“No, I likeconfidence. And even then, only when it’s well earned. It’s still not clear if that’s the case with this one.”
Daisy snickers. “What’s the status on all that physical chemistry you two had? Is it still there or nah?”
Oh, how I wish I could answer “Nah.” But that wouldn’t be true. “It’s still there, simmering just below the surface.” The minute the words leave my mouth, I realize they’re a lie. That in fact, when it comes to Luca and me, our physical attraction is above the surface and one bubble shy of a rolling boil.
“Uh-oh again, Chelsea.”
“Would you stop saying that? I’m a professional, and so is he, so we’ve already agreed to ignore our mutual attraction.”
“Wait, you’ve both acknowledged it exists?”
I think about that for a moment. “Yeah, I guess that’s a fair statement.”
“How mature of you both.” Daisy snickers. “Does Mr. Maturity still have those swoony dimples?”
My heart skips a beat as my brain supplies the image of Luca flashing his dimples at me over breakfast this morning. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“And what about his body? Still hot as hell?”
I glance at Luca’s muscular, mouthwatering ass across the courtyard. “He’s even hotter than before, if you can believe it.”
“Oh boy. Sorry to inform you, babe, but a filthy, football-obsessed slut like you won’t be able to resist getting herself secretly fucked by a man like that for long.”
“Oh my God, Daisy.” I turn my back to whisper to her, even though nobody’s looking at me and my earbuds are in. “There are hot bodies all over the damned place here. This isthe NFL, remember? They’re a dime a dozen, baby. I’ll be fine.”Lies, lies, lies!I’ve never in my life seen a hotter body than Luca’s. He’s sheer perfection, at least by my standards.
Daisy cackles like she knows I’m full of crap.
“I’ve gotta go to the next thing now,” I mutter. “Bye for now.”
“Keep me posted, you horny whore!”
Blushing, I disconnect the call, pull out my earbuds, and march toward Luca across the courtyard. We’re not late for the all-team meeting just yet, but if that man remains on his call much longer, we will be.
As I approach, I make out a singular, smiling face on Luca’s screen—one that instantly stops my heart.Satan.That’s who Luca’s chatting with on FaceTime, the person he’s currently laughing up a storm with.
“Maverick’s been keeping Iris and me in stiches,” Roman Maguire is saying as I get within earshot. “I can’t believe how much fun it is having him with me for weeks at a time. I wish I’d done this so much sooner, man.”
I stop a few feet away, realizing the call seems kind of personal and intimate. Shoot. Luca needs to end it now so he’ll have time to put his phone away and get his ass to the auditorium. And yet, I can’t force myself to intrude: It’s too oddly mesmerizing to see such a famous face in such a casual, real-life setting, even if it’s one I’ve been programmed to despise from the depths of my soul.
“Speaking of Iris,” Luca says. “How’s she settling in with you and Maverick at the new house?”
“She loves it. I mean, it’s an adjustment, for sure. But she’s thankfully got good friends from college in LA, so that helps. And, of course, Mav and Iris love each other to pieces.” Satan flashes a megawatt smile at that last bit, and against all odds, the sheer joy on his face makes my heart soften toward him—if only the tiniest bit.
I glance at my watch, a bit anxious about our looming deadline. Considering the time, Luca will surely wrap things up and end the call now, right? Nope.
On the contrary, he suddenly launches into a whole new topic of conversation. “Thanks again for pulling strings with the Thunderbolts for me,” Luca says. “I hope you understand why I said no.”
I’m floored. Luca had the chance to jump ship for the Thunderbolts’ training camp and he turned it down? Well, damn. That puts even more pressure on me to help him make a good impression here with the Mastodons.
“I respect the hell out of you for saying no,” Satan says. “If you’d said yes, I would have been thrilled to have you here with me, but the most important thing is doing what’s right for you, Lukie.”
Lukie? Aw, that’s so cute.
“Thanks for always having my back, Romie.”
Romie and Lukie?Seriously now, who knew the Prince of Darkness and his younger brother were so adorable together?
Shit. What am I thinking? I shouldn’t be swooning at this display of sweet brotherly love. I should be imagining Satan sitting on his throne of brimstone and fire while lording over the worst demons in hell, not feeling impressed he pulled strings to help his beleaguered little brother in his time of need.
