Page 36 of A Game of Ruck
But none of that is what’s got my pulse tripping over itself.
It’s him.
“Look, I should, um, warn you about tonight?—”
“What?It’s a rehearsal dinner, right?”
“Yes, and admittedly, my cousins are the worst, but there will be more of them.Like a hundred more.And Aunts.And Uncles.”
“I’m sure it will be fine, Angel.,” Luca says, smiling at me.
The thing is, even though he might be right, I feel nervous.Like I could potentially be leading him right into the lion’s den.
“Okay, tell me what’s your worst fear for tonight?”
“Easy, it’s the moment when I walk into a room by myself, full of judging eyes, smiling relatives, and size-two cousins who still call me Chubs under their breath—and pretend it’s affection.”
“Okay, I hear you.And that sucks.But you’re not alone this time, I’ve gotyou.”
He’s right.I have him.
Luca Warden.
My rented date.
Except he doesn’t look rented.
He looks like a goddamn bodyguard for an heiress in a spicy Netflix drama.
All golden skin and hair, stunning blue eyes, and dangerous charm.
And he’ll be walking into that dinner like he belongs, because of course he will.
But me?I never belong.
“Yes, you do, Angel.Now breathe with me,” he says, and takes a few slow deep breaths,
I try to slow my racing pulse, but it’s no use.
Then I panic.
What if he gets overwhelmed?What if he leaves me hanging?What if they eat him alive?
“Easy, now.You good?”he asks, voice low, eyes scanning me with something that makes my knees go dumb.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
“Your eye’s twitching.”
“Shut up.”
He leans against the doorframe, crosses his arms, and tilts his head.“You sure you wanna do this?”
“No.Yes.I don’t know,” I exhale.“It’s just the rehearsal dinner.My aunts, my uncles.Everyone but my dad.”
“You keep mentioning things about your father.But what about your mom?”
I glance down.
