Page 41 of Sweet Spot

I stared, realizing what those nudges were actually for.

“Oh… fuck.” I was in frantic denial, still searching my pocket-less outfit for my phone. I was hoping Rachel was wrong because if Sara really had it, I knew exactly what she might want with it and whom she might be trying to text. “Hey, Rachel? Can I borrow your phone really quick?” I asked, still patting myself down and surveying the bar for my soon-to-be former best friend.

“No, I’m on twelve percent,” Rachel said barely a second before a sharp gasp ripped from her throat. “Oh. My. God.” I froze, staring at Rachel’s giddy face as I felt the heat on my back. “Lukas!”

She launched off her chair as I gripped my barstool, feeling like I might topple over from the weight of my heart slamming against my chest. I still held out hope that it was another Lukas but that hope was dashed once I turned in my chair because there he was and damn it.

Goddamnit.

He looked beyond good and he knew it as he grinned at me over Rachel’s bouncing head. Hoo-boy. He looked insanely good in a black V-neck and jeans and despite nodding along with Rachel, he kept sneaking sexy little glances at me. With the last look in my direction, he gave me a full-body onceover, arching an eyebrow at the pencil skirt wrapped around my hips before turning back to Rachel with a full grin I knew was for me.

It was crazy. I could somehow feel his attention on me despite his eyes on Rachel and just to test it, I played with the stem of my champagne flute. His eyes flicked over instantly and watched my fingers stroke the glass for two seconds before breaking into a dirty laugh that he said “sorry” for to a quizzical Rachel.

Yeah… fuck it.

I wasn’t even that drunk but I couldn’t resist anymore. Cocking my head at Lukas, I drew his eye. Holding my hand up, I beckoned with one finger. I grinned with satisfaction as he promptly came to me, letting the crowd separate him from Rachel.

“That was cruel,” he said at me as he ordered a bourbon.

“What was?”

“Whatever you were just doing to remind me of your hands on my dick,” he said as he leaned into me to grab his lowball off the bar. I caught the scent of crisp cologne mixed with fresh soap and my toes curled as I imagined him getting out of the shower just thirty minutes ago.

“You should know it was Sara who texted you before.”

“Yeah? You didn’t want me here?” Lukas brought his glass to his curved lips. All eyes around us were staring at him but his were strictly on me, and it made my cheeks heat up.

“I did and I didn’t. But I’m glad you’re here now,” I finally said, peering at Rachel trying to push her way back to us. “Partially because of that one but also because I should thank you for the paella the other night.”

“You liked it?”

“I loved it. I was practically licking the plate,” I smiled, watching his eyes dip to my tongue as I said the word “lick.”

“Wish I could’ve seen that.”

I laughed. “It wasn’t as sexy as you’re imagining.”

“Well, only I get to decide what I find sexy about you and in case you haven’t noticed yet, it’s most things,” Lukas said, oblivious to the train of Sara’s coworkers who passed by to check him out and give me a big thumbs up. When I narrowed playful eyes and shook my head at them, he laughed. “For example, that.”

“What?”

“That look. You’re annoyingly sexy when you’re pissed off.”

“Oh? Is that why you’re so eager to piss me off all the time?”

Lukas tilted his chin up in a challenge. “When was the last time I pissed you off, Lia?” he asked. “Can you name it in two seconds or are you just trying to find reasons to stay mad at me?”

“Why would I need to do that?”

“Because you want to think you can do another three years of all work and no play, but you also know you feel better than you’ve ever felt in your life since fucking me, Lia,” Lukas said, watching my cheeks go red. “And you just can’t stand for that to be true, can you?” he smirked just as Rachel sidestepped her way back over to us.

“Whoa, there, Lia!” Hugging Lukas’s arm to her chest, she wiggled a finger at me. “Look at you trying to get all flirty, girl! You almost look like you know what you’re doing.”

“Thank you so much, Rachel. But as much as I love your backhanded compliments, would you mind giving me a second alone with Lukas?”

“Well, damn. Since when did you get so bold, Lia?”

I took a drink and looked up at Lukas. “When did I get so bold, Lukas?”