14. Josie
“You look beautiful, baby,” Mom says, brushing the side of my head.
“Do you think he’s going to like it?” I ask. It’s the first date I’ve been on since I’ve become a woman.
“He’d be a fool not to.” Mom’s hand drifts from my hair to my cheek. It’s warm, comforting.
The bargain bins of Stillwater Mall were the perfect place to acquire my evening’s ensemble. A black cocktail dress, short enough to catch Luca’s eye but low enough for my parents not to think I’m dressed like a harlot. It shows cleavage, but tastefully so, and glitters beneath any sort of light—even here in the dim light of the kitchen. The dress is paired with black high heels, which took me more than a few hours to break in and get accustomed to walking in. And finally, for Luca’s eyes only, a set of lacy black lingerie. The only part of my outfit I’m hoping he didn’t see while tailing me through the mall.
Where’s the fun if there isn’t at least a little surprise waiting when he unwraps his present?
Butterflies flutter in my belly and a pang of nervous heat rushes to my cheeks. The animal stopped himself from claiming his prize in the confined space of that changing room, but our evening is leading to one place—Luca Palermo’s bed.
A knock comes at the door and Dad’s the first to jump from his chair in the living room. He’s dressed well, by mom’s request, to make a good first impression on the first man I’m bringing to the house.
“I’ll get it,” he says. As any father would, I suspect he wants to have a word with the boy who’s going to take his daughter away from the nest. What he isn’t prepared for is the behemoth of a man who’ll be standing in the door.
“Oh, goodness.” I want to swear or curse, but respect for my mother strips any foul language from my tongue.
“Don’t be nervous, honey.” Mom chuckles. “It’s going to be a wonderful night.”
“One second,” Dad says, stopping in front of the door. A thin wall blocks our view of the short hallway to the kitchen, but we can hear everything.
Mom takes a step back and leans against the kitchen counter. She tilts her head and sticks her ear out to get a good listen of what Dad’s about to put my guest through. No doubt listening in not to embarrass me, but going against Luca, Dad doesn’t have much chance with that.
The door handle makes a sound. Dad starts to speak, but seeing Luca at the door makes the words fall flat in his mouth.
“You’re not Josie.” Luca’s deep voice cuts through the awkward silence.
“Mr. Palermo.” Dad clears his throat between words. “P-please c-come in.”
“No, thank you,” Luca says. “I’d rather wait.”
Mom’s brow furrows, and she gives me a quizzical side-eye glance. This isn’t the soft-spoken and nervous voice she was expecting, just as I’m certain Dad wasn’t ready for the giant slab of meat blocking the doorway.
“I should go,” I say, throwing my arms around Mom in a last quick hug.
When I break it and take my leave, she follows me out into the hall to see Luca towering over Dad. His head barely clears the doorframe, and his golden eyes instantly fall on me.
“Good evening.” Luca tips his head in Mom’s direction.
“Hello,” Mom says. Her eyes betray the fake smile creeping around her mouth.
Something’s wrong. I can tell by the way Dad’s shivering in his boots and Mom’s fighting back words.
Every time I meet Luca’s eyes, it’s like I’m falling in love all over again. He looks at me like I’m the only woman in the world, like it’s the first time he’s ever seen me, and that he can’t believe a woman like me could exist. Those golden orbs drink me in from head to toe, and he analyzes every feature. Somehow, it’s only made better by the fact that he never breaks eye contact.
“Are you ready?” Luca asks. He doesn’t dare breach the threshold of our front door.
“I am.”
I give Mom a hug goodbye and she whispers something in my ear. I can’t quite make it out, and where I want to believe it’s some kind of message about the night of fun I’m going to have, I know it’s more along the lines of be careful.
I don’t need to be careful when I have my protector at my side.
“Pleasant seeing you again, Mary,” Luca says.
He knows my parents? Of course, he does, he’s been watching me for months. It’s not so strange to believe he’s done the necessary due diligence on them. Still, there’s something odd about the way he says it. And he doesn’t utter another word to Dad. Hell, Luca doesn’t even give him another side-eyed glance.
Something’s up, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.
But maybe not before we have our fun-filled evening together.
I brush past Dad, and Luca takes my hand in his.
“Bye, honey,” Dad says.
“Buh-bye.” I can’t stop my gleeful chuckle while Luca drags me down the hall like a caveman unable to control his urges.