“Shut it. I’m a little tipsy and a lot excited. Let’s go!” Morgan threw herself into the cab.

Embry slid in beside her, deciding that it would be a really good night.

The club was packed. People were everywhere, sweaty and writhing in one big mass on the dance floor. Soft blue and purple lights lined the walls, and bright strobes from the DJ booth danced across the floor. The bass pumping from the speakers vibrated through Embry’s chest. Morgan grabbed her hand and pushed through the crowd..

“There are a few levels. I think they said the social was on the second floor,” Morgan yelled over the music. “The stairs are toward the back.”

Embry nodded and concentrated on making her way through the wall of people bumping and grinding around her. They found the back of the club and hopped in line to get up to the second floor. As they got closer to the staircase, she noticed a small room that looked like some sort of lounge. Sheer panels illuminated by muted white lights hung from the ceiling and draped the walls, bathing the room in a soft glow.

The line moved, and although Embry was aware of Morgan tugging on her arm, something in the lounge caught her attention. Piercing blue eyes filled with an emotion she couldn’t begin to understand found her and pinned her to the spot. Even though she had only seen them briefly, she’d recognize those eyes anywhere. Her hallway hottie was sitting at the lounge bar.

Her belly clenched. She took him in slowly. Designer jeans, black button-down shirt tailored perfectly to his muscular build. Sleeves rolled up to the elbows exposing tanned skin and thick veins. Embry noticed him swirl the amber-colored liquid in his glass as he waited for her to finish her greedy perusal of his body. She lingered on his face. Just the right amount of dark stubble dusted his strong jaw, and the dimple in his left cheek appeared as his mouth quirked into a small, knowing smile. He was perfect.

Embry sucked in a breath and watched, frozen, as he stood and headed toward her. She felt everything around her slow down, and all she could see was him.

Morgan was getting agitated and pulled on Embry’s hand. “Embry, what the—” She squeezed Embry tighter when she saw him walking over. “Holy fucking shit! Is that him?”

All Embry could do was nod. She was fixed to the spot, captivated by his stare.

“He’s coming over here!” Morgan whisper-yelled while tugging on Embry’s hand. “And he’s really hot!”

The two girls stood holding hands and watched the gorgeous man approach. His lazy gait gave off an air of total self-assurance.

“Hey,” he said, eyes trained on Embry.

“Hey,” Embry replied breathlessly.

The left side of his mouth quirked up again. “Can I buy you a drink?”

Oh my god! He’s so hot. Okay, words, Embry, find them and use them. “I’d like that.” Turning to Morgan, Embry said, “I’ll meet you up there, okay, Morgs?”

Morgan stood slack-jawed, looking back and forth between Embry and the hallway hottie. “Uh huh.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in a bit, then.” Embry squeezed Morgan’s hand.

Snapping out of it, Morgan pulled Embry into a hug. “Holy shit! Have fun, be safe. Come find me upstairs.”

Embry watched Morgan head up the stairs and then turned back to the gorgeous man.

“Shall we?” he asked, turning his full smile on her.

Embry’s knees knocked. “Sure.”

A shiver ran through her as he pressed a hand to the small of her back and led her into the lounge. She settled on the stool beside him and tried not to look as nervous as she felt.

“What would you like?”

“Um, what are you drinking?” she asked, eyeing his glass.

“Johnny Walker Blue. Scotch whiskey.”

“Oh.” She wrinkled her nose and waved the bartender over. “Do you have wine? Pinot noir?”

“Sure thing,” said the bartender, heading off to pour her drink.

His arm brushed against hers. “You’re fancy, huh?”

“Oh, you should talk, Mr. Blue Label,” she joked.

“Ah, you got me.” He smiled again, the skin around his eyes crinkling and his dimple deepening. “I’m Luke, by the way.” He held out his hand. “Luke Brody.”

“Bree. Um, Embry Jacobs.” She placed her hand in his.

He bent his head until his soft lips grazed her knuckles, his eyes still trained on hers. “Nice to meet you, Embry.”

She flushed from head to toe. The bartender ended their moment by setting down Embry’s drink. “Thanks,” she said.

“No problem.” The bartender smiled and walked away.

“So …” Embry said, returning her attention to Luke. It came out as a strangled whisper. She sipped her wine and tried again. “So what are you doing down here? Shouldn’t you be up at the social?”

“Ah, no.” Luke rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “I’m not a student. I’m an attorney.”

“Oh.”

“I’m working on some research with one of the professors, so I stop by the law school every now and then.”

“That’s cool.” Embry noticed he spoke in a slow, southern drawl. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

He chuckled. “Is it that obvious?”

“Well, yeah,” Embry answered. He looked down. Oh my gosh, is he blushing? Embry quickly added, “It’s a good thing, though. I like your accent.”

He smiled, his cobalt eyes lighting up. “I’m from Georgia, actually.”

Embry loved his voice and the way his eyes shined when he smiled. She wanted him to keep talking. “What brought you to New York?”

“Change of pace. An opportunity came up, and I took it. What about you?”

“Well, I’m from here originally. I went to school in Florida and spent the last few years there. My best friend Morgan”—she motioned upstairs—”convinced me to come back home for law school.”

He smiled and touched her hand. “Well, I’m glad she did.”

Embry blushed, not knowing what to say.

“So where in Florida did you go to school?”

“UF,” she said.

Luke’s face dropped. “Really?”

“Yes,” she answered, thrown by his reaction.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

She let out a small laugh. “Am I sure that I went to the University of Florida? Yes, I’m pretty sure.”

Luke nodded, his expression unreadable. “Do you like football?”

“I bleed orange and blue,” Embry answered, smiling.

“That’s too bad,” he said, a playful glint in his eye. He took a sip of his drink and stood as if to leave.

“I—what?”

“I bleed red and black,” he deadpanned.

“Oh my God!” Embry’s eyes widened as the pieces fell into place.

“University of Georgia undergrad,” Luke said. “Go Dawgs!”

Embry’s face fell into her palm, and she shook her head. She peeked up at him through her fingers. “Well, it was nice while it lasted.”

Luke chuckled. “It was, wasn’t it?”

She nodded.

“Maybe we can work something out, because I don’t think I’m ready to give up on you just yet.” He winked, and her insides clenched.

She didn’t know what to say, so she just smiled and took him in. She couldn’t believe she was talking to a gorgeous man who, a few days ago, was just some stranger in a hallway.

“Like what you see, Bree?” His voice was husky, his eyes hooded.

Hypnotized by his gaze, she didn’t even think twice as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded.

Luke flicked his eyes to her mouth, licked his lips, and slowly leaned toward her. Embry’s breath caught, and she held still, waiting to see what he would do.

He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered.

Embry let out a breath and melted into his touch. It felt so natural. He brushed his thumb gently across her cheekbone and smiled.

“Hi, guys!” Morgan said from behind them, interrupting their moment.

Luke dropped his hand and gave Embry a shy smile before pulling away.

“Hi, Morgan,” Embry huffed, staring daggers at her best friend.