Stay With Me Tonight: A Drake Brothers Series (PART 1)

by Whitney D.

  Stay With Me Tonight

  A Drake brothers series

  Part 1

  by

  Whitney D.

  Copyright © 2015 Whitney D.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means – except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews – without written permission from its publisher.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or deceased, are purely coincidental and are not intended by the author.

  Copyright © 2015 Whitney D.

  All rights reserved.

  Thank you to my mom who told me I could write

  a novel when I was twelve, to my husband who

  encouraged me to do it as an adult, and to my

  amazing friends & family who have supported me

  every step of the way. I love you all!

  Chapter One

  It was no wonder that I was having a hard time finding a job since graduating from Yale with my master's degree last spring. The economy was still dwindling from the recession and a master's degree was proving to be just as useless as my bachelor's degree. An ivy league education sure wasn't what it used to be.

  I had applied for what felt like a million job openings in the area, but I didn't get one phone call asking for an interview. It was early fall and the last of the money I had saved from working my summer job was starting to dwindle. I was getting a little desperate and wondered if perhaps I shouldn't have jumped the gun and quit my summer gig thinking I was going to get a job offer soon.

  I decided to call my mom to chat and discuss possibly moving home until I was able to secure a job. She answered on the second ring.

  “Hi mom, it's Kate.”

  “Hi honey, how are you? Your father and I were just getting ready to go to a movie in town.”

  “Oh okay, well I won't keep you. I was actually calling because I still haven't been able to get a job since the summer job I had ended. I was wondering if it would be okay for me to move back to Savannah with you guys for a few months until I can find a permanent job?”

  “Sure honey, that would be great. It will be so nice to have us all under one roof again!”

  I could hear the smile in her tone. I moved out to go to college when I was eighteen. I spent four years as an undergraduate working on my bachelor's degree in Finance from The University of South Carolina. When I finished my degree, I spent another three years taking courses at Yale to get my master's degree in Economics. It felt so prestigious to have a master's level degree from an ivy league school. However, a degree from such a prominent university was proving to be much less impressive than I had imagined, as I still had not managed to land a decent job since graduation.

  “Okay great, well I will need a few weeks to get things settled here with my landlord and to tie up a few loose ends before I can move back. But I think I can be in Savannah around Halloween. How does that sound?”

  “Sweetie, that's fine. I have to run now or we will be late for the movie. Keep me posted... can't wait to see you! Love you!”

  “Okay mom, love you. Thanks!”

  I was not looking forward to moving back in with my parents and younger brother. I hadn't lived at home in nearly seven years and I wasn't a kid anymore. I was a bit worried that moving back was going to be a real nightmare with having to be in by a certain time and do chores. My parents were a bit over zealous with those sorts of things. My brother, Jack, was fifteen and he was what most would call an 'oops baby'. Although, we didn't talk about it really, my mom once told me that her and my dad had only planned to have one child even though Jack was a pleasant addition to our family. My dad worked as an accountant for a small firm in Savannah for the past twenty years and my mom was a sixth grade science teacher. Jack was eight years old when I left for college. The age gap between us had made for a strange relationship. To say the least, we were not close, but I tried my best to be a decent big sister, even though we really only saw each other a handful of times each year. Most of our visits over the last few years were during major holidays which were generally over-shadowed by grandparents, cousins, or aunts and uncles being in town to visit. I thought if anything, that moving home may be a good chance to get to know my brother a little better.

  The next morning, I headed to the coffee shop down the block and grabbed the morning paper from the corner vendor. This had been a daily ritual of mine for some time. Wake up, throw on some clothes, comb my hair, brush my teeth, grab the paper from down the block, then sit at the coffee shop and look through the employment section to see if anything in particular piqued my interest. I scanned the same jobs as I had yesterday, they were posted again. I had become a pro at noticing the new postings. Since I had been doing this for the last few weeks, I noticed new job postings typically ran for three to five days before they were removed from the paper. It was pretty easy for me to notice the new listings immediately when I opened the employment section. I scanned each column, but didn't see anything new that I hadn't already applied for. I slammed the paper shut as the aggravation set in. I had a master's degree from an ivy league school! Something had to give and soon. I wasn't really sure why I hadn't landed a job interview. My resume, letters of recommendation, and internships were impressive. To anyone who got my resume, I was just words on paper. But if someone would just give me an interview, I would sell myself so impeccably that anyone would be stupid not to offer me a job. Most of the jobs I had applied for were not even major positions. I applied to be a finance analyst, accounting assistant, an auditor, financial aid assistant... I think I even applied to be a bank teller. At this point I was desperate for a decent job, even if it wasn't quite my dream job.

  My phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID. It was Rachel. My first college friend and my Alpha Delta Pi sister.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey Katie! I am in town for the weekend. Want to grab a bite to eat and a few drinks tonight? Are you free? Please say yes! I have some news to share with you!”

  Sure why not, my bank account is nearing double digits and once I move back home soon, I probably won't see Rachel for a while.

  “Sure, I'd love to! I feel like we haven't gotten together in ages. I actually have some news for you as well.”

  Rachel had been dating her boyfriend, Damien since they were fifteen. It made for an interesting time since as he went off to college on the west coast and she spent four years with me at Carolina. All the while being tempted repeatedly by the southern man candy all over Carolina's campus. It probably didn't help much that we were invited to pledge ADPi, which was the most popular sorority on campus. Once we became ADPi sisters we were basically expected to attend all of the major social gatherings and as a result, we were thrust into the social circle of the fraternities with the hottest guys on campus. To say the least, I was surprised their relationship lasted. I thought for sure if she didn't call it off, he would have. But low and behold, they made it through the four years. Damien moved back east after graduating and they got a tiny apartment together in Wilmington. Rachel lived three hours from me now and I missed her dearly. The last time we saw each other was back in the spring.

  “Okay sounds great, let's meet at Bishop's for dinner and then we can head down to Incognito for some after dinner cocktails. Meet you at about seven, okay?”

  “ Sure can't wait. See you then!”

  I started getting ready around six. I wasn't going to go over the top to get dolled-up anyways. What was the point any way?

  My mind took me straight back
to Andrew Klein. He was my first and only college boyfriend. He was the president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Both of his parents were doctors and he had every thing since birth handed to him on a shiny silver platter. He had been the pitcher on his high school's baseball team and had gotten a full scholarship to college to play ball, even though he really hadn't needed it. We met at a mixer during my sophomore year at Carolina. He was the all-American boy I had hoped I would meet, have a long courtship with, and eventually marry. Those dreams were crushed quickly. We had dated for two years and were nearing graduation. We were so in love and so happy, at least I thought we were. Just when I thought he was going to propose, we met for lunch one afternoon and he told me he was no longer attracted to me and he had met someone. No longer attracted to me. Those words stuck me in the gut like a ten inch knife. It hurt, badly. Meanwhile, I was going on with my life thinking a wedding was in our future. I imagined us with a football team of children, the white picket fence, growing old together., the whole she-bang... I was so wrong. It was then that I decided I had imagined a life for myself that I wasn't sure I would ever have. After Andrew, it took me months, but eventually I started casually dating again. All of the men I met were actually boys and nothing panned out. I decided I was done looking and was just going to let things happen naturally, if they were meant to.

  It had been three years since Andrew broke my heart and six months since I had meaningless sex with some random guy I had met one night at Incognito. I wasn't a slut and I didn't want to have random hook-ups, but my vibrator just wasn't cutting it lately. I yearned for a man's rough hands touching me all over my body. A man to make me feel naughty and bring me over the edge again and again. Perhaps not looking was a bad idea.

  I took a cab to Bishop's to meet Rachel for dinner. I imagined she would too or maybe Damien would drop her off. Either way, our evening get-togethers usually ended in one too many glasses of wine and either tears or laughter depending on which direction our conversation went that night.

  I hopped out of the cab and stood at the front to wait for Rachel. She arrived promptly at 7:00 as I expected she would.

  “Oh my God Katie! You look great!” Rachel screeched as she threw her arms around me.

  “Thanks Rach, you too. I can't believe how long it has been since we've gotten together. We cannot let this continue or eventually the time between seeing each other will get longer and longer and I don't want to lose touch with you.”

  “Well actually, that's funny you mention that,” she dragged on.

  We told the hostess it was just the two of us and then followed her to a table in the back.

  “Ok girl, dish. You said you had news,” I threw it out there as soon as we were seated.

  Rachel lifted her left hand from under the table. There it was. The enormous rock I thought for sure I was going to get before she did. I couldn't believe it. I mean her and Damien had been dating for years and I knew it was inevitable that they would eventually settle down, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't jealous of what she had... where her life was going... it was what I wanted.

  “OH MY GOD!! When did he propose?”

  “Well actually, it was the most romantic thing ever. We took an evening boat cruise out of Wilmington last weekend. We were out on the deck, alone after dinner. He told me how beautiful I was and how I made him a better man, how I completed him. Then he just came out and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. It was perfect, magical really. And the ring, I don't think I have stopped staring at it since the moment he proposed. Isn't it just the most beautiful ring you have ever seen?”

  It was and I was happy for Rachel, but insanely jealous. I smiled and gushed to her about how lucky she was. She was my best friend and deserved only the best. After all, I hoped one day I could have what she had.

  “Oh what I meant to tell you earlier was that Damien just accepted a job at Drake Dynamics right here in Charleston. So, guess what? We're moving here and we can hang out all the time now. It's going to be so great. He starts in four weeks and we're moving kind of near you in three weeks. That's why we're in town actually. We were apartment hunting and we signed a lease today.”

  “Drake Dynamics?”

  “Oh yeah, it's an advertising and marketing firm. Way up on the totem pole for its type of firm. They do marketing and advertising for major companies all over the world. Damien took a job as a graphic designer in the advertising department. It pays so well, this is huge for us.”

  Again, I was jealous. Stop it, Kate! Rachel is your best friend, be happy for her! I was happy for her, but the ping of jealously was stinging again. Here Rachel was with all of her dreams coming true. Her fiancé snagged a major job with a huge firm and a southern wedding was in the midst. They were my hopes, my dreams My hopes and my dreams.. right down the toilet. I didn't want to break her mood by telling her I was moving back to Savannah in a few weeks because I couldn't find a job. So instead, I did what any best friend would do... we took on the night and we celebrated!

  Chapter Two

  Rachel and I finished our dinner at Bishop's at 8:30 and then we shared a cab up town to Incognito. Incognito was a trendy up scale bar with a light appetizer-only menu. The dark wood bar ran the entire length of the right side of the building. There was a stage opposite the bar that had a live cover band most nights. It was good food, great drinks, and had a band that played songs that every one knew. Lately, I had steered clear of this place in fear I was going to run into... I can't even remember his name. It was this guy I randomly hooked up with months ago that sounded like a hyena when he was coming. The sounds he made were horrendous... mortifying really. Once he was done coming, all I could think about was planning an escape route out of there as fast as possible without the awkward 'can I have your number' because the answer to that would've definitely been no. I couldn't face that guy again. That night, I had one too many cocktails and we ended up back at his place. I should've ran when I noticed his bookshelf had an entire section devoted to self help books.

  Rachel and I scoped out the place and ended up taking two stools near the far left of the bar. The band was on the stage and playing cover songs. We had a few drinks and sang along to Tom Petty and Jimmy Buffet. The night was young and so were we. It felt great to cut loose and not worry so much about my life plans and the lack of income I had. We had a great time people watching. It was one of our favorite past times. The girl next to Rachel was making out with some guy and they only came up for air to take another sip from their glasses. Rachel gave me the 'check out these two' eyes. I chuckled and rolled my eyes knowing that I had been that girl a few months ago and it didn't end well. I wondered how this girl's night was going to end. Rachel was turned to her right in her chair facing me and I was turned to my left facing her.

  Rachel and I were lip syncing the words to Brown Eyed Girl that the band was playing when I felt heat hot against my back. I stiffened. 'Ok creep, get off of me!' I thought as a I turned to tell this asshole to beat it, but when I made eye contact with this gorgeous man, I couldn't even remember my own name. I just stared. I am sure my mouth fell open and I may have actually drooled. He was the hottest guy I had ever seen. He was tall. He had to be at least 6'3”. I was 5'8” and he towered way over me. His face had a slight stubble, his skin was kissed by the sun, and his dusty brown hair was wavy and tousled. He wore a navy blue suit and the tie around his neck was loosened just a bit.

  “Fosters,” he nodded to the bartender. A minute or so later, the bartender returned with his drink.

  “Excuse me,” he said looking at me as he handed the bartender a $20 and grabbed his beer that had been poured straight from the tap.

  He waited for his change. Still, I stared. At this point he probably thought I was a mute. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. Hello brain are you there? SPEAK! He took a long sip from the pilsner glass. As he lowered the glass from his lips, he looked at me from the corner of his eye and he winked at me. HE WINKED
AT ME! This guy was way too good looking for me. Wait, was he winking at me or did I just imagine that? He nodded curtly at me and walked back to a small table near the stage. I craned my neck to see who he was sitting with or was he alone? I couldn’t quite see from where I sat.

  “HOLY SHIT KATIE! Did you see that guy?” Rachel interrupted my thoughts.

  “What? Oh, ummm....” I played it off like he didn’t affect me.

  “Are you kidding? You didn’t see that guy? He sure eyed you up and down! You should go talk to him!”

  “Yeah right, that guy is totally out of my league. Way too good looking for me,” I rolled my eyes at her.

  “Kate, don't do that. Do not cut yourself short. You're hot and you know it. Stop trying to be so modest.”

  “You know what? You are right, I am hot, but I am still not talking to him.” I laughed and winked at her.

  “Ok whatever! Let’s go dance!” She grabbed my hand and tore me from the bar.

  At this point those four glasses of wine were starting to effect me. The band was on break and all of the music playing was coming from the jukebox. I felt on top of the world as we danced together and belted out lyrics to some Top 40 song.

  I was shaking my hips and gyrating my arms in a smooth motion above my head when I felt it. I could feel him staring before I even saw him. The hair on my arms and neck stood on end. I glanced around casually trying to not make it seem like I was looking for anything in particular. It was at that moment that I saw him. It was the hot guy in the suit from earlier at the bar. His piercing dark eyes shot right into me. He was sitting back in his chair, his legs were spread just a bit. A finger on his right hand circled the rim of his glass slowly over and over again . His other arm lay draped across the back of his chair. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up half way revealing toned muscular forearms The look on his face was ravenous like he was eyeing his prey. I flushed and looked away quickly.