“Nothing, I just thought—”

Embry stopped his words with her finger over his lips. “You thought I was going to run. Even after everything?”

Luke shrugged, not meeting her eyes. She had never seen him so vulnerable. Is that what her insecurities and fears had done to him? He was questioning her even after everything that happened between them in the last twelve hours. She felt the tension rolling off of him and changed her game plan. She could talk to him about Jack another time. They needed a day with no drama, no negativity. They had endured too many false starts, and she wanted to make sure he knew she wasn’t going anywhere.

Embry twined her hands in his and pulled him even closer. “We can talk later, it’s not important,” she said, planting kisses across his chest. She felt the tension easing out of him.

He dipped his head and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed, after everything …”

Embry wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He picked her up and walked toward the stairs.

“Except for class, Professor. Are you trying to make me late?” she asked.

“I’ll give you a pass,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows and carrying her back into the bedroom.

Embry ran into her apartment, kicked off her shoes, stripped out of Luke’s clothes, and dug through her drawers for an outfit. Luke had given her another sweatshirt to wear home, and Embry threw it back on after pulling on a pair of jeans. She brushed on some mascara and lip gloss, grabbed her bag, and headed out the door. She drove as fast as she could to campus, speed-walked through the hallway, and breezed into the classroom just as her criminal law professor began his lecture.

He peered at her over his reading glasses. “Nice of you to join us, Miss Jacobs.”

“Sorry, Professor Dawson,” she said, taking her seat next to Jeremy.

After class, they walked to the atrium for a bite to eat before contracts. Luke’s class. Embry had been in such a rush that morning, she hadn’t had time to think about the fact that she’d see him in class. She would have to act as though nothing had changed between them when everything had changed.

“You look different today,” Jeremy said around bites of his bagel.

“I do?” she asked, running her hand self-consciously through her hair.

“Yeah, you’re like …”

“Glowing,” Morgan interjected as she walked up and regarded Embry with knowing eyes.

Embry smiled despite herself, feeling heat rise to her cheeks under her friends’ scrutiny.

Morgan gripped Embry’s bicep, pulling her out of her chair. “Excuse us, Jeremy. We have to have a chat … just us girls.”

Jeremy shrugged and took another bite of his bagel.

Morgan dragged Embry through the back doors of the law school. Embry stopped short, not enjoying being manhandled. “What are you doing?”

Morgan turned on her, a smile lighting her features. “Oh, nothing. Can’t I have a little chat with my best friend? Let’s go sit on the bench!”

Embry followed Morgan and took a seat.

“Sooooo,” Morgan said, “what’s new, best friend?”

“Oh, not much,” said Embry, playing along. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

“Liar.”

“What?” She laughed.

“You got laid is what,” accused Morgan.

Embry’s eyes widened. Either she was completely transparent or her best friend knew her better than she thought. “How did you—”

“Please. You really are glowing. And you have a ridiculously goofy grin on your face.”

Embry tried in earnest to school her features into something a bit more serious.

“That you’re shit at trying to hide, by the way.”

Embry lit up with a face-splitting grin as she turned to her best friend. “He loves me.”

“Well, can you blame him?”

“I love him, too. I told him. We …” Embry let out a dreamy sigh as she thought of how she’d spent the morning and the previous night. “We worked things out.”

“Ha. I bet there was some working out going on,” Morgan teased.

“Morgan!”

“Oh, stop playing innocent. How was it? How was he?”

“Sooooooo good,” Embry admitted. “Best I’ve ever had.”

“Now that’s saying something, you slore.”

“Pshhh, say what you will. That man is sex. Wrapped in sin. Dipped in chocolate.”

Morgan hooted with laughter. “I didn’t think southern sexy had it in him!”

Embry rolled her eyes. “Yes, you did.”

“You’re right, I did. He’s Luke I’m-fucking-delish Brody. A man doesn’t look like he does and turn out to be a disappointment in the bedroom. It’s like a law of nature or something.” Morgan turned serious. “Did you talk to him about Jack?”

Embry let out a long sigh. “No. I was going to, and then I just … No, I didn’t tell him.”

Morgan gave her a look that rivaled an angry mother’s stare. “Why not?”

“It’s nothing. It’s not important. I’ll tell him, okay?”

“Fine, fine.” Morgan bumped Embry’s shoulder with her own. “I’m happy for you, Bree, really. I’m glad you opened yourself up to something good.”

“Yeah, too bad the first person I’ve fallen for in five years happens to be my professor.” The butterflies in her belly chose that moment to wake up and stretch. “I have no idea how to act in class.”

“Just act normal. The good thing is, he’s so fucking hot that half the girls in class fall all over themselves for him anyway. If you get all hot and bothered, you’ll just look like you’re getting in line.”

“Thanks. That’s helpful.” Embry rolled her eyes, not wanting to think of how many women were lusting after her … boyfriend? Lover?

“So you have to keep it in check a few hours a week. Think of all those poor girls who can do no more than lust after him while you’re in his bed.”

“And his shower. And on his kitchen counter.” A sly smile spread across Embry’s face.

“Now that deserves a high five,” Morgan said, throwing her hand up. “Where’s Brendan when you need him?”

Embry sat in contracts, trying not to jump up and turn around every time someone walked through the door. She was anxious for Luke to arrive. How will I feel? Will it be different? Will he treat me differently? She squeezed her eyes shut, shook the thought away, and concentrated on Jeremy. He was going on and on about the girl from the club Saturday night.

“She was amazing and so bendy,” he said.

Embry cringed. Whatever came after, she didn’t want to hear it. She thought back to Saturday. The masquerade party felt like a lifetime ago. So much had happened.

“And then she did this thing with her mouth,” Jeremy said, nudging her.

“What?” she said too loudly.

“There you are. Just trying to get your attention, Blondie.”

“You’re gross.”

“It was effective.” He shrugged. “And seriously, she did some amazing things with her—”

Embry held up a hand. “Stop. No. Do not go there. Can’t hear it. Nope. I won’t.”

“Okay, okay.” He chuckled. “So what’s going on with you?”

Just then, the door opened, and Embry jumped in her seat.

“Are you okay?” Jeremy asked.

“Huh?” She was utterly distracted. Every fiber of her wanted to turn toward the door and see if Luke was there.

“I asked if you were okay.”

“What? Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Thanks.”

“Uh huh.”

She turned to see Jeremy watching her with narrowed eyes.

“You’re a little jumpy,” he said.

Embry waved him away. “Oh, I’m fine. I think I had a bit too much caffeine. That’s all.” Or too much Luke.

“You sure?”

“Yep! Positive!” She was becoming flustered.

“You’re being weird today.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. You’re weird today.”

She couldn’t explain the sensation that came over her when she and Luke were in the same room, but she felt it then and knew he’d walked in. She’d always been aware of him, felt an instant pull when he was near, but after what they’d shared the night before—and that morning—her body was on high alert. She fought against her desire to turn toward him, to go to him, and forced her attention back to Jeremy. “I’m not weird.”