Page 18 of Hothead

Fuck. Clearing his throat and the filth in his head, the questions he had came flooding back to him.

“I guess I just wanted to know a bit more about his life. Was he happy?”

He was rewarded with another sunny smile. This one, slightly lopsided. “He was happy. We both were. We did what we loved. Traveled the world. Lived every day like it was our last. And as a good-looking guy, he certainly wasn’t short of company either.” She threw in a wink.

That was something at least. He had a good life. Marco deserved that.

“You said the other day you owe him everything, what did you mean?”

The playfulness drained just as quickly from her face as it had come. “Yeah, well, I also remember telling you that when I met Marco I was sleeping rough. It’s no coincidence that changed after meeting your brother. For that, I’ll always be thankful. That and everything else he did for me.”

Luke’s body didn’t appreciate the reminder she’d been homeless, if the racing heartbeat was anything to go by.

“Like what?”

“Look, Luke”—her elbows hit the table then—“I told you, whatever you want to know about your brother, I’m happy to tell you. But I’m not here to share my life story.”

That was bullshit.

“But your lives were interconnected, right?” he prodded.

She blew out a long breath. Clearly not impressed by his logic. Looks like he wasn’t the only one hiding behind a wall. “Right. And I’m happy to tell you all about the places we went, his favorite food, the type of men he went for, or even his ridiculous morning grooming routine ... but my shit is off-limits, all right?”

It wasn’t all right. It only made him more curious. He wanted to take a bulldozer to that wall and uncover everything there was to know about this woman. But he couldn’t. Wouldn’t. So he settled for snippets.

He chose to hear more about the places she and Marco had traveled to. The adventures they had. And apparently the near misses to their lives along the way. With every story, Luke not only learned more about his brother, but Bella inadvertently revealed small parts of who she was too.

It was obvious that she had a fierce loyalty to Marco. What captivated him the most, though, was her sheer determination—and occasional fearlessness—when trying to understand why people behaved as they did. The places she’d been weren’t exactly featured in anyTop Ten Destinations To Visitlist, but when she talked about them, you would think they were. She embraced it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly, without so much as flinching. Where most people would pass judgement, she empathised. But the best part of hearing her talk had to be the way her entire face lit up, her body coming alive with excitement. So he asked to hear more. And then some more.

It wasn’t until the wine bottle had been drained and their plates emptied that he realized how long they’d been talking. It must have been hours. But that wasn’t the most shocking part, it was that his face actually ached from smiling so much and his throat was dry from laughing.

Did it make him a freak to admit that this had never happened before?

Yes. You’re definitely a freak. A fucked one at that.

Maybe his first instinct was right. Maybe this was all just too much sexual tension for him to handle. Maybe if they slept together, he could move on. The knots in his stomach would unravel. And he’d finally be able to think straight around her.

There’s only one way to find out.

As quickly as that idea came, it went. He was being dumb. Dangerously so. It was time to call it a night before he did something he’d regret. Gathering the plates, he hoped she’d get the hint.

“You walking out on me mid-conversation again, Cappelli?”

Bella stood then and began collecting what was left on the table. Glasses, the wine bottle, and that freaking candle, which he watched her blow out. The sight of plump red lips enough to stop him in his tracks.

Stop fucking perving.

With that reminder, his back snapped straight, and his previously gooey eyes became laser-focused. “I think I’ll live not knowing what other weird thing you’ve eaten.”

“What just happened?”

He averted his gaze again, ignoring her astute silver stare, and started to make his way back through the glass doors and toward the kitchen. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Uh, yes, you do.” He heard her scurry after him. “You went from normal and relaxed to cold and detached in the blink of an eye. Literally. Is it always that easy? Do you just flip a switch and the walls come back up automatically? No downtime necessary?”

Placing the plates in the sink, he swung back around to find a pissed-off-looking Bella in his face. Everything she was carrying a moment ago discarded, her hands were now placed firmly on her hips. A challenge sparkled in her eyes.

“Angel,” he warned, not sure how long he was going to be able to keep himself on a leash while she was this close to him. And while the taste of berries was making his mouth water. “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe this is just who I am?Coldanddetachedas you put it?”

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