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KATE
I was checkingthe text Drew had sent me when my navigation app said I'd arrived at his home. I didn't know what I'd expected, but I wasn't prepared for this. But the house number on the towering wrought-iron gates matched the address on my phone, so I pulled my Jetta next to the keypad and punched in the code.
A moment later, the gates swung wide open. I drove on the long asphalt drive that led to Drew's house. Palm trees and bushes lined the way, but soon, Drew's modern-style home—which was more like a mansion—came into view.
I knew Drew was rich, but I had no idea he lived in a place like this. My jaw dropped as I took it in.
It was so different from his mom's one-story home around the corner from my parents’ house. In fact, just one of the huge windows in the front probably cost more than I made in a year.
I pulled my car forward on the stone driveway, and then climbed out, suddenly feeling way too underdressed to even be there. Drew had been wearing a suit the day before. Was there some sort of dress code required to enter? Should I hurry home and put on my old prom dress?
I shook my head. I was being ridiculous. Drew seemed down to earth so far. He wouldn't have let all that money go to his head.
At least I hoped not. It would be sad if the only reason he hadn't gotten engaged on the show was because none of the girls were fancy enough for him and his new billionaire lifestyle.
I smoothed my white blouse and took a breath before ringing the doorbell.
A few minutes later, a beautiful Hispanic woman in her fifties opened the door.
"Hi, I'm here to meet with Mr. Burrows," I said, unsure if I was supposed to refer to him that way or not. He'd always just been Drew in the past.
"You must be Mrs. Dawson." The woman stepped aside to welcome me into the house.
I followed her in and the first thing I noticed was the freestanding staircase with decorative wrought-iron handrails that led to the floor above. The walls, ceilings, and tile flooring were a soothing creamy white that instantly made me feel at home.
The housekeeper led me past the staircase into a large living room with a giant sectional couch and chairs. A huge TV was mounted above a long open fireplace. I wanted to run my hands along everything and feel the richness of it all. It was like I'd walked into a whole different world, one I'd never been to before, but never wanted to leave.
And I could just feel that this was a peaceful place.
Drew's sanctuary from the outside world and all its chaos.
"Have a seat. Mr. Burrows is still in a meeting, but I'll let him know you're here."
I nodded and sank into the brown leather couch.
How much did a place like this even cost? I wondered as I looked around, craning my neck to see everything in my view. Ten million? Twenty?
Footsteps sounded behind me a few minutes later. I turned to find Drew, who wore another expensive suit that accentuated his toned, muscular physique perfectly.
I’d seen enough of the show’s promos to know he'd look just as good on the beach in swim shorts as he did in a suit. And I wasn't too proud to admit that I may have paused the screen for a moment to count out if he had a six pack or an eight pack.
Of course he had an eight pack. Drew was an overachiever, after all.
And I doubted that many women would be that disappointed if he never did get engaged to the girl he was currently dating. They'd probably be ecstatic that he wasn't completely off the market.
"Sorry to make you wait," he said, loosening his tie. “Those in my board of directors don’t always see eye to eye.”
"It's no problem." I swallowed, still having a hard time reconciling this new version of Drew with the one I'd known growing up. He'd always excelled in school and sports, and been wiser than his years, but it was hard to believe that a guy in his late twenties could have so much responsibility resting on his shoulders.
"I'm sure you have other places to be today, so should we get started?" Drew asked, undoing his tie the rest of the way so it hung loose around his neck.
And I couldn't help but think the triangle of tanned skin above his shirt was sexy.
Yeah, he was definitely going to be eye candy on the screen for a lot of women this winter.
Get your mind back in the present, Kate,I chided myself when I realized I’d just been ogling him.
I cleared my throat and tried to act normal. ”This house is amazing,” I said. “Think I could get a tour before we start?”
