“Did I interrupt again?” Morgan laughed.

“Yes. Again.”

“Sorry, babe. So he’s still there, huh? Date must be going well.”

“Yes, Luke is still here. Yes”—Embry smiled at Luke—”we had a nice night. He’s just heading out so I can get some studying done.”

“Cool. I want details. I’m leaving campus now. I had a late night in the library. I’ll stop in on my way home.”

Embry heard the click as Morgan hung up, and she stared at her phone. “How does she do that?”

Luke folded her in his arms as he kissed a path up her neck. “Do what?”

“Morgan just invited herself over,” she said, laughing. “I told you I’m never alone for long.”

“Good, I don’t like the thought of you alone.” He looked down at her intently. “I better get my goodnight kiss before we’re interrupted.”

Embry didn’t have a chance to answer. Luke’s lips covered hers, and his tongue swept into her mouth. Embry went with it, enjoying the slow rhythm of the kiss. She pulled back first, placed a chaste kiss on his lips, and nuzzled into his chest. She loved his spicy, sexy scent and the feel of his arms wrapped around her.

Luke gazed down at her once more, and shot her a panty-dropping smile as he released her. He walked out the door, turning at the landing. “Night, Embry.”

“Night,” she said as she stood in the doorway.

“Morgan,” Luke said, on his way down the stairs.

“Oh hey, Luke, fancy seeing you here,” her best friend called as she passed him. Looking up at Embry, Morgan sighed. “He’s dreamy.”

“Tell me about it.” Embry pulled Morgan inside to catch her up on their date.

The next few weeks flew by. Embry’s work load was more than anything she could have imagined, but she somehow kept up. On top of her class schedule and homework, she was working on research for Professor Coleman and trying to make time to see Luke.

They texted almost every day and talked on the phone as much as possible, but with little free time, they had no choice but to slow things down and really get to know each other. Luke seemed reluctant to talk about his family, but from the little he’d said, Embry pictured a well-off southern family. She imagined his parents living in a large plantation house surrounded by weeping willows and gorgeous old oak trees. She had no idea if that was accurate, but she liked to think so.

His father owned some sort of corporation in Georgia, and Luke’s brother, Camden, helped run the company. Luke used to handle the legal side of the family business, but he was taking a step back and focusing on his solo practice . His favorite color was blue—which, coincidentally, had become Embry’s new favorite since it reminded her of his gorgeous eyes. He worked out religiously, lived for Georgia football, and loved southern cooking and country music. The football team and music preferences were something she would have to work on.

Luke hadn’t been around campus much, and when he was, he was almost … stand-offish. They’d met for lunch a few times at his office in Oyster Bay, and Embry got the feeling he didn’t want to be seen around campus with her. Morgan chocked it up to their age difference or him being uncomfortable that he was working with one of the professors and dating a student. Embry thought maybe he just didn’t want to get too serious. Either way, she didn’t want to scare him off, so she left it alone and enjoyed what time she did have with him.

Embry walked across campus with Jeremy for a coffee break. The café in their law school was pretty good, but she wasn’t human without her Starbucks. Luckily, the student hub had one.

“So who’s on deck for this weekend?” Embry asked, elbowing Jeremy’s arm.

“Don’t you mean ‘what’?” he responded.

She raised an eyebrow. “You know exactly what I mean.”

Jeremy rolled his eyes. “Can’t get anything past you.”

“Well?”

“Fine,” he said, faking annoyance. “Kim, section five.”

“Ah hah!” She pumped her fist in the air. “I knew it!”

“I’ve never seen another girl get so excited about my hookups.”

“Well most other girls don’t have money riding on it. Morgan and I have been betting on who you bang. She thought for sure you’d go for a girl in section three, because they’re pretty much a sure thing. But I bet on section five. It’s like the Holy Grail, and you, my friend”—she pointed at Jeremy—”go for the challenge!”

Jeremy stared at Embry in disbelief.

“You just made me twenty bucks!” she said.

“You realize this is not normal behavior, right?”

“What? Betting on your man-whoring ways?”

“Yes.”

Embry stopped, her hands on her hips. “Are you really going to tell me it bothers you?”

“No. Actually, I was thinking I should get a cut. We can work out some kind of an arrangement …” His eyes crinkled and then widened as though he had just come up with a brilliant idea. “Insider banging!”

“Oh my God.”

“You know, like insider trading! I’ll drop hints about what girls I’m scoping out, and together we’ll take Morgan for all she’s worth.”

“Wow, Jer,” Embry said, shaking her head.

“What?”

“Your indecency knows no bounds. Just … wow.”

“Too much?” he asked.

“Nope, just enough,” she said, laughing.

They reached Starbucks, and Jeremy held open the door. Embry walked inside and froze, her mouth falling open. Sitting in a large, stuffed chair by the window, and looking gorgeous, was Luke. As if he felt her gaze, he slowly turned his head, his eyes flicking up to meet hers. His lips tipped into a small smile.

She lifted her hand to wave as Jeremy collided with her back.

“Whoa,” he said, gripping her shoulders and turning her slightly. “You all right, Bree?”

Flustered and embarrassed, Embry shook his hands off and got in line. “I’m fine.” She hadn’t told Jeremy that she was seeing Luke. She hadn’t told anyone, except Morgan. It was still too new and she wasn’t ready to share him.

They ordered their drinks. Embry chanced a glance back at Luke, but his back was to her. He was packing up and leaving before even giving her the chance to say hello. The insecure part of her flinched, hurt by his hasty departure. Why didn’t he say hello? Was he upset that she was with Jeremy? But her phone beeped a few minutes later, the text from Luke easing her worries.

Sorry had to run to meet a client. Busy tonight?

Nope. 3-day weekend :) Plans?

I’ll pick you up at 4 outside of school.

Can’t wait

Embry spent the rest of the day on cloud nine, excited to finally get some alone time with Luke. At four, she sat on a bench outside the law school waiting for him. She pulled off her cardigan and sat soaking up the sun in a white eyelet dress that hit above her knee. It was unseasonably warm for September, and she was enjoying the Indian summer. She was about to text Luke when Professor Coleman walked out of the law school.

“Hello, Embry.”

“Hi, Professor Coleman. Heading out for the weekend?” she asked.

“Yes, it’s much needed. Any good plans for you?”

Embry saw Luke’s black Range Rover pull into the parking lot. “Nothing special. Mostly studying.” She gathered her things, but Luke drove right by, heading toward the other side of campus. Weird.

“Well, I hope you take some time to enjoy the extra day off,” Coleman said, waving and walking to the parking lot.

Embry’s phone beeped, alerting her to a new text.

Had to run into the Admin building, meet me around the corner?

She had no idea what Luke could have needed in the administrative building, but she gathered her things and walked around the school. Insecurity raised its ugly head once more, making her question his motives. Did he not want Professor Coleman to see him with her? She mulled over the possibility. She had no idea why Luke was so twitchy around campus, but she wasn’t ready to talk to him about it. Their relationship wasn’t serious, and she didn’t want to overreact about something that might be nothing.