“Either way is fine by me.”

“What are you whispering about? I heard my name.”

“I was insulting you,” Morgan said to Stevie. “Obviously.”

She managed to get through the evening without hauling Emilia to the pub bathroom. When Lillian yawned for the fifth time, however, she remembered she had promised to get them home at a reasonable hour.

“It was great to meet you,” she said to Anna Maria as she pressed against Emilia’s slick jeans. “But we should probably head out.”

Emilia’s expression was glazed as Morgan withdrew her hand.

“It was so nice meeting you.” Anna Maria rose and hugged them all, pausing as she embraced Morgan. “Take care of my sister,” she said in her ear.

Morgan nodded, aware that Emilia was watching, and certain that she would object to the idea that she needed looking after.

“We should probably head out, too,” said Emilia. “Nell’s put up with enough.” The dog raised her head from her spot beneath Emilia’s chair.

“My dog would have chewed her way out of the door by now,” said Anna Maria. “But you’re perfect, aren’t you, Nell?”

The sweeping tail and flattened ears of the happy greyhound brought an adoring smile to Emilia’s face. Morgan’s heart constricted.

They walked out together after saying farewell to Stormy, who gave Morgan a suggestive wink. Friends are overrated, she thought, blushing again and hoping the darkness outside would hide it. She waved good-bye to Emilia and bit back a groan of frustration as the other woman walked away. She had opened her mouth to call her back, damning the rest of them, when Lillian took her arm and pulled her to the car with a look of mingled amusement and pity.

•   •   •

The short car ride back to the house took a geological era. Anna Maria kept glancing over at Emilia in silence with a speculative gleam in her eyes.

“What?” she asked finally.

“Nothing.”

“Then stop looking at me like that.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You just did it again.”

Anna Maria pulled into the driveway and parked before turning in her seat to face her. “You didn’t tell me you went on a date with Dr. Fuck Me.”

“I hadn’t gotten around to it.”

Anna Maria patted Emilia’s cheek with a tenderness that made her want to weep. “She’s not Hannah.”

“No,” said Emilia. “She’s not.”

“She’s also even hotter in person. Makes me wish I was a horse.”

“That’s revolting.”

“Like you haven’t thought it.”

She opened the car door and escaped before Anna Maria could see her face. The memory of Morgan’s hand inside her shuddered through her, spurred on by Morgan’s teasing at the pub.

“Emmy,” said her sister, following. She hurried to catch up with Emilia, who stood watching Nell race around the yard. “Are you seeing her?”

“You seem to want me to.”