by Jo Leigh
“I knew you’d land on your feet one way or another,” Wes said, narrowing his eyes. “I still worried you might be in a tight spot. But I can see that you’re doing just fine.”
“What are you inferring? That because I’m renting a room here, you’re off the hook?”
The cynicism in his expression made her wince. It was his defensiveness, the need to rationalize the vile thing he’d done, of course. Some things never changed. “Hey, I can’t blame you for finding a way to make life easier. Good for you. Smart. But then, you’ve always been clever. Used your assets well.”
Anger shot through her and she felt her face heat with fury. “You need to leave. Now,” she said. “I’ll make any changes to the agreement I see fit and send you a copy and one to my attorney. Just so we’re clear, I’m expecting payment in full. And soon, Wes. You stole from me and this agreement proves that you’re culpable. Don’t think for a minute I won’t press charges if you renege.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it. Hell, April, I was trying to make things right. You know what, though? It’s actually a relief, finally seeing that you’re not as perfect and self-reliant as you’d like everyone to believe.” He snorted. “Here I’d wanted to show you I could carry my weight. I should have known.”
Luca moved in. “She asked you to leave.”
As if summoned, the elevator dinged. “Don’t worry about it,” Wes said, stepping back. “I’m gone.”
She watched him leave, her stomach tight, her thoughts spinning. So angry she wanted to scream. She had the sinking feeling that she could kiss the rest of her money goodbye. After what Wes had said, she couldn’t seem to care that much. Ironic, since she needed to prove him wrong.
Luca touched her arm and she realized she was in the way. She moved back while he took care of the food delivery, her insides too twisted up for her to be interested in eating. She couldn’t help wondering if there was more truth to what Wes had said than she’d like to believe. Sure, she was about to move into her own apartment, but that hadn’t even been her own doing. She should’ve been out of there by now.
“Come on,” Luca said, closing the door and taking her hand. “We’re not going to let him ruin our evening.”
No, she thought, they wouldn’t. She’d already done that herself by overstaying her welcome.
* * *
“WHAT A DUMB BASTARD,” Luca said, setting the take-out bag on the card table.
“I don’t know what to say. Other than I can give you—” She looked at the envelope in her hand and held it out to him. “Here’s a thousand dollars and I put three hundred in the envelope earlier,” she said, glancing back at the counter where she kept that goddamn notebook. He swore he’d set a match to it. “Have you even calculated what I actually owe you? For incidentals, beer, everything? I might have enough or I can set up a—”
“Hey,” Luca said. “Don’t let the asshole rattle you. He was just trying to justify his actions, which are unjustifiable. Watch, he’ll use this to try to weasel his way out of paying you back.”
“Probably. I don’t really have an attorney.”
It took everything Luca had in him to smile. “I didn’t think so.” All he wanted to do was punch Wes.
“I should call Vinny. Get him to arrest that bastard. I don’t know how much money makes it a felony, do you?”
Luca shook his head. “Stay away from Vinny. His dad and brothers are cops. That’s the only reason he’s wearing a uniform. He has such a lousy reputation with women he could make Wes look good.”
April sighed. “So basically the only guys I attract are complete losers.”
“Wait a minute,” he said, waiting for her to say it was a joke. “What about me?”
“You?” She blinked. “It’s different with you,” she mumbled. “You didn’t choose me. I barged into your life.”
“Jesus. You’re letting him mess with your head.”
“I am not.” She turned away to get the paper towels. “It’s just the truth.”
“Wait. Are you taking advantage of me?”
“No.” Her gaze shot back to him. “Of course not. At least I don’t mean to.”
“Well, you’re not. If I didn’t want you here you’d be gone.” He could see she was still upset. Her face hadn’t lost its flush and she could hardly look at him. Gently, he lifted her chin so she would meet his gaze. “If you haven’t noticed, I like having you here.”
She studied with an intensity he hadn’t seen before. “I want to believe that,” she said, making him angry. “You can’t deny I’ve inconvenienced you, though. Upstairs should’ve been done by now.”
“Do you really think I give a shit about that? I’m glad to be in a position to help. As if you wouldn’t do the same for me.”
“I would,” she said, “but—”
“No.” He kissed her. Felt her trembling, for all the wrong reasons. He might still go punch out Wes. Goddamn coward. “Remember, I came from my folks’ house where it was noisy all the time. Believe me, you’re a vast improvement.”
That got her to smile. For a second at least.
* * *
DAMN, HE WISHED he could tell her the truth. That he didn’t need the money. That he wanted her to stay. And not just because he was a nice guy giving her a break.
He wished he could explain the situation, make her understand why he could afford to be generous without revealing the Trust, but he couldn’t do that. Besides, he knew she would think he was just being charitable, when the truth was so much more than that.
19
“WHAT DO YOU think of this one?”
Luca joined April as she slid open the drawers of a tall, slim cedar dresser. It wasn’t as durable as hardwood, but for April’s purposes it should serve her well. “It looks great,” he said, pulling out his tape measure. He was on his lunch hour, shopping with April at Mrs. Brivio’s resale shop.
After he’d checked out the dimensions, he nodded. “This would fit in your bedroom.”
April ran her hand over the polished top. “I still can’t believe the building manager didn’t ask for a deposit. Otherwise, we’d be taking our search to the Goodwill.”
“This will last a while,” he said, already thinking it would be a simple job to build a nightstand to size and stain it the same color as the dresser.
“God, this is so exciting. I’ve only been in the apartment for a week and I’ve already found the perfect table and I’m pretty sure the chair from the flea market is going to work.”
“Hey, listen,” he said, stepping closer, getting a nice whiff of her perfume. She’d told him the name, but he just called it April’s. If there weren’t people here, he would’ve planted his nose against her neck by now.
“What?” she asked, giving him a gorgeous smile.
“I wouldn’t mention the rent amount to Mrs. Brivio.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” she said. “I remember what you said about how everyone here likes to gossip. Not that I wouldn’t mind hearing some, but I don’t relish being the subject of it.”
“Sorry. You’re with me. People have seen us holding hands. It’s far too late for anonymity.”
“Well, at least I know everyone is more concerned about you than me.”
“That’s true.”
“Oh, before I forget.” She reached into her cross-body bag, so tiny it barely held a credit card and a cell phone. Ah, and her key to his place. She held it out to him.
“What’s this?”
“I’ve moved all my things over to my apartment. I don’t need it anymore.”
“I beg to differ,” he said, closing her hand around the key.
“You want me to keep it?”
“’Course I do. I want you to feel free to come over anytime,” he said, feeling a tug in his ch
est. He hoped she understood nothing had changed between them.
“Really?” Her lips slowly lifted at the corners, and he welcomed her shy smile with relief.
“Yes, sweetheart.” Screw the pair of older women eyeing them. Luca pulled April close and kissed her. “Really.”
Her smile widened. “The manager gave me only one key. But we can stop at the scene of your youthful crime spree and make a duplicate.”
“I never should have told you. You’re gonna bring that up forever, huh?”
“Absolutely.” She leaned over to kiss him then took a step to her right and waved at Mrs. Brivio, who had just emerged from the back room. “Mrs. B,” she said. “I have an apartment!”
* * *
A WEEK LATER, after April had helped Luca with some painting, she convinced him to run an errand with her. “My God, that pot,” she said, coming to a swift stop in front of Bowery Restaurant Supply. “I need that pot.”
Luca backtracked to stand next to her in front of the large, chaotic store that was packed to the rafters with stuff of all kinds. “You mean the stockpot?”
She nodded. “It’s perfect.”
“It’s bigger than your stove.”
She sighed. “You’re right. Back home, whenever we cooked it was always for an army. Plus, there were always people stopping by, and no one ever left the Branagan house hungry.”
“Sounds a lot like my family.”
She took his hand. “True,” she said, sighing. “I’ll never be able to have more than five people over.”
“You know, my kitchen’s going to be finished soon. You could cook there. Invite whoever we like.”
“We?”
“I’d supply the wine.”
“Would we have your family?”
“Sure. And you can invite your friends. I bet Grace would like to come.”
“I’m sure she would.” Turning to face him, she touched his cheek. “I’d be afraid to make Italian food.”
“So, cook anything you want. Dazzle them with your culinary skills.”
Grinning, April leaned into him. “Be careful. I haven’t cooked for you yet.”
“Speaking of which...I’m starving,” he said, nuzzling her neck and whispering, “Guess what for.”
“Poor you,” she said, patting his hand. “First, I need to get my pots and pans and some silverware...”
“All right,” he said, letting her drag him into the store.
She grinned, and she couldn’t remember a better day. A better week.
His kiss, as always, made her swoon.
* * *
“ARE YOU COMING over tonight?” April asked.
He had her on Bluetooth as he worked, trying his hardest to finish her surprise nightstand before she had her friends over to see her apartment for the first time. “I’m not sure. Depends on how far I get on this...cabinet.”
Her silence made him wince. He realized he should have just said he had to work late. It would be a lot easier for her to understand a remodeling deadline than him choosing a side job over her.
“So, you’re at your workshop?” She tried to sound normal, but her tone confirmed he was right.
“Yep,” he said, tempted to confess, but her housewarming party was coming up so fast, and he really wanted to surprise her. The nightstand would match perfectly with the dresser she’d bought from Mrs. Brivio. “Anyway, aren’t you working an event tonight?”
“I am, but I should be done by 11:00 p.m.”
She hadn’t actually asked if that changed things, but he knew she expected an answer. The party had been a last-minute decision and he still had a lot of work to do on the nightstand. “I don’t know, sweetheart. I wouldn’t count on it. Besides, didn’t you say you had a job early tomorrow morning? I don’t want to be responsible for you being all grouchy because you didn’t get enough sleep.”
“But I haven’t seen you in days.”
“We had lunch together yesterday.”
She paused, then with the exact same inflection said, “But I haven’t seen you in nights.”
“I know. And I hate it. I do. On the plus side, if I finish this project, I’ll be able to spend the next two nights with you.”
“I’ve got a really late event tomorrow. And then it’s party day.”
He let out a frustrated breath. If there was any way he would get out of there in time to spend the night with her, he would, but he had another surprise he had to tackle: a desk he’d already made but that required some fine tuning to work in her small space. The last thing he needed now was to rush things and get sloppy. “I miss you,” he said. “A lot. But I don’t know.”
“I understand,” she said, although he had a hard time believing she meant it. “Be careful, okay? I know you haven’t had a lot of sleep.”
“Neither have you. Get some rest and we’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “Good night.”
After he put his phone away, he turned back to his router, determined to make this his finest piece so far. She’d be happy once she knew it was all for her.
* * *
APRIL NEEDED TO get dressed. All she had to do tonight was pass out drinks for a couple of hours, then she could come back home and do just what Luca said. Get some much-needed rest.
Since she’d moved, her days had gotten even crazier. The business was taking up every spare minute that she wasn’t working or with Luca. And it took a lot of effort to carve out time to see him. Not that she’d ever complain.
It had been clear when she moved it would be more difficult to be together, but she’d never imagined it would be this hard. They’d gone from sleeping together every night while she’d lived with him to five out of seven nights the first two weeks in her new apartment. And now it was more like three out of seven. What was next? Once a week? Gradually pulling away from each other like this had been her worst fear.
Determined not to let her mood spiral, she went to the bathroom to check her makeup then headed for the subway. Her timing was perfect, and after she found a seat the rocking of the train soothed her nerves. Three stops in, it occurred to her that she wasn’t respecting Luca’s passion for his woodworking enough. A man didn’t become that skilled without putting in a tremendous amount of time and labor.
It was bad enough that his family dismissed it as a hobby. She wasn’t about to do the same thing. Even if it took him away like it had tonight.
Still, maybe when she got off work, she would go to his place. Even if it just meant sleeping in the same bed together. The thought buoyed her spirits as the train rumbled along.
Okay. So even if this was the beginning of a new phase, a pretty sucky phase, it didn’t mean the bloom was off the rose. Relationships took time and work. Her parents had taught her that.
She just hoped that Luca wanted it to work as badly as she did.
* * *
HER EVENT ENDED on time, for once, but the idea of taking the train home made her want to weep. She had changed her mind about surprising Luca by showing up at his place—he would probably still be at his workshop, anyway. She had to get over herself. He was busy. She was busy. They led busy lives, just like everyone else who worked in the city.
“Hey, you working tomorrow night’s party, April?” Carly, one of the regulars, fell into step beside her.
“For that kind of money? Of course I’ll be there.”
Someone else from the mass exodus of event staffers—April couldn’t tell who—gave a catcall whistle that would have pissed her off if it had been aimed at her. “What’s that for?” she asked.
“Oh, my,” Carly said as she looked over her shoulder.
Alison grinned. “Check out the dude coming up behind us.”
April heard the bike before she saw it.
When the Harley pulled up beside them, April’s jaw dropped. Luca took off his helmet and shook out his hair. He was so gorgeous, she wanted to jump him right there. “What are you doing here?”
“I finished. Why don’t you hop on? I’ll take you home.”
“I’m wearing the tiniest black dress ever made.”
He leaned over and said, “Then you’ll have to squeeze against me really tight.”
She turned to stare down her coworkers. “Fair warning to whoever whistled,” she said. “He’s mine.”
“Damn straight I am,” Luca said, grabbing her around the waist and bringing her in for one hell of a kiss.
She supposed that meant that yeah, the rose was still in full bloom.
* * *
SATURDAY AFTERNOON LUCA arrived at April’s apartment with the desk/nightstand combo about ten minutes before she was due home. They’d have about half an hour to get everything ready for the party, but he could tell from the scent of freshly baked cookies that she’d been busy preparing before her meeting. For a moment he debated leaving the pieces in the living room, but ended up taking them into her bedroom where they belonged.
Not five minutes later he heard April at the door. “Luca?”
“In here,” he said, trying hard to keep his face neutral and let her find her gift.
“What is that gorgeous piece of furniture?” she asked as she entered the bedroom, a huge grin spreading across her face. “It matches the dresser perfectly. Seriously, what is this? I don’t understand.”
“Hold on a second,” he said, laughing as she flapped her hands in her excitement. “I’ll show you.”
He took hold of the desk that lay almost flush against the top of the nightstand. It slid straight out toward him, on four castors. “It’s a desk,” he said, right before he turned the unit around, adjusted the height until it would fit over her bed and slid the base under her bed frame.
“It’s a desk!” She turned from it to him. “It’s like one of those hospital trays,” she said. “But stunning. And oh, my God, please don’t tell Mrs. B., but what you built makes the dresser look like painted particleboard. Oh, Luca, it’s perfect.”
