Emily felt a warm, strong presence behind her as Lucas’ hands settled on her waist. His breath tickled her ear as he leaned in close.
“Was that Ryan?” Lucas asked, his voice low and tinged with concern.
She nodded, turning to face him. “Yeah. Apparently, he’s decided that crashing my work event is the perfect way to apologise for being a world-class asshole.”
Lucas’ blue eyes narrowed. “What did he want?”
Emily sighed, running a hand through her carefully styled hair. “He wants to meet for brunch tomorrow. You, me, and him.” She paused, gauging Lucas’ reaction. “I told him we’d go.”
“Are you sure about this?” Lucas asked, his brow furrowing.
Emily shrugged, feeling suddenly drained. “Honestly? No. But…” She trailed off, searching for the right words. “I think it might be good to close that chapter, you know? Put it all to bed once and for all so we can all move on with our lives. He can say whatever he needs to say, so can I, so can you. You two can work out what you want in terms of a relationship, and I can close the chapter once and for all.”
Lucas studied her face for a moment, then nodded. “If that’s what you want, I’m with you.” He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Just remember, you don’t owe him anything.”
Emily closed her eyes, savouring the warmth of Lucas’ lips on her skin. “I know,” she murmured. “Trust me, I’m not doing this for Ryan. I’m doing it for you. For us.”
As Lucas pulled her close, Emily felt a mix of anticipation and dread coiling in her gut. Tomorrow would be… interesting, to say the least.
Emily’s heart raced as she approached the gallery manager, her final sale of the night complete. Eleven paintings. It was more than she’d dared to hope for.
“Emily!” The manager’s eyes were brimming with tears. “You absolute star!”
Before Emily could respond, she was enveloped in a crushing hug. The scent of expensive perfume filled her nostrils as she awkwardly patted the woman’s back.
“Eleven paintings,” the manager gushed, finally releasing her. “Bloody brilliant! We simply must have you for future events. Say you’ll do it?”
Emily grinned, her chest swelling with pride. “Of course! I’d be honoured.”
As the manager scurried off to spread the good news, Emily caught Lucas’ eye across the room. He winked, raising his glass in a silent toast.
Emily weaved through the thinning crowd, her eyes scanning for Sophia’s distinctive auburn curls. She found her best friend near the bar, predictably enough, chatting animatedly with the bartender, again.
“Soph,” Emily called, a smirk playing on her lips. “Lucas and I are heading to The Stag’s Head for some celebratory drinks. You in?”
Sophia’s eyes lit up. “Hell yes! And I’m bringing Jake.” She jerked her thumb towards the bartender, who flashed a dazzling smile.
Emily raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Jake, huh?” she chuckled, watching Sophia’s cheeks flush.
“What can I say?” Sophia shrugged, her eyes dancing mischievously. “I have a type.”
The four of them stumbled into The Stag’s Head, the pub’s warm, smoky atmosphere a stark contrast to the gallery’s sterile elegance. Emily breathed in the comforting scent of hops and old wood, feeling the tension in her shoulders start to melt away.
“First round’s on me,” Lucas announced, guiding them towards the bar with a hand on Emily’s lower back. The touch sent a shiver up her spine.
“Rum and coke for me,” Emily said, leaning into him. “I’ve earned it.”
As they settled into a cozy booth, drinks in hand, Jake cleared his throat. “So, uh, I’m Jake,” he said, his easy smile betraying a hint of nervousness. “Sophia’s told me a lot about you guys.”
Emily took a long sip of her drink, savouring the burn. “Oh really?” she asked, her eyes flicking to Sophia. “All good things, I hope?”
“Mostly,” Jake laughed, his surfer-boy charm on full display.
As the conversation flowed, Emily found herself relaxing, the warmth of the rum spreading through her body. But a small part of her mind kept drifting to tomorrow’s brunch. She took another swig of her drink, pushing the thought away. That was a problem for future Emily. Tonight was for celebration.
Emily watched as Sophia leaned in close to Jake, her auburn curls brushing his shoulder. The bartender’s tanned face broke into a grin at whatever she whispered.
“Jesus, I’m glad I booked that hotel room,” Emily muttered, more to herself than anyone else. The rum was hitting her system now, making everything pleasantly fuzzy around the edges.
Sophia caught her eye and smirked. “Same here, babe. No way I’m making it home tonight.”
Emily snorted, noting the flush creeping up Sophia’s neck. “I bet you’re not.”
Sophia’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she caught Emily’s gaze. With a playful wink, she grinned, “So, shots?”
Emily’s face lit up. “Fuck yes,” she replied without hesitation, already feeling the pleasant buzz from her rum and coke. She moved to get up, sliding across Lucas’ lap with deliberate slowness.
As she shifted, Emily felt something distinctly firm beneath her. A wicked smile played on her lips as she locked eyes with Lucas, giving him a saucy wink. His blue eyes darkened, a mix of desire and amusement flickering across his face.
“Careful, baby girl,” Lucas murmured, his voice low and husky. “You’re playing with fire.”
Emily leaned in close, her lips brushing his ear. “Maybe I want to get burned,” she whispered, relishing the sharp intake of breath from Lucas.
As she stood, Emily’s mind raced. Fuck, she thought, the heat of arousal pooling in her belly. How the hell am I supposed to make it through more drinks?
Sophia grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the bar. “Come on, you horny mess,” she teased. “Let’s get those shots before you and Lucas start shagging on the table.”
Emily laughed, allowing herself to be led away. “You’re one to talk,” she retorted. “I saw you practically in Jake’s lap earlier.”
They reached the bar, elbowing their way through the Friday night crowd. Emily’s skin tingled, hyper-aware of every brush against strangers in the packed pub. She couldn’t stop thinking about the feeling of Lucas beneath her, hard and wanting.
“What’re we drinking?” Sophia asked, snapping Emily out of her thoughts.
Emily grinned mischievously. “Shot roulette. Let’s make this interesting.”
The bartender, a burly man with impressive tattoos, raised an eyebrow. “You ladies sure? That’s a lot of booze.”
“Honey, we just closed eleven painting sales,” Sophia declared proudly. “We can handle our liquor.”
As the bartender lined up an array of colourful shots, Emily’s mind drifted to Lucas. She imagined his strong hands on her waist, his lips trailing down her neck. Focus, she scolded herself, though the warmth between her thighs was hard to ignore.
“Earth to Emily,” Sophia nudged her. “Help me carry these back.”
They carefully balanced the tray of shots, weaving through the crowded pub. Emily’s heart raced as they approached their table, Lucas’s piercing gaze following her every move.
Jake’s eyes widened as they set down the tray. “Holy shit,” he laughed. “You girls don’t mess around.”
Lucas leaned back, a mix of admiration and concern on his face. “That’s… quite a selection,” he said, eyeing the rainbow of liquors.
Emily smirked, loving the way his eyes kept darting between her face and the low neckline of her dress. “What’s the matter, soldier? Can’t keep up?”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Oh, I can keep up, alright. The question is, can you?”
The challenge in his voice sent a thrill through Emily. She grabbed a shot at random electric blue and smelling of coconut and knocked it back without hesitation.
“Game on,” she declared, her voice husky from the burn of alcohol.
The night air hit them like a cool caress as they stumbled out of The Stag’s Head. Emily’s head swam pleasantly, the world tilting just enough to make her grateful for Lucas’s steady arm around her waist.
“Fuck me, that was fun,” Sophia giggled, her words slightly slurred as she clung to Jake.
Emily nodded, feeling the warmth of Lucas’s body against her side. “Damn straight. Though I might regret it in the morning.”
Lucas chuckled, his breath tickling her ear. “I’ve got some tricks for hangovers, don’t worry.”
They meandered down the cobblestone street, the old-fashioned streetlamps casting a golden glow. Emily’s heels clicked unsteadily, and she leaned further into Lucas’s embrace.
“So, Jake,” Emily called out, her filter loosened by tequila. “What are your intentions with our Sophia tonight?”
Jake grinned, his arm tightening around Sophia’s shoulders. “Only the most honorable, I assure you.”
Sophia snorted. “Bullshit. I saw the way you were eyeing me at the bar.”
“Can’t blame a man for looking,” Jake replied, his voice low and husky.
She tilted her head up to look at Lucas, studying the sharp line of his jaw.
“What about you, old man?” she murmured. “What are your intentions for tonight?”
Lucas met her gaze, his eyes dark with promise. “Nothing honorable whatsoever.”