I didn't have time to let anything sink in before Luca was pulling me away."That was the single weirdest thing I've ever done in my life," I said, following him down the moonlit path back to the truck."That man is not marrying us."Luca laughed.I turned to look behind us, seeing Norah wave. I returned her wave, Bates waving back to me as well."What are we doing?" I asked."We're going away for a few days," Luca said."Back to the cabin?"He shook his head, smiling."Where are we going then?" I asked.Luca turned to me."Am I not allowed to be spontaneous?" He asked.I leveled a hard stare."The last time you did something spontaneous at midnight, I ended up being scared half to death on the floor of my patio while a stranger pinned me to the ground," I said bluntly.Luca rolled his eyes."I'm never living that down, am I?""Not anytime soon," I assured him, causing him to laugh.When we got to the truck, Luca opened my door for me. As I sat down, he reached around me and pulled a
I put my green dress back on for dinner that evening.Luca drove us out to a posh, upscale restaurant that was perched right on the water. Tables were set out along a long pier, overlooking the fading sun that set over the ocean.It wasn't until we were seated at our table that I realized it was the first real date Luca and I had been on.When I pointed this out, he grimaced."Yeah, I could be better at that," he said."I wasn't saying it in a negative way," I said quickly."I just meant that it's crazy how much we've been through and this is the first time we've gone out somewhere, just the two of us."He chuckled."I guess it is a little weird when you think about it," he admitted."It feels like we've been together a lot longer than a month."I nodded in agreement.A few moments later, a waiter came over to take our drink order. I bit the inside of my cheek as Luca ordered a three-hundred and fifty dollar bottle of wine.He must have seen the look on my face when he turned back to
Luca brought the bottle of wine back with us to his oceanfront villa.We sat out on a balcony that overlooked the water, watching the stars and listening to the waves as they crashed onto the shore while we drank.As I finished my second glass, I felt my courage grow, remembering then the wrapped box of lingerie Norah had stowed away in my suitcase.Should I? Maybe not. Maybe another time...But when, if not now? Why not now?"I'm going to the restroom," I told Luca, standing on my chair.He hummed as I walked back through the French doors that opened into the dark bedroom, the white curtains that framed them blowing loosely in the ocean breeze that passed over the threshold.I looked over my shoulder to make sure he wasn't watching as I opened my suitcase slowly and soundlessly to retrieve the box.Walking into the en suite, I closed the door behind me, flicking on the light.I changed out of the satin dress quickly, hooking the lacy, plum-colored bra together behind me and slipping
I laid out in the sunshine the next day, comfortably resting on a large, cushioned daybed that was surrounded by white sand; sitting forty or so feet from the ocean.I listened to the sound of the waves crashing and the branches of the palm trees surrounding me brushing into each other in the light breeze.The sun was warm against my skin, drying the sea-drenched strands of my hair.I laid on my stomach, soaking up as much sunshine as I could. I opened one eye to see Luca's tanned, wet body emerging from the surf, running his hands through his hair to shake out the water. I watched him as he walked along the sand, closing in on where I lay."Amore, your ass is going to get burnt," he told me, smacking it as he reached for his towel that laid next to me."I put on sunscreen."He glanced at me warily."Are you concerned about tan lines?" He asked, gesturing towards the straps of my bikini I had untied to expose my entire back.I just smiled as he shook his head, laying down next to me.
Luca and I left paradise after three days of being there.The time we had spent together, alone and uninterrupted, was well-needed. I felt much more connected with him, not just physically but also emotionally.I knew this because, when I looked at Luca, I felt a sense of home, of peace. The butterflies in my stomach that initially had made me nervous around him were gone, replaced by a feeling of security and warmth. My heart swelled in his presence instead of skipping a beat.During our time in Cancún, I had been able to forget the nightmarish situation that was waiting for me back in Montana, all anxiety and worry leaving me for those glorious seventy-two hours.I got onto the plane to head back in a great mood that slowly faded into a downcast one the closer we got to home, leaving the sunshine and feigned nescience behind. I could tell Luca felt the same way, but he hid it well behind a neutral expression.When we finally got off the plane, met by cloudy skies and drizzling rain
The two men left us standing in the kitchen, closing the side door behind them as they walked out."I feel like I'm going to puke," I admitted, feeling so overwhelmed.Mady just laughed, nodding in agreement."This is crazy," I wheezed out, putting my hands on my head.I smelt something burning and looked over to see my stir-fry was smoking, quickly turning off the stovetop burner."Lunch?" I asked, sarcastically.Mady shook her head, laughing at me.I went into the pantry and grabbed a box of cereal, encouraging her to take a seat at the countertop as I pulled out the almond milk along with a pair of bowls and spoons."What the hell," I said slowly, still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that she was actually there, sitting next to me."You and Blaine?" I asked again. "I can't believe it.""Me neither," she said, taking the spoon in her hand."What happened at home?" I asked her."It was so weird when I left. I just felt like I needed to be here. My dad completely disappeared
I closed my eyes, shaking my head in disappointment.I opened my eyes again when I heard her begin to laugh."What the hell is so funny?" I asked.Mady began to laugh harder."It's not funny," she said as she continued to laugh. "But this is just my luck. This would happen to me."I huffed in frustration, making her laugh harder.Mady and I remained on the couch for a few more hours, continuing to catch up.When Luca and Blaine walked back into the house, I was at the stovetop trying not to burn a meal for the second time that day."Whatcha making?" Luca asked, leaning over my shoulder to stare at the rice I was mixing into the turmeric and butter mixture."Dinner," I answered plainly.I couldn't bring myself to look at Blaine as I put a lid on the pan to let it steam and moved over to the chicken that was sautéing in the other pan.Luca ignored my moodiness and moved around me to approach Mady, who was sitting at the countertop."I'm Luca," he said, flashing a smile and extending a
Long after we had gone to sleep, I was woken up by a loud noise.It woke Luca as well and he immediately rolled over me in a protective embrace, my body pressing into the mattress beneath him.I realized after a few seconds of the repetitive sound that it was someone, or something, banging viciously on the front door.My heart was in my throat as Luca got off of me, turning back to me immediately after his feet hit the floor."Stay here," he said firmly.With the adrenaline rushing through me, I couldn't find the courage to be angry with him after he used his Alpha tone.I watched nervously as he approached his bedroom door and opened it, venturing bravely into the living room.My ears strained to listen as I heard the banging stop and the front door unlock and open.I could barely hear the sound of muffled voices, one sounding panicked. I wanted to get off the bed desperately and see what was going on, but I was frozen in place by Luca's damn command."Luca," I called out, my voice b