Page 89 of Ruined

I sighed. “It’s working.”

“We’ll get through this. The judge seems annoyed with them.”

“So what’s the play? Another deposition?”

“Not yet. We’ll file a motion to dismiss. It’ll go through, but we need to keep the pressure on. They’re banking on dragging this out.”

“Let them try.”

The door clicked open behind me. I turned as Luca stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He paused when he saw me, his dark eyes narrowing.

“Mr. Caruso?” Harrison prompted.

“Yeah, I’m here. File the motion. I’ll deal with whatever comes next.”

“Understood. I’ll keep you updated.”

I ended the call and set the phone down. “Nice of you to finally show up.”

Luca shrugged off his jacket and tossed it on a chair. “I had things to do.”

“Like what?”

“Breakfast.” Luca set a bag of pastries on the kitchen table, along with a cardboard cup. “Drink your coffee and quit bitching.”

“Thanks. You’re a real sweetheart.”

He shrugged. “Figured you’d be a pain in the ass if I didn’t get your coffee.”

I took a sip of the coffee. Exactly the way I liked it. I glanced at Luca, who was pulling pastries out of the bag.

“You remembered my order.”

Luca arched a brow. “How could I forget?”

True. I’d sent him on a million errand runs, but this felt different. Ridiculous how much that small gesture tightened in my chest.

I grabbed a croissant. “Trying to butter me up?”

He smiled, but a shadow flickered over his face. My grin faded as I studied the dark circles under his eyes.

“Did you stay out all night?”

His shoulders tightened, and he looked away. His hands shook when he stuffed them into his pockets.

“Luca, where were you?”

He stiffened. “Since when do I need to report my every move to you?”

I clenched my jaw. “Since you begged me to fuck you.”

“That happened once.”

“Luca, I’m trying to be chill here, but I’mnota chill guy. I normally don’t fuck closeted men, and this is why. I have no time for self-denial.”

“You’re not exactly making it easy on me.”

“I’m not here to tiptoe around your insecurities, Luca. You either want this or you don’t.” I tore off a piece of croissant and shoved it in my mouth. “I won’t sit around while you pretend what happened means nothing.”