“Yes.”
Embry stopped, her hands on her hips. “Are you really going to tell me it bothers you?”
“No. Actually, I was thinking I should get a cut. We can work out some kind of an arrangement …” His eyes crinkled and then widened as though he had just come up with a brilliant idea. “Insider banging!”
“Oh my God.”
“You know, like insider trading! I’ll drop hints about what girls I’m scoping out, and together we’ll take Morgan for all she’s worth.”
“Wow, Jer,” Embry said, shaking her head.
“What?”
“Your indecency knows no bounds. Just … wow.”
“Too much?” he asked.
“Nope, just enough,” she said, laughing.
They reached Starbucks, and Jeremy held open the door. Embry walked inside and froze, her mouth falling open. Sitting in a large, stuffed chair by the window, and looking gorgeous, was Luke. As if he felt her gaze, he slowly turned his head, his eyes flicking up to meet hers. His lips tipped into a small smile.
She lifted her hand to wave as Jeremy collided with her back.
“Whoa,” he said, gripping her shoulders and turning her slightly. “You all right, Bree?”
Flustered and embarrassed, Embry shook his hands off and got in line. “I’m fine.” She hadn’t told Jeremy that she was seeing Luke. She hadn’t told anyone, except Morgan. It was still too new and she wasn’t ready to share him.
They ordered their drinks. Embry chanced a glance back at Luke, but his back was to her. He was packing up and leaving before even giving her the chance to say hello. The insecure part of her flinched, hurt by his hasty departure. Why didn’t he say hello? Was he upset that she was with Jeremy? But her phone beeped a few minutes later, the text from Luke easing her worries.
Sorry had to run to meet a client. Busy tonight?
Nope. 3-day weekend :) Plans?
I’ll pick you up at 4 outside of school.
Can’t wait
Embry spent the rest of the day on cloud nine, excited to finally get some alone time with Luke. At four, she sat on a bench outside the law school waiting for him. She pulled off her cardigan and sat soaking up the sun in a white eyelet dress that hit above her knee. It was unseasonably warm for September, and she was enjoying the Indian summer. She was about to text Luke when Professor Coleman walked out of the law school.
“Hello, Embry.”
“Hi, Professor Coleman. Heading out for the weekend?” she asked.
“Yes, it’s much needed. Any good plans for you?”
Embry saw Luke’s black Range Rover pull into the parking lot. “Nothing special. Mostly studying.” She gathered her things, but Luke drove right by, heading toward the other side of campus. Weird.
“Well, I hope you take some time to enjoy the extra day off,” Coleman said, waving and walking to the parking lot.
Embry’s phone beeped, alerting her to a new text.
Had to run into the Admin building, meet me around the corner?
She had no idea what Luke could have needed in the administrative building, but she gathered her things and walked around the school. Insecurity raised its ugly head once more, making her question his motives. Did he not want Professor Coleman to see him with her? She mulled over the possibility. She had no idea why Luke was so twitchy around campus, but she wasn’t ready to talk to him about it. Their relationship wasn’t serious, and she didn’t want to overreact about something that might be nothing.
In the parking lot in front of the administrative building, Luke sat in his Rover with the windows down. The strains of a country song she didn’t recognize floated through the air. She headed toward the car as he slid out and walked around to meet her. Embry gave him a once-over. In flip flops, worn blue jeans, a black tee that hugged every muscle, and his eyes hidden behind aviators, he looked downright edible.
Luke practically rushed Embry, sweeping her into his arms and nuzzling her neck. “Hi, beautiful.”
All questions and insecurities melted from her mind as his arms tightened around her. “Hey there,” she said, kissing his cheek.
Luke continued to stand in the parking lot, holding Embry off the ground.
“Um, Luke? Can you put me down?
“Nope, don’t want to. I haven’t seen you all week. This feels nice.”
“It’s good to see you, too,” Embry said, wiggling in his arms, “but you’re cutting off the blood flow to my lower extremities.”
“Fine, we need all extremities in working order.” Luke set her down and shot her one of his stunning smiles. He helped Embry up into the SUV before leaning in for a quick kiss. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks. You do, too.”
Luke chuckled then shook his head and walked around to his side of the car.
“What?” Embry asked, after he hopped in.
“You called me beautiful.”
“Well you are.”
“No, I’m a man,” Luke said. “We’re rugged and burly. You can’t just go around calling rugged, burly men beautiful.”
“Hah, whatever. I’ll pick another adjective so I don’t risk stealing your man card and damaging your burly, manly ego. You look sexy.”
Luke looked at Embry over his sunglasses. “Now that’s more like it. Buckle up, sweetheart.” He twined his fingers with hers and eased out of the parking lot.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“You know how I feel about surprises,” Embry complained.
“Yep. Which makes it even more fun to surprise you.”
Embry let out an exasperated breath, released Luke’s hand, and crossed her arms.
Luke grabbed her hand again and pulled it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles. He shot her a sideways look. “You really want to know?”
Embry perked up, excited. “Yes, please!”
“Well I guess it’s not really a surprise. I want you to myself for a few hours, so I figured we’d drive around aimlessly. That way there’s no way Morg—”
“Don’t say it!” Embry lunged to cover Luke’s mouth with her hand.
“Don’t say what?” Luke mumbled beneath her hand.
“Don’t say her name. You’ll jinx us! She’s like State Farm. You say her name, and she appears out of thin air!” Embry said through her laughter.
She removed her hand from Luke’s mouth and settled back in her seat. Morgan had a knack for interrupting Luke and Embry whenever they were together. Whether she was inviting herself along for lunch, showing up unannounced, or calling, she always found a way to make herself known. Embry didn’t mind, but she was looking forward to some one-on-one time with Luke.
“That’s how she does it, huh?”
Embry nodded. “You really aren’t going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope.”
Embry looked around the interior of the car, searching for anything that might give her a hint.
“If you’re looking for hints, you won’t find anything in here to help you.”
Embry rolled her eyes. “Can I guess?”
“You can. But I won’t tell you.”
“You’re impossible.”
“And you’re adorable.”
“Well I hope you plan on doing more than driving around,” Embry scoffed. “There won’t be much to interrupt if that’s all we’re doing.”
Luke let out a hearty laugh then leveled his full gaze on Embry. “In that case, beautiful”—he said, resting his hand on her bare leg—”I’ll have to make sure we do something worthy of interruption.”
Embry felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “I think I’d like that.”