Page 16 of Worth the Risk

“Well, I would have done more if you hadn’t managed to cockblock me, sis,” I tell her.

“Okay don’t give me that many details. Who was it? Another puck bunny, or someone actually worthwhile? Would be nice for you to actually date someone for a change,” Arianna says.

“Nah. Our history is already too complicated. Doubt she’d be into me that way. I’m too fucked up for anyone to want to be with…” I stop when my sister throws her arm up and slaps her hand across my mouth.

“You are not fucked up! Why would you even say that, Luca? That’s such bullshit,” she says. I stick my tongue out and she shrieks, yanking her hand away and immediately wiping it off on the hospital sheets.

“You worried about cooties, sis?” I tease.

“With how much you get around, yes. I am worried about a few specific forms of cooties,” she mutters.

“See, that’s what I’m talking about. Everyone knows I get around. Lucky Luca, the one who gets all the play. No self-respecting woman would choose to be with me,” I say with a sigh. Arianna cocks her head to the side and studies me.

“I’m teasing you, Luca. I know you don’t get around quite as much as the media portrays. But it sounds like even you’re getting sick of that narrative, and sick of all the games. Am I right? Because maybe, you finally want someone to choose you,” she says. I take a moment before I nod. I think I do. I’m sick of being alone. I want a partner. Someone to come home to, someone who supports me at the end of every day. Someone that I get to support.

“Yeah, Ari. I do want that. But everyone knows my history, and they assume the worst. Even the girl tonight … she caught me with multiple girls the first night we met. She lives next door to me. She’s beautiful, and so fucking out of my league,” I tell her.

“So what happened tonight that made you think differently? If you say I cockblocked you, something definitely happened,” she says pointedly.

“We got stuck in the elevator together. There was … chemistry. And the best fucking kiss of my life. And then you called.”

“Oh. Shit. Sorry, bro.”

I chuckle.

“Not your fault. She would have come to her senses at some point.”

As Arianna is about to say something, a nurse comes in, ready to take her for her x-rays. I stay in the triage room, contemplating the events of the night. Pondering how maybe, in an alternate universe, Hannah and I could be together. I lean my head back and close my eyes, reminiscing about that kiss. How Hannah felt in my arms. Jesus, she felt so good. So right. That’s never happened to me before. It would be so complicated, starting something with her. She’s my neighbor. If she’s related to Caroline, that could spell long-term issues. And does she even think about me, like I think about her?

I doze off in the chair as I relive the kiss, and I swear I smell Hannah in my dreams.

Iend up staying with Arianna over the weekend to help her get settled at her apartment. She did end up breaking her wrist. Isabella’s voice loops in my head about helping out more with the family, and clearly my baby sister needs my help right now. She’s easier than my parents, though. Weeks ago, when I helped out for a few days, they had me running around doing all kinds of odd jobs. Waiting on Arianna is easier than maintenance at the hotel, that’s for sure.

Arianna is nothing if not resourceful … meaning she orders me around to do everything for her. I spoon fed her two meals before I realized she broke her non-dominant wrist, and she didn’t even have the decency to appear guilty. I was thrilled when I managed to escape late Sunday night and head back to my apartment.

One thing Ari did help me with was a realtor. I’ve put in an offer on an amazing mountain home about twenty minutes west of Eternity Springs. Five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a fully finished basement with a theater room, and every aspect of a state-of-the-art home I could want. Not only did it hit every major expectation I wanted for a home, but the design screams me. Exposed beams, a two-story great room featuring both floor-to-ceiling windows and a massive fireplace, and the biggest shower I’ve ever seen. When I closed my eyes briefly in the kitchen, a picture of Hannah flew through my mind. Would she like this house? What does she want in her future? Hell, does she even want to stay in Colorado? Obviously, Hannah was never far from my thoughts.

The entire weekend I was acutely aware of not having any way of contacting Hannah. Mentally bitched myself out multiple times for not getting her number before I left Friday night. I thought about her nonstop.

It’s almost midnight when I get home, and when I arrive at my floor, I contemplate knocking on her door. I stand outside the elevator and wait, when suddenly her door flies open. Hannah stands there in just a camisole and booty shorts, just like the first night I met her, and her eyes are wild.

“Hi,” she says breathlessly.

“Hi,” I respond as I stalk toward her and pick her up, our lips locked together immediately. She wraps her legs around my waist as I walk into her apartment and slam the door. The kiss turns wild and carnal quickly as my tongue caresses hers. Hannah drags her nails up my scalp and I groan into her mouth. “Where’s your bedroom, bella?”

She points down a hallway and I quickly throw my keys and phone onto her counter before walking us to her bedroom. I’m not taking any chances of getting interrupted again. I need time with this woman.

“Luca,” she whispers as I kiss her neck and lay her down across the bed. Her legs grip me tightly, and I trail my lips back up to take hers in a searing kiss. Fuck. I could kiss her endlessly. Her lips are pillow soft, and taste of strawberries and cream.

“Tell me what you want, baby,” I say quietly as I raise my head so I can look into her eyes. “Tell me what you need.”

She looks at me and I can see a raging war between lust and apprehension.

“I…I’m not the one night stand kind of girl,” she says softly. I stroke her cheek and cup her face tenderly.

“I don’t want you to be just one night, bella.”

“Really?” she asks, her eyes wide with shock.

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