by Kate Kisset
He took his place back on the lounge and linked his hands behind his head, gazing up at the inside of the umbrella. “You really have nothing to be ashamed of.” He winked.
She stifled a giggle. Damn that wink. “This isn’t about me. Remember?” She glanced at her notes. “Why did you decide to play in an independent league?” Her voice seemed exceptionally loud, piercing the still air. She’d never been at this house when there wasn’t a party in progress.
Luca propped himself up. “I’m still hoping to get picked up by a major. I told you I got sidetracked in college—didn’t play to my potential— and didn’t get a bite from the scouts. Even though I’m not making much money right now, I get to play, and still have the opportunity to showcase my talent.”
“It seems like a long shot.” She cringed. “Sorry, that didn’t come out right. I mean—”
“Damn, I thought this was going to be a puff piece.” Luca sighed, heaving his legs over the edge of the chair. Feet on the ground and smiling at her, he braced his elbows on his knees. “It is a long shot, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. I’m not giving up.”
She twisted to face him, and admired the smooth lines of his muscular arms and his confidence. Her pointed question hadn’t thrown him. His deep-set eyes crinkled at the corners, smiling at her in anticipation. Luca didn’t appear flustered in the least.
“Tell me.” She placed her notebook next to her. “How does it happen? How does a player go from an indie to pro?”
“Persistence.” He laughed. “Research Jarod Peralti. He played on three different indie teams before he finally got signed with the Giants. Took him nine years, but he did it.”
Danica’s skirt crept up precariously high over her sweaty thighs. She reached under her bottom and yanked down the hem. Re-adjusting the towel to cover her lap, she turned back to Luca. “Is he the only player who managed it?”
He cocked an eyebrow, obviously not minding when she caught him giving her legs the sexy-eye. “The Diamondbacks bought out twelve independent league contracts last year. The Braves, nine. Angels, seven.” He squinted up at the sun, and then turned to her. “Don’t give up on me yet. It happens.”
“Never,” she said under her breath. “And I’m sorry I hurt you.” The pool filter rounded the corner making a sputtering sound.
“Which time are you apologizing for?”
“Jess mentioned that I—um—never mind. I don’t know why I’m even bringing this up.” She wanted to kick herself for opening her mouth.
“Tell me.” Luca’s voice echoed across the grounds.
She shook her head. “This isn’t the right t—”
Sunlight gleaming on his hair, he bounded off his chair and crouched in front of her.
“Oh, God.” Danica hid her face in her hands.
He pulled her hands away from her face and held them. His crystal blue eyes glistened with excitement. “You’ve got me curious now.” He tugged her hands. “Out with it.”
“Jess told me”—she shrugged, taking a breath—“on the day of the picnic. After I didn’t recognize you… Remember?”
Luca smirked. “Obviously I remember.”
She drew a breath. “Well, after he told me who you were, he said I—” She wriggled her hands out of his grasp and flung them in the air. “No. I can’t do this.”
“What?” He suddenly stood up. Towering over her, he put his hands on his hips.
“Jess said—” Her voice wobbled. Too late to back out now. “Jess said…I b-broke your heart. I had no idea, and I’m so…sorry.”
She saw the sigh more than she heard it. When she looked up, his chest and shoulders were slumped. “Oh…” Luca cleared his throat and ran his hand over his hair.
She leaned toward him. “What could I possibly have done to hurt you?”
“I’ll tell you what, let’s not get into it. It happened so long ago, and for that reason only, not because you’ve grown up to be so gorgeous—I’ll forgive you.” He grinned, and out popped that dimple. “Besides, if you really are truly sorry, I’m sure we can find something for you to do to make it up to me.”
The moment she took off her skirt in her bedroom, the phone rang. Danica pulled it out of her bag and glanced at the number on the screen. Her pulse started racing. Luca. Taking a deep breath, she sat on her bed. Did she leave something at his house? Was this about the article? Or? She answered on the third ring. “Hello”
“Sexy, you home?”
“Just got here,” she answered.
“Did you get everything you needed?” The inflection in his voice made her suspect he was smiling too.
“I think so.” She rubbed a hand along the cool fabric of her bedspread. The French doors were open, and an afternoon breeze rustled through the white curtains. “I may have a few more questions once I start writing. What’s up?”
He sighed over the line. “I’ve got this thing coming up, and I thought you’d like to come with me. It’s a charity ball at the Culinary Foundation, black tie, next weekend.”
Danica’s heart jolted. “Is this a work thing?”
“I do a lot with the Jonas Boys Club, so it’s important.” He paused and his voice got softer. “But I thought we could have some fun together. Dinner, dancing… You know, a date.”
She wanted to yelp and scream yes, yes, yes.
“And don’t even think about bringing that little reporter notebook with you.” She could picture his dimpled smile as he spoke. “This will be totally off the record.”
A million questions volleyed through Danica’s head. Moving quickly from what she had in her closet, to heels, to what it would mean to go on a real date with Luca, and finally to the giddy realization that the fact Luca hadn’t kissed her good-bye thirty minutes ago meant diddly-squat. She said, “I’d love to.”
“Perfect. And just so you know, Ms. Vargas. Now the baseball interview is out of the way, we can work on our story.”
Her head exploded again. She didn’t know how to respond.
“Next Saturday. Seven.”
Chapter Eight
“Please, guys, I need you to take a five-minute break.” Danica yelled down the hall from her bedroom door. Her hands trembled. “I need help in here.”
“Deep breath in...aannnnnd hold,” the yoga teacher on the living room the DVD continued in soothing tones. Danica waited for a response, but only heard ocean waves crashing against a shore and mystical gong chimes.
She smoothed her hands down the side of her dress. “Hello. I need you two.”
“We already went over this, hours ago.” Juliet yelled back. “The emerald green dress.”
Sarah pleaded, “If we stop now, we’ll never finish.”
“Puh-leeze?” When she didn’t get a response, Danica harrumphed. Lifting the silky hem of her long dress, she adjusted the thong wedged in her butt crack. Pausing for another second, she walked down the hall and into the living room, parading in a scarlet backless gown. Hands on her hips, she frowned at the tops of her friend’s heads. Sarah and Juliet were looking at the floor, stretching their arms in front of them, palms down in Child’s Pose.
“This is so very painful.” Juliet giggled, with her face almost touching the mat.
“The pose?” Sarah moved her hands forward for a deeper stretch. “It shouldn’t hurt.”
Juliet let out a long exhale. “No, Danica. Should we hide from her?”
Glare from the late afternoon streamed through the windows. Danica took a giant step closer to her friends. “Helloooo, I can hear you.”
Sarah and Juliet looked at each other and burst out laughing. They broke their poses and sat up, finally giving Danica their attention.
“It’s pretty.” Sarah sat cross-legged on her mat. She grabbed the remote and shut off the DVD. “Turn around.”
Danica twirled on her tippy-toes, holding the hem of the dress so it fluttered around her, and glanced back for approval.
; Sarah nodded. “Wear that one.”
“It is beautiful, and it fits you like a glove, but it’s red.” Juliet leaned back on her mat, bracing herself on her elbows. “It could look like you’re trying too hard.”
“I don’t think so.” Sarah tilted her head to the side. “It’s just because of her coloring and those red lips. Drop dead stunning, Danica.”
“Can’t argue with that.” Juliet smiled. “You look great in both, the red and the emerald. Which one do you feel the most comfortable in?”
Danica plunked into the nearby wing chair. “I’m so nervous, I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to be comfortable.”
“Well, it’s going to be a long night.” Sarah tucked her legs underneath her. “Four hours from now, you’ll wish you were comfortable.”
“This whole ball thing is out of my league.” Danica scowled down at her shoes. “You’re used to all those soirees with Jamie, but how often do regular people like me go to black-tie balls?”
“I went to one last week.” Juliet perked up. “Remember? I had to go to the Radio Hall of Fame ceremony?”
Danica sighed heavily and gave a passing thought to cancelling at the last minute. “I haven’t worn a full-length gown since my high school prom.”
Juliet crossed the room and draped an arm over Danica’s shoulder. “Stop stressing.” She squeezed. “It’ll be fun.”
Sarah wrapped her arms around her knees. “What time is he coming?”
Danica peeked at Lulu’s antique grandfather clock on the other side of the room. “Thirty minutes.”
“Okay,” Sarah said, getting up, “let’s get you ready.”
After several minutes of additional wardrobe consultation, Sarah and Juliet convinced her on the full length emerald green gown with a low back that came just to her butt. Then they left Danica alone in the bathroom to finish her makeup.
A lavender candle burned on the tub’s ledge. Green apples and coconut from her bubble bath still scented the room.
Danica dipped her brush into the highlighter makeup and leaned over the sink, close to the mirror. Keeping her hand steady, she applied the makeup in one sweeping motion and watched her cheek jitter and twitch under the brush. Perfect. Facial spasms... Exasperated, she tossed the brush in her cosmetic bag and backed away from the mirror.
She knew she had no reason to be nervous around Luca. She’d gone to many events with him back in the day. But tonight’s gala wasn’t like the family picnics, or Giants’ games, or homespun barbeques.
The butterflies wouldn’t stop playing kamikaze in her stomach, no matter how many times she tried to convince herself this wasn’t a big deal. It. Was.
She reached for her lipstick and the cold metal tube shook in her hand. But this is Luca. First-kiss-Luca, she reminded herself. There was no reason to be nervous around someone she’d known in her teens, someone who had practically lived at her house while growing up.
After stretching her neck and rolling her shoulders, she went back to her makeup.
Leaning over the sink, she steadied the tube of Big Night Red stain over her mouth. Her lips trembled so much, she decided to give up rather than risk drawing a shaky red line on her face. Her eyes filled with tears.
Surprises were supposed to make you happy, but having this new Luca Santino suddenly back in her life after all these years had sent her into a tailspin. Because of their past, she didn’t know where the lines were between them, or if there were any lines at all.
Was she supposed to just pick up where they left off all those years ago?
She washed her hands and let the cold water run over her the pulse points on her wrists. And what about Michael? She’d eventually have to fess up to fantasizing about a relationship with him.
Would Luca understand that the kisses with Michael happened before he came back? And that there wasn’t any real connection with Michael? How would he react?
The entire Luca situation had escalated so quickly, she had trouble keeping up with all the thoughts racing around her brain.
Danica wiped under her arms and reapplied deodorant. Her shoulders slumped. Although her heels brought her height up to five ten, she felt little and fragile. Life had been so much easier and less complicated when her emotions were tucked away in a make-believe daydream.
Just as she lifted her gown to dab perfume behind her knees, the doorbell rang. Holding her breath, she waited for the sound of footsteps to pass down the hall. The front door creaked and Luca’s resonant voice weakened her already wobbly knees. “Hello, Sarah.”
“She’ll be right out, come on in.” Sarah sounded cool and collected.
After a final once-over glance in the mirror, Danica grabbed her clutch. She took a deep breath, smoothed the front of her gown and entered the hallway. Sarah threw her a giddy smile before dashing down the hall to the kitchen. No doubt Juliet was there too, listening.
Luca had his back to her, and when he turned, her heart catapulted to her throat. Her legs shook against the soft fabric of her gown. Nothing about Luca said baseball, sunflower seeds, or dust. Sorry, Jamie Dornan, the sexiest man alive stood just a few feet away from her.
Larger than life, he approached in his sleek, black, no doubt Italian cut, tux. His crisp white collar contrasted perfectly against his olive skin and black hair. His unnerving air of supreme confidence made her wonder if he was aware he looked magnificent and was perfectly at peace with consequences.
Danica reached for him without thinking. With open arms, she clutched the soft, elegant wool covering his arms. Gliding closer into him, she inhaled Luca nirvana and gazed up into his indigo eyes.
“You. Are. Stunning. Remember, no work. We’re off the record tonight,” he said, inching close to her mouth, his blue eyes boring into hers, and making it impossible to look away.
In that moment, she could drown in his deep blue pools and be perfectly fine living without air as long as she could be lost forever with him. They’d figure out the details of eternity later.
He cupped her chin with both hands, traced the corner of her mouth with his thumb, and kissed her. The sensation of his warm, full lips pressing against hers made her heart lurch and suspend. She shifted on her heels, attempting to steady herself, and pulled back. But Luca didn’t let go of her mouth or stop kissing her. He linked his arms around her tightly while focusing fully on her lower lip, sucking it, pulling it, pulling her closer to him.
Running her hands up over the smooth fabric of his jacket, stroked his hard biceps and then pressed herself against him.
She couldn’t get close enough. Her lips loved his mouth, his mouth loved hers, and that’s all she knew, all she needed to know. When she reached the back of his neck and tangled her fingers in his thick hair, the teasing lip play ended. He bore down on her, covering her mouth, kissing her hard this time. She flew higher into that space, deeper into a heady daze, lost—in him.
Still cradling her cheeks in his hands, he broke away. “That’s only a start.” A barely audible groan came from his throat. “I love the way you taste.”
He pulled her close again, surprising her with an affectionate hug. Her earlier worries about explaining her ridiculous crush on Michael seemed silly now. Danica clamped her eyes shut so she would always remember feeling safe and protected in Luca’s strong arms.
“Do you have everything?” he whispered sweetly, in a voice she hadn’t heard before.
She came back to earth, pulling back from their hug. “Uh-huh.”
Juliet and Sarah peeked out of the kitchen doorway.
Luca followed her glance. “Don’t wait up, ladies”. He straightened the front of his jacket and winked at Danica. “It’s going to be a late one.”
After saying good-bye to the girls, Luca ushered her down the steps of the villa, leading her to a car waiting in the driveway. “You’re not driving?” Danica asked. She didn’t know the make, but with its dark tinted windows and a driver she couldn’t se
e, she knew it had to be expensive.
“Didn’t have time to wash the truck.” Luca opened the back door for her and gathered the length of her dress so it wouldn’t drag.
Nerves shot through her, and her bare back shivered against the cool leather seat. Moving the billowy fabric of her dress out of the way, Luca scooted next to her. He shifted and leaned over her, lost in thought for a moment.
She sucked in a breath, waiting for his next move. In a flash, he reached over her shoulder, pulled the seat belt over her lap and locked it.
“You know, even if I’m working, we can always be off the record,” she said hoping a little conversation would settle her nerves.
Luca buckled himself in and met her gaze.
She added, “All you have to do is ask…”
“Oh, is that how it works?” Luca, surprisingly, unlocked his seat belt and moved in front of her.
She stole another quick breath.
“Okay, then, on the record, you look more beautiful than I ever could’ve imagined.” Luca started to say something more but stopped. He dropped his chin to his chest and slowly shook his head.
“Off the record,” he said softly, “I don’t know how I’ll get through the night without ravishing every inch you.”
The words shot through her panties, and she bit back a smile. “On the record”—she hesitated, fighting a heated flush creeping up to her face—“you look pretty gorgeous yourself. Off the record…” She studied his expectant expression. “Nah, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Such a tease.” He chuckled, moved back to his seat, and fastened his seat belt.
The car glided silently out of Sonoma and onto the gentle slope of Old Napa Road. When they passed the gardens of di Rosa, with its artistic display of cutout sheep frolicking in the vineyards, she smiled at the sweet figures serenely munching on swaths of lavender and blue salvia against a hill. The rattling of an ice bucket snapped her attention back to her real-life daydream.
Luca opened the bottle of Gloria Ferrer Brut with a pop and poured two glasses without spilling a drop. After handing her a flute, he bumped his glass to hers. “To us, then and now,” he said peering over the rim.
