Page 47 of Devious Temptation
In the photo, Lucy and Anna are wearing neon-colored spandex bodysuits with different-colored leggings and leg warmers. Both women have their hair pulled up in ponytails with sweatbands and an obscene amount of glowing jewelry.
Lifting my second tumbler of whiskey of the evening to my lips, I swipe my thumb and scroll through the photosthat have been uploaded so far. It wasn’t even a thought to go tonight, even if the idea of being able to sneak Lucy away into a dark corner was tempting. But image after image has me rethinking my decision.
It’s bad form to attend these types of events. Morale parties are for employees, not their bosses. However, the fact that nearly everyone there right now is holding a drink makes my protective instincts kick in.
What if she drinks too much?
What if someone tries to take advantage of her?
I can hear her response to my agonizing internal questions.Okay, Daddy.
My palm twitches.
Another swipe shows a photo of some guy with his arms wrapped around both Lucy and Anna. Both women are leaning in to kiss his cheek, and Lucy’s bright pink lipstick has left a mark on his skin.
“Put the phone down, Lawson. You’re going to drive yourself crazy,” I mutter to myself.
Darkening the screen, I toss my cell on a pile of file folders and pull up my email. I need a distraction, and even though it’s the start of the weekend, working seems like the best choice.
Not even a few minutes go by before my phone lights up, and an image of Jules appears on my screen. Sighing, I slide the answer tab over. “Yes?”
“Well, that’s no way to greet your best friend, now is it?” she sarcastically chides, clearly on speakerphone.
“I’m his best friend,” Cameron argues. Apparently, this is a three-way call.
“Yes, well, the question would remain the same then, wouldn’t it?” she sardonically replies.
“Can I help you two? I’m trying to get some work done.” In reality, I’ve been blankly staring at my computer screen, not registering anything.
“How many drinks in are you, Law? And how many more will it take to convince you to get your ass to the rink to get your girl?” Jules asks.
As I put them on speaker and set my phone down, I can hear the clinking of glasses on their end, and for a moment, I miss New Yorkbadly. It’s not just my friends, but also the fact that I could be doing the same thing in the city right now and not feel so alone. All I’d have to do is open my window, and the bustling of the people below, the sound of taxis honking their horns, and the smell of street food would surround me even if I weren’t down in the middle of it all.
Here, it’s just River and me, and my broody teenager is off somewhere with Rose and Nova tonight, leaving me completely and utterly alone to watch Lucy’s night play out on a social media app.
It’s like my life reversed right back to being that sad and pathetic man I was before I moved to New York.
“Stop pushing him. Lawson, why don’t you come back for the weekend? We can go to the club and get your mind off your woman problems.”
“Ooh, we haven’t all been to the club together in a long time!” Jules says excitedly.
My screen lights up with another notification from Iconic. “I have a lot of work to get done. Plus, I can’t just take off for the weekend, Cam. I’ve got River.”
“Well,sitting at home in your office with a bottle of whiskey while you watch your pretty little assistant get drunk isn’t going to do you any favors,” he scolds good-naturedly.
“How the hell do you know I’m watching her get drunk?” I pick up my phone to look at the new photo.
“Mike might have shared the password with me,” Jules singsongs.
“She’s a pretty little thing. Kinda makes me wish Ihadtaken the job in Chicago,” Cameron jokes.
“Shut the fuck up.”
They both burst into laughter while I pull up the app. Irritation prickles down my spine as a carousel of images pops up, featuring the same man holding Lucy bridal style as they gaze at each other with giant smiles.
“Ooooh, are you gonna let this guy paw at her all night, Law?” Jules asks. “You know, I’ll bet the little cherry pop is trying to get a rise out of you. That’s whatIwould do in her situation. Smart girl.”
After the way we’ve been around each other, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least. It’s like Lucy is doing everything she can to make me snap. Especially since I called her a good girl.
