Chapter 7
ALESSIA
My meeting with Roger went better than I had anticipated.
At the last minute, I pulled in one of our contract managers to join us in the discussion, seating him between us, despite the disgruntled glares from Roger.
The report I’d scrambled to prepare had been enough to satisfy my boss, and our third wheel had ensured the meeting didn’t last any longer than necessary.
My thoughts drifted throughout the morning to my dinner with Luca.
It had been one of the best dates I recalled ever having.
Our conversation had flowed naturally, setting me at ease in what otherwise would have been an unnerving situation.
He was respectful of the staff, polite but firm.
I found that I loved watching him in action—the way he spoke to people and how he carried himself.
I’d been on a date with a man once who could hardly summon the courage to ask for a refill—there had never been any hope for him.
If he couldn’t ask a waiter for water, how could he possibly earn my respect?
Being physically appealing was only a portion of the attraction equation.
Financial responsibility, shared interests, respect, and numerous other elements were all just as important.
For me, one of the most important qualities in a man was confidence—meek and simpering was a total turnoff.
The control Luca exercised in every situation was a testament to his unerring confidence.
He was sure of himself and comfortable with who he was.
He didn’t suffer from the burden of societal pressures like most people.
Luca was unapologetically himself, and that was just as alluring as any Hollywood smile or perfectly chiseled abs.
I also appreciated that he told me about his family.
Men were often guarded about their families, and him sharing about his mother’s death and his struggles with his sister helped me see a more human side to the otherwise stoic man.
I had desperately wanted to ask questions but felt it might be too forward on the first date.
Thinking about him losing his mom brought me to thoughts of my own family.
Aside from Giada, the person I was closest to was probably Sofia.
Neither of us had ever connected well with Maria, who was the oldest of us girls.
Aside from a few words with her at our family dinners, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spoken to Maria.
Sofia, on the other hand, had been my playmate as a child and was somewhat of a confidant through our teen years.
Since then, we had maintained a decent relationship with periodic phone calls and the occasional lunch date but nothing so constant as my friendship with Giada.
I realized I hadn’t spoken to Sofia in what felt like ages.
She had been preparing for finals during our last family dinner and managed the impossible feat of bowing out of the obligation.
I could count on one hand the number of times I’d been allowed to miss a Sunday dinner.
Since I hadn’t seen her in two weeks, I grabbed my phone, noting no new missed messages or calls, and dialed my sister’s number.
“Hey, Lessi. What’s up?” came Sofia’s angelic voice. When she was little, she couldn’t say my name, instead using the moniker ‘Lessi.’ The nickname stuck for many years, although no one else in the family still used the endearment.
Sofia was the golden child—literally and figuratively.
Her hair was a dirty blond highlighted with natural golden streaks, and she had the fairest complexion of all of us.
From the time she was little, she’d been a talented artist and was fiercely independent.
She never seemed to feel the need to strive for acceptance by our parents or anyone else.
She was just about perfect in every way—even her voice sounded like it came from heaven above.
At different stages in our lives, I’d been jealous of my little sister, but no longer found myself ensnared in that pitfall.
With age had come the maturity to understand that nobody’s life was perfect, even if it appeared that way.
I kept my issues to myself, and she no doubt did the same.
Who was I to say her problems were any less than mine?
“Hey, Sof! Nothing’s up, just wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Ugh, I’ve still got one more final to go,” she groaned.
“You excited to be done?”
“Yes and no—when I’m done with school, I have to move back home for a few weeks until my new apartment is ready.”
“Can’t say I envy you.”
“Yeah, and if that isn’t bad enough, I have to suffer through my graduation party. I keep telling Mom I don’t need a party.”
“Good luck with that,” I laughed in response, knowing Mom would never cancel at this rate. “How are the job prospects going?”
She paused with indecision. “Actually, I got a job in a small gallery on the lower east side.”
“Sof, that’s great news! Have you told Mom and Dad?”
“No, although, I suppose I’ll have to at some point,” she grumbled.
“Why don’t you want to tell them?”
“I just don’t see a reason for them to know every aspect of my life.”
“You and Maria are so freaking secretive.”
“Hold up—don’t go comparing me to Maria. We are nothing alike—it’s not even apples and oranges. She and I are like apples and bicycles.”
It seems I’d struck a chord. Sofia was almost always even-keel, but I’d clearly ruffled her feathers. “Okay, my bad. Maria definitely takes secrecy to a whole other level—I didn’t mean to offend.”
I heard a sigh drift over the line. “Sorry, I’m just stressed and exhausted.”
“No problem—we’re all just doing the best we can. I suppose I can relate a little. I haven’t told Mom and Dad, but I met someone,” I offered quietly, not wanting anyone in the office to overhear.
“Oh, yeah? Tell me about him!”
“There’s nothing to tell, yet—I just started dating him.”
“But?” she prompted with the word I’d left unspoken, too scared to admit the intensity of my feelings.
“But there’s something about him; he’s not like the other guys I’ve dated.” I was trying to share with my sister, but there was only so far I was willing to open up. There was something mysterious and intriguing about Luca that I wasn’t ready to share with anyone else.
“You going to bring him to dinner on Sunday?” she asked coyly.
“Hell no! Are you crazy?”
“Come on, Lessi, that would take the spotlight off me,” she pouted playfully.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, little sis. That spotlight is all yours.”
“Fine, be that way,” she pouted.
“I will, thanks. You get back to studying. I’ll see you on Sunday,” I said the last part in a sing-song voice.
“You better. I don’t want to face the inquisition alone,” she muttered.
“Never. I shall be your faithful protector.”
Sofia giggled. “Love you, Lessi.”
“Love you, too,” I returned warmly before hanging up, a smile plastered on my face as I dove back into work.
An hour later, I made my way downstairs to get lunch and run a couple of errands. My eyes were immediately drawn to Luca where he stood talking on his phone. The moment his eyes landed on mine, he ended his call and began stalking my way, not taking his eyes from me.
I’d say he moved with a predator’s grace, but that wouldn’t be accurate. He didn’t just move like a predator—he was a predator. The question was, just how ruthless were his instincts? Did he merely enjoy the hunt, or was he one who liked to toy with his prey?
Luca stepped close, only speaking when we were near enough not to be overheard. “If I didn’t already have work obligations, I’d insist you join me for lunch.” His words spoken softly in his deep, rasping voice felt like an intimate caress in the crowded room.
“That’s okay,” I offered, feeling my cheeks heat. “I have some errands to run anyway.”
“I want you to spend the afternoon with me tomorrow.”
“Okay.” My reply was instant. I gave no thought to any other obligations I might have had for my Saturday. That’s what the man did to me—he intoxicated me with his presence until I thought of nothing else but him.
His lips curled in a knowing grin. “Let me sort some things, and I’ll be in touch.” He leaned down and placed one of his tender kisses on my temple, and I melted onto the floor of the lobby as I watched his retreating form exit the building.
Scraping myself off the marble tiles, I followed in his wake toward the busy New York street when I heard my name hollered behind me.
I looked back for the source and was surprised to see a man I’d been friends with at school.
Jackson Byrne had been a fellow business student at NYU, and we’d had some shared friends who hung out occasionally.
Despite a mutual attraction between us, we’d never dated.
The timing had never been quite right—either I was in a relationship when he was interested or the other way around.
It occurred to me Luca would never have allowed something so silly as a boyfriend to come between him and a woman he wanted.
In that regard, the two men were worlds apart.
However, Jackson bore his own brand of devilish, Irish charm and rugged good looks.
Deep dimples were the perfect accent to his affable nature, and his curling dark hair and mocha eyes were warm and inviting.
We hadn’t stayed in touch since graduating more than a year ago, and I was pleased to run into him.
“Jackson! What a pleasant surprise. How have you been?” I asked, giving him a hug when he caught up with me.
“I’m really well. And you?”
“I’m doing great. It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Are you working in the building now?”
“No, I work for Investors Bank in the commercial department and was meeting with a client. I take it you’re still working at Triton with your father?”
“Yes, climbing my way up the ranks.”
“I still can’t believe your dad didn’t put you straight into upper management.”
“That’s not the way he works, and it’s not that bad. I’ve learned so much in just a year.”
He smiled at me, but wariness crept into his eyes before they dropped to his hands.
“Is everything okay?” I asked warily.
Returning his gaze to me, his features hardened with resolve. “I know it’s not any of my business, but I saw you earlier with that man in the lobby. How well do you know him?”
His question caught me off guard, and I stumbled for words. “I … we went to dinner last night—that’s about it.”
“He’s not a good man, Alessia. You should stay away from him.” Jackson’s voice was sharper, his eyes harder, than I could ever recall seeing the handsome playboy.
“What do you mean?” My stomach churned with unease.
His lips pursed, and he exhaled a frustrated sigh. “I can’t really explain, but I’ve heard things about him. Bad things. I’d hate for you to get hurt.”
Heard things? What did that mean? “You can’t give me any more than that?”
Lips pressed tightly together, he shook his head.
“Alright, thank you for the warning.”
His eyes softened. “I really have missed seeing you. We should grab dinner and catch up sometime. Is your number still the same?”
“Yeah, that sounds nice.” I forced a smile, pushing aside my worry.
Jackson gave me one more hug before disappearing down the busy sidewalk while I was momentarily rooted to the spot.
What had he meant with his cryptic warning?
Was he simply trying to tell me Luca was a player, or had there been a more nefarious meaning behind his words?
Then again, maybe Jackson finally wanted to date me and was trying to push away the competition.
Without a more concrete explanation, it was hard to put much weight into his words. I wasn’t about to ignore him, but I didn’t think a vague warning was sufficient to act on. I would tuck away the cautionary words to revisit later if needed.