Mrs R (Mrs R & Mr V #1) by Jessie Courts Page B

was too lonely.

 
    Switching to far more pressing
matters, Rachel coaxed the others into choosing her a cocktail and the 4 of
them poured over the menu trying to decide what would suit.

 
    “Definitely a Martini.” Luc
insisted. Rachel cocked her head at him and he gestured at the menu. Under the
heading of Martini, Rachel read the description.

 
    “ The most classic of cocktails, its origins are
shrouded in mystery, which only adds to its allure. The simplest of ingredients
and yet the most complex of flavours.”

 
    Meeting his eyes over the heads of her girls
still studying the menu, she frowned at him questioningly.

 
    “You.” He mouthed rolling his bottom lip
between his teeth; his blue eyes sparkling at her. Rachel’s heart felt like it
was going to thump right through her chest – he was so sexy he made her
swoon; literally. Luc’s easy confidence in his own appeal only made her want
him more invoking a heavy sweet hum in her pussy that refused to go away.

 
    Squeezing her thighs together to try and ease
the throb, she licked her own lips and replied. “Martini it is then!”

 
    After Rachel, Luc, Jess and Lucy
had each enjoyed a couple of cocktails, they weaved their way through the
lounge to the Riverside Restaurant. Ever the gentleman, Luc guided the ladies
to their seats strategically placing himself opposite Rachel. Jess sat by his
side and Lucy next to her Mum. There was a small quartet playing in the
background and the atmosphere was relaxed elegance. Rachel was enchanted with
the whole experience so far feeling truly light hearted. Of course the mix of
alcohol running through her system helped elevate her happy levels and she was
enjoying the time without the gloominess that had shrouded her for the previous
few months.

 
    “Dad would have loved it here”
mused Jess thoughtfully.

 
    “Mmm” agreed Lucy, “he would have
used his posh voice and pretended he knew what everything on the menu meant and
then ended up with disgusting food!”

 
    They all laughed at the truth of
this and Rachel lost herself in a memory of a few years ago when they dined at
Claridges for their anniversary. Gordon Ramsay was cooking there at the time
and Nate was keen to try his food but because he wouldn’t admit he couldn’t
understand the culinary terms ended up with a spicy vegetarian dish he couldn’t
eat. Rachel spent the whole meal laughing at him grimacing every time he
swallowed a mouthful of food until he finally gave up. They had to stop for a
Big Mac on the way home.

 
    Luc wondered what had caused the
wistful look on Rachel’s face. She was smiling warmly to herself obviously
distracted by something that had reminded her of happier times and her
melancholy hit him hard. His instinct was to wrap her in his arms hugging her
sadness away, but of course his friends may think that a little ott considering
the circumstances. So instead he nudged her knee with his hidden under the
table and it seemed to bring her back to the present.

 
    “What shall I order guys?” he
asked generally. “I want something tasty, delicious and filling hmmm.”

 
    “Ha!” Jess mocked, “Sounds like
Mum could do with some of that!”

 
    Appalled at the unintentional
innuendo, Rachel snorted at the same time as swallowing a mouthful of fizzy
water. The bubbles went up her nose causing her eyes to water and she started
choking as the liquid got stuck going down.

 
    “Mummy!” cried Lucy next to her
mopping Rachel’s chin with her napkin. “Jess, for god’s sake what’s wrong with
you? That’s just rude to talk about Mum like that…” and she threw a bread roll
that bounced off Jess’s head and landed at the feet of the waiter who had just
turned up to take their order.

 
    “Oh bog off Lucy – you can’t
have forgotten how many times Mum and Dad ‘disappeared’ on us for hours at a
time.”

 
    “Girls,” interrupted Rachel aware
a few heads had turned at the raised