Page 78 of Shiver

“It was good, really fun actually. We had a great time,” I tell her, chuckling. “And I discovered that Luca is terrified of horses.”

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” she says, not sounding all that sorry the moment her voice breaks on a laugh.

“Well, I have a favor to ask,” she tells me, and my stomach drops. “I wanted to call and ask since we’re still not feeling great and won’t make it to dinner tonight. But Yera visited us today at the resort and wanted to see if you’d still be willing to have a little date with her son.”

I’m about to protest when she cuts in. “You and Luca said your relationship is new and still a bit casual, right? So what would it hurt to just grab brunch with her son? Maybe you’ll really like him.”

Suddenly, it doesn’t feel like there’s anything particularly casual about my fake relationship with Luca.And that terrifies me.

“Mom, this is completely inappropriate. I’m here onvacationwith myboyfriend,” I tell her, allowing the full weight of my frustration to seep into my voice.

“I know, Mara, but it’s just an hour. Come on. Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” she tells me.That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.

“Fine, one hour. That’sall,”I concede.

“Incredible! You’re going to have such a good time. I’ll go tell Yera!” she shouts enthusiastically.

“Great.” I groan, hanging my head. “Text me the details,” I tell her before hanging up.

Luca comes out of the bathroom, freshly shaven and prettied up. “Who called?” he asks, tossing his dirty gym clothes in the laundry bag hanging in the closet.

“My mom.” I groan involuntarily.

He lifts a brow at me. “What’s she up to now?” he asks, taking a seat on his side of the bed.

“She set me up on a date with one of her friend’s sons. Which is exactly the reasonyouare here in the first place.”

His eyes sharpen, cheeks hollowing and nostrils flaring for a split second before he cools his expression. “That’s absolutely fucked,” he tells me. “And not happening.”

I shake my head. “I already agreed to it. Only an hour. We’re having brunch.”

Before he can say anything else, there’s a knock at the door. My brows pinch in confusion. “Did you order room service or something?”

His easy smile returns. “Nope, that’s your surprise,” he tells me as his long legs hitch over the mattress, climbing off and heading toward the door.

A woman dressed in an all-white uniform smiles at me as she brings in a folded table, and someone behind her is carrying a box loaded with items.

“Hello, I’m Valentina. I’ll be your massage therapist,” she informs me, setting up the table. Luca helps her, opening it with ease.

He sees me gaping at them and leaves her to stand in front of me. He grips my shoulder and looks down at me, our eyes only a few inches apart. “You deserve to relax, Samara. This is your vacation, too, not just your family’s. Go get changed into the robe I left in the bathroom for you and get your ass back in here for the massage of a lifetime. I’ll be just outside, waiting to hear all about it when it’s over,” he says, winking and spinning me toward the bathroom before giving me a light smack on the ass to urge me toward it.

I walk there like a zombie, too dazed to even threaten to bite his hand off for smacking my butt.

My heart constricts painfully in my chest.This man is both an angel and a devil.His sweet words and actions, combined with his sinful mouth and body, have me tripping all over myself. It’s certainly not something I’m accustomed to.

***

That was not only the most incredible massage I’ve ever had, but Luca also added on a facial and body scrub. It was amazing, and I feel so blissed out. My bones are made of jelly, and when Luca offered to order room service for dinner, I didn’t hesitate to take him up on it. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than in this feather-soft bed, lying beside Luca, watching whatever dumb movie he put on ten minutes ago. I have no idea what it’s about, but that’s only because I can’t seem to take my eyes offhim.

Chapter sixty-two

Luca

Iguess the massage was good because Samara didn’t kick me out of the bed tonight like I’d been anticipating.

And just like last night, I can’t get my brain to shut off.

I can’t stop thinking about her with another man tomorrow, and my inner child keeps throwing ideas into my mind of ways to sabotage their date.

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