It struck him that he was looking at Izzy with almost the same intensity Tyler was looking at Kiko.
Drake swallowed, wondering what the hell he'd gotten himself into. He didn't plan on finding someone who worked his emotions like this. Yeah, he'd thought in the back of his mind about maybe hooking up with a lonely divorcee who needed a good screwing, but he never planned on being emotionally compromised.
Fuck…
For the first time in his life, he felt true, nauseating fear. The thought of walking away and never seeing Izzy again flooded him with anxiety.
Pushing up from the table, he turned, looking for an escape, but there were people crowded around him. Panic clawed at his throat as he shuffled side to side, looking for an out. Finally, one opened up and he all but bolted from the courtyard. A hand grabbed at him but he whipped away.
Without thought, he headed toward the balcony where he'd hidden out before, weaving up the stairway and through the curtains beyond. His bottle of Woodford was exactly where he'd left it, but he didn't reach for the glass. He sat down in the chair and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, breathing hard. Then he scrubbed his head with his hands, aggravated at having left that way. His guys would be worried about him, and he had no excuse for his behavior.
Back and forth he ran his hand over his head, taking comfort in the repetition. He knew he was far enough back into the shadows that no one could see him here. But that evidently didn't mean people couldn't find him. When he felt the touch on his shoulder, he didn't jerk, just looked up into bright green eyes smiling gently down into his.
Drake wasn't sure if it was a good idea to see her again. He had a feeling it was going to hurt when they parted, but he gave her a small smile anyway.
"I was worried about you when you left."
He frowned, a little shocked at her words. He'd been alone so long he couldn't even imagine who had last worried about him. His mother, before she'd died? That had been when he'd still been in elementary school. It certainly hadn't been his dad. He'd washed his hands of his wayward, too-adventurous son long ago.
"I'm fine. Sometimes the crowds get to me. I had to get out of there and be alone to breathe."
"Oh," she drew back her hand. "Okay. I'll leave you alone then."
She'd started to turn, but he grabbed her hand. "No, I don't mind you being here."
Strangely, that was the truth. He didn't mind her being here at all. Normally the mere presence of other people aggravated the crap out of him, but not her.
That broad smile spread her lips again. "Okay, if you're sure."
She looked around for a chair, but the one he sat in was the only one out here. With a tug, he pulled her down onto his lap. For the slightest moment she stiffened, but then she relaxed into his hold, curling up against his chest. She fit amazingly well.
"I have to be honest, Drake," she murmured. "You're very easy to be with like this."
He sighed beneath her, swinging her legs up across the arm of the chair. "You know this can't go anywhere, right Izzy? I like being with you too, but there's no way this will work. No matter how much we're drawn to each other, we’re a country—no, a world apart."
Drake was glad that her head was nestled beneath his chin, because he didn't have to look into her eyes as he delivered that blow. But he could feel the tears landing on his chest. She didn't say anything for a long time, and he worried that she wouldn't talk to him anymore, but she stayed in his arms, gently rubbing her hand over his chest.
"I think," she said finally, sitting up in his lap and looking him in the eye, "that if we wanted something to work, we could do it."
Drake frowned. "I'm stateside less than half the year, and during the time that I’m stateside, I'm in Virginia. I have to be ready to be in the air within a couple hours of notification. That's no joke."
She nodded. "I know you do and I'm fine with that. I would never ask you to change anything you do. But I want you to think about something. Next time you have a long weekend or break, only if you want, maybe I can fly out to see you. I have no problem traveling."
That damn tightness in his throat was back again and he had to look away from her to get a grip.
"I'm not ready for anything too involved either," she continued, "but the thought of not seeing you again makes my heart hurt. I've only known you for a few hours, but I feel like I've been with you for a long time. And I know I want to see you again."
Drake blinked at her, wondering if she was crazy, or if he was. Maybe they both were to even think about trying to swing a relationship like this. Instead of answering her, he pulled her toward him for a kiss. Izzy met him eagerly and he could tell she was smiling against his mouth. For some reason that was especially sexy and he pulled back to look at her.
Her eyes were clear and there was an excitement in her expression that spurred his own. "You know, I think I might take you up on that. I'll warn you now, though, I'm not much of a relationship guy. Contact may be hard, especially if I'm out of the country."
She nodded, looping her arms around his neck. "I understand that. And I'm not going to wait by the phone for you to call. I'm not much of one for relationships either, but I feel like we click. And not just in the sack," she laughed, obviously feeling his arousal pressed against her.
Drake grinned, loving that she could tease him like this. "Let's make sure we still click in the sack," he said, pushing her back.
Izzy laughed and pulled away as a voice began to echo below them. "Not yet. Tyler and Kiko are about to leave and I want to see them off."
Giving in good-naturedly, he followed her from the balcony. All his anxiety had vanished. When she reached for his hand as they reentered the courtyard, he allowed her to take it. Most of the people were moving through a trellised arch at the far end of the patio, obviously being directed by the wedding planner and her assistants, but there was a bottleneck. Struck with inspiration, Drake tugged on Izzy's hand, pulling her back into the resort. With sure, quick steps he led her through the monstrous hotel and out a side door. He'd scouted all this last night before the guests started arriving.
