Page 24 of Luca
“Italian names are pretty cool,” Luca remarked.
God, how I loathed him!
“I don’t need your input,” I hissed under my breath, glaring at him. “So please, for the love of God, mind your business.’
A muscle in his jaw tightened.
“Hormonal, aren’t we?” he jabbed back, his tone dark.
I tensed, anger shooting through me. This guy acted like he was goddamn perfection. A God-given gift to women when he was everything a woman didn’t need. At least, a sane woman would think that.
“Don’t you have some woman to shack up with?” I snapped at him. “After all, it’s your only goal in life. Isn’t it?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets, his gaze trailing from my feet in hot pink ballet flats up my naked legs to my off white dress that came down to my knees. It was a clinical, almost bored expression.
Still, the touch of his stare burned and as I met his eyes and my heart stilled. There was something dark and hot behind his eyes.
Something familiar that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“Been there. Done that,” he drawled. “I’m finished with it. Now I’m looking for a wife.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. Why would he even think I cared about his bullshit plans?
“Luca, are you saying your playboy days are done with?” Áine teased. “You hear that, Maggie?”
“Yay,” I remarked sarcastically. “It’s a dream come true. Not!”
Áine watched me curiously, her brows furrowed.
“I hear you’re in the market for a husband,” Cassio deadpanned. “Maybe you should show more enthusiasm.”
If looks could kill, Cassio King would be dead. Right there and then. Motherfucker.
“Why?” I retorted back wryly. “Nothing associated with Benito King will ever get any enthusiasm from me. And you two are reminders to the world of Benito King.” Cassio’s expression darkened. “What’s the matter?” I fluttered my eyelashes innocently. “Was it something I said?”
“Maggie,” Áine reprimanded softly.
“How is your black widow status coming along?” Luca drawled, something dangerous in his tone. “Still tracking? Men falling at your feet.Literally. It’s so appropriate to the costume you wore way back when. Remember?”
He referred to the night Áine and I snuck into Temptation, the club Cassio owned. The first time Luca and I crossed paths. The worst thing that had ever happened to me.
“Shut up, you fucking bastard,” I hissed.
He grinned. “At least if I agreed to marry you, I wouldn’t keel over or let anyone end me before the wedding night.”
My hand flew through the air and was just about to make contact with his face when he caught my wrist.
“Ah, mia bella, I thought you were smarter than to let emotions lead you.”
Anger heated my cheeks. I attempted to yank my wrist out of his hold but his grip was firm. Animosity slithered through my veins and filled the air.
“I despise you,” I breathed. “I’d rather touch a snake than you, Luca King,” I said, heatedly. “I don’t sleep with bastards who don’t know when to shut the fuck up or who have shagged the entire female population of the East Coast.”
Luca’s gaze narrowed in distaste. “Would you prefer I fucked someone in the west?” he countered. “In Vegas perhaps?”
My heart skidded to a halt. Why would he say that? Nobody knew what happened in Vegas except for Áine, and she’d never share that with anyone. None of my family knew when or where my hook-up happened.
“I don’t give a shit what you do, Luca King,” I gritted, yanking my wrist out of his hold. “As long as it’s out of my sight.” God, I couldn't stand him. His smirk. His persistence. His good looks. His cologne. “And please, keep your distance. I can’t have you breathing too close to me and infecting my child.”
