24. Sunshine
Chapter 24
Sunshine
M y stomach fluttered with nerves, and I pushed them away. It was Friday, time for my date with Luca. I’d gone to my cottage after work at Cosmic Bonds so I could get dressed up.
Luca said he’d arrive at my cottage at six o’clock and I had ten whole minutes to pace.
I adjusted my dress. Julian said Luca usually went somewhere fancy when it was his turn to pick, so I’d put on a pink sparkly dress that hit my knee with a sweetheart neckline. I’d searched through my underwear drawer for over an hour, sure I had a matching set of bra and panties, but the closest I came was a blue strapless bra and darker blue pair of panties.
At five after six, my pacing reached frantic levels. Then my phone chimed.
Julian:
Idiot is on his way now, always running late.
I laughed at that and replied.
Sunshine:
It’s fine.
Before long, the silver sports car pulled into my driveway, and my nerves ratcheted up as I met him at the door.
Luca stepped out with a wide smile, and a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He strode over and handed me a dozen purple roses. “Sorry I’m late. Punctuality isn’t one of my many good qualities.”
I took the roses with a laugh, inhaling their perfume. “Thank you. They’re stunning. Come in while I put them in water.”
When we got to the kitchen, I grabbed a vase from the top shelf. “Why purple?”.
Luca grinned, his brown eyes twinkling, and it made my knees weak. “I wanted you to have something unique. Special. Like you.”
I blushed. “Oh. Well. I accept the compliment. And thank you, again.”
Luca leaned his forearms on the countertop, watching me intently as I arranged the roses in the vase my grandma had given me.
“What?” I cocked my head.
“I’m a gift giver,” he said, still watching me like he was a lion and I was a zebra. “Just planning out what to do next time, and what would be too much, too soon.”
I waved my hand at the flowers. “These are thoughtful, and beautiful. I don’t need you to give me things, though.”
“I know.” Luca tugged at the cuffs of his light gray dress shirt. “But when I see things that make me think about you…” He finished with a shrug. “Hopefully I won’t get on your nerves.”
“Hardly.” I grabbed my purse. “Though, if you keep looking at me like that I don’t know if we’re going to make it to dinner.”
“Mmmm.” He prowled around the countertop and closed the distance between us. “Would that be such a bad thing?”
This close, I could smell his spicy-sweet scent. I looked up at him, appreciating how his curly black hair was tamed for tonight.
Then I ran my hands up his chest, remembering how good it felt to have him inside me. “It wouldn’t be.”
Luca kissed me, sliding his mouth over mine. He moved his hands over my waist, skating them up to barely brush his thumbs over the exposed skin above my breasts. He lifted them to cradle my face with both hands then kissed me like we’d been parted for years, not hours.
He pulled away, looking as dazed as I felt. “Later. I really want to show you the restaurant.”
I pouted. “Mean. Get me all worked up just to leave me wanting more.”
Luca winked and it went straight to my panties. “Always, kitten. Always.”
He ushered me out of the cottage, and we got into his car. It was a gorgeous evening, with the sun starting to set over the ocean. As he drove, we talked about everything and nothing.
It was so easy to talk to Luca, and once again I had that feeling that I almost couldn’t trust it. Everything with this pack was easy, and it was hard not to brace myself for an inevitable end.
When I realized the way my thoughts were going, I told myself that I wasn’t going to think like that. I would enjoy my time with this pack—who already had more of my heart than I was comfortable with—and instead of over-analyzing everything, I would just let the chips fall where they might.
I had no reason to sulk in doom and gloom feelings with Pack Kahele.
We drove downtown, the lights of the restaurant district already twinkling in the early evening. On the outskirts of Half Moon Bay, several new places dotted the strip.
On the corner of a little group of buildings was a brand new restaurant. A sign with the name Heartbeat sat over the glass and wood doors. It almost looked like a pub in Boston, minus the wrought iron fence to the sideway and the potted plants in the windows.
“I’ve heard good things, and Chef Kincaid had a meeting with Logan a few weeks ago to talk about local business.” Luca ushered me into the restaurant, one hand on the small of my back.
The gesture was more comforting than I knew how to process. It had felt wonderful having Luca by my side at the last event. How much more confident would I feel as I spent more time with the pack?
The interior was cozy, with warm twinkling lights recessed into the brown wooden walls. Round tables were covered with crisp white tablecloths, and squat candles in clear glass bowls at the center of each one created an inviting atmosphere. The ma?tre d’ stepped up to us and nodded respectfully to Luca. “Mr. Kahele. Welcome back to Heartbeat.”
Luca nodded. “Nice to see you again, Wilson.”
“Your table is ready.” Wilson led us to the side of the restaurant where I discovered we had a window seat overlooking the ocean.
Luca stood behind me to carefully push my chair in for me, and I smiled to myself, secretly thrilled at the five-star treatment. I’d told Talia that I didn’t plan to be a high maintenance princess, but I loved how it felt to come to a beautiful place for dinner, and to be treated as someone special.
“You like?” Luca gestured around us. “I find it charming.”
I smoothed my hands over the silky-smooth texture of the tablecloth, resisting the insane urge to steal it for Julian’s nest. Maybe Logan could find out where Chef Kincaid ordered his tablecloths from. “It’s very cozy. Upscale without feeling off-putting. I’m not stressed out trying to remember which fork to use.”
“Exactly.”
The waiter came over and we ordered wine.
“So.” Luca sat back in his chair. “I realize we’ve all only just started dating, but I wanted to ask if there’s anything you need. Or want. I want you to be as happy as you make us.”
I grinned, despite feeling a little bit nervous at the intensity of his attention. “I love spending time with you three.”
Luca looked me over. “You’re sure? We’re sort of set in our ways, and I can imagine it would be easy to feel like it’s hitting a wall.”
“I’m absolutely sure.” I sipped my wine. It was a sweet white wine, nice on my palate without the bitter tang of a red. The waiter returned, and I ordered a seafood sampler plate. Luca got a porterhouse, and he went back to looking at me as if I held the universe’s secrets.
“Our schedules can be a challenge,” he said with a frown. “Julian’s shifts at work require us to be creative, and I want you included in that. Even if we’re used to working late on nights he’s away, you’re important to us.”
“Thank you.” I shifted in my seat. “But I promise, I’m happy.”
More than happy. Happier than I should be during the early days of dating.
“You seem a bit reserved.” Luca fiddled with a napkin, the only tell that he might be nervous. “I wasn’t sure if we could do anything to reassure you or…”
I shook my head. “I’m still getting used to the idea that we’re all…an item. I don’t mean to push you away. It just seems too good to be true.”
“You deserve every good thing,” Luca cocked his head. “You deserve to be pampered and spoiled.”
“You barely know me,” I said with a laugh to hide my tension.
“I’ve known you for years. Seen you be kind and considerate to Logan and Julian. You ask me about my cases, you help people around you. You feel things deeply.” Luca took my hand in his. “Now that we’re ready for more, I want to make sure I remove every obstacle, even single barrier, that might keep you from feeling safe and secure.”
“You’re acting like I’m an omega you’re trying to pursue,” I said, forcing my voice to sound lighthearted.
“Shouldn’t I?” He arched an eyebrow, the candlelight throwing golden light on his skin. He looked like a sexy dark god, and it took my breath away. “You’re beautiful, smart, funny, and running your family business with knowledge beyond your years. Why wouldn’t I fall head over heels for a woman like you?”
I wasn’t sure how to reply without sounding like an insecure mess. Apparently, knowing I was awesome, and expecting other people to treat me like I was awesome were two separate skills I’d have to work on.
“Thank you.” I swallowed hard. “I just haven’t…” I thought about all the times I’d tried, and failed, to make Rob and Isaac happy. All the rearranged dated, all the schedule changes, the snide comments about my work.
Luca cocked his head again. “They were idiots. They wanted someone they could control, that they could keep down so they would feel better about themselves. Logan and Julian are already calmer. I know you think betas are secondary in a pack, but they’re vital for our wellbeing.”
I glanced down, shifting in my seat. I had expected flirting and dining, not this…single minded focus on me.
“I’m coming on too strong,” Luca said softly. “I’m sorry. I wanted to be very clear about my feelings since we jumped into our physical relationship so quickly.”
I shook my head. “I’m glad you’re being direct and honest. I feel like I don’t know you as well as I should, so it’s helping.”
“I would love to remedy that,” Luca’s voice dropped to a purr. “Logan got the excuse to work with you, and Julian effortlessly made friends with you, so it was easier for them to be a part of your life.”
“That’s true.” I tried not to fiddle with the silky tablecloth. “It was easier to think we were just friends.”
“I, however, knew if I was allowed to court you in the least, I would give everything away.”
“Everything?”
Luca gestured around us, still talking to me like no one else existed. “You are a singular woman. If it’s in my power to give you something, you’ll have it. Logan and Julian joked about my courting them like being pulled into my orbit, and they’re not wrong. I feel things deeply or not at all.”
I could relate to that. I was already feeling things deeply and we had just started dating.
Maybe it would be okay. Luca wasn’t acting like we were all casually dating. Neither were Logan or Julian.
“Oh my goodness. Sunshine?”
Someone squealed nearby and the moment shattered. I looked around and there was Talia with two stunning men in tow.
Her blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun and she wore a little red dress that showed off her long legs. The two men looked perfect, almost too perfect, like they were cold and lifeless models there to grace us with their presence.
I knew better than to compare myself to my friend, but part of me still wished I could pull off effortless glamour the way Talia did.
“Talia, hi,” I said, trying to sound excited to see her. “I didn’t know you would be here too.”
Talia dragged the dark-haired man over with her, the blond following them.
“Sunshine, these are my boyfriends, Stephen, and Jones.” The man with dark-brown hair was Stephen, and Jones was the blond. Both were alphas, and both barely registered interest in me and Luca.
“Nice to meet you,” I said. “This is my boyfriend, Luca.” I almost stumbled on the word “boyfriend”.
“Luca Kahele,” Talia said with a wink. “Sunshine is still a Sullivan, but she’s working on that right now, isn’t she?”
I blushed. Damn it. I’d told her so many times that I wanted to be more subtle.
“We should double date,” Talia said, pulling a chair out.
“Whatever you’d like,” Stephen said with a shrug. His brown hair was effortlessly tousled, and even though both men only wore nice pants and a button up shirt, they still exuded wealth.
I looked at Luca, wishing in vain I could develop telepathy in the next five seconds and tell him how disappointed I was about our first date being ruined. Instead, I gave up my chair, choosing to sit next to him rather than be parted.
Luca put on his charming face, the one he wore to events that made him look handsome and aloof. “Nice to meet you.” He put his arm around my waist, and I suppressed a happy sigh.
Talia sat across from me, looking so happy a bit of my annoyance left. She sat between Stephen and Jones, waving down the waiter. “Stephen is a stockbroker, and he heard about this exciting new restaurant.”
The waiter came over, looking at the increase in our party without batting an eye. He took their drink orders and then cleared his throat. “Mr. Kahele, your food is set to come out first.”
“That’s alright.” Luca gestured at Talia and her dates. “Can we get an appetizer while they wait for their food?”
“Of course. We have excellent seafood cocktails.”
Talia and her men ordered, and the waiter left.
“How’s work?” Talia wrapped her arm around Stephen, who still had the same vaguely too cool for school look on his face.
“Excellent. We’re finishing up events this week,” I beamed, trying to inject cheer into the atmosphere. It wouldn’t have been so weird, but the two alphas looked bored, and Talia couldn’t decide if she wanted to put her arms around both of them or just one.
“The bakery is taking off. Jones is a real estate agent and brought my cupcakes to the office. The agents loved them and are now serving them during their open houses.”
“Great,” I said. Before I could ask about flavors, Talia talked about Stephen bringing her cookies to work and how the brokerage was talking about a partnership.
“Maybe I could give you baked goods as well,” Talia said to Luca with a wink. “I’m sure the lawyers would love delicious food to brighten their day.”
“That’s very kind of you.” Luca smiled. “But Logan’s been experimenting with new recipes and we’re full right now.”
“Of course.” Talia’s face fell. “How is Julian, by the way? Wasn’t there a huge house fire a couple of days ago?”
“He’s fine,” Luca said. “It wasn’t his company that answered that call, but all of the first responders are okay.”
“Julian is your omega?” Jones flicked his floppy blond hair out of his face. I itched to give him a haircut. Luca’s curly hair didn’t look so…styled all the time. “You let him be a firefighter?”
The small muscles in Luca’s jaw clenched. I grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed.
“It is the twenty-first century,” I said brightly. “Omegas are allowed to hold whatever job they want.”
Jones looked at me like the family dog decided to start talking. “You’re a beta. It’s not your place to make decisions about the pack omega.”
Luca shot him an icy look. “Sunshine’s place is wherever she wants it to be. And yes, Julian is an adult and allowed to do whatever makes him happy.”
“Okay, okay.” Talia held up her hands with a laugh. “We were just worried about Julian, that’s all.”
Our food came, along with some appetizers. It was delicious but hard to enjoy with Talia sighing about their entrées not arriving yet.
Talia talked about their plans to go on vacation to Europe and a beach house they were hoping to purchase. She directed most of her comments at me, in between rubbing Stephen’s or Jones’ arm suggestively.
Luca took it all in stride, letting my friend take the reins of the conversation. I asked Talia about her bakery, because it was a safe topic and something she would talk about at length, but she just rolled her eyes.
“It’s doing well now that Stephen and Jones are supporting me.” Talia took a sip of wine. “I know you have your family business, and you’re hooked up with Logan’s catering company, but you’d think your best friend would get some consideration too.”
I swallowed hard. Talia was in one of those moods. Occasionally her happy moods shifted to something harsher. She’d told me during an argument that sometimes she felt like she was giving all of herself to other people without anything in return.
Becca and I had learned to read these moods and fend them off as best we could. Mostly by reminding her of all the great times we had, all the ways we had supported her.
Talia usually apologized afterward. And it wasn’t like I minded helping my friend through her own insecurities, since heaven knew I had my own.
But of all the awkward places for Talia to throw herself a pity party, this was the worst.
“You do. I asked you three years ago?—”
“That’s not what I mean.” Talia shook her head. “It’s not important. I just saw you with your new alpha and thought a double date would be fun.”
“It is,” I said, lying through my teeth. “We should do this with Logan and Julian too.”
Mostly because I wanted poor Luca to have back up. Luca picked up my hand and kissed the back of it. “What a lovely idea. Logan could do a private party at Talk of the Town.”
“Oh, Chef Kahele is Logan?” Stephen perked up. “The restaurant is getting excellent reviews.”
“He’s worked really hard to get there,” Luca said, nodding. “We’re proud of him.”
“You could bring Pack Beneventi,” Jones said, nodding at Talia. “Rob is looking for more investors, and Chef Kahele could use the exposure.”
Talia’s eyes widened, and my stomach sank. For the love of muffins, please don’t make me be the one to dish out the dirty laundry.
Talia looked at me, almost hopeful. “We might be able to?—”
“Thank you for your thoughts, but Chef Kahele has his hands full with the Michelin star people, as well as Cosmic Bonds, and some other projects.” Luca winked. “Very hush-hush, but there’s talk of people coming up from L.A, and filming.”
Stephan and Jones looked impressed.
“I’m sure we could do a date?” Luca looked at the two men. “But I’d prefer to keep it smaller.”
The tone of his voice made it sound like he was doing them a favor. Even Stephen stopped looking bored and nodded. “Of course, of course. Sometimes a more intimate setting is preferable.”
I wanted to give Luca a standing ovation. I wasn’t good with words, but Luca managed to make them thank him for not including other people.
The rest of dinner went smoothly enough, although Talia and Jones kept touching each other under the table and that was just awkward. I barely tasted the dessert course, and by the time we left with promises to get together at Talk of the Town, I was numb.
As soon as Luca settled into the driver’s seat, I sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Luca looked surprised.
“Talia crashed our date. She’d suggested a double date before but I thought I’d have time to plan it out.”
Luca slid the key into the ignition, but instead of turning on the car, he turned to look at me. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”
“I should have told her no. Tonight was our time to get to know each other better. Instead, she made it weird.”
I looked out into the night, counting the stars. I should have stood up for what I wanted and told her that we couldn’t do it tonight. It would’ve hurt her feelings, but now I was worried that Luca would think he wasn’t as important to me.
Luca brushed his hand over mine. “Sunshine. Sweetheart. It’s fine. I’m not upset.”
“ I am,” I said, unable to keep the snap out of my voice. “We’re finally on a romantic candlelit dinner, and then Talia shows up. I should have told her not tonight, but I know she would’ve been upset, and I’m so tired of fighting with her.”
Luca made a noise in his throat, taking my hand into both of his. “It’s hard when you’re not on the same page as a friend anymore.”
“It’s so hard,” I said, my frustration leeching through into my voice. I turned to look at him. “But I’m sure you’re tired of my stupid friend drama. I know I am.”
“But I do want to hear about it.” Luca brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “I want to hear about everything, Sunshine. The good and the bad.”
“She’s not perfect,” I said. “Talia does things that annoy and bother me, but so does everyone else.”
“Hmph.” Luca’s hand stayed holding mine and the gesture was so comforting I could have stayed like that forever. “Do you want me to talk or just listen?”
It was a great question. I closed my other hand over his. “Talk, please. Whatever advice or ideas you can give me. I have a sinking suspicion she’s going to be more easily upset as I get closer with all of you.”
“I think she will.” Luca sighed. “Her wanting to double date tonight was her wanting you to see she has a pack too. But I don’t know that they’re very committed, so that’s not actually going to make her happier. The result is that she lashes out at you, tries to make you feel smaller, like the comments about how you didn’t choose her business.”
“She gets that way sometimes.”
“Sure. I’m terrible at task management, but I’m also an adult who has to manage my own flaws. I don’t lash out at Logan for not reminding me to set the meeting times.”
I ran my fingers over the back of his hand as I considered his words. He was right. I was terrible at managing my own tasks, but I didn’t make that Talia’s fault.
“I’m not saying there’s an easy solution, love.” He brought my hand to his mouth again, dropping another kiss on it before letting it go to start the car. After we had turned out of the restaurant car park, he looked at me again. “Just trying to help you see this isn’t all on you. Some of this is on your friend, who should be trying to work past her own issues.”
“You’re right.” I frowned. “Where are we going?”
“A surprise.” Luca grinned, his eyes twinkling. “I decided I’m going to steal you for a little while longer.”
“Oooh, steal me?” Heat zipped through me. “Like a barbarian in a cave?”
“Just like.” He purred. “Don’t let my suave good looks fool you, kitten. I’m an alpha and I take what’s mine.”
My whole body shivered. “And I’m yours?”
“Yes.” His voice was firm. “You’re mine. That lousy last pack of yours was stupid enough to make you feel lesser, like you weren’t something to be treasured. I won’t be making the same mistake.”
“I like the sound of that.” I shifted so I could sit closer. “Thank you, for putting up with my silly friend stuff.”
“Whatever else is an alpha for?” Luca picked up my hand and kissed it again.
“I mean, you have done a good job of showing me other ways you can be useful,” I said, my breath catching.
“Patience, kitten. Patience.”
We drove down the highway, the stars glittering above us, and I let the tension go. Excited for whatever else Luca had planned.