his head. He had never had his life threatened before. Since meeting Kate, however, it seemed as if one false move would have the whole world gunning for him. He looked toward the hall. He'd be willing to bet she wasn't even aware of the kind of love and protectiveness she produced in those who knew her. He stowed the leftover pizza and chips and was wiping the counter when Kate emerged. She looked around cautiously.
"The others left," he stated.
Kate walked to the stove. "I'm going to make more tea. Would you like some?"
"No, thank you."
Neither spoke as she went about her chore. When she was done she strolled into the living room and curled up on the couch. Drake sat next to her. This new mood of hers was strange. She didn't completely ignore him nor did she completely acknowledge him. Her indifference gave him the impression she resigned herself to accept him as an unavoidable presence. She turned on the TV and browsed the listings. "Do you like action movies?"
"Yes."
"There's one coming on."
"Sounds good to me. Do you have any popcorn?"
"There should be some in the pantry." She started to get up.
Drake placed a staying hand on her shoulder, "I'll make it, you stay put." He pulled the navy and white fleece throw off the back of the couch and covered her up. Ten minutes later, he was back with a bowl of
Tired and hungry, a feeling of defeat washed over her and she took what was offered.
They sat quietly as she finished the pizza. When it was gone he set the plate on the nightstand and gently pulled her onto his lap. He placed a hand on her head drawing it down to his shoulder. She sighed and relaxed against him too drained to fight.
She hadn't felt such an overwhelming need to cry in years. She had managed to keep her life on a very even plain for a long time, and now it was all falling apart. She was no longer used to such emotional turmoil. She didn't know what to cry about first. The fact Drake had disrupted her serenity? That her friends and even the CEO were conspiring against her? The fear of people at work finding out? Or the worst thing of all, that some part of her wanted to give in to what she was feeling.
It felt so good to be in his arms. He was warm and strong, he smelled of outdoors and after-shave. She had been alone for so long, the idea of having someone to lean on was incredibly tempting. Someone to laugh with, to go out with, to curl up in the evenings with. Someone who would hold her when she had a bad day, to kiss her when...
Kate lifted her head and slid off his lap. "Thanks for the pizza. It was good. If you'll excuse me I need to get dressed."
Drake stood up and softly kissed her forehead. "I'll wait for you in the kitchen." He picked up the empty dishes and carried them out of the room, closing the door behind him.
*****
Kate's friends were still at the table when Drake returned to the kitchen.
"I'm glad to see you're still in one piece," Sue observed. "I wasn't sure how you'd be received back there."
"I wasn't either," he admitted. "I think she'll be out in a minute."
"Well," Missy said. "I believe we all have somewhere else to be. Thanks for the pizza, Drake."
The three stood and gathered their things. Sue walked over to Drake and held out a piece of paper. "Here, in case you run out of ideas and need help. She's very cautious, and can be irritatingly stubborn, but if you're willing to stick it out you won't find a more incredible woman."
Drake took the paper and unfolded it. It contained the names and phone numbers of the three women in the room. "I realized she was an incredible woman the moment I met her." He held up the paper. "Thanks, I really appreciate this." They filed out the door, but before Sue was all the way out she turned, "Drake?"
"Yes?"
"We're crossing our fingers for you, but I should warn you. If you hurt her, your life won't be worth living. Have a nice evening." She smiled as she pulled the door shut behind her.
Drake shook his head. He had never had his life threatened before. Since meeting Kate, however, it seemed as if one false move would have the whole world gunning for him. He looked toward the hall. He'd be willing to bet she wasn't even aware of the kind of love and protectiveness she produced in those who knew her. He stowed the leftover pizza and chips and was wiping the counter when Kate emerged. She looked around cautiously.
"The others left," he stated.
Kate walked to the stove. "I'm going to make more tea. Would you like some?"
"No, thank you."
Neither spoke as she went about her chore. When she was done she strolled into the living room and curled up on the couch. Drake sat next to her. This new mood of hers was strange. She didn't completely ignore him nor did she completely acknowledge him. Her indifference gave him the impression she resigned herself to accept him as an unavoidable presence. She turned on the TV and browsed the listings. "Do you like action movies?"
"Yes."
"There's one coming on."
"Sounds good to me. Do you have any popcorn?"
"There should be some in the pantry." She started to get up.
Drake placed a staying hand on her shoulder, "I'll make it, you stay put." He pulled the navy and white fleece throw off the back of the couch and covered her up. Ten minutes later, he was back with a bowl of
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