Page 27 of Another Lucky Number (Lucky Number #2)

Chapter Twenty-Four

H alf an hour later, all is (temporarily) forgotten, and I’m in pure bliss as the cool, topaz blue pool water laps gently around my shoulders.

James and I have broken away from our group for coconut mojitos and a little private time by the swim-up bar, leaving Cat, Amber, Tyler and Rob to get to know each other better at the other end of the pool.

The flirty banter is flowing, but we haven’t yet made physical contact, and to say I’m craving it is a massive understatement.

James looks so sexy, his hair wet and sort of slicked back, water droplets glistening on his muscular shoulders.

My brain is practically screaming at him to take my hand, put his arms around me, kiss me – anything .

‘So, what’s the story with you and Lottie?’ He casually sips at his cocktail while leaning against the edge of the pool. ‘I didn’t realise you weren’t related until something she said the other day made me twig.’

‘Did your mum and dad not say?’ I cock my head in surprise. ‘She was my next-door neighbour when I was a kid. I used to sneak into her garden and read in her shed to get peace from my parents. ’

‘You were hiding from them? Why was that?’

‘Because they were horribly overbearing. Still are – they treat me like I’m eight years old and incapable of making my own decisions. They’re not bad people or anything,’ I quickly add to stop him drawing the wrong conclusions. ‘They’re just too much. Think it’s partly because I’m an only child.’

‘Sounds plausible.’

‘Anyway, Lottie was a recluse. She’d lost her granddaughter and daughter in a short space of time: cancer then suicide.’

‘ Oof .’ James winces. ‘I’m so sorry to hear that. It would be enough to make anyone lose faith in the world.’

‘Totally. And she did. She had shut herself away and was resistant to the idea of having anything to do with me at first, but I wore her down.’

‘Like I wore you down?’ He waggles his eyebrows humorously.

‘Ha, yeah, maybe.’ I laugh. ‘You were much more respectful though. You knew when to back off. I kind of forced my way into Lottie’s life, with no thought for how she felt.’

‘You were a kid. You didn’t know any better. And it was probably the best thing that could have happened to her.’

‘It was. And now she has your parents as friends too.’

‘And me.’

‘Yes, and you. She seems fond of you already. Don’t you go breaking her heart, or I’ll have to deal with you.’

‘Are we still talking about Lottie now? Or you?’ James grins, running a hand through his hair while my eyes follow this movement.

‘Maybe a bit of both.’ I nibble my bottom lip, uneasy with showing my vulnerability.

He reaches for my hand and pulls me towards him, the movement made smoother by the water.

Once I’m close enough, he slips his arms around my waist and pulls me into him, kissing me gently at first, then more passionately as I relax into him.

The water and the feeling of my bare flesh against his heightens my senses, making every touch more intense until I’m fizzing with arousal – and ready to drag him back to my suite for some proper action.

Eventually, we pull apart – slightly breathless – and smile shyly at each other, which makes me wonder if he’s had the exact same thought as me.

‘Shall we rejoin the others?’ I suggest, not really wanting to but feeling like we should.

‘In a bit. I want to hear more about your job interview. It sounds like a great opportunity.’

‘It is. It’s like it’s the job I’ve been dreaming of that I never knew existed – if that makes any sense at all?’

‘I get what you mean.’ James nods.

I fill him in on how the opportunity came about, how my professional experience to date aligns with the role to a certain extent, how Amber oversold me and what’s been requested of me for the interview.

‘How are you feeling about the presentation?’ he asks. ‘That’s always the toughest part.’

‘Tell me about it.’ I grit my teeth. ‘I’m dreading that part most. I think I’ve got a good angle for it though, which I’m hoping I can pull off.’

‘Great stuff. Talk me through it then.’

I hesitate. I wasn’t expecting this request and I’m not sure I want to get into it with him.

‘Um… would you mind if I didn’t? It might sound odd after the stunt Amber pulled, but I’d rather stick to my prep with her and Cat so I stay as focused as possible and don’t get sidetracked by differing opinions.

They’ve put a lot into doing this for me.

’ I search James’s face to gauge his reaction.

The last thing I want is to start off on a bad footing.

‘Hey, it’s no problem.’ He tickles me under my chin affectionately.

‘You do what you need to do. From what you tell me, it sounds like you’ve a good chance at the job.

I wouldn’t want to get in the way of that.

You might be punching a bit, as you say, but we all need to take a step into the unknown if we want to realise our potential. ’

‘You sound like you’re quoting from a self-help book.’

‘Is it not true?’

‘It is.’ I straighten my face and clear my throat. ‘You’re right. That’s how I’ve been feeling for ages – like I need a proper chance to prove myself.’

‘Well, hopefully this is it.’ He smiles at me. ‘I know you’ve got a solid team in Amber and Cat, but I’m happy to help out in any way I can too. I went through my fair share of interviews before I happily waved the corporate world goodbye, and started my Masters course.’

‘In Astrophysics, you said?’

‘That’s the one.’

‘So, what will you do when you graduate?’

‘I’m not sure yet.’ James rubs his jaw and I can tell that he’s put a lot of thought into this exact question.

‘I’m tempted to go on and do a PHD. That would likely lead to becoming a research fellow at a University, but I’ll see what the job opportunities are like.

I’m also interested in climatology. Or I could aim for something like a role in data science. ’

‘I have no idea about any of those jobs.’ I shrug. ‘But they all sound impressive.’

There’s a comfortable silence between us, during which we sip at our drinks and James looks thoughtful.

‘Hey, Emma, after our drink at the airport, you messaged me and asked if I had planned to give you my number the first night we met in the shop. You said you’d fill me in on our next date – does this count? I’ve been curious about why you would ask that.’

‘Oh, um…’ I shift awkwardly.

I’d forgotten about that message and now I’m caught off guard.

James obviously has no idea what it relates to – or that he’s inadvertently asked a very personal question.

Am I ready to tell him about my lottery win?

I still barely know him, but I did indicate (without thinking it through, I now realise) that I’d fill him in, and I don’t want to lie to him.

‘You OK?’ He gives me a little nudge. ‘Kind of lost you there.’

‘Sorry… I was… erm…’

What do I do? Should I put my trust in him? I mean, I’ve already met his parents, who are basically saints, and he was interested in me without knowing about the money, so it’s not like I need to second guess his intentions. Not right now anyway , a voice in my head unhelpfully chips in.

‘OK…’ I pull myself up out of the water to sit on the poolside and pat the ground beside me, signalling for James to join me.

He obliges, his arm muscles flexing sexily as he practically springs out of the pool and makes himself comfortable next to me.

‘The reason I asked about your phone number was because something happened that night. Something big.’

‘Bigger than tanking a two-grand bottle of vintage red from your ex’s wine collection after he broke up with you?’

‘Yes. And I need you to promise me that this stays between us.’ I take his hand in mine in a gesture of seriousness.

‘One hundred per cent, Emma. I know we haven’t known each other long, but you can trust me.’

‘I sense that, which is why I’m telling you.’

‘Did something bad happen?’ James suddenly looks concerned. ‘Please tell me it wasn’t in The Meadows. I knew I should have come with you, regardless of the fact you didn’t want me to.’

‘It’s nothing like that, don’t worry,’ I reassure him. ‘And the way I was that night, you were better off well clear of me.’

I cringe at the memory of me sobbing on the park bench after Dave dumped me in such a vicious way – it seems incomprehensible now that I could cry over him, knowing what a selfish arsehole he is.

‘So, what is it then?’ he asks. ‘You’re really making me wait for this.’

‘Sorry. I’ll get to the point, which is… that night, the shopkeeper talked me into buying a lottery ticket and two weeks later I discovered I’d had a sizeable win – of over seven-hundred-and-fifty grand.’

‘ Wow .’ James lets out an impressed whistle. ‘That’s massive. Bet you’re glad that dickhead dumped you now.’

‘I sure am. But there’s more.’

‘How can there be more? Did you then win the jackpot the following week?’

‘No, silly.’ I giggle. ‘Are you not wondering where my message asking if you were going to give me your phone number comes in?’

I can almost see James’s brain ticking over. ‘I am now, but I’m coming up empty handed.’

‘Not surprising really. Did you know that when you ripped up your number that night, you dropped part of it on the floor?’

‘Nope. Wasn’t paying that much attention… wait, are you about to tell me that you used my phone number to pick your lottery numbers?’

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 that my phone number won you three quarters of a million pounds?’

‘Exactly that. Well, part of your phone number did. The first couple of numbers were obviously 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 way you’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 want me there 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.’

‘That’s the spirit.’ He kisses the top of my head. ‘Plus, my friends have already seen you chasing little kids around. How much worse can it get?’

‘Don’t remind me.’

‘So, we’re on?’

‘Yeah, we’re on.’ I gulp as I say this. ‘Let’s give your buddies the full uncensored initiation experience.’