Chapter 14
“Tell me what’s going on,” Ava demanded as soon as she stepped into Luca’s penthouse later that night.
Luca had been watching her arrival on the security cameras, so he knew exactly how agitated she was.
But seeing her in person was something else entirely.
She was literally trembling with anger, tense with frustration.
And yet, there was something about that, something about the way she couldn’t fully control herself around him, that filled him with a deep satisfaction.
And now, she was in his home. His space.
Good thing he’d made her a cocktail. He flashed her a small smile as he offered her the drink. “Lemon drop martini?”
Luca watched her blink.
She had come in braced for impact — shoulders squared, chin lifted, that dangerous spark in her eyes that meant she’d rehearsed an argument on the drive over.
Instead, he offered her a martini.
The shift disoriented her. He saw it in the faint hitch of her breath, the way her fingers curled as if they were meant to clutch a weapon, not accept a stemmed glass. She’d expected war. He’d given her civility.
It amused him more than it should have.
Ava Santos, prepared to set fire to his penthouse… undone by chilled gin and a measured welcome.
He held her gaze as he extended the drink, watching the calculation flicker across her face. She didn’t know what to do with kindness from him. She didn’t know what to do with restraint.
Good.
He preferred her off balance.
She crossed the threshold, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor of his penthouse.
The place was luxurious—sleek black furniture contrasted with soft taupe and gray walls.
Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a panoramic view of the Las Vegas skyline, the glittering lights of the Strip just a glance away.
The room felt warm, welcoming, yet undeniably elegant.
Nothing pretentious, but everything about it screamed comfort and wealth.
His home was meant to impress without being showy, and Luca was pleased to see it had the desired effect on Ava, even if her frustration remained.
“Thank you, but I’d rather discuss what’s going on and why I’m caught in the middle,” she said, dumping her purse onto one of the chairs.
She shrugged off her lightweight coat, the cool night air of Las Vegas making it necessary despite the brutal heat of the day.
She was clearly more rattled than she let on.
Luca took a step closer. “It’s sweet and tart,” he promised, his voice low, drawing her attention back to the drink in his hand.
Ava hesitated, her eyes darting between the martini and Luca.
Her gaze flickered over him for a moment before looking at the drink again.
The tension between them crackled, and he could tell she was weighing her options.
She was clearly uncomfortable, still not entirely at ease with what he wanted from her.
“Fine,” she grumbled, walking—no, stomping, but in that delicate, Ava way—over to him.
As she took the glass from him, he noticed how carefully she avoided touching his fingers.
It amused him, the little avoidance, but Luca knew that wouldn’t last. He was determined that there would be a great deal of touching tonight.
She took a tentative sip, her lips just brushing the rim. Her eyes closed briefly, and when she opened them again, he saw the softening. “Oh, you’re good,” she muttered, more to herself than to him. That was all he needed to see.
Luca took a step closer, letting his presence fill the space between them.
The air was thick now, heavy with unspoken desires.
“How about a hello?” he suggested, his voice thick with desire and control.
Without waiting for a response, he lowered his mouth to hers, silencing any potential protest with a kiss that was more possessive than affectionate.
It was a kiss meant to claim, meant to remind her of where she was.
He wasn’t about to let her pretend there was nothing between them, especially not after anticipating this moment all damn day.
Ava was still frustrated, but Luca could feel the tension in her body begin to loosen under his touch.
He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, the desire evident on his face.
Tonight, they would talk about their wedding, the contract she’d requested and didn’t get around to discussing earlier.
She would sign it, and then, maybe, they’d take the next step.
But first, he was going to enjoy the time they had before the business of it all settled in.
Luca lifted his mouth, smiling grimly when she licked her lips, as if enjoying the taste of him.
He knew the feeling! Already, his body was hard and aching, eager to progress to the next phase of their evening.
Luca pulled back, suppressing his lust as he focused on answering Ava’s initial concerns. And feeding her. She’d lost weight over the past few days. Not a lot, but enough that he could tell the difference and that could not be allowed. Ava’s curves were…delectable.
“We’re having steak for dinner tonight. Is that acceptable?”
Luca’s voice was calm, but he watched Ava carefully.
It took her several moments to pull herself out of the erotic haze caused by the kiss, and he loved it.
He loved that he had that effect on her—loved that he could make her lose herself, even just for a moment.
He knew that she had the power to do that to him as well.
But Luca had learned to hide his emotions much better than she did.
“Steak is fine,” she replied, but her tone carried a sharpness that made him pause.
“As long as there’s a conversation about the package that was delivered to my office earlier.
Your abrupt departure sent my spidey senses tingling.
I don’t like being a pawn in other men’s games.
So, you’re going to tell me what’s happening, and I’m going to figure out how to protect my company from the antics of your… colleagues.”
Luca noticed the spark in Ava’s eyes now that she’d called him out on his behavior. She was mocking him, but that wouldn’t last long. He couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride at how fierce she was, even when he knew he had to shield her from the darker aspects of his world.
“Tanaka is trying to lure my friend, Max Diatras, away from Seattle,” Luca began, his voice steady, his eyes hard.
He avoided her gaze for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing.
“To do that, he’s been stirring things up here—trying to incite my employees to strike, slowing down construction at several of my project sites, and interfering with my colleagues’ businesses as well. ”
As he spoke, Luca placed a hand at the small of her back, guiding her to the balcony.
The night air outside was chilly, and Ava shivered slightly, her body tense.
Without thinking, Luca slipped off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders, his fingers brushing against her skin as he did so.
He stood behind her for a A moment of silence passed, and Luca could feel the tension in her body.
He noticed the way her eyes flicked to the city lights, as if she were thinking hard, weighing her words carefully.
He shifted slightly, turning her to face him so he could see her face clearly in the soft glow of the lights.
Something moved across her expression then — quick, almost imperceptible. A flicker of resistance. A breath that caught as if she were bracing herself. Her lashes lowered, not in avoidance, but in thought. When she looked back up at him, the guarded edge in her eyes had softened just a fraction.
It was the smallest thing.
But she didn’t step away.
She didn’t loosen his hold.
Instead, her fingers tightened slightly around the stem of the martini glass, as if steadying herself — and then her hand came to rest lightly against his chest. Not to push him away.
Just there. Grounded. The movement was small, unforced, but she didn’t create distance between them.
She stayed where he’d turned her, close enough that her breath warmed his collar, close enough that she could have stepped back — and chose not to.
When she grimaced, Luca knew he’d won. He’d seen it a heartbeat earlier — the moment she’d chosen to trust him, even if she hated admitting it.
“Yes,” she grumbled, clearly not happy with the situation. “I trust you.”
Then she shifted, holding her martini glass carefully to avoid spilling it. “But you have to promise me that your plan won’t be dangerous.”
Luca’s gaze softened as he gazed down into her eyes, framed by long, dark lashes. There was a hesitation in his expression now, something unspoken passing between them. He wanted to tell her everything—wanted to reassure her. But he knew, deep down, that some things were better left unsaid for now.
“I promise that I won’t be hurt,” he offered.
Ava pressed her lips together, unconvinced. “That’s not the same thing.”
He reached out to touch her cheek, his fingers skimming over her skin with a tenderness that belied the storm inside him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, trying to ease the tension between them without answering her directly.
But he sighed, pulling back once again. “Finish your drink,” he added.
“Over dinner, we’ll discuss our wedding. ”
Ava’s eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions—frustration, desire, uncertainty.
But the moment passed quickly, and she took another sip of her martini as he led her to the table.
Despite the tension and the unanswered questions, Luca felt a huge sense of satisfaction at having her here, even if it was just for tonight.