Chapter 3
The office doors opened softly, the quiet elegance of the space only emphasizing the tension swirling between them.
Ava stood there for a moment, her gaze fixed on Luca as he stood in front of his polished, mahogany desk.
His office was a masterpiece of modern luxury—sleek black leather chairs, rich wood paneling, and walls lined with large windows offering a stunning view of the Las Vegas skyline as well as the desert beyond.
A few abstract pieces of art hung on the non-windowed walls, muted tones of gold, silver, and red adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise cool, controlled environment.
The soft hum of the air conditioning was the only sound, underscoring the stillness in the room.
And then there was Luca. He was all hard angles, impressive muscles, and cold, dark eyes that seemed to pierce through everything he saw.
But over the last six months, she’d watched those eyes change.
The icy, impenetrable gaze would soften when he looked at her.
Those same eyes, once as cold as winter, would shift, turning into something warmer, something that sent a shiver down her spine.
Hot, even. When he touched her, when he was close, those eyes—dark and intense—would shift from the chilly and menacing to the molten heat of dark chocolate.
What was it about him that irked her so much? Was it the way his mere presence seemed to make her thoughts go fuzzy, as if she couldn’t focus? Was it because of the steamy dreams where this man did salacious things to her? Absolutely. And yet, had she resisted him at every opportunity? You betcha.
Franco and Leone claimed they understood it, at least on the surface.
They said her stubborn resistance to Luca came from her need for control, the same need she’d clung to since childhood.
After all, she’d grown up in chaos, dragged from one bad decision to the next by a mother who never thought ahead, always grasping at something new.
Of course Ava craved order, of course she fought like hell to keep her grip on the world she’d built with her own hands.
To them, Luca threatened that—because he could so easily tip her carefully ordered life into a freefall.
But even Ava knew that wasn’t the whole truth.
Her resistance wasn’t only about control, or fear, or old scars.
It was something more dangerous, something she didn’t dare name.
The chemistry between them was undeniable.
It thrummed in the air whenever he was near, whenever he touched her—making her head spin.
And now, with him standing just a few feet away, that same attraction pulsed through her, her thoughts swirling with confusion and longing.
Ava blinked, her attention snapping back as a waiter rolled in a linen-covered cart, the savory scents of breakfast filling the air. But she couldn’t focus on the meal being set before her. No, her mind was still racing, trying to process what he’d said. He had said our wedding, hadn’t he?
Ava felt a flush of disbelief spread through her. Was the man delusional? They hadn’t even gone on a date, and he was talking about their wedding? Surely, he’d lost it—his power and wealth had finally fried his brain sockets. The very thought of marrying this man was absurd.
But before she could fully grasp the weight of his words, the waiter walked out of the room, pulling the door closed, leaving them alone once more.
Luca’s eyes never left hers. His voice cut through the silence like a blade. “Have a seat.”
It was a command, wrapped in the smooth, authoritative tone of a man used to getting what he wanted.
Ava was tempted to resist, to refuse, to walk out of the room just on principle.
But she knew that look in his eyes. It was the same look he always gave her—the one that dared her to challenge him, to make her fight him for control.
And as much as she hated it, something about that look made her feet move forward.
She lifted her chin, her pride intact, and walked over to the chair in front of his desk.
She deliberately kept a foot of space between them.
“We are not getting married,” she corrected, her voice strong, but inside, she was trembling with something she didn’t want to admit.
She sat down quickly, her gaze flickering to the food before her.
But before she could say another word, Luca’s hand slid along her arm, his touch gentle but firm.
It wasn’t sexual, not yet. But her body reacted immediately, a wave of warmth flooding through her, as if every nerve ending had come alive. This man. His touch. It awakened parts of her that had been neglected for far too long.
“You’re having problems with Riko Tanaka,” Luca began.
He poured coffee from a silver urn into their cups, his movements fluid and practiced.
“He’s head of the Gerikyuu gang. They tried breaking into the Seattle scene, but my friend, Max Diatras, pushed them out.
They’ve been sniffing around the edges of my territory lately. ”
Ava’s eyes widened as the realization hit her. “That’s alarming, but doesn’t answer the question of why a Japanese gang is terrorizing me.”
Luca placed several waffles on her plate, the golden brown squares steaming softly. He then offered the carafe of warm maple syrup, the sweet scent filling the air. As he did, his eyes lingered on her for a moment, scanning her face as if evaluating her every thought.
“I don’t know the specifics of their plan. So far, they’ve merely been a nuisance. I’ve been swatting them away,” he continued, pouring the syrup with deliberate care. “But it looks like I’ll need to take a more direct approach.”
“But…still, why are they focusing on me, Luca?”
Luca carefully laid several layers of lox over a plain bagel, the delicate slices arranged with mathematical precision.
He glanced at Ava, nodding toward her waffles, silently urging her to eat.
The warm, buttery scent of the waffles filled the air, but Ava’s mind was too clouded with questions to focus on the food.
Her stomach twisted in knots, the mix of frustration and confusion making it difficult to think clearly.
“I suspect that they figured out there’s something between us,” Luca continued calmly. “Tanaka is presumably targeting you to send me a message.”
Ava froze, her eyes wide. “But… we’re not together!” Her voice cracked slightly with urgency. The idea was absurd—why would someone go after her when the real target was Luca? She was just a business owner, trying to make a name for herself in the city.
Luca didn’t seem fazed. “We are now,” he pointed out, his voice smooth and matter-of-fact. He set the bagel down, taking a sip of his coffee as he regarded her with a steady, calculating gaze. “We’ve been circling each other for months now. But it’s time. You need protection, and I need a wife.”
Ava’s breath caught in her throat, and she stiffened, offended by his audacity. “So, what? I’m just supposed to acquiesce?” Her question came out sharper than she intended, her irritation growing with every passing second.
Luca shrugged, as if the matter were settled in his mind.
“You can try to get rid of Tanaka on your own, if you’d prefer, Ava.
But the last time Tanaka tried to invade someone’s territory, he burned down the businesses of his targets.
That was in Seattle. My friend had to push Tanaka out and rebuild the businesses that were destroyed.
” He paused, his eyes locking onto hers with unrelenting intensity.
“But I suspect that you’d rather avoid such a hiccup to your business. ”
The weight of his words sank deep into Ava’s chest, her stomach churning at the thought of losing everything she’d worked so hard for.
She swallowed, a lump of terror almost choking her.
The image of her precious building being reduced to ash flashed before her eyes.
She’d been devastated last week when she’d seen the graffiti scrawled across the sidewalk and the side of her building.
The slashed tires had been an unexpected expense, but she had covered replacement tires for her staff.
Today’s issue with the industrial plugs hadn’t cost her anything except lost productivity, but her budget was razor-thin. Every disruption hurt.
“Luca, I make excellent-quality basics,” she began, her voice tight with emotion.
“My clothes are simple, but well made. My distribution network is expanding, and every step of this process has been tough. I don’t want to lose my business to a turf battle between you and some Japanese thug.
” She set her coffee cup down on the table beside her untouched waffles, the food irrelevant at the moment.
She couldn’t stomach it right now. “However, I won’t be forced into a wedding either. ”
She shifted impatiently in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “We don’t even like each other! We can’t get married. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Her protest hung in the air between them.
She felt her chest rise and fall with every breath, a mixture of disbelief and frustration building inside her.
She couldn’t understand why Luca seemed so certain that this was the only path forward.
They weren’t even close to being in a relationship, let alone ready for marriage.
Yet here he was, with all his power, his plans, and his ridiculous assumptions about what she needed.
Luca leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving hers, as if her objections were merely a minor inconvenience.
Ava couldn’t deny the strength of his presence, the way it filled the room and made it impossible for her to look away.
But despite her attraction to him—despite the way his mere proximity made her pulse quicken—she refused to be steamrolled.
She had worked too hard to build her life, her business, and her independence to let anyone dictate her future.
Luca considered several options, is eyes conveying his solution.
As his gaze moved lower, Ava immediately understood what was running through his mind.
Immediately, she felt a rush of heat course through her.
Her breasts tingled; her nipples tightened in response to the weight of his eyes.
It was as if he could see straight through her, and the thought alone made her pulse quicken.
When his eyes lifted, meeting hers with that knowing gleam, she knew he was fully aware of the effect his gaze had on her.
“Stop it!” she hissed, her voice straining as she grabbed her coffee cup, using it to hide the evidence of her growing arousal, hoping the gesture would distract him, even though she knew it was futile.
“We’ll be–”
Ava scowled at him. “If you tell me one more time that we’re going to be married, I’ll walk out of here and risk whatever the Yakuza is going to do to me,” she snapped, her jaw tight with anger and resentment, but her heart was racing too fast to be completely sure of her own resolve.
She was furious—furious at the audacity of his assumption, but also undeniably shaken by how her body had reacted.
Luca paused, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he gave a slow nod. “Fine,” he said. His tone remained calm, almost too calm. “It’s up to you, if you want my help,” he added, with a certain finality. “Your choice.”
Something inside Ava relaxed slightly at his words, as if a small weight had been lifted. But just as quickly, the tension returned, making her stomach tighten all over again. “If I want your help, then I have to...?”
“Marry me. Yes. Those are my terms.”
Ava narrowed her eyes, her lips curling into a scowl. “I read an amusing article about a guy in Seattle who offered those terms to a woman recently.”
Luca smirked, a spark of amusement in his eyes. “It wasn’t recent. It was over a year ago. Max and Lexie are expecting their first child soon.” He winked at her playfully, grabbing a grape and popping it into his mouth. “Seemed like a good plan. It’s certainly worked out for them.”
Ava started to rise from her seat, and then paused, a flash of doubt crossing her face. “How bad is Tanaka?”
“Bad,” Luca agreed, his eyes turning cold. “However, he’s not as ruthless as I am.” He set his coffee down. “Understand this, Ava. Under my protection, no one will hurt you. They wouldn’t dare.”
She stared at him, her mind whirling as she saw the truth in his eyes.
There was no doubt that Luca was powerful, ruthless when he needed to be.
And as much as she hated to admit it, she could see that he was offering her something no one else could.
Protection, security. Her business, her dream, could survive this, but at what cost?
“Will you protect me and my business while I consider your offer?” she asked, her voice steady despite the swirl of emotions inside her.
Luca’s expression softened just slightly, the tension around his eyes easing for the briefest moment. He nodded. “Of course. Why don’t you come back here tomorrow and we can discuss terms?”
Ava hesitated, her eyes locking with his. “Terms?”
Luca’s lips curled into a small, confident smile. “Yes, Ava. Terms. Don’t worry. We’ll make sure they’re fair.”
He glanced up when someone knocked on the door.
A moment later, a man stepped in and Luca nodded and stood up.
“We’ll negotiate an agreement that is amenable to both of us.
” His assistant stepped forward and handed something to Luca.
He took the leather bound tablet, flipped it open, read through whatever information was there, then nodded sharply at his assistant.
“Two minutes,” he said, then returned the tablet.
The man departed as Luca turned to Ava. “There’s just one thing I’d like you to consider while contemplating my offer, Ava,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“This,” he replied, pulling her gently, but firmly into his arms. Ava wanted to argue. She really did! It was her right to decide if she wanted to be kissed or not.
However, that wasn’t how it happened. Luca pulled her into his arms, his hard, muscle-packed body hot against her suddenly chilled skin.
She opened her mouth to argue, but he was already kissing her.
His tongue teased, his teeth nipped, his hands molded her against his body.
And Ava was lost! The unexpectedly sensuous kiss had her moaning, her arms wrapping around his neck as she unconsciously pressed closer.
Unfortunately, he pulled away before Ava was ready. He held her in his arms for another moment, keeping her steady. Ava took a deep breath as he kissed her forehead, then walked away.