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BECKA
Aloud squeal of joy pierced my ear drums, making me flinch. Then Arianna was jumping into my arms that I had instinctively held out in self-defense. She hugged me hard enough to take the air from my lungs, and then it was both of us hanging on for dear life.
I buried my head into her hair and neck, squeezing tight enough to feel I was going to crush her tiny form. It felt so good to see her. Finally seeing her in person made me realize just how desperate I was. How being apart for so long had really affected me.
Arianna was the wind in my sails when I felt lost at sea. The person I could always count on to hold the pieces of my crumbling life, while she waited for me to be ready to put them back together.
Emotions started to swell and I could feel my eyes getting hot.
I broke the hug before my tear ducts had a chance to form full tears. I hated crying. I did enough of it as a little girl, and all it ever did was paint a target on my face. So, I promised myself I would never cry in front of people again. I would hold everything back, even if it killed me. A strength or a weakness? I never could decide.
“Oh my God, I missed you girl!” Arianna grabbed my arm and spun me around in a circle. “Sexy as ever. Do you straight live at the gym now?” For someone who grew up in Boston, Arianna only had the slightest of accents.
I laughed. “No! And I don’t know what you are talking about, sexy lady? How did you get even more beautiful?”
I took in Arianna in her blood red, tight fitting dress that hugged her slim body like a second skin. It did wonders to complement her dark brown, near-black hair, olive skin and stunning pair of cognac colored eyes. Arianna was gorgeous. She knew it, but never flaunted it.
“I’m so happy you’re here Becka,” she said with glossy eyes.
I squeezed her hands in mine. “Me too.”
“Oh, let me introduce you to Matteo.” Arianna linked her arm in mine and led me into the wide-open office space.
It was all sleek and modern, with colors of grey and black that gave it a very masculine feel. It had a lounge section with two small couches facing each other, sitting against the glass overlooking the club below. A large conference table on the opposite side and a door that led to a private bathroom. The far end was dominated by a very large desk where Arianna’s fiancé was approaching from.
Damn.I was only glad that I didn’t say the word out loud. The man made an impact. Dark curly hair, cut short and styled on top. Deep brown eyes and a strong featured face that would make any woman stop and stare. And he was all wrapped up in a fitted suit over a hard body. At over six feet, the man was the total package. Nice job Arianna.
“Becka. This is Matteo Russo. Matteo, Becka North.” Arianna gestured between us, grinning ear to ear.
Russo? Why does that name sound so familiar?
“So, this is the infamous Becka? The one that always kept Arianna out of trouble? It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He had a smooth voice to accompany his charming smile that only made his handsome rating multiply. He extended his hand.
I smiled back with a small laugh. “Well, I’m not sure about the keeping her out of trouble thing. More like, got her out once she was already in. And it’s nice to finally meet you.” I gave his hand a firm shake.
His smile grew wider. “That sounds like Arianna.” He followed up with a chuckle, then leaned down and placed the sweetest kiss on Arianna’s lips, and she smiled at him like he’d just hung the moon. I couldn’t help but melt at the sight of them.
Arianna and I had become friends in college. She was an art major and I wanted to be a sports physical therapist. We met at a party one night and seemed to never separate again. Bonding over a lack of patience for stupidity, bullshit, drama and anyone acting fake; it was a life long friendship meant to be.
“I’m so sorry you had to stay in a hotel. My parents’ house is packed with family from out of the country and most of Matteo’s house is still being renovated. They are three months behind.” She finished the last part with a growl of frustration.
Matteo cocked an eyebrow her way, with an amused look on his face. But not at her feminine growl, more like what she had said. She scowled at him with a warning look in her eye as he pulled her into his side.
Ok, weird.Matteo’s reaction pinged my senses, and Arianna’s even more. But maybe I was imagining things. “Girl it’s perfectly ok. You know me, as long as I can find coffee in the morning I don’t care where I sleep. Plus I’m not going to bock at being put up in a luxury hotel.”
“I know, I just feel bad.” There was genuine pain in her voice. But before I could respond another voice came from the back of the office.
“So, is anyone going to introduce me?” The voice was sexy and smooth, like silk streamers brushing along my eardrums.
Matteo stepped aside to let the owner of the voice join the conversation.
Holy Hell.It felt like I’d just been slapped in the face the man was so handsome. I pressed my lips together just to be sure my mouth wasn’t hanging open.
If Matteo could make any woman stop and stare, this man could bring them to their knees. Mine started to weaken the closer he came. Dark brown hair, cut short and combed nice. Striking cheek bones, a strong jaw, tall. Brown hooded eyes that looked right through you and a hard body that no amount of clothes could conceal. All packed in a custom tailored suit. I could stare at him for days and never get tired of what I saw.
As he approached, his eyes seemed speared straight into me and laid me bare. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. I was frozen under his gaze as my mind went blank and he searched behind my eyes for all my darkest secrets. And I was tempted to give them to him.
“This is Luca.” Arianna did the honors. “Matteo’s best friend. He also works for him running the club and several other of Matteo’s businesses.”
