Page 25 of Once Upon A Player
Without the benefits.My face heats. Harry and Alice are definitely going to think Lucas and I are fuck buddies.
“Violet’s been helping me with the penthouse.”
“I’m studying to be an interior designer.”
“She has great ideas.”
I smile at him, because how nice is that? “You have some beautiful pieces.” And I’m not referring to the immaculate show home furniture, either.
“You’refriends.” Harry sounds as though the concept is totally alien, which doesn’t make sense. He knows all about Yolanda and clearly doesn’t think there’s anything weird about that. “So is—”
“Right, drinks all round, then?” Lucas cuts in, and Harry looks at Alice, who shakes her head and gives him a small smile. How long havetheybeen dating? It’s like they communicate without having to actually speak.
My phone rings, and I freeze. I’d forgotten Dad was going to check up on things. I could ignore it, but then they’d both freak that something terrible had happened, and it’s not worth the fallout. As unobtrusively as possible I pull my phone from my bag, while Lucas attempts to persuade his brother to have some champagne instead of beer.
“Hey, Dad.” This is so embarrassing. Who else has their parents ring them when they’re out on a non-date?
“I’m not Pete, then?”
“Nope.”
“Everything’s good?”
“Perfect.”
“All right, then. See you later, princess.”
“Okay.”
I drop my phone back into my bag, and Lucas catches my gaze. “Problem?”
Bugger, I’d hoped he hadn’t heard that conversation. “No, just my dad.”
To my relief, he doesn’t ask why Dad called, although I think it’s obvious, going by my responses. Why wasn’t I more inventive with my answers?
“Have some champagne, Harry, it’s your birthday,” Alice is saying. “I’ll drive home.”
“What d’you want, Violet?” Lucas asks.
I want to drink champagne and spend the night with you.
What the hell?Where didthatcome from? Thank God I didn’t say it outloud.
My face feels like a furnace, and Lucas is waiting for my answer.Seriously, Violet, get a grip.
“If you’re getting champagne, I’d love a small glass. But that’ll be my lot for the night. Driving later.” Definitely not spending the night with Lucas Carter.Even though I want to.
Just. Stop.
“Remember the last time we had champagne?” Harry grins at Alice, who gazes at him as though he’s the only guy in the world. Lucas leans toward me and bumps my shoulder.
“Ignore them. They’re like this all the time.”
There’s no way a casual bump on the shoulder should send my nerve ends tingling and my stomach into freefall or render me speechless as I bask in the endless blue of his eyes. It doesn’t help that he doesn’t immediately pull back, either, but lingers, so close that his warm breath caresses my cheek.
Although I’ve seen Lucas several times over the last couple of weeks, we’ve hardly ever touched. In fact, I think the only time we did was the day we met. It’s like an unspoken rule between us, in case of spontaneous combustion.
We’re going to kiss.My heart pounds, my mouth dries, and my body instinctively sways toward him.Don’t melt all over the chair.
