Page 11 of Shiver

Chapter nine

Luca

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

My phone rings from the next room, and I rush to answer it before Gia wakes. There’s nothing quite like the panic that rushes through a new parent when they’ve finally gotten their kid to sleep and something tries to disrupt that. I snatch it off the counter, swiping to answer before bringing it to my ear. “This is Luca,” I say in a rush.

A smooth, feminine voice curls over the line. “Luca, this is Samara. Could we meet today? I’m sure you’d like to get this process started, and I have a free hour at three.”

I rub at the skin of my throat, my eyes swinging to the stove clock that reads, “2:37 p.m.” “Fuck,” I groan out, not meaning for the word to slip past my lips.

My heart stops in my chest at the realization of what I’d done. “What was that?” Samara’s even tone holds a rigid quality to it, and I know, without a doubt, I’malreadyfucking this up.

I release a long breath, steeling my nerves before apologizing. “Sorry,” I say, my voice wavering as I stare at my bedroom door where Gia’s tucked safely away. “I just got Gia down for a nap, but if you could do three thirty, I could probably get one of my siblings to come over and watch her.”

I shouldn’t feel so damn guilty for havingmy ownschedule to work around, but something about this first verbal interaction with Samara has me feeling even more inadequate as a father than I already had.If this woman, who doesn’t even know me, already thinks I’m unworthy of Gia, maybe she’s right.

“Fine,” she huffs out. “I’ll move some things around. Three thirty p.m. at Ice Blue. Don’t be late.” With her last words, she hangs up the phone, leaving me scrambling to get dressed and figure out which of my siblings can look after Gia on such short notice.

***

“And you’resureyou don’t mind?” I triple-check with Gianni, hesitant to add yet another thing to his plate with a newborn at home, and I’m even more reluctant to leave my daughter.

“You appear to forget that I have a newborn, who I seem to be keeping alive just fine,” he jokes. “We’ll be okay without you for a couple of hours. Go, and don’t mess it up.” He waves me out the door, all but slamming it in my face.

***

My tires squeal across the pavement as I pull into a parking spot in front of Ice Blue, the swanky lounge that opened a few months ago.

I used to frequent this place, getting free bottle service when I arrived. That fact alone sends apprehension trickling down my spine.

Hopefully, no one here recognizes me, and I can avoid making a scene in front of my lawyer. A lawyer who, it seems, already can’t stand me.

I look down at my tan leather loafers, staring at my feet as I make the trek across the parking lot and into the restaurant. As soon as I’m inside, I lift the sleeve of my navy suit jacket, my watch indicating I’ve got three minutes to spare.

Thank fuck.Samara doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who bluffs. She’d probably leave my ass here had I been a single second late.

I scan the restaurant, and I quickly realize my mistake. I have no idea what this woman looks like. Fucking hell, I should’ve at least googled her. I fight the groan threatening its way up my throat and take a calming breath, closing my eyes for a quick beat.

When I open them, they snag on a woman wearing an electric-blue dress that hugs her every curve. Her warm-brown skin looks dewy. It’s a beautiful contrast to the bright shade caressing her figure.

Her eyes meet mine, narrowing on me, and I swear I see them roll from all the way across the restaurant.

That must be her, then.

She stands abruptly, heading straight toward me.

When she’s less than two feet in front of me, she sticks her hand out for me to shake. “Samara Perez-Allen. Nice to meet you, Mr. De Laurentiis,” she says, but judging by her tone, she doesn’t think there’s anything “nice” about it.

I take her palm in mine, giving it a gentle shake, which she returns much more firmly, nearly crushing my fingers.

Okay, that definitely confirms my suspicions.She absolutely isnota fan of me, but why?

Releasing my hand, she turns back toward the booth she was seated at and saunters ahead of me. I guess I’m expected to follow her? It’s not much of a hardship, not with that magnificent ass swaying as she walks.

Shut the fuck up, you absolute goddamn pig,I internally scold myself, shaking my head.

I take a seat across from her, and the moment she opens her mouth to speak, the waitress approaches eagerly.

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