Page 169 of The Upper Crush

She cringed. ‘How many times have I said that to you?’

‘To my face? Twice. Behind my back? Probably too many to count.’

‘Sorry. I don’t think you’re cold.’

Heat coursed through him and his heart beat faster. Estelle swallowed, and his gaze unconsciously flicked to her mouth.

She moved a little closer.

There was yet another knock at the door, and Estelle sprang to her feet. ‘Come in!’

Jed entered the room. ‘Have you got time now to run through a few things?’

‘Yeah, sure.’ Hurrying to her desk, she grabbed her laptop, then turned to glance back at James. ‘You okay?’

Yeah, peachy. My dick’s hard enough to hammer nails and currently diverting all the blood from my brain. He cleared his throat. ‘Yeah, all good.’ His phone rang. ‘I’m going to get this. You do what you need to do.’

She nodded, then left.

As the door closed behind her, James pulled out his phone.

Sebastian Mayfield. A former colleague and one of the best-connected men in London.

‘Mate,’ James began, slipping back into an assured drawl. ‘Long time. What’s up?’

‘You back from China then?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Brought back a wife?’

‘Fuck, no. Too much paperwork.’

Sebastian laughed. ‘You try organising a wedding.’

‘Shit! You’re engaged?’

‘Popped the question on her birthday.’

‘Congrats, man.’ James rubbed his chest. He was happy for Seb, but somehow the news made his heart hurt.

‘So, she’s officially off-limits now. Okay?’

‘Fair do’s. When you getting hitched?’

‘Next year. We need that long to plan the bloody thing. I’m in charge of the ushers and turning up. That’s all I’ve been trusted with.’

James laughed. ‘Sounds like my kind of deal.’

‘Yeah.’ Sebastian paused. ‘So, I wanted to ask. You up for being a groomsman?’

James was floored. He’d never thought of Seb being more than a colleague and casual drinking buddy. ‘Mate, it would be an honour.’

‘And organise the stag do?’

‘You sure about that?’

Seb laughed. ‘As long as there are no strippers. Don’t take the piss, but I’d really like a long weekend playing golf in Scotland.’

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