Page 33 of Devious Temptation
His hand finds her waist as he takes her coat and purse, and all of a sudden, I feel like I’ve swallowed one of those shots where the liquor doesn’t mix well, thickening and expanding in your mouth.
Charlotte is the only woman I’ve ever seen Lawsonwith, and they were never overly affectionate, even before she cheated on him.
He still hasn’t let go of Jules, paying me no mind even though I’m standing right here.
My chest constricts painfully, and I leave his office to gather my things. Turns out, I’m perfectly fine with going home early now. It’s obvious Lawson didn’t want me to meet Jules. That’s why he was trying to get me to leave.
I don’t know why he thinks he needs to hide his girlfriend from me. I don’t care.
Sure, you don’t.
“Hey, Lulu. Are you joining us for after-work drinks tonight?” Mike appears in my peripheral, leaning against my desk with his hands in his pockets.
It isn’t that I don’t like Mike. He’s a great guy. He’s just not the guy for me. He thinks that the way to a woman’s heart is by trying to impress her with how much money he makes, and I’ve just never been one of those women who cares that much about a man’s net worth.
I want a man who can make me laugh. Who will cook dinner with me and snuggle up on the couch to watch stupid reality TV shows before he takes me to bed when we can’t keep our hands off each other. I want someone comfortable who pushes my limits and doesn’t let me walk all over him.
I want the kind of relationship my parents have. And I know it exists out there somewhere.
Resisting the urge to look over my shoulder at Lawson’s office, I meet Mike’s gaze. “I don’t think so. I’m gonna go home early and head to my parents’ for the weekend.”
“Aww.” Mike pouts. “Come on. You owe me a dinner.Buy me a drink instead?” He’s being playful, but I’m not really in the mood for it.
I fix him with a disinterested stare, opening my mouth to reply, but his eyes snap over my shoulder as Jules’ voice rings out. “I’m so sorry, honey. I didn’t get your name.”
Turning, I see her standing behind me. She beams a perfect set of pearly whites and holds out her freshly manicured hand. Hesitantly, I take it. “I’m Lucy.”
“Hi, Lucy. I’m Jules. I work in the New York office. Sorry. I was so rude when I got in. I wanted to surprise Law.” Her New York accent has a slight Southern twang to it. She seems genuine, which makes me hate her more than I already do.
“Consider me surprised,” Lawson drawls as he walks out of the office.
Mike sidles up to me, close enough that his arm brushes my elbow. Lawson’s eyes narrow at the contact, sending a petty wave of triumph thumping behind my ribs.
“Well, hi there.” Mike sticks out his hand. “I’m Mike.”
Jules unabashedly runs her bright eyes down his frame like a cat sizing up a mouse. “Well, hello there, handsome.”
“Jules!” Lawson snaps.
“What? He’s notmyemployee,” she retorts.
Mike chuckles, and even though I’m not interested in him in that way, it irks me that his attention is so unloyal. He’s been begging me to go on a date with him for months. Suddenly, Jules shows up, and I’m chopped liver.
However, the exchange makes me wonder if she really is just Lawson’s work acquaintance.
Surely, Lawson wouldn’t put up with another Charlotte.
“You two should join us,” Mike offers.
“I don’t really think?—”
“Join you for what?” Jules asks.
Lawson grabs her elbow, gentler than he held my arm earlier. “Jules, no. Despite your distaste for my dining preferences, I already snagged us a reservation at The Overlook.”
The Overlook is a romantic little restaurant at the top of a hotel by the river, which fuels my jealousy that it’s the first place he thought of to take her. It also just so happens to be right around the corner from where we usually go for after-work cocktails.
“Perfect!” Mike claps. “Lauren’s Fault is less than a block away. You can join us after your dinner. Since it’s Friday, most of us will still be there.”
