Lucy and Megan arrive at the table, setting down a tray of shots. “Nina, care to introduce us to your new friends.” Lucy winks at Elliot knowingly.
“Actually, we have already met. I drove you home Friday night, but I don’t expect you to remember,” Mason teases.
“Of course, I remember.” She fakes a smile. “Tequila?” she offers to the group, passing around the tray.
“Ladies, this is Lance,” Charlie announces, introducing the man to his right. He looks like he’s just come from work in his immaculate three-piece suit. He has dark hair cut short all over and a perfectly groomed beard coating his chiselled jaw. Dark ink peeks out from his collar and cuffs. The rugged look is definitely working for him.
“This is Megan and Lucy.” He gestures to the girls.
“And you must be Nina?” he presumes, looking towards me.
“I’m her.” I smile, leaning forward to shake his hand. His grip is solid, his large palm wrapped tightly around mine.Alright, asshole.I pull my hand away with a frown.
“It’s lovely to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Oh, really?” I say, still trying to get a gauge on him. “Mase hasn’t mentioned you before.”
“That’s because you spend most of the time running from me,” Mason says, nuzzling into my neck.
I lean back slightly to look down at him, appreciating how edible he looks tonight. He is wearing a black shirt that fits him like a glove, drawing attention to his solid shoulders. His hair is styled in a perfect mess, making me want to run my fingers through it.
His eyes crease at the corners as he looks at me just as intently, the most beautiful smile taking over his face as he realises we are both staring. He squeezes my hip, looking up at me tenderly and making my stomach dip.
I turn to find our friends deep in conversation. All but Charlie. He sits watching the two of us. His brows are drawn in as he sits deep in thought. He smiles when we lock eyes, and it’s a warm, genuine smile that brings a grin to my face.
“Charlie seems like a gentle soul,” I whisper to Mase.
“He hasn’t always been that way,” he says quickly, without thought. “He’s a ruthless lawyer by day.”
“Really? A lawyer! He doesn’t seem like he has it in him.”
“What?! You should see him in action. You wouldn’t be saying that then.” He smirks.
“He seems too nice.” I shrug.
“What about me? What do you think I do?” he asks.
“Other than following me around the city, causing me more issues than pleasure?” I roll my eyes. “I’d say… maybe a car salesman.”
His lip twitches in amusement. “Ah, you got me. How did you know?”
“Bad haircut. Cheap suit.”
He laughs as his hand glides up my thigh, inching higher and higher until he brushes the lace of my underwear, then leisurely returning to my shin. “Maybe I should quit and focus more of my time on your pleasure.”
“I don’t know… I wouldn’t want to get you into trouble with the boss.” I smile.
“Nina, come on, we are dancing!” Megan grabs my hand, pulling me from Mase’s lap.
I turn back to him and catch him rearranging himself in his jeans. I want more time with him. He seems different tonight, more relaxed, softer than I have seen him before. If he asked me to, I’d leave with him right now.
“Okay, you giant horn bag. No gazing deeply into his eyes either. Let’s get you a drink,” Megan says, dragging me downstairs with Luce not far behind.
* * *
We stumble up the steps,what feels like hours later, Lucy crawling up in slow motion with her heels in her hand. The girls have been buying my drinks all night, but to keep it hidden I have been downing them on the spot—even though we would spot either Mase or Charlie watching us from above every so often. It’s like I am seventeen again, sneaking into nightclubs, trying to get served.
We’re laughing our way to where the boys are seated with not a care in the world when Lucy stops short in front of us, throwing her hand out to stop me from walking any farther, her heels slapping against my chest.
