Head still shaking, he cracks asmile.
“Man, that guy has made a lot of terriblemovies.”
“True.” Luca laughs — a low, delicious rumble that makes me squirm on my barstool. “But in this instance, I was referring toGone in 60 Seconds, considering your recent criminalactivities.”
I rollmyeyes.
“You know, if you update your license, that’s one less misdemeanor for them to chargeyouwith.”
The man cannot resist the chance to boss mearound.
“Yes,Dad.”
“Not trying to father you. Trying tohelpyou.”
“Afraid there’s no helping me.” I heave an exaggerated, melodramatic sigh. “It’s a lost cause, at thispoint.”
“Your life isn’t over just because it’s not working out the way you planned. Hell, nothing in my life has gone as planned. I didn’t evenhavea plan. Didn’t go to college. Opted out of high school at sixteen and got my GED. All the same, I’ve managed pretty well for myself. May not have a bunch of letters after my name, but no one cares too much about your professional certifications when you’re uppercutting them to the jaw in a championship bout.” His shrug is light, but his eyes areserious.
As I stare across the counter at him, I realize how little I know about Luca Buchanan. Who exactly is this man, behind the badass exterior and hulking build? Where did he grow up? Is he from a big family, the kind that’s always bickering and laughing and fighting over dinner rolls at the table, or one like mine, full of gaping holes and painful memories that make it hard to look each other intheeye?
I’ve never let myself wonderbefore.
But sitting here, staring at him, I want to know so many things it terrifies me. His favorite colors and restaurants and holiday traditions. His pet peeves and passions and what he plans to do with his life, after his fighting daysareover.
Danger! Fall back!Fallback!
“So, you’re saying I should shift gears and do something out of character?” I force a joking tone, trying to redirect the suddenly serious turn our conversation has taken down a lighter bend. “Maybe run off and join the circus? Become an elephant trainer or an acrobat or a bearded lady? I admit, elephants are cute, but I’m not extraordinarily flexible and no matter how hard I try, I doubt my goatee will be growing inanytimesoon.”
“No.” He disregards my attempt to change the subject, still watching me with a seriousness that sets me on edge. “I’m saying that fancy degrees only get you so far. At the end of the day, they don’t make you any more qualified for life than street smarts. Just a matter of perspective, preparedness, and finding the right path for yourself.” He pauses. “And youwillfind yours,Delilah.”
“You sound socertain.”
“One rule I live by, when it comes to attaining anything: visualize the outcome you desire,” he murmurs. “Applies to my fighting strategies just as easily as it does your financial woes. Don’t focus on every small step in the race; picture yourself at the finish line. You’ll cross it eventually. Not a doubt in my mindaboutthat.”
The butterflies in my stomach begin toswarm.
Shit.
For a man of few words, he certainly can pull out some good ones when he needs to. I myself am struggling to string together my thoughts, so I pour everything I’m feeling into a look and direct ithisway.
Thank you, I don’t whisper, holdinghiseyes.
Anytime, babe, he doesn’t respond, lips tugging up in a half-smile.
Sliding off his stool, he grabs our plates and walks to the sink. “Still don’t get where the outfitcomesin.”
I hop down and follow him, syrup-covered platter in hand. He starts rinsing as I pull open thedishwasher.
“There was a Craigslist ad seeking a housekeeper, three days a week in a rich suburb west of the city. Decent pay, plus I could take the bus there which was really great, since last week my car got seized by two very unfriendly repo-men with the worst cases of plumber’s butt I’ve ever seen inmylife.”
I wince, remembering the horror as they leaned over to attach my adorable Mini Cooper convertible to their towtruck.
“Seriously, I’ve seen tectonic plates with smaller cracks,” Imutter.
I think I hear a choked sound of amusement, but when I glance at Luca, I find him staring down at me with a totally blankexpression.
“What?”