Page 14 of Lucas & Melissa Falling in Love
Chapter 5
Ilooked up and realized we’d moved ourselves to an obscure corner of the room out of the way of the bar, but not out of Margo’s notice. Whether I was ready or not, as unnerved as I was—either by his caring or his hotness I didn’t know and it didn’t matter—it was time to introduce him to my best friend in the world who knew nothing about my financial situation when this stranger, whom I’d just met tonight, knew everything.
A shudder went through me and I plastered on a smile hoping no one—besides Lucas, who noticed everything—would notice my awkward discomfort. George was right behind Margo and they wore smiles of curious anticipation as they eyed me and Lucas still in our clench.
Needless to say, it wasn’t like me to be in a clench in the middle of a party. I was generally more discreet, except for maybe that one unfortunate lapse a few years ago when I’d over imbibed.
“Lucas, this is Margo and George Regal.” Then, when I would have normally said, “Of Regal Department Stores fame,” instead I said, “My two best friends in the world.”
Margo’s face softened in a mushy, almost tearful smile and George’s face lit with pleasant surprise.
Lucas disengaged himself with smooth and completely unawkward elegance to reach out and shake George’s hand.
“A true pleasure to meet you.” Then, in a very continental gesture, he turned to Margo and gave her a hug and kissed both cheeks.Must be an art-school thing.
“It’s always a treat to meet anyone who’s special to our Lissy,” Margo said.
She must have been picking up on George’s charm because it sounded more like something he’d say. Though the sentiment was always there, Margo didn’t have the same way with words George had. Until now. Hmm. Must be what happened when you got married.
“She’s the special one,” Lucas said and returned his arm to its rightful place around my shoulders.
“I’m dying to hear about how you two met,” Margo said, back to her true form: unabashed enthusiasm. It was time for me to jump in.
“Lucas was kind enough to give me a ride one night when I needed it and something about the intimacy of a small car and a dark night—”
“Margo and George! There you are. My favorite newlywed couple.” Burton, my scorn-filled ex, came straight for us from the entry.
The truth was that I was glad for the interruption, even if it was Burton. Facing him from the comfortable secure arms of Lucas—whatever his last name was—was easier than dancing around my inexplicable lack of knowledge and information about my hot new man. Because I knew that inevitably Margo and George would expect background about Lucas. And even though I figured Lucas would supply the details, I’d yet to hear them myself and it somehow seemed wrong that I didn’t know, that I wouldn’t hear his story first.
Plus, I had no idea what Lucas would tell them and it was a little scary. A little exciting too, if my accelerated heart rate was any tip-off.
Burton stopped short, almost like a mime hitting a wall, when he looked past me to eye Lucas standing at my side. Their gazes locked on each other as if they were shooting laser beams from their eyes. I sensed the instant they’d each realized they were rivals and therefore automatic enemies. The muscles in Lucas’s arm tensed across my shoulders and he pulled me an obvious fraction closer to his solid side of muscles. All sense of comfort and warmth had disappeared with his change to jungle-catlike alertness.
The smile dropped from Burton’s face and those two frown lines that I’d always hated furrowed like twin canyons between his eyes.
“Melissa.” Burton nodded. “Introduce me to your friend.”
Margo jumped in, always eager to diffuse any difficulty. “This is Lucas. He’s Margo’s date tonight. We were just getting to know each other.”
“You could probably use a drink, buddy,” George said, patting his friend’s back. “Let’s go—”
“In a minute, George. Lucas? You have a last name? I don’t know why you look familiar.”
“We’ve never met, I assure you. I’m a graduate student at NYU.”
“Art student?” Burton guessed. “How quaint.” He smirked at me as I grew warm with anger and embarrassment. “Different for you, Lissy.”
“I’m preparing to join my family business,” Lucas said. He stood straighter and moved slightly forward, and somehow made his towering height intimidating. He had to be several inches taller than Burton, who took a half step back.
“And what is it you do?” Lucas asked.
“I’m in banking. A vice president with Citi Group.” Burton sounded so smug that I rolled my eyes and Margo, seeing me, held in a snicker. Even George’s good-natured smile slipped at his friend’s pomposity.
“Banking. It sounds terribly interesting.” Lucas said the words in a way that there was no mistaking he meantterribly boring. Or maybe flat-out terrible. He turned to Margo. “The aroma of your food is enticing.” He spoke with his hands, waving the air toward his face as if he meant it. He probably did. “I can’t resist it.” He turned to me. “Let’s get something to eat. Excuse us.”
Without an answer, or another word from anyone, Lucas swept us away from my snobby, mean-spirited ex. I flashed one look over my shoulder to see George patting his friend’s back and leading him to the bar. Margo was shooting unhappy looks at him.
“You’re a smooth one under your black-clad art-student persona.” I wasn’t complaining, but I was wondering about him anew.
