It moves me how protective he is of me, how it bothers him so much that I’ve been hurt. “I don’t know. I’ll never understand it. But I appreciate that you understand how hard it was for me.”
“Of course, I do. I would have punched the guy if I’d been in that restaurant.”
I burst out laughing. Luca’s kind words are like an ointment for my pain—they soothe it all away. “That would have made the evening much better, that’s for sure.”
Luca reaches for my hand again, weaving his fingers through mine. He shifts our joined hands in his direction and sets them softly in his lap. His gaze is compassionate, the expression on his face sad. “I’m sorry he caused you so much pain. You didn’t deserve that.”
“I wish he could have just been honest. He could have mentioned months earlier that the relationship wasn’t working out for him. But I never knew this was going on in his mind. When he just dumped me out of the blue like that, I felt like such an idiot for not seeing the writing on the wall. But maybe, I didn’t want to see it.”
“Jade, you shouldn’t blame yourself. He deceived you.”
I sigh. “I know.”
“He made the mistake. There is no relationship without honesty.”
“But I still feel like such a fool.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You should be able to trust someone close to you. Instead he betrayed your trust.”
I remember all the sleepless nights I tossed and turned in bed, thinking about what I could have done differently, trying to guess what I had done wrong.
“Please, Jade. I know what you’re thinking. I don’t understand it, but I know. You’re doubting yourself again. Please don’t. He was the one that was unworthy. Not you. You’re an amazing woman. You shouldn’t ever let anyone convince you you’re anything less. You don’t need to change for anyone. He didn’t deserve you. You deserve someone who will take cherish you, and not treat you callously.”
Everything he says makes sense. “I know you’re right. And talking to you about this makes me feel better. But sometimes doubts creep in. I suppose that’s why I’m afraid to trust anyone.”
“I understand. It’s going to take some time.”
“Doesn’t it bother you that I’m such a basket case?”
“No. You’ve been hurt, and you need time to heal. I will show you I am worthy of your trust. It will be a challenge. But it is one I am up to.”
He’s not at all like American men. For one, he has that Mexican-Italian accent and roll to his rs that sends a sexy thrill down my spine. But it’s much more than that. He doesn’t keep his emotions so closely guarded. He shares his deepest thoughts with me. He’s considerate and caring. And he’s patient instead of seeming desperate to get me in bed. “I appreciate that, Luca. I really do. But now that I know about your glamorous career, I’m more scared than ever about being with you. Women must throw themselves at you all the time.”
“Yes, women chase me. But I’m not interested in any of them. I find them more of a nuisance than anything else. I have needs, like any other man. I have had the occasional quick involvement, but nothing lasting. I know what I want in a woman, Jade, and I can honestly say that those groupies do not even come close to what I’m looking for.”
Imagining Luca having sex with another woman else hurts, but visualizing him married sends pinpricks of pain shooting through my chest. I want to envision me at his side. But I keep seeing him with a voluptuous Mexican woman with a waterfall of dark hair and smooth, golden skin. She’d be at home caring for their four children while he traveled the globe, performing. I fight back tears. I shouldn’t be thinking like this. I barely even know Luca. Falling for him so fast is unwise. “And what is that?”
“That answer is easy—especially when I look at you. I want to be with a woman who is intelligent and interesting, a woman who is open and honest and whose company I enjoy so much I know I will never tire of talking to her. I want to be with a woman who loves me—not for my fame or money—but because I’m the man she wants.”
Is he really saying what I think he’s saying? That he’s found the woman he wants—and it’s me? “Wow.”
“I hope what I said doesn’t upset you, Jade. What I’m saying is one-hundred percent the truth. I see us together for a long time. I told you this because you need to know, and I want you to stop doubting yourself. Not to put pressure on you. We can take it slow. Take things one day at a time.”
“But you’ll be gone again soon. Won’t you want someone else?”
“No, Jade. I only want you.”
He gazes at me with intensity blazing in his eyes, like he means what he says. If only it weren’t so hard for me to accept. When I’m with him, I can absolutely believe every word. But will I when he’s gone?
He flashes me a boyish smile and lifts his hands from his lap and sweeps them through the air like he’s conducting and orchestra. “I have an idea. Why don’t you come with me on my next tour? I’m going to Germany and Austria in two weeks.”
I cross my arms over my chest and lean back against the cushions. Images of my face popping up online and in gossip rags flash in front of my eyes. Being with Luca will be about as far from low profile as I can get. People will find out who I am and rip me to shreds. They’ll post photos of me looking stressed out or wearing clothes that make me look fat, and say I’m not good enough for him. “Oh, no, I couldn’t.”
“Why not? The hotels will be very comfortable. While I’m practicing, you will have plenty of downtime to do your writing. I can even extend our stay so we’ll have time to enjoy ourselves. I can get you a stage pass, too, for as many performances as you would like to attend.”
I shouldn’t let fear get in the way. His plan does sound incredible. I’ve always wanted to go to Europe, but Brandon never wanted to go. And now I finally have the chance and I’d get to go with Luca. We have so much fun together. I’m starting to fall for him, big time. But what if I’m halfway around the world and all of a sudden he decides I’m not right for him? I’ll be thousands of miles away from San Carlos—the place I now feel safe. And I’ll be more alone than ever. “I—uh, don’t know. It does sound like the chance of a lifetime.”
Luca’s smiling now. And his eyes flash with excitement. He knows he’s half-convinced me to go along with his plan. “Austria’s beautiful this time of year. Flowers in the meadows, snow in the mountains, everything green and lush and summery.”
Luca knows how to be persuasive. But I’m anxious. Taking this risk seems, well, risky. “It sounds like a dream.”
“Then say yes to that dream. Say yes to an escape with me.”
“But you’ll be too busy to have me tagging along, won’t you?” If I can talk myself out of this, I will.
“All the concerts are at night. I’ll have time every day to spend with you. And we’ll go early and stay a couple of days afterward.”
I wonder how much the plane ticket will cost. It’s not in my budget to spend a bunch of money on travel, but there’s no way I’m going to ask him to pay my way. I can make the money up somehow. I’ll just pare my expenses to the bone for a few months afterward.
“I can see it in your eyes. Your mind is busy again.”
“Okay, I’ll go. Maybe later you can text me the itinerary you want me to book.”
“That won’t be necessary, Jade. We will be flying via private jet. I just need to change the dates. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
“I need to help cover the costs.”
Luca’s brows tip inward. “No, Jade, you don’t,” he says firmly.
I shake my head. “Oh, no, that wouldn’t be right. I need to pay my fair share.”
“Please, Jade. Let me do this for you. I can tell you want to go on the trip. Just say yes and let me take care of the rest. I could never spend all the money I make, so let me spend some of it on you. We’ll have a great time, you’ll see.”
How can I say no? He wants me to go to Europe with him. My heart beats faste
r. I squirm on the couch, unable to sit still. The trip sounds exciting and fun. “Okay, I’ll go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Jade
“This is unbelievable.” Luca and I walk across the tarmac, holding hands, ready to board the slender white private jet.
He smiles at me. He’s dressed casually today—in jeans that hug his butt and a gray button-up shirt stretched tight by his broad shoulders and muscular chest. As always, he looks good enough to eat. “Trust me, this is the only way to fly. You won’t have to choke down stale peanuts or be squeezed into only seventy-five centimeters of leg room.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
“Go ahead.” Luca gestures for me to go first up the steps onto the plane he told me earlier is a Gulfstream G550. I feel his supportive touch on my back as he follows me.
I gasp when I see the plane’s interior. It looks more like the inside of a house than any airplane I’ve ever seen. “This is awesome.” I notice a few people are already seated. They must be the members of Luca’s band.
“Our seats are in front. I’ll introduce you to the guys here in a minute.”
I walk across the hardwood floors, admiring the rows of comfy looking tan leather seats with tables. There’s even an enormous leather couch with plump pillows perched at either end. Large round windows offer a clear view of the outside. We’ll probably have a to-die-for view of the Sea of Cortez from the air.
I’ve only flown three times before and never in first class, let alone on a private jet. And now I’m about to fly to Europe in luxurious comfort. Before we settle into our seats, Luca introduces me to his band. He told me earlier that the plane would be stopping at various airports to pick up his band members from various places they’d been spending their vacations before flying her to Guaymas to pick us up. I exchange a kiss on the cheek first with Luca’s brother, Lorenzo, who plays the saxophone, before greeting Raphael, the trombone player, and Steve and Larry, the two percussionists. We engage in a few minutes of small talk. I like them all right away. They seem friendly and easy going and none of them asks me any prying questions.
“Let’s go find our seats,” Luca suggests. We walk toward the front of the plane. “Why don’t you take the window seat. You’ll like the view.”
“I’m sure.”
He places his hand on my shoulder and waits for me to sit down before he takes the seat beside me. “You’ll find a bin under the seat where you can stow your backpack and purse.”
The plush leather seat molds to my hips and back. This is so cool. I can’t believe I’m sitting on this amazing plane with this drop-dead gorgeous, famous guy who is sort-of my boyfriend. Wow. Just wow. I squirm with excitement in my seat.
I retrieve what I need from my backpack and purse before tucking them away in the bin under the seat. Luca shows me another compartment for newspapers and electronic devices and how my chair fully reclines at the push of a button for sleep.
“Are you comfortable?” Luca reaches for my hand. Our fingers interlace, and he gives my hand a squeeze. He looks so hot today—the three top buttons undone on his shirt show off a delicious swath of his chest that is all hard muscle. I know. Because I’ve smoothed my hands over the solid contours of his chest. Every ridge is sculpted of well-trained muscle. He hasn’t allowed his grueling travel schedule to get in the way of working out. He looks like he’s never missed a day of training. Or ever indulged in too many desserts or too many drinks. Just looking at him is more of an indulgence than a chocolate truffle or an ice-cold daquiri. I’ll never get over the fact that Luca’s so damn good looking. And that he’s chosen me.
“Comfortable. Are you kidding? Everything about this plane is incredible.”
He smiles, showing a flash of white teeth, which contrast against his olive skin. “I’m glad you like it. The experience is going to get even better. Soon, Veronica will be making the rounds serving champagne.”
I laugh, feeling happy and carefree. “Champagne? Really? That’s pretty awesome.”
Moments later, Veronica steps out from what looks like a private room in the front of the plane. She introduces herself and then hands us glasses of bubbly in etched crystal flutes. “Please let me know if you need anything during the flight, Miss,” she says.
“We will, Veronica. Thank you.” Luca raises his glass in the air.
Our gazes connect as our glasses clink together. “To our European trip,” he says. And I return the greeting. The toast is just for the two of us. We sip from our glasses. I can hear Luca’s band members talking and laughing somewhere behind us. Obviously, they’re all enjoying themselves, too. How could anyone not have a blast traveling like this. It’s crazy. I’m used to resigning myself to hours of hell and misery whenever I board a plane. “Oh, Luca, I’m so excited to be taking this trip with you.”
“I’m glad, Jade. I want you to have a good time.”
I take another sip of the dry champagne. The bubbles tickle my throat and my nose. A giddy laugh escapes my lips. This feels unreal. Like a dream. Luca always makes me feel special. No man’s ever made me feel this special before. He said we were right for each other. It scared me to hear it, mostly because I’ve been deceived before. But something’s happening to me. I can’t deny it any more. I can’t convince myself it’s just a temporary obsession or a crush. I know now, I’m falling in love with Luca. His gentle words, his compassion and understanding, his touch and the raging passion between us make me want to hang onto him and never let go.
He leans in and kisses me on the cheek. “I’m glad I get to be the one to show you Europe for the first time.”
I meet his gaze and smile. “Going to places I’ve dreamed about visiting for years is amazing enough. But going with you is the best part.” He kisses me again, this time softly on the lips. He knows I meant what I said. He must know that he has latched onto my heart. This mind-blowing, luxurious lifestyle just happens to be an extra perk that comes along with the package. Not that I’m complaining about it. What girl wouldn’t want to sit and drink champagne with a man like Luca on a private jet?
“I can’t wait for you to see Salzburg. We’ll have time to sightsee and adjust to the time zone change before we fly to Vienna for my first performance.”
“I want to see that castle up on the hill you told me about earlier.”
“We can go tomorrow if you like.”
My voice almost comes out in a squeal. “Oh, I would love it.”
Luca laughs, puts his arm around me and pulls me in closer. We keep on chatting about everything we’ll do in Salzburg over a second glass of champagne. Our conversation is relaxed and easy, it’s as if we’ve known each other forever.
“I took my mom on one of my tours last year. We went to Prague, Warsaw and Budapest.”
“Did she enjoy it?”
“Oh, yes, very much. I took her up on stage and had her sit beside me while I performed a song I wrote the lyrics to that I dedicated to her.”
“That must have meant a lot to her.”
“I know it did. She cried when I sang that song. I came close to crying too. She means so much to me.” His blue-green eyes shine with tears, but he blinks them away, and that trace of deep emotion I saw for just a moment is gone.
“I can tell, Luca. I wish I could have seen that.”
His lips turn up in a grin. “You didn’t find that one on YouTube?”
“No, not yet. But now I want to see it.”
“One day I’ll take you to meet my mother. I know she will like you.”
“I would love to meet your mom.” I feel my gut twist. What if Luca’s mamá finds me inadequate the way my parents did? What would Luca’s mother think about him dating someone like me—an American woman with no real family. She’d undoubtedly want to see Luca with a Catholic Mexican woman surrounded by doting relatives.
“What’s wrong, Jade?” Luca asks.
“I was just thinking how your mother would probably be disappointed to see you with an Amer
ican woman, especially given my family situation.”
“Those things are only on the surface, Jade. My mother will see the depth in you. She always appreciates people with a kind heart. And if she sees that you are good for me, she will love you very much. Without question.”
He’s done it again. Said the right words. Smoothed away any doubts. He’s the only person who’s ever been able to do that. Before he came into my life, only swimming in the sea could make everything right.
Veronica appears with our dinner—on real china instead of plastic trays. My mouth waters at the sight of the food. My plate has a generous juicy slab of prime rib, along with diced potatoes and mixed vegetables. There’s even a tossed salad with dressing in a tiny crystal cruet and crème brûlée.
“Would you like a dinner roll, Miss?” Veronica asks. She’s holding an enormous basket of bread that smells like it came straight from the oven.
“Yes, please. That would be lovely.” I smile and reach for one of the rolls. She hands me a small dish with two round scoops of butter.
Luca and I exchange more smiles than words while we eat our meal. I chew on a tender bite of meat, savoring the taste as it practically melts in my mouth. Each bite delivers a delicious burst of flavor to my taste buds. I never thought of eating as sexy. But watching Luca eat turns me on. His full lips are slick with oil from the juicy meat. And the way he slides his tongue over his lips sometimes makes my nipples tighten. I imagine his tongue tasting my skin. I feel a rush of heat between my thighs. And I can tell by Luca’s heavy-lidded gaze and the gold flash in his eyes, that he’s feeling the heat as much as I am.
I scoop the last bite of crème brûlée from the crystal bowl and savor the sweet bite. Then I lick the last bit of sweetness from my lips.
“You missed a spot,” says Luca seductively. He kisses me, gently biting my lip. “Mmm. Tastes good.”
“You taste good too.”
He pulls away when Veronica appears. She clears away our trays and disappears behind a closed door. The cabin lights slowly dim. The air feels chilly and I shiver.
Jade's Song (South of the Border Book 2) Page 13
