I'd recommend trying a number of different bikes from your local dealer. Some people like drop bars and some people don't. That's okay -- you're not required to like them! Something like a Trek FX or a Giant Escape may be to your liking. These are what are sometimes called "performance hybrids" or "flat bar road bikes", whereas your Verve is a "comfort hybrid". As you've experienced something like a Verve can be completely comfortable to ride, even for serious distances, but it's not going to be as efficient as something that puts you in a slightly different position. An FX or an Escape will be less upright than a Verve, but less racy than a typical road bike with drop bars. It may be the happy medium you're looking for.