7. Chapter 7 #3
She froze midmotion.
“I knew it.” Luca put down the mug and leaned forward, voice lowering to ensure only Sarah could hear her. “I knew it was you.”
Sarah was going to be sick. She fumbled with the dirty dishes before giving up taking them to the bussing station. Her breath? It was long gone from her ever-tightening chest.
“You were in New York last weekend.”
Sarah grabbed the corner of the small bistro table. An elderly gentleman at the neighboring one gave her a concerned look. “So were you, huh?”
“Have a seat. We should talk.”
Nope. Not gonna talk. Sarah would drag her purse behind her if she had to.
Luca reached across the table and lightly touched her floundering hand. “Please.”
As if she had taken a bullet to the chest, Sarah slumped into her chair, gasping for breath.
She had no desire to feel that woman’s hand on her, yet she couldn’t shake her off. Why do I care about this? She could deny it. She could deny knowing who Angel was. Tell her to go to hell, where angels don’t dwell.
“So you recognized me,” she said instead.
“Wasn’t sure at first.” Luca’s sunglasses threatened to slide down her forehead. “You look a little… different.”
Sarah didn’t say anything.
“Your name is Sarah?”
She bit her lip and looked away. “Yeah.” Before she could respond, she leaned forward and said, “This is a coincidence, I swear. I had no idea who you were. My boss didn’t…”
“Your boss didn’t send you to seduce me as a welcome back to America present?” Why was she laughing? “God, she would.”
How could she laugh like that? What was so fucking funny about this atrocious situation?
“Just like I had no idea that you’re married.”
Luca stopped laughing. “Excuse me?”
“You’re married. I saw and heard you talking about it.”
“I’m not married.”
“Excuse me?”
Luca crossed her arms on the table, determination burning like frost in her eyes. “I’m divorced. I was married until about a year ago.”
“I see.” Sarah supposed that would be easy to look up. “Sorry I accused you, then.”
“Yes, it wouldn’t be good for my image if it got out I had an affair with my friend’s assistant while she was dressed up like an escort and as eager as one.” Luca waggled her eyebrows; Sarah wiggled in her seat. “So what’s that about, hm?”
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
“No.” Luca’s tone deepened. “I suppose not. Because you like living the double life.”
Sarah shifted uncomfortably. Could she go now?
“So you’re never going to say anything to Danica, and I’m not going to say anything to Danica, because that would be unnecessarily awkward. Also, because I have a feeling she doesn’t know what you get up to on the weekends.”
“For the love of God, stop referring to it.”
“I seem to recall you enjoying yourself.”
Could Sarah blush any harder? That was something for Angel to enjoy. Sarah didn’t discuss these things with people.
Certainly not the people she slept with.
“You accused me of having a game.” This was the only thing she was going to say about it. “I’ll have you know I wanted nothing from you other than what you were willing to give.”
Luca cocked her head, but said nothing.
“I’m not looking to be your next Mrs. Blackbourne, at any rate.”
“That’s too bad,” Luca replied. “Because I was going to ask you out on a proper date.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. Not only because of what Luca said, but because of who next walked into the café.
And put his hand on Luca’s shoulder.
“Problem?” Nigel asked. The grip on Luca’s shoulder tightened.
The woman in question looked up into Nigel’s perturbed face. “No problem. Just having a chat with Ms. Clayborn. And you are?”
“My brother.”
Both of them looked at her, Luca with humble curiosity, and Nigel with desperate curiosity. “So you’re the infamous Nigel Clayborn?” Luca shrugged Sarah’s brother off her. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Good things, I take it.”
That sarcastic tone could kill the room. “Only the best.” Luca got up and shielded her eyes with her sunglasses once more. “I must be going. I’ll see you Monday, Sarah.”
The twins were silent as the casually clad Luca Blackbourne exited the café and disappeared into the bright glare of the great outdoors.
“Who was that?” Nigel asked. He did not sit down.
Nor did Sarah meet his eyes that happened to be the same color as her own. “Luca Blackbourne. She’s in town working with Ms. Moreau.”
Nigel inhaled a deep breath. His gaze fell upon the latte cup, now conveniently on Luca’s side. My brother knows what I always get here. She was not surprised when Nigel asked, “Are you screwing her?” He almost gasped. “A woman? I mean… she was a woman, right?”
It was almost adorable how confused he was by a confident woman with short hair, tight jeans, and a tighter T-shirt with breasts so prominently on display.
“No.” Was the disgust palpable enough for Nigel?
Sarah grabbed her purse once and for all.
She was going for a walk in the opposite direction from where Luca went.
She needed to think. Or not think at all. Certainly not with her brother’s judgment choking her at every turn.