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Lucas and his dad, being the chivalrous kind, rise as well.

“Is everything all right, dear?” my mother asks.

“Yes, ma’am. I need to go make a phone call to my assistant. I’ll be right back.” My gaze rests upon Lucas’ facial expression, and I see a damn smirk forming. Like he knows he has me rattled and is enjoying it. I continue to step outside to gather a much-needed breath of fresh air.

I smile at the passersby when I find a seating area outside the establishment. I close my eyes and try to wrap my head around the events over the past twenty-four hours. How did we go from arch enemies to fuck buddies? And why have I never noticed his tattoos? Or the fact he is an only child like me? And why am I so turned on by him? My phone rings, and I answer it very casual and informative.

“Yeah,” I say.

“Why did you run off? Were you thinking about me?” His voice melts the airwaves and penetrates through my icy demeanor.

“Lucas, what do you want?”

“Room nine-two-eight. Eight o’clock tonight.”

The phone conversation ends, and I realize he didn’t tell me where, only a room number. My phone buzzes, taking me by surprise, and I see it’s a message from my mom.

Mom: Your food is getting cold, dear.

I eagerly rejoin them at the table and jump in on the conversation.

“Sorry about that. What did I miss?”

“Oh, Lucas was telling us the next project would be working with some big shot and they wanted to set up a meeting at the Langham. I figure they must be quite posh to want a meeting at such a lavish hotel,” his dad says.

Now I know where to meet him.