Free Set Me Free by Jennifer Collin

seat.
    ‘Oh yeah,’
Charlotte agreed, claiming her Pimm’s and lemonade. The ice had melted, but it
was still refreshing. She took a long thirst quenching drink. ‘I’m a bit out of
shape though,’ she added, rubbing the faint stitch on her side and making a
mental note of the perspiration finely coating her skin.
    ‘That’d be all
that Italian food you guzzled while you were away.’
    ‘Possibly. I did
have a bit of a carb overload.’
    Changing the
subject she asked after Geoff. She wanted to get back on the dance floor soon, but
Emily was obviously having trouble holding the fray back from the seats, and
Geoff’s appearance would make her night easier.
    ‘He texted me ten
minutes ago to say he’d be five, so not far I guess,’ Emily answered.
    ‘I haven’t even
seen him since I got back. He is working too hard.'
    ‘Tell me about it.'
Emily pouted faintly, slouching over her vodka and cranberry, lazily scanning
the room.
    Suddenly, shooting
upright, she exclaimed, ‘Oh no, don’t look now!' No sooner had she said it,
than she was withdrawing, shrinking into the back corner of the booth and
feebly attempting to shield her face with her hand.
    Without a second
thought, Charlotte spun around in her seat, following Emily’s furtive gaze.
    ‘Shit,’ she said,
and stared.                                 
    The source of the
unforgettable, electrifying sex was at the bar with Cassette. Good God, he was
gorgeous. Charlotte was rocked by a wave of heat and a flood of memories best
forgotten.
    At the community
forum last night, she’d had the luxury of being blinded by her fury, which
helped her believe he was nothing more than a slime ball. But tonight she was
loosening up and feeling charitable with it. Tonight, the rage had abated and,
in a more appreciative mood, she was transfixed by the man he was.
    Craig Carmichael
was tall enough that he was a head above most of the other people at the
crowded bar, and his sculpted cheekbones and delicious lips transfixed her like
a fireworks display. His clothes hung on him like decorations on a Christmas
tree; simple cargo pants and another button-up checked shirt – a little bit of
tinsel over something remarkably beautiful.  
    Charlotte gulped,
and then managed to tear her eyes away and slink back to join Emily against the
wall. She concentrated hard on the drink in her hand and tried not to remember
him without said clothes. Nor was this the time to recollect the feel of those
lips travelling over her. What the hell was he doing here?  What the hell was
he doing here with her ?  Damn, this was going to ruin her night.
    From across the
table and behind her hand, Emily started verbalising the questions running
through Charlotte’s mind. ‘How do they know each other?  What are they doing
here?' ‘How are we going to avoid them?' And finally she exhaled heavily, ‘I am
really not in the mood for her tonight.’
    ‘I am really not
in the mood for him . Bit audacious showing up here after last night. I
wonder if this is part of his community consultation,’ said Charlotte, casting a
scornful, but empty, sidelong glance in Craig’s direction.
    What was he
doing here with her?
    ‘Hey, she asked
Emily, ‘what’s Cassette’s surname?’
    ‘Umm, it starts
with an ‘M’ or something, I think. Her dad is that property…developer. Oh.’
    ‘Cassette Morgan,’
Charlotte said, watching her and Craig at the bar. Was Craig involved with his boss’s
daughter? 
    Oh God, did he
cheat on Cassette with her?  The thought made her feel sick. There was nothing
less classy than being a cheater’s one night stand.
    Charlotte sucked
on her rapidly emptying Pimm’s some more. The need to get back on the dance
floor was suddenly more urgent. As much as she'd love to hide here in the corner
all night, she had to get on that floor, which meant there was no way of
avoiding Craig and Cassette for the entirety of the evening.
    But for now,