Free Under His Spell (The Miami Tycoon) by Kate Lambert Page B

like Ryan does, but he’s a sweet guy and he really does love Ash. He doesn’t deserve to be cheated on.”
    “Well, as much as Jill isn’t my most favorite coworker in the whole world, she doesn’t deserve it either,” Erica said. “Especially since it seems like that’s what she’s most afraid of.” Jess nodded. Erica went on. “It seems like all their fights are over Ryan supposedly checking out other girls. I also just don’t want Jill to have the satisfaction of being right about him.”
    “No kidding,” said Jessica. “Look, I know that everyone involved here is an adult, it’s really none of my business, but it’s just so...” She wrinkled her nose. “...distasteful,” she finished. “Not to mention the effect this is going to have on office relations. I do not want to be sharing an office with a love triangle.”
    “Me neither. Especially a triangle that has as sharp an edge as Jill. Somebody is going to get hurt. Bad,” Erica said.
    “So what do we do? Sit around and watch it all go to shit? Who knows how far it’s gone already, up there. Two is the sluttiest floor. It’s all that bass. Goes to people’s heads.”
    Erica laughed. “Oh, I don’t know, Jess. Ryan ain’t much of a dancer. Is that one of Ashley’s turn-offs?” Jess grinned. “She’s even worse. If nothing else, I have to stop them to spare everyone else the sight of the two of them dancing together.” Jess seemed to be deciding something in her mind. “Okay, here’s the plan. If we both go up there, it’ll be too obvious. We’ll take turns third-wheeling it. I’ll go first, say I wanted to hear the music too.” With that, Jessica got up to leave. “Got it. Break,” Erica said.
    Just as Jess left, Emily and Manny wandered in to the bar. Erica waved them over. “Hey guys. How’s date night?”
    “Awesome,” said Emily, who was wearing a simple white sundress and long gold earrings that caught even the little light there was on the patio. “How’s office party part two?”
    “Interesting,” said Erica. “Boss had to leave, and all signs point to drunken mistakes being made.”
    “Well, this would be the place to make them, if one was so inclined. Man, this place is nice,” Manny said, looking approvingly at his surroundings. “Feel like I’m at the Playboy mansion,” he said as his eyes slid over the pool and grotto.
    Suddenly, Erica remembered her tablemate. “Oh, shit, I’m so rude. Manny, this is Anthony. Anthony, this is Manny, Emily’s husband.”
    Anthony stood and extended a hand. “So you’re the lucky guy,” he said as Manny took it. “Emily was turning heads last week.”
    Manny raised an eyebrow. “She is a stunner,” he said. “Nice to meet you.” He didn’t quite look like he meant it. Anthony almost looked embarrassed for a second, then turned to Erica and cleared his throat.
    Emily, who had been looking amused throughout the exchange, took Manny’s hand and looked up at him coquettishly. “Wanna go swimming?” she asked.
    Manny grinned. “Not yet, loca. First we gotta work up a sweat. See you in a bit, Erica.” The couple made tracks to the center of the dance floor.
    Erica felt a familiar tightening in her chest. Emily and Manny were her closest friends, and she didn’t feel jealousy, exactly, but she did feel a certain regret sometimes when she looked at them. They were so happy and so well-suited to each other. Erica felt like she might never find someone who loved her like Manny loved Emily. As always, she pushed the feeling away and told herself that she should be happy, because she at least got to know what true love looked like.
    She turned to Anthony. “So, got a crush on Emily now, huh? I should warn you, Manny’s got a mean left hook.”
    “Eesh, I didn’t mean to piss him off, I thought I was complimenting his choice!”
    “Not too popular with other men, are you, Anthony?” Erica said.
    “Well it doesn’t matter, cause I’m so good with the