Plus One is a Lucky Number. Teresa Morgan F.
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away.
A part of her wondered if the heat radiating from her was due to him. It had been a very long time since she’d received these sorts of loving gestures. But she had to remember it was an act. She just hadn’t anticipated how great it would feel.
Listening to the women whilst Adam spoke with the men, Sophie felt something stroke her lower back, brushing across her bottom. She wasn’t sure where it came from, what or who it was. She subtly checked. Adam’s hands were clearly where they should be, one holding her hand, the other gesturing as he spoke. So, was it Adam? Had he done so before taking her hand? No, she was sure he wouldn’t do anything unless it was necessary. He knew exactly how far to take this and wouldn’t cross any lines – not that they’d discussed the lines. Maybe they should have? He’d made his whispers look like kisses, brushed her hair, but nothing he shouldn’t do. He wouldn’t take liberties – in the whole day she’d been with him, he’d always been a gentleman.
She glanced around to see Simon wink at her. Adam hadn’t noticed a thing. Or had he, choosing to ignore it? Maybe Simon had brushed past her accidentally, although it had felt deliberate.
“Right, come on, girls, taxi’s outside,” Cassie said. “Time to leave, otherwise the others will wonder where the hell we are.”
“Will you be okay?” Sophie whispered to Adam.
“Of course,” Adam replied. ““I’ll wait in the atrium for you later. Enjoy yourself, sweetheart.” A sly smile spread across his lips as he spoke the word ‘sweetheart’. No one else would have spotted it but Sophie, who playfully narrowed her eyes.
“You’ll be back before me, will you?”
“More than likely. You’re out with Cassie and I can’t see her coming home early.”
Sophie giggled. She hesitated, staying within his hold. This is where you would ordinarily kiss him goodbye. She moved towards him to plant a kiss, a peck on his cheek, but he moved, making sure her lips met his.
They hadn’t discussed kissing! Why hadn’t they discussed kissing?
If hot with nerves before, she was on fire now. His soft but determined, warm lips pressed against hers. The heat rose in her cheeks.
He held her close and moved his lips to her ear. “Don’t give the game away – always on the mouth.” Again, he could have been whispering sweet nothings. His warm breath on her neck sent an electric pulse of pleasure down her spine. How was she going to last a weekend with him and not make a fool of herself?
He brushed her hair back gently with his fingers and then let her go. She looked him in the eye, giving him a smile.
Was it normal to want to kiss him again?
“I’ll see you later,” she said, hesitating.
“Come on, love birds!” Cassie grabbed Sophie by the arm, and pulled her away from Adam. “Adam, I promise I’ll bring her back in one piece.” She chuckled mischievously. “One drunken piece.”
Adam smiled at Cassie, shaking his head. Simon approached Sophie and Cassie, his back to Adam and the other men, putting an arm around each of their waists. He let go of Cassie, but kept hold of Sophie.
“Don’t worry, Sophie, I’ll keep Adam out of mischief. You can trust me.”
Trust?
There, again, his hand on her bum! She glared at him, releasing his grip, stepping away, closer to Cassie. She glanced at Adam. Could he see?
Worried her expression showed her anger, she faked a smile and waved at Adam, then linked an arm through Cassie’s and Natalie’s.
It felt alien to have Simon anywhere near her, dragging up old feelings, torturing her all over again. Simon would never be forgiven.
***
Adam watched the women leave the hotel, giggling and talking. He disliked how Simon had wrapped his arm around Sophie like he had some privilege. It didn’t take a psychologist to work out Sophie didn’t like it – he’d observed her irritated reaction to Simon.
Simon clapped his hands then, rubbing his palms together, walked towards the group of men. “Right, gentlemen, I’ve got the perfect place for us to start off the night.”
“Simon, a quiet night was the plan,” Gareth said, frowning.
“Nah, what’s the fun in that?” Simon replied, grinning, revealing perfect teeth.
Teeth Adam could quite easily break. He was only just getting to know Sophie, but already he had this primeval instinct to protect her against this man. Simon had to be the reason why Sophie wanted to cancel on this weekend.
“Don’t fret, Gareth. We’re staying in the town, wouldn’t want to bump into the girls,” Simon continued. “But this is one of your last night’s of freedom. You need to let your hair down, mate.”
Gareth wasn’t happy. Adam had his own impression of Simon forming now, and it wasn’t a good one. It was a gut feeling, but he could be wrong. Sophie hadn’t reacted to Simon by flying off the handle, so it was best to play along. To be the perfect boyfriend.
The music drummed loudly in the packed club. The rammed dance floor bobbed like a choppy sea, dark silhouettes moving against the multi-coloured lights.
Sophie watched from the table, perched on a stool and swayed to the music, sipping her drink. She used to love dancing, but now she feared the hassle of it. A girl couldn’t just get lost on the dance floor. It was practically a cattle market, with men watching the women like farmers picking a prized cow. She didn’t fancy that bit any more. Yes, she would probably meet a nice enough guy, eventually, but how many others would she have to waste her time on before she found him? How many might hurt her?
However, if she’d conquered the fear, gone out more, rather than just down the White Lion on a Friday evening, she wouldn’t have needed Adam here this weekend to hold her hand.
“So, come on, spill the beans - where’d you find him, Soph?” Cassie said loudly, leaning against the tall table they’d all circled around. Natalie sat next to Sophie, grinning, waiting patiently to hear her gossip. Cassie sipped her wine, then turned back to another girl, nudging her. “Sophie’s got one hell of a man. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.”
“Cass, please.” Sophie fought the urge to tell her friend the truth. After the wedding, in a month or so, she could admit it, if she had to.
“Come on, where did you meet him?”
“At work – we were both at some guy's retirement party and hit it off.” Sophie took a sip of her own wine. She wanted to gulp it down, but knew she needed to keep her head straight. She hated lying to her friend, a good friend whom she wouldn't normally keep secrets from. But if she confided, and the lie got out, she’d look more of an idiot. So would Adam. It was best kept between her and Adam.
“You hold on to him, girl.”
“Yeah, he’s a good one,” Natalie said, raising her glass.
“I intend to,” Sophie replied, swallowing the lie as she swallowed more of her wine. Although somewhere lurking in the back of her mind, a small voice wished she could keep Adam. That kiss had really been no more than a peck, like lovers kissed, but she could still feel the pressure of his lips against hers and hoped she’d feel it again. More than likely she would. Lovers had to kiss, right?
But they hadn’t discussed kissing – she hadn’t even thought about it. She hadn’t been kissed in a while and she hoped it didn’t show. Adam had said ‘experienced’ in the car, and she doubted he was only talking about his job. A man like Adam knew how to make a woman tremble at the knees just by smiling at her.