41 - The Ritz

I was super hungover when I woke up the next morning. I’d gotten a little too carried away with the celebrating, then I’d remembered my confrontation with George, which led to me drinking to forget. Maybe I had a problem, but right now wasn’t the time to deal with it. Today, I was going to focus on better things. Like Luca.

The—former—mob boss had asked me on a date. This time, I didn’t have any reservations about accepting. I was actually looking forward to it. I’d had a wonderful time with Alex and his stepdad for the Fourth of July fireworks, and it had given me even more reason to fall for Alex. But I still planned to try things out with both men.

They were both tempting in their own ways, and I just had to figure out who I liked more. It was about more than who was hotter—and they were both hot. I needed to love more than just their looks. This decision would boil down to chemistry.

I was just finishing styling my hair when my phone chimed. It was a text from Alex. “Do you want to grab lunch on the strip today? I saw this new place I’ve been dying to try.”

“Can’t,” I texted back. “I’m going out with Luca.”

There was a long pause before he responded, and I wondered what he could be thinking. But all he sent was: “Next time, then.”

I loved that he wasn’t jealous or possessive of me. It would make choosing difficult if the two men were more focused on fighting each other than wooing me. Still, I kind of wondered what it would be like if they fought. My strange dream came to mind, and I shuddered. Maybe I didn’t want to know after all.

Luca showed up at my beach house within the hour. It had become my primary residence. My amazing lawyer had gotten me both houses in the divorce, so I’d sold the old one and moved what I’d left behind—whatever I still wanted of it—to this one. Forasmuch as I loved the sea, I figured I might as well live by it.

I opened the front door and let Luca in. He was wearing a gray suit and dress shoes. “Why didn’t you tell me I was supposed to dress up?” I asked, glancing down at my jeans and T-shirt. Thinking of our hiking date and our date on the beach, I’d dressed for being outdoors.

“I didn’t mention that?” Luca frowned. “Sorry about that. There’s still time to change.”

I muttered under my breath but walked upstairs to change into something fancier. When I returned in a navy dress that complemented his gray suit, I found him looking at the pictures on the mantle.

“Is this you and your family?” he asked, holding a framed photo of me, George, Lucinda, and Max.

“Yes,” I said, not wanting to get into it much.

“You look miserable in this photo,” he commented, glancing up at me.

I looked at the image. It was a picture of the four of us at a cabin in the mountains. Max held a big fish he’d caught, and George was beaming at him with pride in his eyes. I stood off to the side while Lucinda and George looked at Max like he was their world. I had a smile painted on my face, which I thought appeared genuine, but Luca had seen through it.

“I was,” I admitted.

“Have they been like that your whole life?”

I nodded. “It got worse over the years, but yes. I guess it makes sense now that I know we’re not related.”

“That’s no way to treat a child, even one that isn’t yours by blood.” Luca set the photo back down. “I’m sorry they did that to you.”

He pulled me into a hug, his thick arms wrapping around me like a cocoon. I leaned into him and breathed in his scent, like rich cologne and man. “It’s the past now,” I mumbled into his solid chest.

“The past shapes the present, but it doesn’t have to define it. We get to choose what we do today. Leave yesterday and tomorrow to themselves.” Luca pulled back. “Now, are you ready for our date? I have something special planned.”

“Sure. Where are we going?”

“Have you heard of The Ritz?” he asked, and I shook my head. “It’s a restaurant on top of a skyscraper, with a glass balcony that has a view of the city.”

“Sounds wonderful. You’re lucky I’m not afraid of heights.” I was surprised he wasn’t keeping the plans a secret this time, but I liked knowing what we were doing sometimes.

“I have enough fear for both of us,” he replied.

My eyes widened. “Then why are you taking me if you’re going to be terrified while we’re there?”

His gaze turned serious. “Because it’s one of the most romantic spots in the city, and I want only the best for my girl.”

“Oh,” I whispered, my breath catching. Then my brain caught up to what my ears heard. “Hey, I haven’t agreed to be your girl yet!”

“You will.” He smirked.

“Cocky much?” I arched a brow.

“Admit it. You love it.” He leaned in to kiss me before I could protest, and dang it if I didn’t kiss him back with too much enthusiasm.

I was supposed to be irritated about his confidence that I’d choose him, but instead, I was turned on. He was like a drug; I knew he wasn’t the healthiest or the best influence, but I was addicted nonetheless.

“See? You can’t stay mad at me,” he teased.

I couldn’t when he kissed me like that. Not even if I wanted to. Grumbling incoherently under my breath, I grabbed my jacket and purse. “Are we ready, then?”

“That depends,” he said.

“On what?”

“On whether I can muster up the courage to face my fears.” He winked at me.

“I think you’ll be fine. This was your idea, you know,” I said, my tone dry.

“What, no comforting words? No encouragement?” He acted offended.

“Nope,” I said, grinning.

“Cruel, cruel Fay. Just the way I like you.” He took my hand and led me to his SUV. Opening my door for me, he walked around to his side before getting in. “You know, if you keep being cruel to me, I might get my feelings hurt.”

“So, what you’re saying is that beneath your cocky exterior lies a cultured man of sensitivity and softness?” I arched a brow.

Luca smirked again, that aggravating smirk, and his eyes lit up with mischief. “Why don’t you uncover me and find out?”

“If that’s a ploy for me to get you naked …”

“You can’t deny that you want to,” he interjected.

“I plead the Fifth. You’ll never get me to talk.” I leaned back in my seat.

“A lot of the time, only the guilty plead the Fifth,” he commented, “so I’m going to take that as an admission.”

“You would. You’ll twist anything I say to mean what you want it to.”

“But you love it,” he said.

I did. And I hated myself for being so quick to fall for it.

We drove on for another twenty minutes through moderate traffic until we reached an underground parking garage set under a skyscraper so tall I wasn’t sure I could count the stories. Once we parked, Luca opened my door, and we took the elevator to the top. The top floor was number sixty-five, which made this building almost as tall as Lush Productions’ main office.

The Ritz was a large, open space on the roof of the skyscraper, with dozens of covered tables with beautiful centerpieces. Around the outer edge of the roof, a glass balcony stretched out to provide seating with a view of the ground below. Waiters in black suits with red dress shirts carried trays of hors d’oeuvres to the different occupied tables.

We approached where the host stood. He was a short, stocky man who wore a toupee. Sweat gleamed on his forehead, although it wasn’t terribly hot today. He looked down his nose at us and said, “Reservation?”

“Yes, we have one. It’s under Greco,” Luca said politely. I wasn’t as willing to look past this man’s judgmental attitude, but it didn’t seem to bother my date.

“Hmm,” the man hummed through his nose, making a big show of looking down at a list. After a few moments, he said, “Ah yes. There you are. If you will follow me.”

He walked like he had all the time in the world as he led us to a table on the glass balcony. Luca looked paler the closer we got to the edge. “This is your table. The server will be with you shortly,” the host said dismissively. Then he went back to his post.

“You okay?” I asked Luca, noting the sheen of sweat on his own brow. I doubted it had anything to do with the heat.

“I’m fine,” he breathed, sounding anything but.

“If you’re sure.”

He offered a weak smile before picking up a menu. “Take a look at what they’ve got. Their food is delicious, or so I’m told.”

“You’ve never been here?” I asked.

“Does that surprise you?”

Considering his fear, I supposed it didn’t. I shook my head. Then I looked at the menu. Immediately, I saw the chicken cordon bleu. I hadn’t had that in a long time—and never from here—so it became my first choice. But there were so many other wonderful things on the menu.

I looked up as the host led another couple to a table near ours. Seeing who it was, I gasped. I couldn’t believe my bad luck lately. Max and the woman he’d tried to replace Sky with on “Love to Make”—Luna, I think—were eating here today, too!

“Great,” I muttered. “Incoming.”

Luca glanced over, his gaze hardening and his mouth thinning. “Do you want to leave?” he asked.

“No. Let’s just ignore them. You planned a lovely date, and I’m going to enjoy it.” I actively avoided meeting their gaze.

But it turned out it was futile. Max noticed us anyway. “Fay?” he called. “What a surprise!”

“I’m not talking to you, Max,” I gritted out. “Just do your own thing, and we’ll do ours.”

“Is that any way to talk to your brother?” he said airily.

“In your own words, Max, you’re not my brother. You never were. Now, please don’t ruin this day.” I turned back to my menu as if inspecting it, even though I already knew what I wanted.

Max tutted. “Don’t be so cold, Fay.”

“That’s enough,” Luca growled. “Leave her be.”

Max ignored Luca like a troublesome gnat. “Fay, you look gorgeous.”

Now he’d taken things too far. I already knew what he thought of my looks, considering he’d been tempted enough by them to drug me. I lifted my eyes and met his gaze with one of steely fury. Then I opened my mouth.