The Exposure by Tara Sue Me Page B

her up. Inside, she’d been secretly thrilled, even though she scowled at him and said, “Fine.”
    Her heart raced as she made her way to the door and she waved her hands so she wouldn’t get sweat on the gown. It was absurd she was nervous. She was a grown-ass woman. Attending a dinner party with a man shouldn’t fill her stomach with butterflies. But maybe, if it were any other man, there wouldn’t be any butterflies.
    She took a deep breath and opened the door.
    Luke’s eyes grew wide, first with shock and then with something else. He didn’t say anything as his eyes traveled over her body. She lifted her head just a bit, letting him look his share.
    â€œMy God, Meagan,” he finally said. “You are magnificent.”
    He liked it. From the looks of it, he more than liked it. “Thank you. Someone told me I looked good in this color.”
    â€œSomeone has a good eye.”
    She looked him up and down, not sure she’d ever seen him in a suit and tie. He looked sexy as hell and then some. “Someone has a good everything.”
    He made a noise that sounded like something between a moan and a growl. He took a step closer to her, but didn’t touch her. “We’d better be on our way before I’m tempted to rip that gown off you and show you just how good my everything is.”
    Promise?
danced on her lips, but she bit it back. “Let me grab my purse.”
    As she turned to get her things, he gave a low moan she couldn’t help but smile at.
    Oh yes, the back of the gown was almost nonexistent.
    *   *   *
    G uy had rented out the entire restaurant for the evening and even though she and Luke were a few minutes early, when they stepped inside, she was surprised by the number of people present. Everyone had their nose in the air, as if silently judging the people around them. The decor was contemporary and uninspired. From what she could tell, the dinner appeared as if it was going to be just as stuffy and boring as she had feared. At least she had Luke to liven up her evening.
    He took her coat and gave it to the hostess to check; then he placed his hand low on her back, right where skin met the fabric. The warmth of his touch felt good and her body relaxed. Yes, inviting him had been the best decision she’d made in the last few months.
    â€œDo you know all these people?” he asked in a whisper.
    â€œOnly about fifteen percent.”
    Across the room, Guy saw her and waved. She put on her fake smile and waved back, groaning softly when he spoke briefly to the people he was standing by and headed her way.
    â€œWhat?” Luke asked, but there wasn’t time to tell him anything because within seconds Guy stood in front of them.
    â€œMeagan.” Guy gave her cheek an air kiss and looked her over. “Wow, you look great. And who is this?” he added with a nod toward Luke.
    â€œI’m Luke DeVaan, an old friend of Meagan’s,” he replied before she could get anything out.
    Luke stood about two inches taller than Guy’s six feet, butGuy still looked her date up and down in appraisal. “Old friend? I’m one of Meagan’s old friends and I don’t remember her ever mentioning you.”
    â€œIsn’t that funny?” Luke asked by way of an answer. “I don’t remember her ever mentioning you before, either.”
    The two men kept on staring at each other as if silently trying to determine who’d known her the longest. Meagan rolled her eyes. Men. Honestly.
    â€œLuke, Guy and I met in college,” she said. Guy’s smile got bigger seconds before she took him down a notch. “Guy, Luke and I met shortly after I graduated from high school.”
    It was Luke’s turn to smile big and Meagan decided maybe the dinner wasn’t going to be so boring after all. She turned to Guy. “I never mentioned Luke to you because we only dated for a short while. In