Chapter
Fifteen
�This is really wonderful, Nick.� Drew looked around. �Thank you.�
�You deserve all the pampering that you can get.� Nick took her hand. �Though only if I�m the one to do it.�
�Well, you know. My other boyfriend, Leo, likes to shower me with gold and jewels, and take me to fancy places.� Drew answered. She laughed when it took a moment for Nick to realize that she was kidding. �You are so gullible, Nicholas Carter.�
�I�m just worried that I�m not good enough for you, so you have to go to other guys,� He said sheepishly.
�Oh, baby. As if you would ever need to worry about that!� Drew looked deep in his blue eyes. �You are all I�ll ever need.�
Nick leaned over and kissed her. They heard a throat clear and they broke apart, blushing.
�May I take your orders?� A stiff, disapproving, waiter stood in front of them. They placed their orders, and the waiter walked away. Nick and Drew looked at each other and giggled.
�Can we say� prude?� asked Drew.
�I think it�s standard issue attitude for employees here.� Nick agreed.
�No doubt.�
They ate, laughed, joked and then Nick ate some more. As he was finishing his second plate, the band started playing a slow song. Nick looked from the couples gathering on the dance floor to Drew and back again. Taking a sip of water, he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
�Would you like to dance?� He asked Drew.
�Sure.� Drew smiled sweetly, and took the hand he offered. Nick led her out into the middle of the dance floor. His arms went around her waist, and hers went up around his neck.
�I have to warn you, I�m all left feet when it comes to slow dancing.� Nick confessed. Drew eloquently raised her eyebrow at him. �No, really! I do fine when it comes to choreography, because I just have to follow the steps and the rhythm. With slow songs, there�s no real beat, and no steps for me to follow.�
�Well, it�s really quite simple.� Drew said. As she explained, she demonstrated. �There are two parts to dancing slowly. First,
you press close to each other. Good. Next, sway gently side to side while rotating slowly.� Nick�s arms tightened around her waist as he began to sway. Drew smiled, lay her head on his chest, and closed her eyes.
Looking down, Nick saw a small, contented smile on Drew�s face. His heart swelled with joy. He still couldn�t believe the she was really his girlfriend. He hoped that he would always put that smile on her face, and the laugh in her voice.
Drew could feel Nick�s heart beating beneath her ear. It was strong, steady, and loud. It made her happy to be in Nick�s arms, and to know that he loved her as much as she loved him. At that moment in time, as she listened to the thump-thump of his heart, all was right in Drew�s world.
Mackenzie and Kevin were finishing their meal at the Fantasyland Hotel Restaurant. They had spent the evening talking and holding hands, and laughing.
�That was a great dinner.� said Kevin. �What do you feel like doing now?�
�I dunno. We could go up to my room and watch TV for a while.� Mackenzie shrugged.
�Sure. Let�s get the check from our waiter.� Kevin smiles at her.
They paid for dinner and went upstairs. The sat side by side on one of the beds and flipped channels. They didn�t like any of the shows that were on, so they finally settled on �Sleepless in Seattle� which was playing on A-channel. Although Kevin groaned a little at having to watch a �chick flick�, he gave in to Mackenzie�s urgings.
Kevin leaned over and placed the remote control on the bedside table. When he leaned back, he patted the bed in front of him. Mackenzie understood, and sat between his legs. His arms wrapped around her and she leaned her head back on his chest. They sat like that for a while. Slowly, Kevin�s hands began to move. Then she felt him lean forward and kiss her ear. When his hands moved upward under her shirt, she broke away from him.
At his questioning look, she smiled. �As much as I was enjoying that and would love to continue, Drew will be back soon. Why don�t we go elsewhere?�
�Like where?� Kevin asked. When Mackenzie shrugged, he answered his own question. �Let�s go back to my hotel room.�
�If you want.� Mackenzie agreed, and they got their things and left.
The song ended and Drew and Nick broke apart reluctantly. �See, that wasn�t so bad, was it?� Drew asked.
�Not with you as my partner.� Nick replied.
�That�s so sweet!� Drew squeezed his hand. �Let�s get out of here.� She suggested. Nick agreed, so they paid the bill and left.
�Where to?� Nick asked as they stepped outside.
�Well� let�s go to the hotel.�
�Yours or mine?�
�Yours.� When Nick raised his eyebrow in surprise, Drew grew defensive. �It�s just that Mackie and Kevin are likely to be at mine, and I don�t feel like running into them at the moment.�
�Okay.� Nick agreed and held out his arm to her. �Your chariot awaits, madam.� He helped her into a waiting cab.
�You didn�t have to get a taxi.� Drew said as the car started. �We could have walked, it�s only a couple of blocks.�
�I know, but you don�t have a coat, and the night�s a little chilly.� Nick answered.
�You�re so thoughtful, thank you.�
They arrived at the hotel and went up to Nick�s room. As they passed AJ and Howie�s door, they heard Howie make a comment about how AJ shouldn�t be speaking that way to a lady, and AJ laugh.
�He�s talking to Beth.� Nick said with a grin. �I�ll bet that he wishes that Howie wasn�t in the room.�
Sure enough, a second later, the door was opened and Howie came out with an �Alright already! I�m going.� Nick and Drew laughed as a pillow came sailing out after him. Drew picked it up, threw it back, and waved at AJ through the open door.
�Getting in trouble again, were you Howie?� she asked.
�I didn�t say nuthin�!� Howie protested.
From inside the room, AJ called �Whatever Howie! Now get that big mouth of yours out of here.�
�Oh, go back to getting mushy with Beth.� Howie shut the door. �Well, I�m going to down to the bar for a while. You guys wanna come?�
�No thanks. Besides, I�M NOT 18!� Drew answered.
�Didn�t we have this conversation already?� Nick asked.
�Yeah. Howie just can�t remember that us girls aren�t old enough yet.� Drew rolled her eyes. �See ya later, Howie.� They turned toward Nick�s room. Nick unlocked the door and waved Drew in first. Once they were inside, he shut the door with one hand, and grabbed Drew�s wrist with the other. He pulled her to him, and kissed her.
�What was that for?� Drew asked as the kiss ended.
�For just being you.� He answered with a shrug. �And because I felt like it.�
Drew laughed. �I knew there had to be an angle!� The pair walked farther into the room. Drew sat on the bed, and Nick stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. They looked at each other for a long moment before Nick walked forward and sat beside her. He pulled Drew into his arms and ran his fingers through her curly, dark brown hair. She smiled, leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to his lips.
�You don�t have to be afraid. I don�t bite you know.� Drew whispered.
�I know. It�s just that� Well� I just wanted this to be a really special evening for us.� Nick looked in her eyes and she saw something she had never really seen before.
�Oh honey. It was. I�ve never had a more romantic evening. But darling, it�s not over yet.� Drew took his hand in hers and kissed it. �Let me love you.�
"You never need to ask.� Nick loosened his hand from Drew's grip and brought it to her arms. As he lowered her slowly onto her back, he trailed kisses along her neck. �You are so beautiful.� Was his whisper as his lips claimed hers.
After a little while, Drew pulled back a bit. Somehow, her shirt had ended up across the room along with Nick�s. When Nick opened his mouth to protest her pulling away, she silenced him with �Wait a moment.� She reached down to her purse, which was partly under the bed, and pulled out a small foil packet. She moved back into Nick�s waiting arms. Nick looked questioningly into her eyes but his look was met with a seductive smile. He smiled back and pulled her to him.