Chapter 0244


    As I anxiously study Luca, waiting for his next move …damn, but I can’t help but notice how good


    he looks. Luca’s freshly showered, dressed in the Cadet ck that makes him look so sharp, his


    hair falling a little into his face in a way that just begs me to touch it, wanting to push it back. His lip


    is a little swollen and a bruise spreads beneath his left eye, but I don’t know – something about it


    really works for him. He just looks tough and sexy and a little dangerous in a way that I really, really


    like.


    “Don’t worry,” Luca says with a smile as he puts up a defensive hand, smiling around at us in a way


    that makes his dimples re. I melt, just a little…


    Because god, he’s just so cute –


    “I’m not going to flip out,” Luca continues, shaking his head at himself like he’s disappointed in how


    he actedst night. “I’m just…here for breakfast. As promised.”


    Luca steps into the room a little more as he closes the door, his eyes moving over Ben and Jesse


    and Rafe before falling on me like that’s the only ce they want to rest. I hold his gaze, a little


    smile on my mouth. Because, I mean, I really am happy to see him – I’m always happy to see him.


    But…what do we do now? Do I…should I get up and hug him? Throw myself into his arms, which is


    what I really want to do?


    “Hey,” he murmurs, the corner of his mouth turning up in a smile that’s just for me.


    “Hi,” I whisper back, though I know he can hear me. A quick pulse of joy and anxiety and apology


    and warmthes down the bond, letting me know that he’s still conflicted but that he’s really,


    really happy to see me.


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    I grin, because I feel the same way.


    “Of course there’s enough coffee!” Rafe says, his voice booming and making me jump as he steps


    around me and plops the silver coffee pot on the table with a loud thump, clearly intent on breaking


    the vibe between Luca and me. “So,” he says, straightening up and putting his hands on his hips.


    “Rumor has it that you’ve been secretly dating my sister for months. Are you going to be nice to her


    today?”


    And I burst into a grin when I see Luca grimace a little as he runs a hand through his hair, because I


    suddenly realize that Luca’s been keeping a secret too. This whole time, he’s been secretly dating


    his friend’s sister – which I’m pretty sure is against the rules, when ites to guy friendships.


    “Of course I’m going to be nice to her,” Luca murmurs, looking around Rafe and finding me again,


    taking in my wide grin. Benughs as he moves to the coffee table, carrying tes of pastries and


    cups for the coffee.


    “Good,” Rafe says, the words carrying a great deal of weight. “Ariel?” he says, turning to me. I sit up


    in surprise. “Go get showered and changed – you’re a mess.”


    I squeak in appalled surprise, but when I look down at myself I realize that he’s right. I am very


    rumpled. And if we’re going to have a nice big chat, I’m going to want to look and feel my best.


    “Fine fine,” I mutter as Ben offers me a cup of coffee made just how I like it. “But if you all eat all the


    breakfast while I am gone, I’m going to be mad!”


    “No promises!” Jesse calls after me as I carry my coffee into the bathroom and work on making


    myself more presentable.


    About twenty minutester, when I draw the curtain back from my nook, freshly showered and


    changed with my hair braided onto my head but not yet tucked beneath my cap, I jump when I


    realize that Luca is leaning against the firece about a foot to my left, clearly waiting for me to


    come out.


    “Hi,” he murmurs, immediately slipping an arm around my back and tugging me to his side, lowering


    his face to my hair and taking a long, slow sniff of my scent. “I like this,” he murmurs, “your scent by


    itself, not all mixed up with Jesse, of all revolting people.”


    I grin, pleased despite my anxiety, leaning into him and putting a hand on the hard muscle of his


    stomach, looking up into his face. “Still mad at me?”


    “Livid,” he whispers, but the way he smiles, and tugs me closer…I have to bite my lip, because I


    think it means we’re going to be okay. I tilt my chin up, wanting nothing more than to –