Page 61 of Another Lucky Number

My mouth spreads into a smile. ‘Spot on. You saw the state I was in that night. I was incapable of any logical thought – including choosing my own lottery numbers. So, I looked around for inspiration and spotted the scrunched-up piece of paper on the floor.’

James shakes his head as he struggles to comprehend all this. ‘You’re telling me thatmyphone number won you three quarters of a million pounds?’

‘Exactly that. Well, part of your phone number did. The first couple of numbers wereobviously missing from it being torn in two.’

‘Bloody hell. That’s incredible… and… I call dibs.’

‘Sorry, what?’

‘I call dibs. You used my number. Surely that means I should get a cut.’

I blanch as it dawns on me that I may have prematurely put my trust in James.

‘Oh… right. I guess I can see how you might—’

‘Emma, I’m kidding.One hundred per cent kidding.’ He looks mildly horrified that I’ve taken him seriously. ‘That really is incredible. I’m so pleased for you.’

Relief floods through me and the smile returns to my face. ‘I’m kind of pleased for me too. Still can’t quite believe it. Though for a bit there, I thought it was a curse.’

‘How so?’

I fill James in on all the drama I went through after winning the money.

‘That’s partly why I couldn’t see you for the great guy that you are back then,’ I explain. ‘I was all over the place.’

James puts his arm around my waist, pulling me close, and I nestle into him, enjoying the intimacy as well as the heat from the sun on my back.

‘I think that’s understandable, given what you’ve told me,’ he says. ‘Being unexpectedly dumped by a long-term partner is enough of a head wrecker without a substantial lottery win in the mix. People have lost their way because of far less.’

‘Thanks for understanding.’ I look up at him and he plants a kiss on my lips.

‘Of course. And to be clear, I’m not interested in your money. I left a high paying job in the corporate sector to pursue a career in science, where the financial rewards are nowhere near the same. I hope that will reassure you.’

‘I don’t need reassuring. The wayyou’ve been with Lottie – and so patient with me – I can tell I’ve found a good one.’

‘Took you long enough,’ he jokes, and I playfully splash him with water. ‘So… I guess my phone number is your lucky number of sorts, which means that – by proxy – I’m your lucky charm. You might want to keep me around.’

‘Oh, I’m planning to.’

This time it’s me pulling James into a scrumptious – and rather handsy – snog. He tastes like chlorine and sun cream, and I couldn’t be happier.

‘How about the six of us have dinner together this evening?’ says James, when we eventually disentangle ourselves, his arm now casually draped across my shoulders.

‘Sure. Provided the others are getting on all right. Amber can be an acquired taste.’

He squints across at our friends, who have obtained a beach ball from somewhere and are batting it across the pool to each other, laughing and joking as they do.

‘Looks like they’re getting on fine.’

‘Excellent…oh, um…’ I hesitate on remembering what’s planned for dinner.

‘Ah yeah. Your personal development feedback. You don’t want me there for that.’

‘I don’t wantmethere for that. It’s going to be torturous.’

‘I could give you moral support?’ he suggests.

I consider this for a second, then my libido makes the decision for me. ‘Ah, sod it. I’ve made an arse of myself in front of you plenty of times already. Seems there’s no putting you off.’

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