by Jessica Kile
Drew shot daggers to Ryan’s back. As gun shy as Lana had been the last thing Drew wanted her to hear were those comments.
Drew left his drum set with the onset of drunken boos. They had played to this crowd more than once. Every time they ended up playing most of the night. Normally he would have no problem. Music was his life. However, if he had to choose between playing until three in the morning, or, making sure Lana got home safely. He would always choose her. This was a first for him.
He caught up to her as she took the last step off the front porch. “Hey, where are you taking off to?”
Lana shot an annoyed look over her shoulders. “Home.”
“Where are your friends?” He quickened his steps to meet her pace.
“Ricky is doing his best to hook up with some guy. I have no idea where Tracie is.”
Drew could only imagine where Tracie had taken off to. These parties were always tame, compared to most, but drugs had been known to make their way through the doors.
“Let me take you home,” he offered, knowing he wouldn't accept a refusal.
“I can walk.”
“No.” He reached out to take her hand thanking God when she did not slap him. “I’ll take you home. It’s no problem.”
**********************
Lana sat in Drew’s Ford truck wondering how she let herself get into this situation. Oh yeah. His band played her favorite songs. Could she really be that easy? Hopefully his only plan was driving her home.
“See, I told you, no box van,” he joked. A heavy metal song filled the cab as he found a radio station.
Lana stared out the window as the truck pulled out onto the road.
“So, where are we going?”
Lana rattled off her address as they came to a stop light. Please, don’t let this be another mistake she thought to herself.
“No shit,” he stated. “How have I not seen you?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, turning her head in his direction.
The light turned green allowing him to continue down the road. “I live like three doors up from you.”
Don’t tell him you have no life outside of school. He’s in a rock band for crying out loud.
He took the right hand turn headed to their apartment building. “I have to ask. How in the hell, did a freshman get out of living in a dorm?”
“My dad's friend is on the board. He pulled some strings,” she volunteered the information without thinking.
“Damn, I wish my dad had pulled those strings for me.”
“He didn't want partying to pull me away from my studies.”
Translation? Her dad was a complete control freak. If Shawn hadn't caused her to high tail it away from home her overbearing father would have.
“You were out of your comfort zone tonight, weren't you?”
She shrugged. “It wasn’t that bad.”
The passing lights cast a shadow on his smile. “Are you saying you had fun?”
“Maybe,” she said shyly.
Lana did her best to ignore the way her body reacted to the man beside her. Allowing herself to like someone of the opposite sex was asking for trouble. She should get out of this truck and run as far away from him as she could. Save them both the trouble. For the first time in a long time she didn't want to run.
He turned into the parking lot. “I’m glad you came tonight.”
Lana smiled. She was also glad that she had decided to go to the party. Wow! Who would have thought she would ever say that again?
“Go out to breakfast with me,” he suggested. They sat in the parked truck staring at the apartment building. “You can bring the dingbat if it will make you feel better.”
She sighed. “Be nice.”
“I am being nice,” he told her. He got out and came around to open her door. “There are other names I could call him.”
Lana shoved passed him on her way out of the truck. “He’s my best friend. So, back off.”
“Well, your best friend chose to chase tail over you tonight.”
“I told him I would be fine,” she informed him, as they began their walk to the building. “And I was fine. You’re the one getting all bent out of shape.”
“What would have happened if I hadn’t been there?” he asked, guiding her up the first set of steps.
“I would have gotten home on my own.”
“Maybe or maybe not.”
Lana’s hands shook as she put the key in the lock of her door, moments later. She hadn't been thinking when she left the party. All she'd wanted was to go home, so Ricky could score without feeling guilty about leaving her alone. Now that Drew pointed out she could have once again played into someone's hands; she was slightly panicking over the what-ifs.
“Hey,” he said in a soothing voice, taking over the task of unlocking the door. “I’m not yelling at you. It’s just that I've seen what can happen to a girl if she wonders off alone.”
Lana looked down at her tennis shoes. He had no clue how close to home his warning had struck. She was kicking herself for being so reckless. The sensible side had told her to call a taxi as soon as she saw Tracie slip out the door with Monica’s roommate. Instead of going home she chose to stay and watch Drew. The fact that something could've happened had never crossed her mind.
Drew folded her keys in her hand and pulled the same hand up to his mouth for a kiss. “We good?”
“Yeah,” she whispered.
His thumb was busy rubbing a trail up and down the back of her hand. “Just promise you won’t take unnecessary risks.”
Her gaze settled on his soft mouth. “I didn’t realize coming home was a risk.”
“When you're surrounded by intoxicated people and you wonder off alone it can be.”
Suddenly she felt as if she were being scolded by an overprotective parent. “I doubt anything would've happened.”
“Your safety isn't something that I’m willing to argue over,” he said, resting a shoulder against the closed door. “Go out and have fun, as long as you are being safe.”
His words gave her a warm and fuzzy feeling she wasn't ready to deal with. Her own brothers hadn't been this protective. Maybe if they had been she would've known not to trust Shawn.
“Come here,” Drew demanded. He tugged her closer into his open arms for a hug. “You need to get to sleep.”
As if on cue a yawn, which she hid against his shoulder, forced its way out. That’s when she discovered that he smelled really good. It was like she had her nose stuck against the ocean. Totally not how she expected him to smell.
“Denny’s tomorrow?” he suggested. He was lightly massaging her neck. “Around eight?”
Lana was having a difficult time following the conversation. All she wanted to do was curl up in his arms and go to sleep. This reaction was unexpected. She was beginning to think he had cast a spell on her.
“You going to leave me hanging?” he asked with amusement.
She placed her hands on his chest with the intention of putting distance between them, instead they rested there. “Sounds good.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “That’s what I like to hear.”
From somewhere off in the distance a car alarm went off. Startled she moved closer to him. It was funny; how, in such a short amount of time he provided security. It was something her family hadn't given her.
He moved his hands down to rest on her waist. “If you need anything call.”
“I will,” she promised.
“Lock the door as soon as you get in there,” he instructed. He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” she whispered back before letting herself into her apartment.
Lana almost hated to close the door. Ricky was still gone. Who knew when he would get home? Hell, she wasn't even sure he would return in time to go have breakfast with them. Part of her hoped he would miss breakfast. Remembering the impression Ricky made on Drew, she decided he deserved the chance t
o redeem himself.
She quickly typed a message to Ricky on her phone as she made her way to her bedroom without turning any lights on.
‘Breakfast at Denny’s at 8’
It only took a minute for her phone to buzz with a response. ‘Can I bring Jerome?’
Lana rolled her eyes. ‘Sure. Drew will be there.’
The next reply took less time. ‘You go girl!’
Lana laughed and tossed her phone onto her nightstand.
****************
“I thought I told you to stay away from her,” Chris said, from the entrance of the kitchen.
Drew had his head stuck in the fridge hunting for orange juice. “What you said was that she has issues.”
“It'll never happened,” Chris warned.
Drew grabbed the juice turning to an empty glass on the table. “And you would be wrong.”
Chris laughed. “You’re delusional.”
“No, I’m not,” he said. He placed the juice back in the fridge. “She trusts me.”
“She spent one night listening to the band. Yeah, she totally trusts you with her life.” The statement oozed with sarcasm.
Drew gulped the orange juice. “She let me take her home last night. What do you have to say about that, dumb-ass?”
“You are getting in over your head,” Chris said. “Good luck with it.” That statement was said to the closing door, as Drew left the apartment.
Drew found Lana, Ricky, and some guy, he recognized from the party in a corner booth at the back of the restaurant. He had really hoped she would have left the idiot at home.
He slid into the booth beside Lana and casually slipped an arm around her shoulders. When she did not stiffen or pull away he took it as a good sign. “Good morning.”
Lana smiled, turning her head in his direction. “Morning.”
Her sweet mouth beckoned to him. He dropped a lite kiss on her forehead, instead. He needed to take things slow with her.
“It’s too damned early for this on a Sunday morning,” complained a hung-over Ricky.
Drew eyed the flamboyant idiot. This was going to be harder than planned. “Nobody forced you to come.”
“She needed someone to come and hold her hand,” Ricky stated. He was slouched back against the bench.
Drew flexed his fingers against Lana’s shoulder. “You didn’t feel the need to hold her hand last night.”
Ricky arched a waxed eyebrow. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Lana squeezed Drew's leg in warning; he chose to ignore it. “You don’t take a girl to a party and abandon her.”
Ricky's eyes widened. “She insisted on leaving by herself.”
“I told you to be nice,” Lana whispered into Drew’s ear.
“I am being nice,” he told her. He pulled her closer into the side of his body. “Have you ordered yet?”
The older waitress arrived at that moment with their drinks. “Are you guys ready to order?”
“I’ll take a coffee, eggs, and bacon,” Drew replied, sliding Lana’s coffee over to her.
“Oat meal,” Lana said, when the waitress directed a look at her.
Ricky snorted. “Sugar, even your breakfast is boring.”
Drew felt Lana stiffen but she never said a word. She just fiddled with her cell phone. The girl clearly had a problem with standing up for herself, especially, against Ricky.
Drew didn't have a problem standing up for her. “Do you always have to be an ass?”
“If I didn’t give her a hard time she would think I was mad at her,” Ricky stated simply. “She may be quiet now, but she can give it back just as hard.”
Ricky’s friend ordered for the two of them when he saw that the waitress was getting impatient. Drew liked the guy. He seemed to be on the quiet, the complete opposite of Ricky.
“Please,” Lana whispered, “let it drop.”
Drew absentmindedly twisted a strand of her shoulder length hair around his finger. “What are you doing the rest of the day?”
Lana took a drink of her steaming cup of coffee. “I have to meet Tracie at the mall.”
There went his plan of monopolizing her day.
Ricky pouted. “Nobody told me about a shopping trip.”
Drew rolled his eyes. What normal guy wanted to tag along on a trip to the mall?
“She’s helping me find work clothes,” she said. “It’s not a fun shopping trip.”
Drew arched a brow. “There’s such a thing as a fun shopping trip?”
“Ha ha,” Lana said dryly. “You’re a regular comedian.”
The silent guy smirked.
Drew tugged on the strand of hair. “Smart-ass.”
Lana took a picture of Ricky and his friend with her phone. “And you’re not?”
“Never claimed not to be.” He stole her phone taking a picture of her and him.
“Delete that,” she demanded. “I look like crap.”
“No you don’t,” he denied. “We need to document our first date.”
“This is not a date,” she told him.
“No double date happening here,” the silent guy chimed in.
Ricky shot Drew a WTF look. Damn, they had both been shot down within a couple of seconds. Judging from the amount of space between Ricky and his friend, Drew had a better chance with Lana. Drew felt bad for the guy.
Drew leaned down to whisper in Lana’s ear. “If this were a real date they wouldn't be here. I can do a lot better than breakfast.”
A blush colored her cheeks. Damn, she was adorable. The urge to kiss her was back. His head moved down on its’ own. A soft sigh escaped from her, slightly parted, lips. Her body angled into his.
“Oatmeal for the lady,” the waitress said as she slid Lana’s bowl across the table.
Lana pulled back as if she had been burned. Drew couldn't believe his luck. She had wanted the kiss just as much as he did. He hoped they weren’t going to be back at square one after this.
He winked at her as he took his plate from the waitress, who had piss poor timing.
The other two guys awkwardly watched on. It was clear Jerome felt out of place; while, Ricky seemed torn between being happy for Lana and not wanting to witness any PDA,
Drew bit into a piece of bacon to keep from pulling Lana back to him. They had plenty of time for all of the things he wanted to do with her. Knowing she seemed to be affected by him was enough for him at the moment.
“So, where is the band playing next?” Jerome asked, ending the silence that had settled on their table.
“Actually, we’re booked to go back to Lux next weekend,” Drew replied.
Lana’s face turned beet red. Both Ricky and Drew could do nothing to prevent their laughs.
She elbowed Drew in the side. “Shut up. Did you expect me to admit I was sitting at home in my Pjs?”
He grinned. “I would've been perfectly satisfied with joining you on your couch. Pajamas or not.”
Lana rolled her eyes. “I can’t see you watching Dancing with the Stars.”
“I’d watch it for you,” he informed her. “Especially, if you’re in pajamas.”
She ducked her head and concentrating on her oatmeal.
“We should go, Lana,” Ricky suggested.
“Go where?” she asked.
“Lux,” he said, as if he were speaking to a child.
She busied herself by scooping oatmeal onto her spoon and dumping it back into the bowl. “I don’t know.”
“You can stand right by the stage if it’ll make you feel more comfortable,” Drew suggested.
“She doesn’t need a babysitter,” Ricky told him.
Lana gave a hesitant smile. “I’ll think about it.”
Drew smiled. He had a feeling nobody at the table had the slightest idea how big a step she'd just taken. She was hiding something. Hell, maybe she had been lured into a white van. If that were the case, he'd feel really bad for the jokes he'd made when they first met.
Ricky snorte
d. “Why would you want to just stand by the stage? I think you’re clueless to why people go to clubs.”
Drew felt Lana’s body stiffen where she touched him. When she pushed her half eaten oatmeal away, he wanted to smack Ricky.
“Did you drive?” Drew asked her.
She shook her head. “They picked me up.”
Drew took his wallet out tossed enough money on the table to cover both meals. “Let’s get out of here.”
Lana shot him a thankful look.
“What the hell,” Ricky said. “You’re just going to take off with him?”
Drew took her hand in his, guiding her out of the booth. He wanted to tell the guy his exact thoughts but knew that it would only cause problems with Lana. For now he would settle for getting her away from her friend.
Chapter 3
Lana stared down at the puddle of coffee at her feet. Her first day at her new job had been a disaster so far. Tracie laughing every time she dropped a cup of coffee or a cookie on the floor was not helping.
She was a bottle of nerves and it wasn't all due to starting a new job. Drew had wiggled his way into her every thought. As a result, her brain was only half on what it was supposed to be. Coffee was paying the price.
“Do I even need to ask where your head is?” Tracie asked, bringing the mop to her. Again.
“Drew can’t stand Ricky,” she informed her friend. She began mopping up the mess. “Ricky turns into an ass when he’s around.”
Tracie folded her arms across her chest and rested a hip against the counter. “He's just being protective—in his own weird way.”
She shook her head. “It’s frustrating.”
“Give it sometime,” her friend advised. “Ricky will get to know him and be cool.”
Lana took the mop back to the supply closet. “I hope you’re right.”
Tracie placed freshly baked cookies on the racks of the cookie case. “Drew is a good guy. Ricky will have no choice but to like him.”
A woman, wanting a refill, cut their conversation short.
By the time she was able to go to the gym, she was worn out. Tracie tried to talk her into going home. She had not missed a night at the gym since she got there; she wasn't about to start now.
