Distraction.Roommate.
There it is.I’m a distraction from whatever is going on in his life.But I can’t look a gift horse in the mouth.I need this.So, I guess we’re both kind of using each other then.I don’t know what kind of mess I’m getting myself into, but I’m willing to go with the flow if that means I can stay.
ChapterSeventeen
JEMMA
“So, are we just going to stand outside all day?”I laugh, rocking back on my heels.
I expect Luca to use the eye-catching door knocker, but he opts for the keypad to the right of us.As he taps a couple of buttons on the pad, I step back and gaze up at the Juliet balconies jutting out from the upper floors.
“It’s so charming,” I whisper into my scarf as a breeze drifts past me.
The lock emits a soft click, and Luca yanks the large door open.I follow him into a courtyard where the winter sun fights through the tall buildings, begging to shine across the cobblestone path—yes,more cobblestones.
Multiple pathways crisscross through the small space, leading to different doors, but we take the path straight ahead.
With a quick knock, Luca steps back, and the door swings open to reveal a tall, fit man with dark hair like Luca’s, except with a soft sprinkling of gray.“Coucou, mon frère!”the man exclaims, yanking Luca into a tight hug.
“Salut, Henri!”Luca replies cheerfully, leaning in.
When they finally pull back, Henri smiles strangely at me, eyeing me up and down.
“Bonjour,” I shyly offer, tugging on the loose ends of my braid.
“Eh, oui.C’est mon amie, Jemma,” Luca introduces me in French.
Does his brother not speak English?This should be interesting.
“Elle est jolie,” Henri says with a cheeky grin, elbowing Luca playfully.
My cheeks heat up—did he just call me pretty?
I sneak a glance at Luca, who’s grinning wildly.
“Oui,” Luca admits.“Je suis d’accord.”
I hold back the smile that’s threatening to take over my entire face.
Luca thinks I’m pretty!Luca thinks I’m pretty!
Henri waves us inside, and as we slide past him, I tilt my head back, leaning into Luca to whisper, “Tu sais, que je parle un peu français, non?”You know I speak a bit of French, right?
Cocking his head to the side, he replies, “I know.”His lip curls into a sultry grin, letting his eyes linger on mine longer than necessary, stirring a craving in me that makes me burst from the inside out.
Is it bad that I want to rip his clothes off right here and now?
Calm down, Jemma.
At first glance, Henri’s place is smaller and much darker than Luca’s flat.I suppose it’s the ground floor letting in less light.It’s nice, but I prefer Luca’s place.
“So, you’re the one that got scammed, huh?”Henri asks, coming out of left field, speaking perfect English, pulling me back to the reality that set this whole thing into motion.
I feign a pout.“Yes.But thanks to my knight in shining armor, I didn’t have to sleep on the street!”I giggle, playfully leaning into Luca, letting my arm fall to his bicep.
A funny grin crosses Henri’s face, but before I can ask him what’s up, two young bundles of energy burst out from one of the backrooms.
“Jemma, these are my sons, Elias and Mylan,” Henri offers.
