Chapter 30: First Date

The next morning, around 8 a.m., I called Alex. “Hey. Are you and your stepdad home?” I asked.

“Yeah. What’s up?” he replied, voice groggy.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I can call back later.”

“No, no. You didn’t wake me,” he insisted. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Okay.” I took a deep breath. “I’ve discovered some evidence of my husband and brother's money laundering and embezzling from Lush Productions. Since your lawyers were so helpful in stopping the media from slandering us, I wondered if I could get your help with suing Max and Owen.”

“Oh wow. Sure. You can come over anytime.” He sounded more alert now.

“Cool. I’ll be there in an hour. I can’t stay too long because I have somewhere to be this afternoon.” Somewhere I both did and didn’t want to be: on a date with Luca. I was both excited and annoyed.

Luca planned to pick me up at my house at noon, according to his text this morning. He told me to bring swimwear and dress for warm weather. I could only guess at where he was taking me.

“Deal,” Alex said, bringing me back to the present. “See you then.”

I ran my hand over my face and got up. I took a quick inventory of my closet and settled on wearing a pair of designer jeans and a deep-purple camisole with black lace. Then I donned a pair of Converse I had in the closet, brushing my teeth and putting my unruly hair in a ponytail.

I was ready to face the day. Or the morning. I’d have to change before my date, but this would do for now.

The drive to Alex’s mansion gave me time to think. As I pondered the things I’d discovered, righteous anger overtook me, and I once again wondered how I’d been so fooled. By the time I arrived, I had worked myself up.

Nolan met me in the driveway of his mansion. “Fay! Good to see you. Alex told me what happened. Please, come in.”

I followed him inside, where Alex was sitting at the kitchen island, eating eggs and bacon. “Want some?” he mumbled with his mouth full.

“Sure. Thanks.” I’d completely forgotten breakfast because I was so upset.

I sat down next to Alex as Nolan served me a plate. “Toast?” he offered.

“No, thank you. This is fine.” I took a bite of egg. It was seasoned wonderfully with salt and pepper, and the bacon was still warm.

“I’ve compiled a list of lawyers who may be able to help.” Nolan slid a sheet of paper across the counter.

“Wow, that was fast. I’m impressed.” I skimmed the page. There were five names on the list, a phone number next to each.

“What can I say? I’m pretty impressive,” he joked.

Alex rolled his eyes. “You’re something alright.”

I laughed at their banter. “Thanks again.”

“You are most welcome.” Nolan smiled warmly. “Now, finish your food. I believe Alex mentioned you have somewhere to be.”

“Yes, sir.” Swallowing my last piece of bacon, I took the list of attorneys and stood. “That was a lovely breakfast. I’ll keep you posted on this.” I raised the list.

“Please do,” Nolan said, wrapping up what remained of the bacon and eggs.

Alex rose and walked me to the door. “I’ll text you.”

“Okay.” Giving him a hug that seemed to surprise him, I stepped outside, got in my car, and backed out of their long drive. Alex waved at me as I left.

Now that I had a plan to stop Max and Owen, I was ready to move on with my day. The drive back to the beach house was less emotional. When I got there, I had enough time for a shower, to dry my hair, and to get dressed. By then, it was 11 a.m., and I was already peckish again. I texted Luca: “Should I eat first?”

“Not unless you want to miss out on my amazing cooking. I recommend you come hungry,” he replied.

That sounded … nice. He cooked a meal for me? What other hidden talents did he have?

As I waited for noon to come, I checked my email. My divorce lawyer said the case was promising. Then I read a book, impatiently waiting for Luca. He arrived ten minutes early.

“Hey,” he said when I answered the door. “You ready for our date?”

“I suppose,” I replied.

“Don’t sound so eager.” He smirked. “Come. Your chariot awaits.” He held out his arm, but I ignored it and stepped around him.

“So cruel. Now you’ve hurt my feelings.” Luca clutched his chest.

“With a career such as yours, I imagine it should take a lot more than that to crush your stone heart,” I replied dryly.

“Former mob boss, remember? Emphasis on the former,” he teased. “And my heart is as soft as yours. Perhaps softer.”

“Uh-huh.”

We reached the car before I asked, “And where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. But it’s not far from here.”

He wasn’t lying. The drive was only five minutes. He took us to a gorgeous stretch of beach with a cove that butted against a tall cliff. There were shallow pools here and schools of colorful fish. My mouth gaped open at the beauty of it all.

“Judging by your face, I’m going to guess you’ve never been here,” Luca mused. “Few people know of this cove, so I was hoping that would be the case.”

“No, I haven’t. I didn’t know this place existed.”

The cove was secluded, and it felt like our own quiet corner of paradise. Luca laid out a blanket and set his cooler on top of it. “The food is still warm. I hope you like Italian.”

The way he said that left me with the feeling his words had a double meaning. “I love Italian food,” I said, emphasizing “food.”

Luca smirked again. Gosh, that smirk of his grated on my nerves. “Good.” His voice was dark and seductive, all rough tones and decadent whispers. “I brought cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce.”

“Sounds delicious.” I eyed the cooler.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He pulled out two plates and loaded them with food. “I’ve been told my breadsticks rival Olive Garden’s.”

He held out a breadstick for me to take a bite, and I obliged. “Mmmm.” It was then I realized he’d just fed me by hand like he’d promised. I couldn’t even be mad when the food was this good. The tortellini was even better, but I didn’t let him feed me that.

We ate by the water, and after our food settled, Luca stretched. “Okay. You ready for a swim?”

I peered at the cove with narrowed eyes. “The water looks pretty shallow to me.”

“We only have a short walk, then there’s a spot perfect for swimming.” He stood, dusting the sand off his black swim trunks and removing his hot-green shirt.

My goodness, Luca was ripped! His muscles trailed from his chest down to his abdomen and lower. It took effort to tear my gaze away, and he noticed, his signature cocky smirk causing a single dimple to emerge in his cheek. It was hot, so a thin sheen of sweat caused his skin to appear bronzed in the sunlight.

Luca led me around to the other side of the cliff, where the water was a richer, deeper shade of blue. The cliff was overgrown with ivy, giving the place an exotic feel. He stopped at the edge of the water and gazed at me expectantly.

“What?” I asked.

“We’re going swimming. Don’t you need a swimsuit?” He arched a perfect brow.

“Oh.” I blushed. “Right.”

Taking off my shirt and shorts, I was left in my turquoise bikini. Luca’s eyes roamed up and down my body as hungry as I’d gazed at him earlier, and I preened.

He led me into the water, where we swam for quite a while, talking, laughing, and flirting. We saw a whale jumping and crashing into the water in the distance. Finally, it was time to leave, so we got out and dried off with the towels Luca had brought.

“I actually had a good time,” I admitted.

“You act like that’s a surprise.” He smirked again, and I didn’t even have it in me to be aggravated.

I laughed and shoved his arm.

“Ow,” he mocked.

“Oh, come on. That didn’t hurt.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“It hurt my feelings.”

“You’ll get over it.”

He clutched his heart again. “I think I’m dying, actually.”

“Sorry to hear that,” I said sarcastically.

“So cruel.”

We rose and walked back to Luca’s car. The five-minute drive back was over quickly, then Luca kissed my hand when he left me at my door. “Until we meet again, love,” he murmured.

“Thanks for the date,” I said.

“No, thank you for the date.”

“I was obligated to go on it,” I reminded him.

“You keep telling yourself that.”

“Thanks. I will.”

“Are you going to go inside?” He gestured to my front door.

“Yes. See you.” I left him smirking there and entered my beach house. There was only an hour and forty-five minutes until day two of the auction. Tonight, they’d be auctioning off dates with the men. I wasn’t planning on bidding on anyone, but as an executive, I needed to be there to show my support.

I quickly showered, dressed, and styled my hair before getting in my Mercedes. Traffic moved quickly, so I arrived with time to spare. When I got inside, I was met with whispers and stares.

Why was everyone looking at me?

Just then, Sean walked up to me. “Fay! He beamed. “The savior of Lush Productions!”

“I’m sorry. What?”

My bewildered look must have tipped him off more than my question because he laughed and said, “You saved the company from Owen’s embezzlement schemes.”

I looked around the room and didn’t see Owen anywhere. Had he been arrested or just—wisely—not shown up? More importantly, how had word gotten out?

“Thank you,” Sean continued. “Embezzlement would have hindered productions eventually.”

“Oh, um you’re welcome?” It came out as more of a question.

“Hey, listen. I know I didn’t win the bid at the auction last night, but I hope you’ll still consider a date with me.” Sean scratched his arm nervously.

“I’m sorry, Sean. My answer is still the same.”

Sean just looked defeated. “Maybe one day, you’ll change your mind.”

It was unlikely, but instead of crushing him, I said nothing, offering a weak smile.

“Well, I’m being auctioned tonight, so I need to get into position. I’ll catch up with you later.” Sean turned and walked to the front of the banquet hall, and I went to find a seat.

My mind was reeling as I pondered who could have leaked information about Owen’s embezzlement and our lawsuit. I didn’t think Alex, Nolan, or Sky would. They’d helped me with so many things already; why would they betray me now? But who else could have known? It was protected under attorney-client privilege, so it couldn’t have been the lawyers. It was a question that had no answer.

My mind drifted to my date with Luca as the auctioneer took the stage. It had been wonderful, and I hated to admit that I could see it happening again.