Page 33 of Another Lucky Number (Lucky Number #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

‘ H i there.’ I approach James with a hesitant smile. ‘I thought you decided to go to the club.’

‘I did go,’ he says. ‘But it turns out I forgot something,’

‘Oh.’ I’m disappointed to that this unexpected appearance is for practical reasons. ‘What did you forget? I don’t think I have anything of yours.’

He looks pained for a moment. ‘I forgot… how to behave.’

‘Um… OK…’

‘I acted like a sulky teenage boy back there at The Cave. Amber just gave me bollocking for that – which is unfortunate, because I was intending to drink my bodyweight in beer to forget about it.’

I use my key card to unlock my suite and beckon for him to follow me inside, which he does. But instead of making himself comfortable, he stands awkwardly in the middle of the room.

‘Why don’t you sit down?’ I suggest.

‘I don’t want to sit until I know whether I’m staying or leaving,’ he says.

‘OK, let’s work that out then. Is this to do with Sébastien?’

‘Yes. ’

‘About the fact that I dropped your hand when he appeared?’

‘That. And the way the two of you look at each other.’

‘ Wait, what? I don’t look at Sébastien in any way .’

James sighs. ‘You do, Emma. And he sure does in return. That might as well have been a table of one he rocked up at earlier. The rest of us were practically invisible to him. It’s ridiculous if you can’t see it yourself.’

I look at the floor. There’s no point in denying that I sense some level of chemistry between Sébastien and I. James is smart and he’s picked up on it. I must be respectful of that.

‘Look, James… I admit that I find Sébastien attractive, and I am aware that there’s some kind of connection between us, but there’s no substance to it. I already told you about what happened when I went for dinner with him. I—’

‘I know. You made it clear you weren’t interested and so did he. But the problem is: that’s all bullshit. You might have indicated to him that you like someone else, and he might have glossed over his interest in you and thrown the job interview into the mix, but—’

‘ Hold on . Are you suggesting Sébastien’s only interviewing me for the role to get in my knickers?’ I narrow my eyes at him. ‘Do you have the slightest idea how that sounds?’

‘ Fuck , sorry.’ James rubs the back of his neck in frustration. ‘Don’t even know why I said that. I’m not—’

‘Good at this kind of chat?’

‘You could say that.’

‘Where’s the articulate, self-assured James I’ve come across at almost every turn over the last few weeks?’

‘We all have off days, eh?’ He offers me a shameful smile and this is all it takes for my hackles to disintegrate.

‘Please will you sit down?’ I ask again, and this time he does and I sit beside him. ‘How about I go first, because you’re making an arse of this, and I wanted to talk to you anyway. ’

‘Fine by me.’

‘All right. You might have been behaving like a sulky teenager – your words, not mine – but I understand why and I want to apologise.’

‘You don’t owe me any apologies, Emma. You can’t help how you feel. I’m the one with the issue here.’

‘I thought I was speaking?’ I nudge him affectionately.

‘Sorry. Yup. Go.’

‘Thank you. I want to apologise for dropping your hand and undermining what we have in doing that. To be clear, I didn’t do it because I fancy Sébastien, I did it because he might end up being my boss – and it felt weird showing that side of me to him.’

James’s expression clears. ‘I didn’t think about it like that.’

‘That’s why it’s good to deal with things rather than go off in a huff.’ I give him another playful push and he smiles sheepishly. ‘Anyway, what’s really important is for me to reassure you that nothing is going to happen between me and Sébastien.’

‘You can’t guarantee that. Feelings can develop quickly and things can happen in the heat of the moment, especially if you end up working for him.’

‘Are you talking from experience?’

‘If you’re asking if I’ve been cheated on, the answer is yes, but I’m not sure that’s the issue here.

All I know is that I like you – a hell of a lot.

Sure, I’m normally more confident, but can you blame me for losing it a bit when I’m competing with a super human specimen like Sébastien.

I’m not into men, but I can see what I’m up against – and I don’t like my chances. ’

I smile at his honesty. ‘Well, I do. I like your chances very much, because to me, you’re every bit as appealing as Sébastien – and more.’

‘OK…’ He seems doubtful.

‘I mean it. You need a lot more than raw chemistry to make things work with someone. You need to click at a deeper level, and I think we do.’

‘Me too.’ James’s gorgeous deep chestnut brown eyes finally meet mine. ‘I think that’s why I haven’t dealt with this so well. You’re the first woman I’ve seen any real potential with in a long time, and I don’t want to get into something if there’s a chance it might blow up in my face.’

‘So instead, you turned into adolescent James and froze me out.’ I give him a teasing wink.

‘Any chance you can let that slide?’

‘I already have. Just couldn’t resist a wee jibe.

James, I really like you too, and I already know I want this to go somewhere.

I can’t believe I’m even able to say that to you.

In my experience, most guys would be halfway down the corridor by now, but I can tell you’re different.

I love that you’ve been so open and up front with me. Let’s keep being that way, yeah?’

‘I’d like that.’ He leans in and kisses me softly.

‘And when we bump into Sébastien again, I’ll introduce you properly – as the guy I’m seeing from back home.’

‘Good plan. Then I can scope him out, find his superhero weakness and hit him where it hurts.’ The sexy grin I’m used to seeing finally returns to James’s face.

‘There’s the man I’m falling—’ I cut myself off, turning crimson as I realise what I’ve almost said.

Sharp as a needle, James eyes me mischievously. ‘Falling…?’

‘Off the interview prep wagon for.’

‘Good save. So, we’re official then – I mean in a holiday romance sense?’

‘It’s a solid “yes”.’

This time, it’s me that leans in, planting a smacker of a kiss on his lips. It quickly turns into a steamy snog with roaming hands and items of clothing flying left, right and centre, and the good sleep I’m needing ahead of tomorrow’s prep is looking very unlikely indeed.