Page 41 of Caught in the Middle

“I don’t think I can ever look at him the same,” Lulu said, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Emma swallowed her last bite of bagel as they continued to walk. “You better! I don’t think he’ll be happy with me if the trainer can’t make eye contact with him at his next work event.”

“Oh, I’ll be able to make eye contact,” Lulu amended. “I just won’t be able to envision anything except that sexy man doing dirty, dirty things.” She grinned. “Although my version will include less clothing.”

Emma gave her a little push on the shoulder. “Stop fantasizing about him.”

“Oooh, is someone becoming territorial?”

“No, of course not.” She just didn’t like the idea of Lulu thinking about Cam like that. Okay, so maybe a little.

Lulu gave her a knowing grin. “Well, if it helps, I doubt Lauren will want her old room back, so at least you won’t have to pretend anymore if you don’t want to.”

Emma laughed. “I don’t see her wanting to sleep in that room after what I overheard.”

It was Lulu’s turn to give her a shove. “Don’t be jealous because my orgasms were real.”

“Oh, I know they were. Each and every one.” Emma mocked last night’s sounds, Lulu’s insistence for her to stop doing no good as they were both cracking up.

“Are you planning to see him again?” Emma asked of Dan.

“I have a feeling we’ll still bump into each other a time or two this week.” Lulu winked.

Emma slid her arm between her friend’s and linked them at the elbows. “This is quite the eventful week for us both it should seem.” She felt Lulu look at her.

“Should I expect to need earplugs the rest of the week?”

Emma stopped walking. “No, why would you even ask that?”

Lulu gave her that don’t-be-stupid-face. “You said so yourself, it was hot. It affected you enough to have you out here before the morning joggers to think it over.”

She chewed on her lip in thought. Letting out a sigh, she said, “It’s unexpected. Cam is unexpected. I was so focused on trying not to think about this trip and then not exposing my lie while here, that he kind of just snuck up on me. One moment, I’m holding on to him for dear life to save face and the next I feel like I can’t breathe properly when he looks at me.”

A sweet smile spread across Lulu’s lips. “You like him.”

Emma let out a loud exhale. “I don’t know. What if it’s toying with him that I like? He comes off as such a nice and sweet guy, the total friend-zone type, but then he looks at me with those puppy dog eyes and I realize he’s a pit bull disguised as a golden retriever.” She grinned down at the sand. “He gets my blood going, and I’ve not felt anything like it. And I know that sounds stupid,” she held up her hand so that Lulu couldn’t comment. “I know it’s nothing more than lust, but there’s this small part of me that feels relaxed around him in a way that I don’t with others. Like I can open up and simply be me.”

“I wasn’t going to comment on the lust,” Lulu responded. “And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to jump someone’s bones that you find attractive. What matters is that you find a connection with him, too, and I think you do.”

Her friend’s words were spoken softly and supportive. Emma looked up and smiled at her. “I think I want to have fun with it and just see where the week takes us.”

Lulu nodded, though concern tinged her face. “I respect that. But be careful, okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Casual is all fun and games when it’s intentional, but if either of you catch feelings, which I think you already are, it could get messy.”

Emma waved her hand. “I don’t think he’s catching anything,” though she wasn’t sure if she believed it even as she said it, “And I didn’t say we would escalate anything. I have no plans. I’m simply staying open to whatever this week brings.”

“If you say so,” Lulu replied, though she didn’t sound convinced.

“By the way, you never did tell me why you were in the hallway this morning. Especially if Dan was still in there.”

Lulu gave her a winning smile. “I was sneaking out, too. I didn’t want him to get any wrong ideas.”

They broke out in laughter as they headed back in the direction of the hotel.

Chapter 16

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