Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It’s been four hours since Luciano abandoned me at Javier’s estate and left me to fend for myself.
Look at me being dramatic again.
Still, even though I understand why he didn't stick around, it hurt when he left. I wanted him to stay. As much as I hate to admit, he brings me a sense of comfort, even though I know I shouldn’t seek any from him.
The angel and devil on my shoulders argue over whether he cares about me, and I can’t seem to figure it out. One minute I think he does, and in the next second, he’s back to being a dick.
We’ve been dancing around each other for weeks now, and I can honestly say I think I preferred the ‘good ol’ days’ when he ignored me. It hurt my heart less when I was able to live in my own delululand and write Mrs. Paladino in a heart on my sticky notes.
Okay, so I haven’t actually done that since high school, but regardless. Keeping him on a pedestal felt different then than it does now.
He freaking left me here.
“Can I get you something else to drink or eat, sweetheart?” Javier’s mother, Alba, asks, emerging from the kitchen with a white floral apron tied around her.
“No thank you, Mrs. Moreno. I’m doing great.”
“We’re about to move out back in about thirty minutes.” She squeezes my shoulder. “That’s when the real party will begin.”
Ah, yes, the real party. Because the sixty people in attendance now doesn’t qualify as real.
From across the room, Javier winks at me and lifts his glass in greeting as he talks animatedly amongst a group of men he introduced as his cousins.
I’ve taken solitude on a comfortable leather chair near a window that overlooks the front of the grounds.
My fingers itch to text Luciano, but I can’t decide if it’d be a good idea or not.
A little more than thirty minutes later, Alba walks down the grand staircase in a lovely, billowing maroon dress and makes an announcement that the festivities are ready to begin and to head outside.
Within seconds, Javier finds me in the crowd and offers me his arm, leading us through the French doors off the back of the house. Immediately, a large white event tent comes into view, and as we enter it, the beauty of what’s inside steals my breath.
It’s set up like a wedding reception, with round tables throughout, adorned with black silk tablecloths and maroon runners, the same shade as Alba’s dress.
Fairy lights twinkle overhead, strung across the top of the tent, and candles flicker on every surface, giving the space a warm glow, which is amplified by the warmth of the outdoor heaters.
“Maroon was papá’s favorite color,” Javier explains as I marvel at how lovely everything looks.
“Had I known the celebration would be so formal, I would have dressed nicer. I could have worn something maroon.”
“You look gorgeous. Truly. Your beauty has been the talk of the family tonight. Come, let's find a seat.”
We’re stopped no less than three times by new guests who have arrived, and I make sure to slip into my role of ‘wife’ as well as I can.
I smile, nod, and say all the right things at the right times.
I lay my palm on Javier’s chest, laugh at all of his jokes, and accept each display of affection he gives in front of his family.
All the while, my mind wanders back to Luciano.
Where did he go? What has he been doing all day?
Why hasn’t he texted me? Should I text him?
Jesus, Raina. Needy much? He couldn’t care less.
After what seems like another hour, I take a seat at the table, and Javier excuses himself to make us both plates of food. Against my better judgment, I pull my phone from my purse and text Luciano.
They’re serving dinner. Hungry?
His message comes through immediately, and my heart does a little flip-flop with excitement.
Until I read his message, then the smile falls from my face.
Asshat Lawyer
No.
I should leave him on read, but my fingers have a mind of their own as they fly over the touch-screen keyboard.
I was just trying to be friendly.
Asshat Lawyer
We’re not friends.
Wow, my bad for thinking we could be.
We can’t be friends, Raina. It’s impossible.
Why?
Because the things I want to do to you are not in the least bit friendly.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I plated you a little bit of everything.
” Javier’s voice cuts through the pounding of my heart, and I drop my phone into my lap like it’s a hot potato.
My cheeks burn—I feel like I’ve done something wrong and have been caught red-handed.
“You look a bit flushed, darling. Are you feeling well?”
“I’m fine.” I tuck my phone into my clutch while smiling down at the plate of food. “This all looks so delicious, thank you.”
Javier kisses my cheek. “Of course,” he says as he sits down in the seat next to me.
Across the table, an older woman begins speaking to him in Spanish, and I drown out the conversation I can’t understand and think about what Luciano said.
How am I supposed to get through the next couple hours without replaying his words?
How long until he’s due to pick me up?
My heart races as I glance at my phone screen to peek at the time.
Let the countdown begin.
I’ve already said goodnight to the Moreno family and made my way to the front so I can wait for Luciano to arrive when I feel Javier’s presence behind me.
Everyone is enjoying the festivities with no end in sight as the sky grows darker.
The front of the mansion is lit by dramatic sconces that hold fire torches and an array of small lanterns that line the entire circular driveway.
The sound of music and laughter carries across the property—it is a lovely celebration, but I’m ready to go.
“You don’t have to leave, you know. We could spend some time together,” Javier muses as he approaches.
“Javier—” I turn to face him, already feeling too exhausted for this conversation.
He was dropping hints all evening about wanting me to stay, and I’ve been starting to wonder if he has an ulterior motive for bringing me here, despite him saying otherwise.
“I know you’re not actually engaged to him,” he declares. Taking a step closer, he brushes his knuckles down the side of my cheek.
“I assure you, I actually am. I’m here to help get you through this transition because the reasons you gave me for wanting my help are valid, but the moment this is over, the divorce papers need to be signed.
Luciano and I are about to start our life together, and I can’t have this looming over me.
” My heart tugs with sadness as I give a false speech that rolls off my tongue as easily as a politician’s lies do.
“You showing up in New York already threw a wrench into our plans, and it took a lot for me to get him to agree to help you.”
Javier tsks, shaking his head as though he doesn’t quite believe me. It makes my heart race—the thought of him catching me in this lie. “If you loved him, you wouldn’t be portraying as such a perfect wife for me.” Reaching both hands to my hips, he squeezes them and tugs me forward.
“I’m just a good actress,” I retort, leaning back to put some distance between us so he can’t kiss me. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“Mmm, I’m not so sure about that.” He hums, his accent curling around his lustful tone.
There’s something about his behavior tonight that’s churning my gut—my intuition telling me to be aware.
He’s put on quite a show for his family, but there’s been a few times he’s glanced at me when he’s not being performative, and there’s been something darker settled behind his gaze.
Anger, maybe? Resentment? I can’t pinpoint it, but as the night has progressed, I’ve caught it more and more.
I step away from his embrace at the same moment I hear the Aston Martin approach. Quickly, I flee, practically jogging down the steps of the mansion to where Luciano has stopped.
He’s already out of the car and walking toward me with a scowl on his face as he looks between me and Javier. A dark look passes over him as he assesses the situation and my demeanor, but I don’t stop.
The second I’m close enough, I hop into his arms without warning, wrapping my legs around his waist. He catches me effortlessly, as if he already knew my intentions, his hands landing on my butt, and I curl my hands around the back of his neck and devour him.
The second my lips touch his, I lose all sense of time, reality, and control. It’s all-consuming, manipulating all the air around me.
I lose my breath.
My heart races as I press myself further into his arms, finally feeling like I’ve come home.
When our tongues meet, he slides one hand up my body until he reaches the base of my neck. His thumb grazes my pulse point, and he groans.
Curling my ponytail around his fist, Luciano holds me close, kissing me as if our lives depend on this very moment. A low growl rumbles through his chest as he turns and walks us to the car, never stopping to break the kiss.
My fingers rake through his hair as I pull him closer, and a small moan escapes when he plants me on the hood of the car. Taking my face between both of his palms, he deepens the kiss more than I thought was possible.
The sound of a door slamming finally causes us to break apart, but even after we do, I don’t allow myself to detach from the warmth of his arms.
Clinging to him, my chest heaves with exertion. My lips are sore and swollen, still tingling from the feel of his kiss, and there’s an ache in my core so powerful I feel like I might combust right here on the hood of the rental car.
Luciano’s stormy gaze bores into mine, a lethal combination of lust, anger, and need. I feel alive under his gaze. Alive and so very, very deprived of the man I’ve been craving for years.
Finally, I tear my eyes away from him and look back at the mansion to see if we have an audience, only to find that we’re completely alone. The door slamming was Javier leaving, and I triumphantly smile to myself, knowing that the kiss was convincing enough for him.
It was convincing enough for me, too.
When I look back at Luciano, he’s halfway to the driver's side of the car.
“Let’s go,” is all he says as he tucks himself inside, and I slide off the hood to get in, too.
“What the hell was that?” he growls as soon as my door closes. He starts pulling away from the estate, refusing to look at me as we become shrouded in darkness, driving further down the long driveway toward the main road.
I don’t answer for a moment, still thinking about the kiss we just shared. I’m momentarily hypnotized, bringing my fingertips to my lips.
I need to snap out of it.
“Javier said he knew we were lying about being engaged. I had to make it convincing.” I shrug, finally buckling my seatbelt.
But we both know I wasn’t just practicing my acting skills.
Javier’s doubt mixed with Luciano’s not-so-subliminal text message became a lethal combination of self-confidence I acted on without thinking.
And now, I’m not so sure if I just made things better or worse.