Page 109 of Sweet Deception

"I wouldn't want you to."

"But you're so used to being single. What if you don't like me invading your privacy?"

I sigh, finally understanding where she's going with this. "Baby, I may not have allowed anyone in my life before, but I know that in order to truly be with you, I have to allow you in completely. Just as you will need to allow me into your life completely."

"You say that, but I want to know everything. Maybe not tonight, but I want to get to know all of you. I … I want what my parents have. They know everything about each other, the good and the bad. I want that with you."

"Call me crazy, but I want that as well." I exhale. "I have a lot of bad from my childhood and while I won't keep that from you, can we save that for tomorrow? We've covered enough for one night, don't you think?"

She kisses my chin before responding. "I can wait. As long as you don't keep me at arm's length, I can give you all the time you need." Then she sits up, still holding the sheet to herself. She bites her lip in worry and I brace. "I need to confess something, too."

"Okay." I tilt my head, leery.

"I found the picture in your watch drawer. I wasn't snooping—well, I didn't intend to snoop. It was that first night you brought me here. I was looking for the swimsuits you said were here. I went through your closet thinking I'd find them there, and that's when I found the picture."

Her eyes bounce between mine, worried as my chest seizes.

"Babe, I agreed to give you time. I don't need to hear it all now. I just wanted you to know I'm aware of the picture."

Finally able to breathe again, I nod and run my hand through my hair. "It's not a good story and I'll tell you. It actually ties into what I want to bring up tomorrow." I stop talking as I fight to keep my emotions in check. I hate to taint her with my past, especially when her own upbringing was filled with so much love.

"It's okay, Luca. Really. I'll be here when you're ready." She leans down to kiss me before pulling back just enough to make eye contact when she finally tells me what I need to hear. "I love you, Luca. As crazy as it is, I love you."

"Angel." I wrap my hand around her neck and pull her back to me to show her just how much I love her in return.

Chapter forty-six

Kylie

The talk the next night never happened. We spent the evening with Rafael and Gio again. Luca and Rafael in his office finishing work and Gio and I watching another movie while we waited on them. Just when I thought Luca was about to finish work for the evening, they received a call about one of his properties. Someone had broken in and vandalized his country house.

I didn't even know he had a country house.

Luca and Rafael left to go meet with the police while Gio stayed with me. It sucks someone damaged his home, but I wasn't worried about it. I knew it was a minor inconvenience for Luca and he would get it handled. It's why I could still enjoy my time hanging out with Gio while they were off dealing with the situation.

That is until I received a text from an unknown number. It had a voice recording and while I know better than to click on it; the message had my curiosity eating at me until I finally excused myself to the restroom and listened to the recording without Gio around.

I wish I had never done it.

My world crumbled listening to that message. I didn't want to believe it. There's no way Luca would talk about me that way. There had to be a reason.

I was sick to my stomach. Which helped to convince Gio I needed to call it a night and go lie down. Once I crawled into Luca's bed, I replayed the message over and over, trying to find anything that gave away it was fake. I found nothing but his beautiful voice saying such cruel words.

Next, I moved on to rationalizing. That he said it in the beginning before he realized how much I meant to him. If he truly felt this way, he wouldn't have opened up to me last night. He never would have released me from the contract. I knew that had to be it.

But did that matter? That he could ever speak the words he did meant he wasn't the man I thought he was.

I should pack my bags and leave. No matter how he explains himself, it could never make those words okay.

I cried myself to sleep that night. At one point, I felt the bed dip, and he wrapped his arms around me. But I couldn't move. I wanted him even after all that I found out. I wanted him.

The next morning when he asked why my eyes were swollen and red, I told him I had cramps. That sometimes they're bad and this one was a bad one. It was the only thing I could think of that wouldn't have him insisting I go to the doctor and that could explain my continued melancholy.

My heart is broken, and nothing and no one can fix it.

Chapter forty-seven

Luca

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