Page 43 of Luca

“Sure, buddy. We’ll try and do it again one night. Mimmo’s not here. He’s with his mother.”

“Oh.” Tarzan’s little face falls. “But maybe if it’s okay with your mother, we can try to plan a backyard movie night sometime.”

Caleb bounces up and down. “Did you hear that, Myla? We’re going to have a backyard movie night.”

Myla smiles broadly at me as she walks over to sit on one of the barstools.

Great, Luca.First you tell this woman you can’t have a relationship with her. Then you maul her in her kitchen. Andnow you’ve not only invited yourself to return, but to throw a backyard party like you live here.

My eyes flick over to Jill’s, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek. She looks completely dazed. She’s probably still coming down off of her orgasm, while simultaneously trying to keep up with the whirlwind around her. I hold my stare for a few seconds longer, hoping to meet her gaze. As her beautiful, steely blue orbs focus more clearly on mine, I lift the fingers still holding onto her arousal and dip them into my mouth. If I’m diving off the deep end, I might as well go headfirst the whole way.

“I’m sorry I didn’t keep them any longer, Jilly. The week has caught up with me. Truitt was fussy. I think he’s ready for bed, and so am I.” Jillian’s mom hands the little turtle off to his mother, then turns, finding me. “Oh. Hi.”

“Mom, this is Luca.”

I wince, realizing Jillian wouldn’t know not to share that name with others. Not that Luca is that far off from Luke. Yet, I’ve got bigger issues to worry about than whether her mom mentions meeting an Italian named Luca to her bridge club.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you.” I give her a short wave, feeling a bit self-conscious given I was moments away from ripping her daughter’s clothes off and burying my face between her legs before they walked in.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Luca. I’m Cecilia Hill. Caleb hasn’t been able to stop talking about you and your nephew,Nemo?” Cecilia scrunches up her face like she’s certain she’s misunderstood her grandson.

“Haha. His name is Domenico. We call him Mimmo. He’s a good boy. It’s been fun watching the two hellions develop a friendship.”

“Well, it’s nice seeing one develop between you and my daughter.” She winks.

“Mom!” Jillian blurts, causing me to chuckle.

I like this lady. She managed to raise an incredible daughter, essentially on her own, worked in service of others, and now splits her retirement between doing the things she wants and devoting time to her daughter and grandchildren.

“I agree. I’m quite thankful for our new friendship as well.” I raise my brow and smirk as I peer at Jill.

“Are you coming back tomorrow? Caleb asks.

“Caleb. Slow your roll, buddy. We need to look at my schedule and see when we can make this work, okay?” Jillian redirects. “Plus, check the weather.”

“Good idea, Mama,” I say, directing the Mama to Truitt. But he looks like he’s already started counting sheep.

“Do you want me to put him down before I go, Jilly?” She takes a not-so-subtle inventory of the kitchen. “So, you two can actually eat dinner.”

“No, Mom.” There’s an edge in Jillian’s tone, prompting me to peer her way. That blush is back. It’s evident her mother has our number. “Go get some rest. Thank you for watching them tonight.”

“Oh, anytime.” She turns, pointing at me. “Next time you plan on buttering my daughter’s biscuit, I’ll keep them overnight, Luca.” She grins knowingly before waving over her shoulder and sauntering toward the door.

“Mom!” Jillian’s cheeks are flaming red now.

“I like your mother.” I beam.

Jillian buries her head in her son’s hair, looking mortified, as she rocks a nearly comatose Truitt in her arms.

“Go, put him to bed. I’ll see if Mimmo can FaceTime with Tarzan before I leave.”

Caleb punches his fist into the air. “Yes!”

Twenty minutes later, Jillian comes down the steps as her older two children nearly collide with her, trying to go the opposite direction.

“I’m going to go get in my shirt. Come kiss me goodnight after you say bye to Luca.”

“What? What is happening right now?”

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