Page 16 of Tinsel in Telluride

Lost in his progress, it’s not until he’s seventy-five percent of the way down that I look up to see where we are supposed to go after this.

And that’s when I see him.

Standing next to a blacked-out SUV, he looks far too hot for it being so damn cold out. Wrapped in a camel-colored trench, paired with black slacks and a button-down that hugs his chest in all the right places, he radiates the wealth of his status. I mean, the guy flew us here on a private jet. It makes sense he wouldn’t show up in jeans and a hoodie.

The same cannot be said for me.

Glancing down at my Renegades zip-up and leggings, I realize just how out of my depth I am. The Bennett name might have once been respected in high society, and I might be best friends with a billionaire and an actress, but we are not the same.

Luca pushes off the SUV and starts towards the stairs. He runs his hand through his onyx hair. Cropped short on the sides but tousled on top, it’s a look that not many guys can pull off—of course, Luca can.

I force a cordial smile to my lips, but it falls as soon as I realize the glittering blue eyes I love to hate aren’t locked on me, but rather on my son.

The significance of the moment bottoms out my stomach. This is it. This could be the first time Zach meets his father.

Maybe.

Then again, maybe not.

Gripping the rail for support, I’m not entirely sure what I’m supposed to do here. I’ve never been one for sentimental moments, but when it comes to my son, I’m a sucker for them. But there’s a part of me that wants to snatch him into my arms and run back up these stairs where the Donatis can’t touch us.

But it’s not about me.

Not anymore.

Which is why I pull my phone from my jacket pocket, swipe up to the camera app, and snap a picture just as Zach reaches the last step and looks up to where Luca stands in front of him.

“Hey, little man,” Luca says, squatting down, so he is eye level with Zach.

Unsolicited tears line my eyes and I blink them away as Zach turns and looks up at me, unsure what to do.

“It’s okay,” I reassure him. “This is Mommy’s friend, Luca. He’s going to take us to the hotel we are staying at.”

Luca glances up at me, but it’s not long enough for me to get a read on him before his eyes are back on Zach. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“S’prise?” Zach echoes.

Luca nods. “Do you like baseball?”

Zach tips his little head to the side and smiles. “Cawson?”

I shake my head. Of course, that’s who he associates with baseball. Not his godmother. Or even the Renegades in general. It’s the guy who uses him as his wingman to pick up women.

Luca tips his head back and laughs, and it’s unfair just how beautiful he looks doing so in the light of the setting sun.

“You know Carson?”

Zach nods, enamored with Luca.

“He was on my team once upon a time.” He reaches into the pocket of his coat and pulls out a bright purple beanie with glittering gold edges and flaps to cover the ears. Across the front there’s a baseball with the word Monarchs stitched in gold underneath. “To keep your ears warm.”

Zach reaches up and grabs the hat and looks at it like he’s unsure if it’s a trap.

If Luca had checked with me, I would have told him hats are not the way to Zach’s heart. It doesn’t matter how cold it is, or how many little old women have stopped and berated me for allowing him to pull off his beanie, Zach hates having his head covered.

I open my mouth to tell Luca as much, when Zach goes on and makes a liar out of me by tugging on the hat immediately.

Pulling on the strings, he looks up at Luca and beams. “Tanks.”

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