And I’ll answer, even if I don’t intend to. Because Luca Buchanan knows the value of words. He times them to perfection and never wastes them on anything irrelevant. It’s an impressive quality, albeit a worrisome one; it doesnotbode well for my ability to keep anything secret fromtheman.
I stare at Harry and Potter, feeling my lips tug up as I listen to their joyous giggles echoing across the park. It’s almost the summer solstice, still light despite the fact that it’s well past six in the evening. We should head back home soon, but they look so happy on the swings I decide to give them a few moreminutes.
When the silence starts to feel heavy, I clear mythroat.
“Do you havesiblings?”
“No.” Luca glances at me. “Not as far as I know, anyway. My parents weren’t exactly in thepicture.”
“Oh,” I murmursoftly.
“I shared a few foster homes with different kids, over the years, but those placements never lasted too long. Closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister is Zoe, and she’sgonenow.”
My heart aches for him. I never really considered the fact that when Parker West swept into town and simultaneously swept Zoe Bloom off her feet, taking her away from Boston in favor of adventure on the high seas, she left Luca behind without anyone else to callfamily.
Is he lonely?I wonder suddenly.Can a man like Luca, who has the whole world at his fingertips — money, women, fame — ever truly bealone?
I don’t have to look far to know the answer to that question. I may’ve been raised in the lap of luxury, but I’ve always felt like an outsider with my own flesh and blood. Mimi was the only one who ever understood me, and she’slonggone.
“I’m sorry you lost her,” I tell him,meaningit.
“Don’t be. I’m not. She literally sailed off into the sunset with the guy of her dreams. Me wishing she was here would be the same as me wishing she didn’t get her happyending.”
“That’s assuming there’s only one path to a happy ending.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Aren’t you the one who assured me there’s more than one way to find your bliss, that there are plenty of different routes to reach the same destination, that no one cares how you run the race, only that you cross the finish line,yadayadayada?”
His face twists inamusement.
“What?” I ask,defensive.
“Wasn’t aware you werelistening.”
“I always listen.” I pause. “I might not always agree with your bossy, macho-man antics, but I alwayslisten.”
“I’m notbossy.”
“Riiiight, and I’m not about to be evicted.” I shake my head. “Didn’t realize you were also a card carrying member of the Living In Denial Club. Meetings are every Wednesday, followed by lightrefreshments.”
He grins at me, a flash of white teeth and dimples, and the sight makes me feel a bit light-headed. “You’re funny. Didn’t know thataboutyou.”
“Humor is one of my chief attributes,” I say, slightly offended that he hadn’tnoticed.
“Sass, maybe. Knew you were sassy from the first minute we met. But funny is a different story.” His eyes are warm on mine. “Learning all kinds of new shit about youtoday.”
My brows go up. “Suchas?”
“For starters, there’s a whole lot of substance beneath all that style you’re constantly flashingaround.”
I open my mouth to object but he cutsmeoff.
“Then there’s the fact that you’re incredibly stubborn, seeing as you need help more than anyone I’ve ever met, but continually refuse to askforit.”
“That’snot—”
“You’re a bit of a mess, but you’ll neveradmitit.”
“I don’tthink—”
“Plus, you’re a great fuckin’ kisser, with the softest hair I’ve ever run my fingers through and a mouth I could stare at all damn day, when it’s not spouting bullshit at me.” He pauses, voice going low. “I take it back. Gotta admit, kinda like yourbullshit,babe.”