Page 86 of Sunshine

“I’ve known you for years. Seen you be kind and considerate to Logan and Julian. You ask me about my cases, you help people around you. You feel things deeply.” Luca took my hand in his. “Now that we’re ready for more, I want to make sure I remove every obstacle, even single barrier, that might keep you from feeling safe and secure.”

“You’re acting like I’m an omega you’re trying to pursue,” I said, forcing my voice to sound lighthearted.

“Shouldn’t I?” He arched an eyebrow, the candlelight throwing golden light on his skin. He looked like a sexy dark god, and it took my breath away. “You’re beautiful, smart, funny, and running your family business with knowledge beyond your years. Why wouldn’t I fall head over heels for a woman like you?”

I wasn’t sure how to reply without sounding like an insecure mess. Apparently, knowing I was awesome, and expecting other people to treat me like I was awesome were two separate skills I’d have to work on.

“Thank you.” I swallowed hard. “I just haven’t…” I thought about all the times I’d tried, and failed, to make Rob and Isaac happy. All the rearranged dated, all the schedule changes, the snide comments about my work.

Luca cocked his head again. “They were idiots. They wanted someone they could control, that they could keep down so they would feel better about themselves. Logan and Julian are already calmer. I know you think betas are secondary in a pack, but they’re vital for our wellbeing.”

I glanced down, shifting in my seat. I had expected flirting and dining, not this…single minded focus on me.

“I’m coming on too strong,” Luca said softly. “I’m sorry. I wanted to be very clear about my feelings since we jumped into our physical relationship so quickly.”

I shook my head. “I’m glad you’re being direct and honest. I feel like I don’t know you as well as I should, so it’s helping.”

“I would love to remedy that,” Luca’s voice dropped to a purr. “Logan got the excuse to work with you, and Julian effortlessly made friends with you, so it was easier for them to be a part of your life.”

“That’s true.” I tried not to fiddle with the silky tablecloth. “It was easier to think we were just friends.”

“I, however, knew if I was allowed to court you in the least, I would give everything away.”

“Everything?”

Luca gestured around us, still talking to me like no one else existed. “You are a singular woman. If it’s in my power to give you something, you’ll have it. Logan and Julian joked about my courting them like being pulled into my orbit, and they’re not wrong. I feel things deeply or not at all.”

I could relate to that. I was already feeling things deeply and we had just started dating.

Maybe it would be okay. Luca wasn’t acting like we were all casually dating. Neither were Logan or Julian.

“Oh my goodness. Sunshine?”

Someone squealed nearby and the moment shattered. I looked around and there was Talia with two stunning men in tow.

Her blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun and she wore a little red dress that showed off her long legs. The two men looked perfect, almosttooperfect, like they were cold and lifeless models there to grace us with their presence.

I knew better than to compare myself to my friend, but part of me still wished I could pull off effortless glamour the way Talia did.

“Talia, hi,” I said, trying to sound excited to see her. “I didn’t know you would be here too.”

Talia dragged the dark-haired man over with her, the blond following them.

“Sunshine, these are my boyfriends, Stephen, and Jones.” The man with dark-brown hair was Stephen, and Jones was the blond. Both were alphas, and both barely registered interest in me and Luca.

“Nice to meet you,” I said. “This is my boyfriend, Luca.” I almost stumbled on the word “boyfriend”.

“Luca Kahele,” Talia said with a wink. “Sunshine is still a Sullivan, but she’s working on that right now, isn’t she?”

I blushed. Damn it. I’d told her so many times that I wanted to be more subtle.

“We should double date,” Talia said, pulling a chair out.

“Whatever you’d like,” Stephen said with a shrug. His brown hair was effortlessly tousled, and even though both men only wore nice pants and a button up shirt, they still exuded wealth.

I looked at Luca, wishing in vain I could develop telepathy in the next five seconds and tell him how disappointed I was about our first date being ruined. Instead, I gave up my chair, choosing to sit next to him rather than be parted.

Luca put on his charming face, the one he wore to events that made him look handsome and aloof. “Nice to meet you.” He put his arm around my waist, and I suppressed a happy sigh.

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