She went over the exam in her head again, wondering if she should have taken more time. She had double and triple-checked her answers. It was out of her hands. She had handed in her final memo already, and once she walked out of the test room, she was officially finished her first semester of law school. Apprehension crept up her spine as she worried about her grades. She had already heard whispers of some students not completing all of their exams because they were so sure they had failed. She hadn’t had any major breakdowns, but waiting until after New Year’s for her grades would be agonizing.

Embry chewed the end of her pen. She figured that would keep her from tapping it against the desk or throwing it at the head of the proctor who wouldn’t let her leave. Anxious wasn’t even the right word to describe her feelings. She was impatient, eager, downright twitchy. Not only was she itching to get out of the classroom and celebrate a few weeks of freedom, but she also hadn’t spent any alone time with Luke since they’d creatively worked out their differences on his desk. That had been over a week ago, and their plans for the evening were sure to test their self-control.

Some law school deans held events at their homes during orientation and invited professors and first-year students to come for wine and hors d’oeuvres. At Whitman, the dean went all out with a holiday cocktail formal to celebrate the end of the first semester. It was at some swanky Gold Coast mansion, and everyone dressed to the nines.

She couldn’t wait to dress up and have some fun, but keeping her eyes and hands off of Luke would be a problem. She had no doubt he’d look killer in a suit, and knowing that they’d have to be on their best behavior made it even more tempting to misbehave.

The proctor announced the end of the exam, and Embry practically jumped out of her chair. She burst into the hallway and found Morgan waiting for her.

“Well?” her best friend asked. “How’d it go?”

“Good, I think.” She hooked her arm through Morgan’s and walked down the hallway. “Yours?”

“Eh, it was okay. I did enough to pass, so I’m happy. The second half of the test, all I could think about was how glorious that open bar will be tonight!”

Embry hugged Morgan around the neck and bounced up and down. “Oh my God! I cannot wait. You’re going to have to do a bit of Bree-sitting though.”

“No way. My Bree-sitting days are over. I plan on taking at least two bottles of wine to the face and forgetting my own name. Why do you think we got the limo?”

“I’ll be chugging vino right along with you,” Embry assured her. “I just meant that you have to keep me away from Luke.”

“Seriously?” Morgan said, rolling her eyes.

“I haven’t been alone with him in a week.” She gripped Morgan’s arm, her eyes trying to convey the seriousness of the situation. “Me plus Luke Brody in a tailored suit plus alcohol equals trouble.”

Morgan stared at Embry, apparently mulling it over for a minute before responding. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes, okay. Because me plus Luke Brody in a tailored suit plus alcohol would also equal trouble.”

“Morgan!” Embry said, bumping her hip against Morgan’s.

“What?”

“You know what.”

“I’m sorry. You’ve got me all distracted thinking about Luke Brody in a tailored suit.” A devious grin spread across her face.

“What about Brett?” Embry asked.

“Brett who?”

The girls laughed as they walked out of the law school for the last time that semester.

* * *

Embry stepped out of the limousine, and Morgan followed. They stood side-by-side staring at the English Tudor-style mansion.

“Shall we?” Embry asked, linking her arm with Morgan’s.

“We shall,” Morgan agreed.

They made their way along the cobblestone path to the entrance. The manor held all of the opulence and grandeur of the 1920s. They walked through the main doors, and Embry lost her breath. A large, sparkling chandelier illuminated the foyer and the grand staircase. She felt as if she had traveled back in time or stepped right into The Great Gatsby. At least she would have been dressed for it.

Morgan must have been familiar with the venue because she had picked out the perfect outfit for Embry. Her long blond hair was curled to perfection and gathered so that it hung over her left shoulder. Her makeup was soft and feminine, highlighting her emerald-green eyes. She wore a beige mini-dress with an open back, cap sleeves, and a silver lace overlay that shimmered with her every move. The final touch was a long strand of pearls that Morgan had wrapped around her neck in a way that had them falling down Embry’s bare back. She had never felt so beautiful.

Morgan stunned in a blush, sequin-covered gown with a plunging neckline. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a ballerina bun, showing off the long line of her neck. The girls were dressed to impress and ready to party. They followed the staircase to the second floor where it opened into a large ballroom. Morgan had insisted on being fashionably late, so the party was already underway.

They walked arm-in-arm into the room, Morgan pulling Embry and gushing over the ornate antique fixtures. Jazzy Christmas music played through the speakers as gloved butlers passed around champagne and canapés.

“Don’t mind if we do,” Morgan said, plucking two flutes of champagne from a tray and handing one to Embry.

Embry took a sip, the bubbles tickling her nose, and scanned the room. Morgan was still talking excitedly about the venue, but Embry couldn’t be bothered to listen. She was searching for Luke. She hadn’t set eyes on him in days, and she needed her fix. Finals had taken their toll. She was sleep-deprived and had lost five pounds from the stress, but it was missing Luke that had been unbearable. Between his proctoring schedule, his law practice, and her studying, they’d had no time to spend together. She missed his arms, his warmth, his touch. She may not be able to interact with him at the party, but she needed to see him.

“Are you even listening to me?” Morgan asked, taking a healthy sip of champagne.

“No,” Embry answered honestly. “Sorry.” She followed Morgan’s lead and sucked down some more champagne. “Let’s go find Jer and—”

She watched Morgan’s eyes shift and grow wide as a warm hand pressed against the bare skin of her back. She struggled to stand as her knees buckled and her body flooded with sensation. His touch didn’t last more than a second, but in that second, everything slowed down. His thumb dragged down her naked spine and tangled with the pearls. He gave a slight tug and drew her back into his body as his lips brushed her ear. She smelled his spicy-clean scent combined with whatever scotch he was drinking, and she had to fight the whimper rising up her throat.

“You look stunning tonight, Miss Jacobs,” he rasped as he dropped his hand and continued walking.

Her heart kicked into overdrive as she watched him walk away.

“Miss Jacobs,” a voice said to her left, forcing her gaze away from Luke.

Embry turned to see her contracts professor standing before her. “Professor Coleman! How are you feeling? You look fabulous.” Embry said, taking in her long, black gown.

“I’m well, thank you. Feeling much better and ready to get back to work next semester. Professor Brody has nothing but wonderful things to say about your help as a research assistant. I’ve seen the results, and I’m quite impressed myself.”

“Thank you. He’s been a good teacher.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Well, it was nice to see you. I look forward to working with you again next semester,” Professor Coleman said.

“Thank you, Professor. Happy holidays!”

“You too, Embry.”

Professor Coleman walked away, and Embry turned to Morgan, panic sweeping over her features. “Do you think she saw him? Us?”

Morgan grabbed Embry’s hand and pulled her toward the bar. “Calm down, and no. Even if she did, it was so quick I doubt anyone would have given it a second thought.”

“I’m pretty sure your professor doesn’t greet you like that,” Embry argued.

“I’m pretty sure my professor doesn’t look like yours.” Morgan wiggled her eyebrows. “Come on, stop worrying and have another drink.”

The girls found Jeremy and Tessa at the bar. He’d been pretty cold toward Embry since the review session, but they stayed and mingled for a few minutes before strolling out onto the dance floor.

“I don’t like that girl,” Morgan commented.

“So it’s not just me?”

“No. She gives me the creeps. There’s just something about her. It’s kind of like someone cloned you and left out the brain.”

“What? She’s nothing like me!”

Morgan raised her eyebrows. “Really? You can’t see it? That boy is hopelessly in love with you. He went and found a girl who looks just like you.”

“I don’t see it.” Embry shrugged.

“You wouldn’t. You don’t want to.”

“Morgan, stop. He’s my friend.”

“I know he is. I love Jeremy too. I’m just saying I don’t like her.”

“Well, we can agree on that,” Embry said.

At that moment, the music stopped, and the dean grabbed a microphone to address the faculty and students. The dance floor cleared, and Embry had her first real look at Luke. He stood directly across the dance floor, wearing a charcoal-gray suit with a thin black tie and crisp white shirt. The suit was perfectly tailored to his long muscled body, and his dark hair set off his cobalt eyes, which were fixed intently on Embry.

“Wow,” Morgan said, following Embry’s line of sight. “Your man cleans up well.”