Lucky This Isn't Real: MacBride Brothers Series St. Patrick's Day Fake Fiance Romance by Jamie Knight (digital e reader .TXT) 📕

Thank goodness for the lyrics on the screen, or I never would have gotten through it. As it was, I gave a performance that roused a genuine standing ovation from the hushed crowd that had kept chatting through almost every other song.

A few other people went up before our big finish, so I went to the table with the others. I managed to hold it together right up until I felt the chair’s solid seat under me, then it all came out, and I cried like a drunken, lovesick idiot.

Without a word, Maggie got a napkin and tried to salvage my mascara while simultaneously comforting me. She had likely guessed at what had happened and was doing her best at damage control.

“That was amazing,” Ciara said, her plan, if there had been one, apparently working out better than she had hoped.

“I didn’t know you could do that,” Amy said. “Sing, I mean.”

“I don’t. I mean, not often, and not for years. I— I’m not really sure where that came from.”

“I have some ideas,” Maggie said, just loud enough for me to hear, giving me a gentle squeeze.

“You karaoke drunk yet?” Amy asked Nicole.

“Almost.”

“Double gin and tonic,” Amy called to a passing server. “And after I drink that, I’ll be ready.”

Full of Dutch courage and with nowhere to flee, we took the stage, leaning on each other for support as those famous piano notes started up. With the four of us up there in our green dresses in various shades, Maggie looked like the odd one by comparison.

It was only when Ciara started dancing around that I realized how silly we must all look, though. Despite our far-from-sober state, we made the best of it, inadvertently starting a sing-along, the entire pub, from customers to staff, going with us, particularly on the chorus, which added a real pep to the ‘tell me why!’ part of the lyrics.

Gavin showed up around midnight, kissing Maggie as she got into the front seat of his Prius. Through some miracle of physics, Amy, Nicole, Ciara and I managed to squeeze in the back. Sure, Amy was kind of sitting on my lap, but we made it work.

I was the last one to be dropped off before Gavin and Maggie headed home. She had moved in with him a while ago, spurring me to move to a more affordable place, which wasn’t as bad as I’d feared.

The new place was actually pretty nice and close to the office, which was a definite plus. I was hardly there anyway, using it mostly for cooking, showering, and sleeping.

I fell against the door frame, the alcohol taking its ugly toll. Pushing myself back into a vaguely upright position, I kicked my shoes off. High heels were definitely more of a hindrance at that moment. I made it into the bedroom, managing to slither out of the maid of honor dress before crashing onto the bed.

My panties were next, eased down my legs in three different tries, my coordination not what it usually was. Lolling onto my back, I let my legs fall open, liking how the nice, fresh air felt on my skin that had been undercover all day.

I really did prefer being naked or at least wearing as little as possible. I liked the feeling of not wearing a bra and would go without panties if I thought I could get away with it.

Sometimes I would fantasize about wearing a loose, flowing, cotton dress with nothing under it. I promised myself I would try it this coming summer, pretty sure I would love it if I could get past the initial fear and embarrassment.

I thought about Sean seeing me that way. His eyes gliding over my body, silhouetted by the sun shining through the white cotton. The more I thought about it, the more excited I got, nearly reaching the levels I was when he took my arm at the rehearsal.

My hand moved down between my legs and lightly grazed my tender folds, even that gentle touch bringing a gasp from deep inside. I wasn’t a virgin, not quite, though I wasn’t super experienced either and still fairly young at only twenty-four. My pussy was still as tender and pink as when I first had had sex. I’d lost my virginity at twenty and hadn’t seen much action since.

The experience of my first time left me just a bit shocked. It wasn’t until the second time, a couple years later, that I understood what sex could really be, but by then, I was headlong into building a career and didn’t really have time for love. That was, in no small part, why I was so surprised by the impact that Sean had had on me.

I’d wanted him like I’d never wanted a man before. I ached to give myself to him entirely and do whatever he asked. I wanted to pleasure him in any way I could, trusting he would do the same for me.

It was nuts, but I suspected the feeling was mutual. Had I invited him back to my place, I knew he would have accepted, and we would have had lots of beautiful sex, free of nervousness or regrets. I chose my friends, as I should have done, but that didn’t quell the fire burning in me for Sean. One which had returned with a vengeance.

It became clear that just stroking my folds and brushing my fingers over my clit wasn’t going to do it. As good as it felt, it wasn’t going to make me climax. For that, I was going to have to use my fingers.

Taking a slow, deep breath, I eased two fingers inside my channel, wishing I’d invested in a good vibrator. It would have made things so much easier.

As soon as my wetted fingers entered my pussy, lightly grazing my clit as they pushed