“No, I don’t. We have some time.” He stands, pulling up his black slacks. I can’t help but peek as he tucks himself back into his pants and fastens his belt while I shimmy back into my panties. “But, Raina, I don’t want to go back in there, and I know you don’t either. Let's leave.”
Smoothing my dress, I hesitate. “I have an obligation…” My voice trails off as he cups the side of my face with his palm and tilts my head back so I’m staring into his eyes.
“You don’t have any obligation to him. To a certain degree, what Javier is doing is emotional blackmail. He knows you’re a good person, and he knows you’ll do right by him. But you don’t have to. Leave with me, baby. Please.” A boyish grin overtakes his features, and I can’t say no—I don’t want to.
Something monumental is shifting between us, our feelings changing and growing with each passinghour, and what just happened between us catapulted things into high gear.
My heart soars when our eyes meet, hope sparkling in his gaze.
“Okay. Let's go.”
My heart completely melts when he laces his fingers through mine and tugs me to the door. Cracking it open, he pokes his head out to see if the coast is clear, then opens it all the way.
Smirking, he asks, “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
Breaking into a brisk walk, we make our way down the hall and out the main doors without being spotted. When we’re both in the car and it’s idling, a slight pang of guilt flickers through me as I look back at the church, knowing that I made a promise to Javier and now I’ve up and left him in the middle of his father's service.
But Luciano’s right—Javier is using my kindness against me. Hearing Luce call it emotional blackmail struck a chord, and I didn’t like how it made me feel.
“Hey.” Reaching across the console, he grabs my hand. “You okay?”
“I am.” I smile, pulling my gaze from the cathedral. “We can go.”
Luciano pulls onto the road, and I sink back in the passenger seat, kicking off my boots so I can curl my legs under me. When I’m settled, he pushes his hand in between my thighs in a way that's comforting, holding me as he drives.
In a matter of hours, everything’s changed. It’s both exhilarating and terrifying, but for now I’m choosing to live in the moment and enjoy every minute of my time with Luce, because for all I know, tomorrow he could go back to wanting to keep things professional between us.
God, I hope that’s not the case.
No pun intended.Internally, I groan.
“One more night,” I muse a few minutes later as we wind through the open road with a beautiful view of the vineyards.
I’m ready to go home. I miss my bed, my friends, and Mickey-D. I can’t wait to snuggle that old man and share some French fries with him.
“Actually, we’re leaving tonight.”
“What?”
Luciano looks over at me for a second, beaming. “I arranged for Sully’s jet to take us home tonight so you can sleep on the flight.”
“We’re taking a red-eye?”
“We are.”
“Thank you.” I fight to hold in tears that suddenly threaten to fall.
Wrapping my arm around his, I rest my head against his shoulder, hugging him as best I can, while also reminding myself not to get too comfortable because this could all be fleeting.
And that thought terrifies me more than flying does.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The shock of the day has embedded itself under my skin. When I woke up, I was convinced I’d be in a shit mood and have to put on a fake face, sink into my lawyer persona, and push through being in attendance at a funeral I had no business being at.
Instead… Well, I’m still not entirely too sure what happened. I’m riding Cloud Nine, completely entranced by the woman sitting in the back seat of this cab with me, holding my hand.
