Free Riding into Love by Nicki Night Page B

and couldn’t decide.
    â€œDrew,” Karen called out to him. He looked her way, holding up one finger. With the other hand, he pressed the phone to his ear.
    A few seconds later, Drew ended his call, put the phone away and joined them at the rear of the store.
    â€œShe needs help choosing, darling,” Karen said.
    â€œGive her both,” he replied.
    â€œNo, Drew, that won’t be necessary. Just help me pick something for tonight.”
    Drew assessed the black jumpsuit as Alana twisted in front of him, showing him how well it fit. It was perfect for a night out on the town.
    â€œYou like?”
    â€œI like.” Drew nodded.
    â€œOkay, let me show you the other outfit.” Alana retreated to the dressing room and returned with a sweaterdress that hugged her in all the right places. She wasn’t a gym buff, but none of that mattered in this well-made dress. “What about this?”
    From the wide-eyed expression on Drew’s face, she didn’t have to ask which one he liked best.
    â€œKaren, she’ll take both, but please let her wear that one out of the store.”
    â€œYou’ve got it, darling.”
    By the time Alana went back to the dressing room to get her stuff, Drew had already taken care of the bill and Karen had handed him the bag containing the other outfit. Alana put the suit that she’d worn to the store in the bag that Drew insisted on carrying. Luckily, her shoes already went great with the dress. She felt fit to dine with stars.
    They headed to the play, which Alana loved. She even cried a few times. Not only was Delphine great, but the entire cast was performed well. When the play ended, Drew escorted her backstage and she had the chance to meet everyone. They rode together in the limo to a Senegalese restaurant owned by a friend of the director.
    Alana tried her best not fidget, but it was hard to keep still when all she wanted was to pinch herself to prove she wasn’t dreaming. Delphine and the rest of the cast were diligent about including her in the conversation, yet she still felt as if she were standing outside of herself watching them have dinner with an Academy Award–winning actress and friends. She wondered how Drew had made it all happen—again. Regardless of how it all came together, Alana appreciated how Drew went out of his way to make such memorable experiences possible.
    Never without a good story, Drew entertained them with his antics as comfortably as he would have if they had been simply hanging with old friends. She wondered how well he’d known Delphine before today.
    Alana knew she was uncharacteristically quiet. Yet she didn’t miss the way Drew touched her hand or leg as a way to check in with her. Other times, he’d look to her for confirmation, saying “Right, Alana?” here or there to make sure she was included. She enjoyed being a part of the whole scene. She didn’t need to talk.
    By the time Drew walked Alana to her door later that night she had to fight every morsel of her resolve to keep from inviting him in for a nightcap. She already knew the regrets she’d scuffle with the next morning so she stood there, facing Drew on her doorstep while the most pronounced sexual tension swirled around them, threatening the very air they breathed. They stood close, drinking each other in without words but communicating in sync—a conversation that was unspoken but understood:
    I want to let you in, but I can’t—I won’t.
    I want to come in, but only if you really want me to.
    Should we...
    Maybe...
    But I have my rules...
    Alana cleared her throat, snapping them out of their trance. “Good night, Drew.”
    â€œYeah.” He cleared his throat too. “Um. Good night, Alana.”
    They said their goodbyes, but neither moved. A few moments ticked past. Drew leaned over and planted a soft, lingering kiss on her cheek. He stepped back, stared directly into her eyes,