But the whole time, Luke’s hand inches higher up my leg, and it’s all I can do to keep my gaze fixed on Paul and Meghan, my smile normal, as we both try to pretend nothing out of the ordinary is happening here.
Finally, Luke’s fingertips reach the edge of my panties, luckily hidden out of sight beneath the tablecloth. He shoots me a sly sideways smile and runs his thumb over the crease where my thigh meets my hip, just once, pressing hard enough to make a shiver run all the way from the top of my head to my toes. Then he draws his hand away, back to his own lap, and leaves me breathless and panting.
“What about you?” Paul is asking, oblivious to what just transpired, thank god. “How did you pop the question, Luke?”
“Oh, it wasn’t anywhere near that elaborate.” Luke launches into a story of his own, and I make all the right noises, nodding at the appropriate times, as he talks about taking me on a pretty drive through wine country and then just slipping the ring onto my finger at one point.
But all the while, I can’t help noticing neither guy has mentioned this bet of theirs. You’d think that with all the ragging they’ve done on one another—and all of their digging about how the other one met their significant other—it would have come up by now.
Then I glance at Meghan and wonder if Paul told her about the bet. Maybe not. Maybe he thought it would be rude to mention the fact that Luke gambled on Paul never finding a wife.
Doesn’t matter. It seems like Luke and Paul are enjoying themselves, no matter who won their bet. Paul and Meghan seem genuinely happy. And it’s nice to see Luke interacting with a friend who’s not one of our coworkers or a potential client. His smile is just a little more carefree, his attitude even more open than he normally is. It makes me smile, too, watching him.
I can tell it’s going to be a weekend to remember.
6
Later that evening, just after we finish an amazing three course meal, on a different patio deck restaurant than the one where we enjoyed our cocktails, we stumble across a pool party in full swing. There’s a DJ playing, and more than a few hotel attendees decked out in their cutest, most Instagram-worthy bikinis snapping poolside photos and dancing or posing on themed floaties in the pool.
“We have to go get changed and join this,” Meghan yells in my ear, over the sound of the music. “Look, there’s a jacuzzi free!” She springs forward before any of the rest of us can respond to claim a spot at one of the hot tubs next to the pool. I have to admit, with the night air beginning to cool down, and the jacuzzi bubbling and steaming, lit from below by lights that change colors and pulse in tune to the music, it does look pretty appealing.
“What do you think, should we let loose a little tonight?” Luke leans in to murmur in my ear. The hum of his voice tickles my insides and makes my belly clench with desire. Especially when he brings one warm, strong hand to rest on my bare shoulder. I shiver, and this time, it has nothing to do with the faint chill in the air.
“Definitely,” I manage to breathe, leaning into him.
Nearby, someone chuckles. I startle and glance over to find Paul and Meghan grinning at each other, then at us. “Meet you two lovebirds back down here in a few, then?” Paul asks.
My cheeks flush. But Luke doesn’t seem embarrassed by the fact that his friends caught us snuggling. If anything, to judge by the amusement dancing in his expression, he’s enjoying it. Then I remember what he said, about being competitive. About wanting to show me off. A curl of heat unfurls between my legs. Something about the possessiveness, the showing off of how touchy we are, turns me on.
Even more so when Luke takes me by the hand and practically drags me into the elevator, with Meghan over his shoulder teasing us about not getting too distracted up in our room alone. I barely have time to wave at her and promise we’ll be right back before the elevator doors shut and Luke’s kissing me against them, hungry, his hands all over me.
I grin into his mouth and reach up to twine my arms around his neck. “I think your plan to make them jealous is working,” I whisper, smirking.
“Good,” he replies, his voice low and heated. He kisses me again, and then I forget all about his friends, the hotel, everything. All I can think about is Luke. His hands on me, his mouth on mine. When we break apart to hurry down the hall to our room, his eyes are fixed on me, hot as coals.