“Don’t worry,Maggie. The men will be back in twenty minutes—thirty tops,” Fran says. “We’re only ten minutes from Stella’s, and it’ll only take them five minutes to help Roman with that crib and dresser.”
“I’m not worried,” I say. Why would I be worried? Do I look worried? My pulse thrums, calling me the liar that I am.
“Frankly, I’m glad they’re gone. I need more information. Lucca’s been tight-lipped lately.” Rosalie leans close—though I have no idea what she means.
“Ooo.” Stella sits up straighter on the couch. “Me, too. How are things going with you two?”
“Uh—” I force out a laugh. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“So, you weren’t kissing in the kitchen half an hour ago?”Rosalie’s brow furrows like the words “I KISSED LUCCA” are stamped on my forehead.
Crap.
“I—” I cough. “We’re friends.” Friends who occasionally kiss in the kitchen. “We aren’t dating. That would be against every ethical rule in the book.”
“No one here believes that Lucca cares about the rules.” Stella looks at me expectantly.
I swallow. “Well, he may not. But I do.”
“Huh.” Fran’s forehead wrinkles. “I really thought you were into him.”
Oh, I amverymuch into him.
“It’s against all the rules.” I clear my throat. “No dating allowed.”
But it seems as if the three of them read right through my denial.
“Rules don’t dictate feelings, though,” Rosalie says.
“So, youdolike him?” Stella peers at me, even though I’m not the one who talked about rules dictating feelings. That was Rose.
“I—” I deflate. “Yes. I like Lucca. But I’m not supposed to and… it’sLucca.”
Rosalie shrugs one shoulder. “She’s got a point there. Playboy Lucca isn’t exactly one to risk your career on.”
Oof. That’s what I’ve been telling myself, but man, it sounds harsh coming from his friend.
“She doesnothave a point,” Fran says. “This is completely different.”
“I agree,” Stella says. “Lucca is different with Maggie. Besides, I am certain all the playboy stuff was a cover for something. Lucca’s a good man.”
I’m not sure if she says it because she believes it or to convince me. Maybe both.
“Yeah.” Fran sips from her drink. “Remember last year, he brought that girl to the Christmas party?”
“Candy?” Stella says.
“I thought it was Mandy.” Rosalie looks at Fran to confirm.
“Either way,” Fran says. “He made this big deal about bringing her, and then we never saw her again. We never heard from her again. He’s like the connoisseur of first dates. He never goes back for more.”
“And yet—” Stella grins.
“We’ve seen a whole lot of Maggie.” A smile forms on Rosalie’s once cynical face. “He can’t seem to get enough.”
I scoff out a laugh. “That’s because we’re?—”
“Friends?” Fran says.
