“Seriously?” Drew paused. “You’ve never had chili?”
“Nope,” Bethany returned her attention to the paper. “It wasn’t considered cordon bleu cooking. The chef at home never made it.”
“You employed a chef?” Drew asked in astonishment as he grabbed a couple of glasses and cutlery.
“My parents did. I learned to cook in college,” Bethany murmured. She blushed as she read the article. “Oh my.”
“Yeah,” Drew said darkly. “Sterling Denver has outdone herself like always.”
“Who?” Bethany turned a slightly darker shade of pink as she looked up.
“The writer. What is it?” Drew wondered what was bothering her so much.
Bethany hesitated. “I have a confession to make. I never thought Reggie would say something like this.”
“You know the guy?” Drew searched his mind to remember what the quote was that Sterling had used.
“He’s a fellow violinist at the orchestra,” Bethany looked down at the paper, embarrassed. “He kept asking me out and I was trying to be polite.”
Drew carefully took the paper away from her. He patiently waited for her to look at him and continue.
Bethany took a deep breath and raised her gaze to his. “I might have led him to believe that you were my boyfriend.”
“Really?” Drew raised an eyebrow. For some reason the simple statement made him very happy, not that he was going to show that.
“I know it’s juvenile,” Bethany lamented. “As soon as the words were out, I regretted them. I should have just told Reggie that I don’t find him to be attractive and I would prefer that he turn his charms somewhere else. However, once it was done, I just let him believe it.”
“Any reason you chose me?” Drew’s ego felt a little boost. Maybe she did find him attractive after all.
“You were the first name that came to mind,” she blushed a little deeper and felt like her face was on fire. “I apologize. I had no right to do so.”
“Any time you need a fictional boyfriend, let me know,” Drew offered. He kind of liked that he had been the first to come to her mind in that sort of situation.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Bethany mumbled. She had the feeling Drew was a little amused at her expense. While it probably was funny, right now she was too embarrassed. Bethany made her escape. Even though she hated taking showers, right now it was preferable than talking to her ‘fictional boyfriend’ Drew.
Drew lay on the couch, one arm over his head, the other on his chest. A spring was poking him in the back, but he didn’t bother moving. Bethany was sleeping in the bed. They’d both enjoyed supper and a night of chatting while watching the Yankees win.
He tried not to let a goofy smile settle on his face. She liked him. She wasn’t ready to admit it, but she liked him.
If Drew didn’t watch it, he was going to end up like Max, besotted with her and goofy. Somehow, his half-brother had been right. Once love hit you, bam, game over.
They hardly knew each other. Had met only such a short time ago. Yet Drew knew that no one would ever match up to Bethany in his life. He liked her. He wanted her. He loved her.
It would never work. She’d leave.
That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to enjoy wherever she chose to take this. Drew firmly believed in treating her like a lady. He would not take advantage of the situation. But he would happily let her stay if she wanted. Share her company as long as she was willing to.
He stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. He felt restless.
A distressed sound from the bed pulled his attention toward Bethany. Drew stilled as he tried to listen. There it was again. Bethany thrashed against the covers.
Drew flipped off the afghan and padded over to the bed. “Beth.”
She was making little choking noises. He flipped on the lamp and shook her shoulder. “Bethany.”
Bethany woke with a gasp. She trembled and looked at him. “Drew?”
“I’m right here,” Drew sat on the edge of the bed, pushing her hair out of her face. “It was just a dream.”
