Page 35 of Wrestling With Love

She met his gaze, unimpressed. “Why would I be? You’re the one entertaining women who smell like money.”

His smirk deepened, slow and knowing. “Is that jealousy, or did you just miss me?”

She scoffed, setting her glass down with deliberate care. “I missed my patience. And you’re testing it.”

Luca chuckled, leaning in just enough to lower his voice. “She could’ve stood there all night, and I still wouldn’t have seen her.” His eyes, dark and unwavering, held hers. “Because I only have eyes for you, Bambina.”

Something inside her faltered.

His words shouldn’t have affected her. Shouldn’t have made her pulse jump. But the way he said them—with that quiet certainty, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world—left her breath hitching for half a second too long.

Damn him.

He knew. He knew.

She was jealous.

Absolutely fuming!

And she hated that he saw right through her.

Luca was barely settled in his seat when he heard the unmistakable sound of tiny, determined footsteps.

Then—impact.

A small body slammed into his side, tiny arms wrapping around his waist with surprising strength.

“Luca!”

He smirked, looking down at his cousin’s five-year-old daughter. She was grinning up at him, her curls bouncing with every excited movement.

“Hey, Aria,” he said, ruffling her hair.

She giggled, then froze mid-laugh, her eyes locking on something, or rather, someone.

Luca followed her gaze straight to Diamond.

The kid’s head tilted, curiosity sparking in her wide brown eyes.

Diamond, who had been quietly pushing a piece of bread around her plate, suddenly found herself under intense scrutiny.

Luca bit back a laugh.

This kid had zero shame.

“You’re pretty,” she announced, voice full of awe.

Diamond blinked, clearly caught off guard.

The little girl didn’t wait for a response. She climbed up onto the seat right next to her, completely ignoring the fact that she had just met her.

“And you look really strong.” She squinted. “Can you beat up the bad guys, my dad told me you did?”

Luca half-expected Diamond to brush it off. Maybe smirk, maybe roll her eyes—maybe even ignore the kid altogether.

Instead, she did something that stopped Luca cold.

She softened.

---