Page 17 of Can't Always Get What You Want

"You wouldn’t be opposed to it," I echo, letting them settle between us. "Not exactly a glowing declaration of enthusiasm."

Luca huffs out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Would you prefer if I got down on one knee right now and begged for another date?"

I arch a brow, popping the reminder of the nugget into my mouth. "I mean—it would be entertaining to see you down on your knees.”

I did not intend for that to sound the way it sounded. I can see he takes it as such, smirking as he leans toward me. I catch the faint scent of his cologne—clean, warm, woodsy.

"I’ll keep that in mind for next time."

Next time.

Luca is easygoing, charming in that quiet, self-assured way, but I know better than to assume those two words mean anything.

Still, when his fingers brush against mine as he reaches for another nugget, I don’t pull away.

"You’re assuming there will be a next time," I boast, tilting my head.

His gaze flickers to our hands. Then back to my face.

"I am." Luca leans back slightly, dragging his fingers along the rim of our glass. "Call me Mister Optimistic."

I should shut this down. I should remind him that my brother would kill him if he knew we were here, sitting across from each other like this, hands nearly touching, conversation dipping into something dangerously close to flirtation.

I don’t.

Instead, I shift in my seat. "What makes youso sureI’d agree?"

"Because you’ve already agreed once," he points out. “And I’m convincing.”

I scoff. "That’s a pretty low bar for success."

Luca laughs softly. "I’ll take what I can get." He lifts the drink, swirling the ice among the bright yellow liquid before taking a sip. Then, as if it’s an afterthought, he adds, "For the record, there’s no need to make a big deal out of this. We don’t have to tell your brother if you don’t want to."

We don’t have to tell your brother.The words hang there, light and careless. I feel the weight of them.

Our little secret.

Our dirty, little secret…

“Is now a good time to mention that if we have to keep something hidden—it’s probably a terrible idea!”

He nods. “Probably.”

That’s it? That’s all he’s going to say?!

I open my mouth to object, but he cuts me off before I can rattle off a list of reasons we shouldn’t be here in the first place.

"You’re overthinking it," he says, voice softer now. “Stop.”

"You’re not thinking it enough," I counter, no bite in my words. My traitorous mouth actually has the audacity to smile at him.

Ugh!

His fingers brush against mine again, the barest, briefest touch.

"Or." He pauses. "I don’t see the harm in getting to know you." He pauses again. “What’s the worst thing that can happen?”

I huff out a laugh, shaking my head. "Do you really want me to list all the possible ways this could go wrong?"

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