25
The Fitz held so many memories.
It had been a while since the girls had ventured out together.
Lana was secretly glad her best friend went to all the effort of arranging a night out with the few decent colleagues they worked with.
The rowdy group wandered through the main entrance of The Fitz, rather than the unsuspecting side door that led to the private Verto Veneri bar.
Chandeliers hung from the carved plaster ceilings and lamps glowed warmly on polished tables by low–slung, beautifully upholstered chairs, elegantly dotted around the teak-clad foyer.
A floral scent emanated from the elaborate fresh flower displays, exuding wealth and luxury. It was a bustle of guests ready for a night in the city, scurrying staff dressed in three-piece black suits and the remaining business professionals who used the corporate suites.
They were shown to the main bar by a well-mannered twenty-something hottie, with a tight backside and boyish grin, who then offered to take their coats.
Discreet leather booths hid them from view and lessened any random chance of being noticed by the owner, should he randomly walk through. Lana cursed herself for hoping he would.
Richard ordered a pint, and the girls ordered two bottles of Prosecco to share.
“What’s the craic then, Lana?” Richard supped the froth from his silky black Guinness topped with a creamy head. “You guys got a date set for the big day?”
Lana had a soft spot for Richard, she knew he was madly in love with Amanda but didn’t want to face her inevitable rejection. He was hot-blooded but kind, a little rough around the edges and full of wicked banter.
“No. We aren’t in any rush. It will all fall into place eventually,” she replied, drumming her nails on the table.
Bushy black eyebrows hitched in surprise and his forehead crinkled. “A girl who isn’t in a rush to plan a wedding. Take a picture everyone, this is a rare species of woman.”
They all laughed, Lana too. So what if she wanted to take her time and enjoy the engagement stage?
She raised her shoulders in a casual shrug. “There’s a lot to think about. I’ll buy a few bridal magazines at some stage and get ideas.”
Fi, a plump chirpy girl from County Down, with ruddy cheeks, massive breasts and a voracious thirst for anything alcoholic, drained her glass of Prosecco and poured another. “I have my wedding planned already, and Jo hasn’t even proposed,” she honked.
“Do you think he’s gonna ask?” asked Amanda.
Fi snorted loudly. “He either asks me or he dies. Simple.”
The friendly banter continued over a light dinner of shared tapas. Lana excused herself when Rory’s name appeared on her mobile phone.
Dipping into a side corridor with a slight sway, she answered the call, “Hey, what are you up to?”
“Hey, babe, I’m on the way home just now. Do you want me to grab a takeaway?”
Oh crap!In the rush to get ready, she forgot to tell him that she was going out. “Sorry, Rory, I’m out with ones from work, celebrating our engagement.” Her head was a little woozy with alcohol and she pressed her back to the wall.
“Okay, cool. I’ll just head to the pub instead. I’ll see ya later.”
A door opened and closed behind her. “Okay, have a good night.” She ended the call. No, ‘I love you’ or ‘I miss you’ left either of their lips.
“Lana,” called a deep husky familiar voice, whipping a seductive shiver down her spine.
She spun around to meet the man who had consumed her every thought since their first meeting. He was immaculately dressed in a tailored three pieces navy suit, but this time, he wore a pale pink shirt underneath, casually unbuttoned at the neck.
Alluring green eyes narrowed as he quietly observed her. The scent of his musky cologne drifted along the corridor like the pull of an invisible rope.
Flustered and panic-stricken by her intense reaction to him, she just gazed up at him, lost in his presence.
“You look…sensational.”