Chapter 12 Isla
ISLA
A box is delivered to my house the following afternoon, shortly after Juniper arrives to help me get ready for the gala. With it came a handwritten note that instantly had my heart racing.
Isla,
I thought it would be fitting for my marketing expert to represent the team in Thunder blue.
Luca
“Holy shit, Isla. This is a Da Silva original.”
My jaw was already on the floor when I pulled out the gorgeous blue dress. But at Juniper’s reverent whisper of the designer’s name, it falls even farther.
“I can’t wear this.”
“You absolutely can and will.”
I let Juniper take it from me, and she holds it up so we can see the whole thing.
The soft satin is floor-length, with a structured sweetheart neckline, and a slit up one leg. It’s the kind of dress a woman dreams about wearing to a fancy event. And a dress that a single mom could never afford.
“It really is the perfect shade of blue,” I murmur. “But I can’t.”
I’ve already turned to grab my phone, set on texting Luca and insisting this is too much.
“Isla, stop.”
I lift my gaze at the command in her tone, blinking rapidly. “He sent me a dress, Juni.”
She nods and sets the dress down before coming in front of me and picking up my hands. “He sent you a beautiful dress.”
I exhale a shaky laugh. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he’s a very rich, very smart man who recognizes that a woman like you deserves a dress like this. You’re going to put it on, then I’m going to do your hair and makeup, and you’re going to turn every head tonight with how stunning you are.”
“I’m nervous, Juni.”
I let her pull me in for a hug. “I know. Try to relax and just have a good time.”
An hour later, Juniper has worked her magic. I’m just applying a little bit of hairspray when I see Charlie’s reflection behind me in the bathroom mirror.
“You look really pretty, Mom.”
“Thanks, kid,” I say with a smile.
“So this guy picking you up. Your boss. Is he cool? Like, you’re okay going with him?”
My heart melts as his voice cracks at the end. My tough guy, trying to protect his mama. That’s the boy I know and love. I turn around and walk over to him.
“He’s cool, I promise. And since he’s my boss, you’re gonna be respectful, right?” I narrow my gaze.
“Yeah, yeah,” Charlie huffs, then turns on his feet to leave my room. “Aunt Juni and I are gonna order pizza now.”
“No movie till you’ve emptied the dishwasher,” I call after him before glancing back in the mirror to make sure my lipstick isn’t on my teeth. Satisfied I look as good as I’m gonna get, I make my way to the living room where Juniper and Charlie are fiercely debating pizza toppings.
“Just get half and half,” I say, right as there’s a knock at the door.
Like gophers popping out of their holes, my son’s and my best friend’s heads both pop up and swivel to look at the door.
“Be. Cool,” I hiss at both of them. Juniper smirks, and Charlie rolls his eyes. These two will be the death of me.
I smooth my hands down my sides and take a deep breath before opening the front door.
“Wow.”
Luca’s voice rumbles that one word, and I struggle not to melt into a puddle at the obvious admiration. To say nothing of how freaking gorgeous he looks.
“I knew that dress would be stunning on you.”
I blush furiously. “Thank you again for it. Please, come in. I just need to grab my purse.” I step back and gesture him inside, hoping my reaction to him isn’t too obvious. “This is my son Charlie, and my best friend Juniper.”
Luca gives them both a warm smile. “Nice to meet you both. Juniper, have we met?” His brow creases slightly. “You’re quite familiar.”
“I’m good friends with Cal Prescott,” she explains, and he nods in understanding before turning to Charlie.
“How are you liking Cedar Creek?” he asks, perfectly polite, and I pray my son responds in-kind. Being protective of me is one thing, but being a jerk to my boss is another, and these days, preteen hormones are making Charlie anything but predictable.
Thankfully, he just shrugs. “It’s cool, I guess.” He stands up and looks my way. “Mom, can I have a pop before dinner?”
I nod, and he walks into the kitchen. I know what he’s doing. He’s purposefully walking past Luca in a way that his right arm is on full display and there’s no chance of Luca not seeing it. He wants to see how my boss responds to his limb difference and to be honest, so do I.
Luca’s eyes widen, which, fine, I can understand. It’s not every day you see a kid missing part of his arm. But it’s the way his one hand goes to the front of his left thigh that surprises me. He grips it tightly, for a second or two, before pulling his hand away and clenching it into a fist.
I can’t wonder what that’s all about right now, though, so I guess I’ll just be thankful he’s not horrified or asking stupid questions.
“Right, well, we should go.” I give Juni’s shoulder a squeeze as I walk by and call into the kitchen where Charlie’s rummaging in the fridge. “Good night, kid. Be good, love you.”
“Night Mom, love you,” is the muffled reply I get in return as I shrug into my wool coat and grab my purse.
“Have fun,” Juni says with an enigmatic smirk. “Don’t worry about rushing home, I’ll stay as late as needed.”
God, could she be more obvious? My cheeks flame, and I pointedly don’t look in Luca’s direction.
We’re both quiet as we walk out the door to a waiting limo with a driver standing by the back door.
“I thought you were driving?” I say, coming to a stop.
His hand lands on my back. “This way, I can give you my full attention all evening.”
My heart races even faster. He’s treating this as more of a date and less of a business outing between two coworkers. Which is both thrilling and slightly terrifying.
I smile at the driver who’s holding the door open, then carefully slide inside the dark interior. My gaze drinks in Luca greedily as he says something to the driver, then carefully steps in himself, sliding into the seat next to me.
He’s 007 perfection in a crisp black suit and tie.
His hair is artfully styled in that sort of messy way that looks completely intentional, and he’s trimmed his scruff neatly.
The threads of silver at his temples make him look dignified and far too sexy.
Forget James Bond, he looks like a younger Patrick Dempsey, only somehow hotter.
It’s funny, I’m normally drawn to a more rugged look. Jeans, T-shirts, plaid, that sort of thing. But being around Luca at work has me appreciating slacks and collared shirts in a new way. And this? Luca in a suit?
Hot enough to cause spontaneous combustion. Which makes me wonder if I should have slid an extra pair of panties in my tiny clutch somehow, because the ones I’m wearing feel damp already.
The way I react to this man should be illegal.
The limo pulls away slowly, and I look out the window for a minute before Luca speaks, drawing my attention his way.
“I take it your son loves baseball as much as you do? We need to get him hooked up with some of the new Thunder merch.”
I can’t hold back my laugh at that as I realize Charlie was wearing a Vancouver Tridents hoodie when I introduced him. “I’m sure he’d love that.”
“Does he play?”
I bite my lip, struggling to decide how to respond.
“He hasn’t before, because of his arm. He was born that way and struggled to find a prosthetic that would work for him.
But he wants to try one now. I guess the Little League here in town offered to help adapt things for him. Do you know much about the league?”
Luca offers me a small smile. “Yeah, I played with them when I was a kid. And the current head of player development is a former player for the Tridents. We’ve chatted several times about collaboration opportunities. He’s a good guy, I’m sure he’ll do what he can to help Charlie.”
The drive to the gala only takes about twenty minutes, and the conversation between us flows the entire time.
I try not to let it show how giddy I am to be in a limo, my first time ever.
But when we pull up at the hotel, a part of me wishes the drive was a lot longer.
Partly because of the limo, and partly so I could have more time with just Luca.
He exits the limo first, and I take his hand to get out. Even through my warm coat, I shiver when he slides it to the small of my back as he escorts me inside the Devereaux Hotel, where tonight’s event is being held.
“Rafe said we have three of the players here tonight. They’re on strict orders to smile and talk up the team alongside the animal shelter,” Luca whispers to me.
I nod, even though he’s not saying anything I didn’t already know. My mind is still struggling to catch up to the look of him, the feel of his hand in mine earlier, and the close proximity of him to me.
He takes my coat and hands it to the staff manning the coat check, then offers me his arm with a crooked smile. “Shall we?”
Part of me feels like I’ve been transported to another world. A world where Luca Calloway is flirtatious and charming, and I’m free to respond in-kind.
“We shall.” I slide my arm through his. To hell with professional boundaries.
Just for tonight, I want to feel like Isla Forrester, a woman who is more than a mom, or an employee, or a marketing expert.
I want to feel like someone who is beautiful and deserving of his flirting and charm.
It’s not as if anything bad will come of a few smiles and my arm looped with his.
And if it does, I’ll face the consequences of giving in to temptation later.
Luca collects a glass of champagne for me and a soda water for himself at the bar.
“Don’t you want a drink?” I ask after thanking him for my glass.
“I don’t like alcohol, never have,” he replies with an easy smile. “I see Rafe and the guys, shall we go and say hi?”