AllFreeNovel
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“Do ye want to sit with us until James finds ye?” She cringed, as if regretting her offer as soon as she’d said it.
No one liked to socialise with their boss. When Dad was in charge, every family gathering had turned into a work meeting.
Someone bumped Caroline from behind and the drinks tottered on the tray.
“Here, let me.” I said taking it. “I’ll get these to your table and then I’ll find where James got to. I won’t ruin your night with babysitting the boss.”
Caroline led the way to a booth where three of her girlfriends talked over photos on someone’s phone. The one closest to me looked very familiar from behind. I was leaning down to place the tray on the table when she turned around.
Amanda. Her whisky-coloured hair was loose about her shoulders and she swept it back with her hand. Her mouth formed an ‘O’ in surprise, her lips gloriously glossy red.
Blood instantly headed south. Every time I saw her, my dick stood to attention, like I was a teenager again. When she’d found me in nothing but a towel, I’d thought of everything I could to get my erection under control; reciting Burns’ poems naked, me arriving at the office naked. The thought of my grandmother naked finally did the trick, bless Maisie McAlister’s heart.
I was trying to avoid Amanda as much as possible since spilling water on my crotch. But James was right, damn him. Anyone with eyes could tell I liked her.
I almost smashed the tray to the table. I rescued the drinks from falling over, although the daiquiri suffered, red liquid sloshing over the rim.
“Oh, aye. Who’s this then, Caro?” She put her phone aside, winking at me.
The woman beside her grinned. “Aye, he’s well lush.”
Caroline cleared her throat. “Helena, Grace, this is my boss, Stuart. Amanda works with him too.”
“Boss? You’re the CEO?”
With my nerves in overdrive, I’d already forgotten if the woman speaking to me was Helena or Grace.
“Ah, yes. I am. Nice to meet ye all.” I looked at Amanda with a nod. “Amanda.”
My voice had dropped an octave.
She gave me a small smile and took a glass of white wine from the tray. I shifted on my feet. Four women looked at me expectantly.
I jerked a thumb over my shoulder. “I should find my brother -”
“There’s two of ye?” Caroline’s other friend, Helena or Grace, sat up straighter, pushing out her breasts and running a finger along the neckline of her low-cut shirt. “Ye should both join us. No other seats tonight. It’s pumping in here.”
Caroline shot both Helena and Grace a look and grabbed the daiquiri, taking a large gulp. Amanda focused on her wine.
“There ye are, big brother!” James clapped a hand on my shoulder and spun me around. “Meet Chelsea. Chels, this is Stuart. She’s with me, and this is her friend you should definitely meet. Liz, meet Stuart. Stuart, meet Liz.”
Liz was attractive; dressed in a sleeveless black top, jeans and black boots. She had tattoos on both arms.
“Hi, I’m Stuart.” I winced at my awkwardness as I offered her my hand.
“Hi.” We shook hands and felt nothing. Not like when Amanda had touched my chest and when I trailed my finger down her arm at George’s. That had felt like fire.
“You should all sit with us! Share the table!” Amanda exclaimed.
I looked between Liz, Amanda and Caroline. “Ye sure that’s okay?”
Helena-Grace were right; the pub was packed this evening.
Liz grinned at Caroline and her friends. “Sounds great!”
Everyone quickly found a seat. Liz sat opposite me, beside Chelsea and James. The only option was to wedge myself into the booth beside Amanda, my thigh torturously jammed up against hers.
* * *
