Page 171 of Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Who evenisthis version of Luca?

The Luca I know is quiet, always polite, with a vaguely broody vibe that makes you forget he’s ridiculously attractive. But this? This is something else. The smirk, the shiny washboard abs, theeverything.

Me: You look like the kind of guy that wants kids.

I smirk as I hit send, picturing his reaction.

The dots pop up again, and my pulse quickens.

Luca: What does that mean? That I look boring?

Me: I did NOT say that…

Luca: You implied it.

Me: Okay, fine. You’re not boring. Happy now?

The pause is longer this time, and I start to wonder if I’ve actually annoyed him. But then his message pops up:

Luca: I’ll let it slide. For now. But only because you’re cute.

Me: CUTE?

Luca: Sorry. I meant smoking hot. You’re a real smoke show, Nova Montagalo.

My stomach does a stupid little flip, and I glance over at Gio the dog, who’s now awake and staring at me like he can sense my internal chaos.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I mutter, setting the phone down on the couch for a second. “Stop judging me, Gio is not going to find out about this.”

This…

Is dangerous.

Luca is way too easy to talk to. And way toogoodfor my peace of mind.

I pick the phone back up, staring at the chat. Should I keep going? Let this conversation turn into something, even though it’ll probably end in disaster? Or should I delete the chat right now and save myself the headache?

Gio yawns as if to say,You’re overthinking this, idiot.

I glance at Luca’s profile again, lingering on the easy smile in one of his photos. This doesn’t have to mean anything, right? It’s harmless flirting.

But now I know he thinks I’m smoking hot.

I bite back a grin, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. Flirting with Luca Babineaux feels like walking into a trap I cantotally see coming—and yet, here I am, taking another step forward.

Me: You think I’m a smoke show? Sounds like you’re starting to have a thing for me, Babineaux.

I tease.

Okay FINE.

I’ll admit it, I’m fishing for compliments. Are you happy now?!

Luca: Starting to? You’re funny. I’ve had a thing for you for years…

My jaw drops.

“WHAT?” I blurt out, scaring the shit out of the dog, settling back onto his blanket with a huff. He hates me.

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