Page 89 of Beautiful Harmony

“Delicious tasting candy for you to suck,” he said. “And my dick.”

She gave him a look, but he’d kept his voice low, and the chatter of the other diners had masked his words. “You’re terrible at euphemisms, Lucas.”

“But great at fucking,” he said.

“Eh, you’re okay,” she said.

His foot rubbed along her leg under the table. “Just for that, Emmy-pie, I’m gonna make you scream so loud when you come tonight that my neighbours call the cops.”

“Keep calling me Emmy-pie, and nothing’s getting sucked tonight,” she said.

“In that case, I’ll be on my best behaviour for the rest of the evening,” he said.

“Impossible,” she said before sliding out of the booth. “I need to use the ladies’ room. Can you order my usual if Martha comes by before I return?”

Lucas nodded, and Emma crossed the crowded diner to the bathrooms. She used the washroom and studied herself in the mirror as she washed her hands. Flirting with anyone, let alone the most handsome guy in Harmony Falls, wasn’t something she’d ever imagined herself doing, but she had to admit she was having a lot of fun.

She smiled as she left the restroom to head back to their booth. Maybe once they were back at Lucas’s place, she’d get really crazy and -

“Hi, Emma.”

Emma froze in front of their booth, staring in confusion at Phoebe, who sat beside Lucas. “Phoebe?”

“Hey!” Phoebe gave her a sickly sweet smile. “How are you?”

“Fine,” Emma said.

“Good. Have a seat.” Phoebe pointed at the empty seat across the booth like she was the one having dinner with Lucas, not Emma.

Emma slid into the booth, glancing at Lucas, who gave her a quick eye roll as Phoebe said, “Blake cancelled on me last minute, and when I mentioned to Lucas that I’d be eating alone, he invited me to join you. Isn’t that so sweet of him?”

“Very sweet,” Emma said.

Stupid jealousy washed over her when Phoebe rested her hand on Lucas’s arm. “How is work going, Lucas? I heard there have been some issues with the new game you’re developing?”

“It’s not going as smoothly as we’d like, but we’ll get there,” Lucas said.

He picked up his glass of water, subtly shaking Phoebe’s hand off his arm, but it did nothing to soothe Emma’s jealousy. Not when Phoebe was pressed up against Lucas’s side like she was the one dating him, not Emma.

You’re not dating.

“I totally understand. I’m on a project at work - I’m an engineer. Did I tell you that?” Phoebe asked.

“Once or twice,” Lucas said.

“Right. Anyway, I’m on a project right now, and the manager is making a complete mess of it. Rumour is they’re considering replacing him with me as project manager.”

“That’s nice,” Lucas said with a glance at Emma.

Phoebe smiled at Emma. “And you, Emma? How’s work? I know working a retail job can be so challenging.”

“It’s more than a retail job,” Lucas said. “She owns a small business.”

“Oh, of course,” Phoebe said, her smile widening. “How is your little store doing? I imagine it’s a bit tough right now since your sales rely so heavily on bored summer tourists.”

“Actually, the store is so busy that Emma is considering opening seven days a week, all year round. Isn’t that right, Emma?” Lucas said.

She just nodded as Phoebe said, “How wonderful. Good for you, Emma.”

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