Page 36 of Wrestling With Love

The sharpness in her expression eased, her usual guarded stance melting just a little.

“You think I am strong?” she asked, her voice lower, warmer.

The little girl nodded so enthusiastically Luca thought she might tip over.

Diamond smiled, “Thank you, and I think you are the most gorgeous little girl I have ever seen.”

The kid gasped, eyes sparkling, “Mommy, Diamond says I am gorgeous!!” Her voice silenced everyone.

Aria's mom, Brielle, passed a big smile to Diamond across the table, “See, even Diamond is saying that, you never believe me when I tell you that everyday.”

Aria grinned from ear to ear, she looked at Diamond with pure fascination. She got up and very casually took a seat on Diamond’s lap.

Luca just watched.

Watched as Diamond, the woman who had spent her life keeping everyone at arm’s length, let a five-year-old climb into her lap without hesitation.

Watched as she carefully fixed the tiny bow in the girl’s hair, asking about her stuffed animal like it was the most important thing in the world.

Watched as the little girl looked up at her like she had hung the damn moon.

“She’s good with kids,” his cousin murmured beside him, nudging his arm.

Luca clenched his jaw.

He knew.

But it wasn’t just that.

It was the fact that Diamond had never gotten this.

Not as a child. Not ever.

She had never been doted on, never had someone look at her with pure admiration and love, no strings attached.

And she didn’t even know what to do with it.

His chest tightened.

She deserved this.

She deserved so much more than she’d ever been given.

And Luca Ferrara was going to make damn sure she knew it.

The city lights blurred past as Luca drove, the quiet hum of the engine filling the space between them. He hadn’t planned on bringing it up, but the memory of her earlier with Aria lingered. After a beat, he said, “Didn’t expect you to be so good with kids.”

Diamond, staring out the window, stiffened for just a second before shrugging. “No child deserves to be treated otherwise,” she muttered, her tone casual—too casual.

Luca’s fingers tightened slightly on the wheel. He heard what she wasn’t saying. “But you were, weren’t you?”

Silence stretched between them. Then, in a voice quiet but unwavering, she said, “I don’t remember ever being looked at the way she looked at me tonight.”

His jaw tensed. He didn’t pity her—he hated that she’d been through that. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, but instead of offering empty sympathy, he simply said, “Then get used to it, Bambina. Because that kid isn’t the only one who looks at you like that.”

CHAPTER NINE

Afew days later

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