Page 68 of Worth the Risk

“I know you, Cocco. No one knows you better than me. Do you want to tell me about her, or would you rather I find out myself?”

“What now?” I ask.

She giggles wickedly. “Oh you sweet stupid boy. You think I don’t have my ways?”

“Scaring me a little bit, Mom.”

“Good. I like keeping all my babies on their toes.”

“Your littlest baby is twenty-six, Mom. I think it’s safe to say we aren’t babies anymore.”

She sighs, a sweet smile on her face. “If you are given the privilege of becoming a parent, Luca, you’ll understand. Regardless of age, you’ll always be my baby.”

“Okay, I guess,” I murmur as Arianna joins us.

“Did she tell you?” Ari asks giddily.

“Tell me what?” I respond.

“About our new special events coordinator.”

“No? Should I care?” I ask, confused.

My mom and sister smile knowingly at each other before Ari walks away. My mom turns to me. “Remember what I said about always knowing about the women in your life, Luca?”

“Yes?”

“I always know, Cocco. Go get your girl,” she says as she pushes me toward the dining room. “Go on. Trust me.”

I don’t even take two steps before I stop dead in my tracks.

What the fuck?

I only see the top of her head, but I’d recognize those blonde curls anywhere. As her entire body comes into view, I see she’s carrying a stack of files, viciously typing away on her phone, and unaware of my whereabouts. A pencil skirt showcases the ass I can’t see, but is imprinted in my memory, and her red stilettos show off her calves perfectly. But most of all, there’s an aura around Hannah. I feel myself calming, just being in her space.

“Pixie?”

Hannah’s head snaps up, and when our eyes meet, she gives me a beaming smile. “Luca, what are you doing here?”

I still haven’t moved. “What are you doing here?”

Hannah’s smile wavers, and she awkwardly chuckles. “I work here?”

“You work here.” She nods. “At my family’s hotel?”

Hannah visibly pales as her fingers stop typing. “Your family? Your family owns this?”

“Yes? Did you seriously not know that?”

She shakes her head emphatically. “Arianna got me the interview, and I never researched the family who owns it, and I just hit the ground running with back-to-back events, and I only briefly mentioned the new job, but didn’t tell you anything about it, and I never thought you’d have a connection here, but why are you here anyway?”

God I love this woman.

I fucking love her.

This rambling, chaotic, sweet, emotional, protective woman. She is perfection. Absolute exquisite perfection.

As Hannah bites down on her bottom lip nervously, I realize I’ve been staring at her for an unknown period of time, making her anxious and unsure. That ends now.

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