I slowly shook my head as a stab of guilt wracked my resolve. Luca had been nothing but gentlemanly toward me at each of our encounters—a roguish gentleman, but a gentleman, nonetheless. I’d taken a couple of one-sided phone conversations and let my imagination run away from me. Although, I did note he hadn’t explained what I’d overheard.
Luca’s gaze dropped to the framed photo beside me. It was a picture of my sisters and me with our parents on our last family vacation in the Bahamas, all sunburned and smiling—it was one of my all-time favorite shots of us. He picked up the frame to look more closely at the photo.
“You’re different than I expected—none of this was supposed to happen.” He spoke almost under his breath as if the words weren’t meant for my ears.
“What’s not supposed to happen?” Had he meant for us to be a one-and-done when he first asked me out? It wouldn’thave surprised me if he wasn’t used to relationships. Men like Luca weren’t picket fence type of guys.
“I’m not supposed to want you,” he said as his eyes returned to mine.
“Sometimes, it doesn’t matter what we want or need. Sometimes, life just is. I can feel in my gut you’re not good for me, but that doesn’t seem to change anything,” I admitted softly.
He set down the frame and turned back to me. “You’re not the only one who knows this is wrong.”
“Why would it be a bad thing for you to want me?”
His jaw flexed, and his hand caressed down the length of my arm. “Because you complicate things immeasurably.”
Ouch. I pursed my lips and glanced out my living room window, suddenly wishing I could walk away from the conversation. The telltale prick of tears stung at the back of my throat.Thiswas exactly why I’d tried to walk away from him—Luca was heartache waiting to happen. Anger swelled inside me that in a matter of minutes, I’d let him slink his way back under my skin.
Luca turned my face toward his and swiped at a threatening tear. “Complicated isn’t always bad. In fact, lately, complicated has looked very, very good.” Then he kissed me, softly, sweetly, his lips moving achingly slow against mine.
Instinctively, my hands lifted to his jacket to pull him closer. His lips curved in a smile before he deepened the kiss, his assault making my lips feel swollen and tender. I liked the gentle kisses, but I also liked the frenzy—as if his need for me was insatiable, a yawning cavern that couldn’t be filled. He stole the air from my lungs and swept me away on a river of desire.
We only came apart when a knock sounded at my door. I pulled in shaky breaths, trying to ground myself back in my body.
“You expecting someone else?” he asked in a rasp, his eyes narrowing just a fraction. Was he jealous? The thought did funny things to my insides.
“It’s like Grand Central Station up here,” I muttered as I slid off the counter. “It has to be Giada, my cousin—she’s the only person who shows up unannounced.” Until you.
As I moved toward the door, Luca placed his arm out and stepped in front of me to look through the peephole. Who did he think he’d find?
When he stepped back, I glared at him. “Satisfied?” I asked smugly.
His responding glare promised retribution for my smart mouth. He never had to say a word. It was there in the glint of his eyes and the gentle pursing of his lips. His brand of retribution wouldn’t be painful—it would be torturous, and I would love every second. Just the suggestion aroused a heat inside me that made me want to jump him and forget about Giada.
I sighed as the knocking came again.
Everyone was so damn persistent.
Opening the door, I smiled at my cousin who grinned in return until her eyes landed on Luca.
“Oh,” she gasped. “Am I interrupting?” Her eyes met mine with a silent apology.
“Actually, I was just leaving,” offered Luca. He came over and planted a sensual kiss on my lips, nodded to Giada, then disappeared down the hall.
“Sweet baby Jesus, who the fuck was that? And where do I get some?”
I busted out laughing and closed the door to my apartment. “That is every flavor of trouble—I’m in way over my head.”
“Tell meeverything,” said Giada as she plopped down on my couch.
I followed suit, sitting next to her with my legs pulled up to my chest. “We’ve only been out twice. It’s not a big deal.”
“Honey, everything about that man is a big deal.”
She made me laugh, as usual. “He’s crazy intense, and for all I know, he may be legit crazy, period. But I can’t seem to walk away.”
Giada’s eyes narrowed, and her smile faltered. “You don’t think he’s dangerous, do you?”
