“When you’re not self-conscious, you radiate power and sexiness, Lucy. Stop rushing around and enjoy each step. Each breath.”
Camilla’s words echoed in her head, giving her confidence. She took a bracing breath, remembering the steady, sensual rhythm of the music Camilla had played during the class and moved through the crowd.
Glances were cast her way as she strode to the hostess’s podium and greeted her. The young woman added her to the list as another hostess called a group name, which meant that several seats were vacated. Lucy took one near a window and tried to settle her nerves.
She nearly took out her phone to check e-mail, giving her something to do with her hands and divert her attention from the way the larger group of women across the room stared at her.
No. Hell no.
She wasn’t hiding behind her phone. Sudden anger filled her, both at herself and at the women who kept looking over at her. Why did she care so much what strangers thought about her appearance? The dress definitely showed off her assets but it wasn’t revealing and she wasn’t acting lewd.
Grace and her men had thought she looked beautiful. Their opinions mattered more. Should matter more. Beck had said he’d like her to dress up when she’d asked him and the dress she now wore was the first thing that had popped into her mind. She crossed her legs and arranged the skirt, took a deep breath and settled in to wait.
Memories of the previous afternoon helped to distract her. Beck was such a confusing mix of attitude and vulnerability. The memory of the warmth of his muscled flesh beneath her hands made her tremble inside. She’d taken longer to massage him than she might normally have for anyone else, simply because she enjoyed touching him and knowing she was helping him.
His confession about wanting her, not wanting anyone else to touch her, had surprised her. The way he’d watched her as they spoke to each other had created a permanent memory in her heart. No matter what, she’d always remember his tone and the vulnerable look in his eyes.
When he’d rolled over for her and apologized so sincerely…that was another memory for the mental scrapbook. The way he’d tried to hide his erection from her when in truth, she’d wanted a closer look at his incredibly thick shaft. The trembling increased inside her and she could not believe she was getting turned on in the crowded lobby at O’Reilley’s.
Dwindling light from the setting sun filtered in over the crowded lobby as the front door opened again across the room. She breathed a sigh of relief as the group of women’s attention was now centered on whoever had just walked in the door. Whoever it was must be something, judging by the way their eyes were riveted and a couple of their jaws dropped.
Lucy was just relieved that she could catch a break from their rude staring. She wished she had the guts to stare back but she couldn’t do that. She was self-employed now and one did not start an enterprise by pissing off potential customers or their friends.
The women’s eyes followed whoever had come in as they moved toward the hostess’s podium, and then she saw a tall blond head appear and heard a familiar voice as the crowd parted a little.
“We’re meeting a third party here,” Patrick said in his pleasant baritone.
The hostess smiled. “Lucy?” At his nod she pointed in Lucy’s direction. “She’s been waiting for you. Your table will be ready soon.”
Oh boy. Here goes. Thank you, God, for the inventor of Spanx! A kernel of panic flickered for a second. This was the moment, when they would discuss what was going on between them, or might in the future. And she’d focused solely on how she felt having the eyes of strangers on her. She felt dumb for wasting the time.
She wondered if all her friends who were involved in ménages had a similar moment, or if they’d just meshed together in a more organic way. She felt like she’d arrived at an assignation, instead of a dinner date. Nerves fluttered anew in her belly and she worried that they might feel the same way. She didn’t want that.
Patrick craned his head and then he saw her. His eyes lit up and all the doubts assailing her slowed their churning and a spark of self-confidence flickered back to life. Beck must’ve been directly behind him because Patrick turned his head to say something and then led the way over to her.
She stifled a laugh as the group of women watched with mouths hanging open as both Patrick and Beck made their way over to her. She stood, giving her attention to Patrick as he reached for her to give her a hug and then her eyes made contact with sexy green ones over Patrick’s shoulder.
She gasped and Patrick chuckled at her reaction. “Lucy, I’d like to reintroduce you to Beck O’Malley.”