“Six?”
“Done!”
“You don’t have to check your calendar with iron-fist sister?”
Luca went back to eating the last toasty triangle, shaking his head.
“Nope, I will let her know in the morning that I have something on, and that will be it. She might be the office manager, but I am the boss.”
I gave him a nod, but inside I knew different. I knew girls like the Donatella girls growing up. They bossed the popular boys around, and damn if the boys didn’t like it. Luca already said he would do anything for them, and I just wondered what that entailed exactly.
And more importantly, whereabouts I fit in that equation. The nagging voice was back and it just had to know.
“And what am I, Luca? To you, I mean.” I rushed to add the last part so he didn’t get the wrong impression that I was asking if I was above his sister on the Donatella totem pole.
It concerned me that I was worried about such a silly thing, being independent from such a young age, I had no problem finding my own way. Why, all of a sudden, was I panicking that Luca might not see me as an important part of his life? This made no sense considering we practically just started our relationship.
Slow down, chickee, you aren’t after a ring on your finger. I commanded myself sternly. Maybe a little reassurance, I allowed, acknowledging that Luca did make me slightly unsure of myself, a fact that unsettled me.
“Hey, baby,” Luca whispered softly, his finger under my chin, gently bringing my face up so he could look at me.
So damn, spunky.
“Meadow, as far as I am concerned, you and I are now a couple. I thought that for sure after I walked into your store, that was reaffirmed after going to dinner, but it was cemented twenty minutes ago when you came all over my tongue, screaming out my name. I told you before, baby, I don’t say things I don’t mean.” Caressing my cheek with his thumb, Luca gave me his thousand-watt smile/smirk. I knew my cheeks were burning bright hearing his sexy, dirty words, and that was just fine with me.
Supporting one hand on the bench and the other on his firm, bare chest, I pushed myself up high enough, so my lips were right over his.
“Okay, Spunk, I’m yours, and you are mine,” I agreed happily.
“Geez, you made me work hard, baby,” Luca muttered against my lips, his smile softening his remark.
“I do have a tendency to be complicated,” I quipped, kissing him chastely.
“I reckon I can deal with a little complication.”
I laughed with him, but that annoying nagger reared her ugly head again.
Just wait until you meet my parents, Spunk.
Stuffing my briefcase with the contracts I’d just signed and a few papers I needed to go over later tonight, I busied myself with shutting down my office when I heard the familiar click-clack of high heels.
“Damn, I almost made it,” I grumbled, knowing what was coming my way.
For the entire day, I had managed to duck and weave my sister’s nosy stares and her famous inquisition by staying locked in my office on the phone or rushing out stating I was needed on a work site. And I thought I had been successful, until now.
“Luca, can you please tell me why I cancelled your meeting with Mr Willard and why you aren’t going to be at dinner tonight?” Kayla asked as soon as she passed the threshold of my office. No ‘hello boss’ or ‘you got a lot accomplished today’, just straight into busting my balls.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I did another silent count to ten, then twenty. The last thing I wanted was Kayla all up in my business with Meadow. My private life was not even a bit personal or off-limits as far as my sisters and mother were concerned, and I usually went along with them for the peace. Meadow, though, was my game changer, I was already partway in love with her, but we were so new I selfishly wanted to keep her to myself a little longer before adding the Donatella women into the mix.
I knew meeting her parents tonight might not seem fair to my family. By the way both Meadow and Spring explained Lennie and Trish, I had the feeling they were not going to be a problem, just perhaps their weirdness, if Meadow’s description was in no way an exaggeration, of course.
“My meeting isn’t cancelled, just rescheduled until tomorrow, and I am not having dinner at Mum’s because I have plans tonight.”
Keep it short and sweet, Luca, do not invite questions.
“Mum will be disappointed, Luca, she planned a big, fancy meal tonight.”
“Mum always cooks a fancy meal, Kayla. And how many do I miss a week?” Not waiting for her rebuttal, I grabbed my briefcase and headed around the desk. Kayla was still standing there with her hands on her hips and narrowed, suspicious eyes.
“What?”
“Luca, Mr Willard is Dad’s oldest client. He is very important to the company, much more important than meeting up with Ace and the band of misfits you call friends.” The final word was barely out of her mouth before I launched my attack.
“Kayla, don’t preach to me. I know Tom is loyal and an important part of this business’ success. He wasn’t perturbed in any way when I called him to reschedule, so chill, will you please.”
“And as for Ace and the guys—”
About to come to their defence and deliver my final blow, Ace walked past the office door and ruined everything.
“Have a good time at Meadow’s parent’s joint tonight, mate. You are in for a treat and an introduction to the twilight zone,” he called out as he kept walking, his laughter ringing out down the quiet hall.
Fucker.
“Excuse me, what was that all about?” Kayla demanded, pushing her way in front of the open door, blocking off my only exit. Her expression was complete shock
