Page 56 of Sweet Deception

Thrilled that he wants me again tonight, I dreamily continue to the front door. When Luca comes back, Gio and Rafael are trailing behind him.

I'm stooped, putting my shoe on when Luca informs me, "Joanna is bringing clothes for you later today."

Surprised, I whip my head up and then promptly lose my balance. Luca rushes to catch me, then swings me into his arms.

"Oh." Surprised by the maneuver, I attempt to slide my shoe onto my foot while he carries me out to the car. Gio opens the back door for us and Luca sets me down in the backseat. Rafael gets in the driver’s side, Gio in the front passenger seat, and Luca comes around the back of the car to sit next to me.

This feels odd … but in a good way.

When Luca slides in, he hands me a travel mug. "Oh, thanks, babe." When I take a sip, it's made exactly how I love it and I beam as a warm sensation fills me with his attentiveness. When I glance over, Luca winks at me, causing heat to fill my cheeks again. His smile widens.

Gio interrupts our moment when he reaches back to hand Luca his travel mug.

"What? I don't get a thank you, babe?" Gio mocks when Luca takes the mug.

Ignoring Gio's comment, Luca turns to me. "Are you driving your car to your parents or taking an Uber like you did last time?"

My brows furrow. "How do you know about that?"

"Angel, I know everything." He raises his eyebrow.

I huff.

"I'm still deciding."

"If you take it, which I urge you to do, how do you plan to explain?" He brings his coffee up to drink while shifting to face me better.

"All they need to know is that my boyfriend loaned it to me, since my car is beyond repair. They don't need to know you bought it for me until later. Much,much later. I don't enjoy lying to them, but I don't want Dad stressed out right now."

Luca nods. "Understandable." He pauses to tuck my hair behind my ear. "I'm not sure what time I'll finish tonight, so I want you to text me when you're ready to leave your parents' house. I'll direct you where to go."

"Are we going somewhere tonight?" I look out the window to see how close we are to my apartment while worrying about having to be social. As sore as I am, I kinda want to lounge around and maybe study a little.

"No, but I don't know if I'll have you go to my home or office. It'll depend on the time."

When I turn back to him, he's concentrating on his phone.

"Okay." I bite my lip, gearing myself to ask, "What do you do? For work, I mean. I don't think I can fend off my parents' curiosity about you on this trip." I scrunch my nose and shrug one shoulder.

Luca smiles. "I own a real estate holding company. Most of my portfolio is rental investment property, some hotels, a restaurant, and a few clubs."

My eyes widen. "What restaurant? Clubs? As in dance clubs?"

He tilts his head, studying me. "Morelli's—one of my clubs—is attached to Morelli's hotel."

"Oh." I don't know why I didn't make that connection before. I give him a sheepish look, but then ask, "One of your clubs? How many do you have?"

"I've got a couple scattered throughout the city, but that's Gio's domain. He runs them for me."

I feel like he's holding something back, but I leave it be. "Cool." I pick at the hem of my shirt, wondering what else I should know before the mom inquisition happens later. I almost smack my forehead when I realize I haven't asked the most important question. Swinging my gaze over, I catch Luca watching me. The crinkle at the corner of his eyes tells me he's amused. "Uh ..." I bite my lip, a little afraid to find out the answer to this question.

Luca uses his thumb to free my lip. "Just ask, Angel."

"So … how old are you?" That has all three of the guys laughing. I feel silly it's taken me so long to ask, but I wasn't sure what the protocol was when we first met. I wasn't sure I could even ask. Since spending more time with Luca, I realize he won't care."

"I'm thirty two." He grins, but then it drops when I let out a relieved sigh. "Did you think I was older?" His voice pitches and he jerks his head back, offended.

Gio chuckles.