He turned to glare at me. “I’m not going to like them, am I?”
“Probably not. But you only have to accept them while we’re working together. After that, you can do as you please.”
Luca took a deep breath and thought about my requirements. “Trust is difficult for me, Axel. Please don’t destroy my faith in you, and what you just did for Edith.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
When we arrived at my building, I got out and left the envelope on the seat. Leaning on the open window, I watched as he looked down at it. “I’ll text you later to coordinate tomorrow.”
Luca’s head went back to the headrest before he turned to the backseat. Reaching into the back, he held up the bag. “Hey, don’t forget your burgers.”
I smirked. “They were for you.” Turning my back, I strode into the lobby without a second look at Luca. I had arrangements to make, and for the first time in a long time, I had a purpose that made me happy.
Chapter 9
Luca
As I watched Axel disappear, the vibration of my idling car felt almost prophetic. Every time we were within a few feet of one another, I felt an electrical undercurrent running between us. Something about him gave me the courage to trust. He shook me from my well-padded comfort zone. Usually, I stayed away from people who threw their money around, and he did that without question.
Taking him to the Silver Stream was supposed to make him finally back off and prove to him I wasn’t worth his time. But that plan backfired. Rather than sending him running, the place and Edith had charmed him while pulling him closer. To my horror, he had lulled me into opening up about my life. Instead of the awkwardness I expected, dinner had been enlightening and fun. If anything, it was nice to have company for a change.
Pulling out onto the street, I intended to go home, but ended up back at the diner. When I pulled in and parked by the door, Edith looked up and waved. Only a few customers remained when I slipped into the same booth we’d vacated a short time ago. “I thought you might come back.”
I ran my hands over my head. “Yeah. In case you were wondering, the tip was legit. You don’t have to worry about it not going through. He’s a Nighthawk.”
She waved her hand. “Oh, honey. I already did the Google with the picture thing you showed me. It’s a lifesaver.”
I chuckled. “I should have known. There’s no pulling the wool over your eyes.”
“Damn right. I’m a smart cookie. Besides, I wasn’t gonna let my Luca dine with just anyone. Did you know his family is high to do?”
Curling my lips, I tilted my head. “Yes, I know. But I don’t think he has anything to do with them. He only mentioned his brother, and I had to pull that out of him. He’s definitely his own man.” I paused, then tapped the table. “I just can’t figure out what he wants with me. I’m nothing special.”
Edith sat down in the booth and placed her hands over mine, settling me down. She was the closest thing I had to a mother. “How long have you known him?”
“About a week.” Regaling her with the brief history, the more I talked, the more she smirked. “What? What am I missing?”
“He sees the Luca we see. The one with the big heart. Did you ever consider that maybe he needs that in his life? It must be hard to find real friends. Maybe he needsmore.”
I chuckled as my face heated. “Yeah, no. That last one isnotgonna be me.”
She shrugged, but the smirk remained. “Okay, whatever you say.” She put her hand over her heart. “But I can read people, and he reminds me of my Stan. Quiet but strong. A man of few words, but present, hanging onto every syllable. When we fell in love, he was almost hard to take. But that was just his way to show he cared.” She smiled wistfully. “I miss him every day.”
I squeezed her hand. “I know you do. I didn’t mean to bring you down.”
“You didn’t, sweets. You never will. What does your head tell you?”
I blew out a breath. “I don’t know yet. But I don’t think he’s dangerous.” At least not physically. “I’d better go. I need to work some before bed.”
“Okay.” She squeezed back. “It’s time for you to allow yourself some friends in your life, Luca. Something tells me he might need you as much as you need him.”
“I don’t know. I need to think about it.” Slipping from the booth, I kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you soon. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Okay, sweets. Don’t be afraid to open this up,” she said, patting my chest over my heart. “Have a good week.” I walked out the door, mind now clear, and ready to work.
When I got home, I put the burgers in the fridge, then took a quick shower. Crawling onto my bed, I took out my laptop and connected it to my hotspot to check my email. I had a message from my advisor asking me to stop by to check in on my progress. Just as I was about to reply with my new availability, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from Axel. Swiping the screen, I answered. “Hello, boss. Firing me already?”
He snorted. “Not a chance, Vaughn.”
