Page 119 of Tempting Me

You tell him, baby!

“You know how Mom and Dad will feel about this.”

Shay groans, and I swear, for a fleeting moment, he looks at me with guilt in his eyes.

Shay drops into a chair, her shoulders drooping and herhead down, her face in her hands. I step toward her, but Leo shoves me back.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Comfort her when you're being a dick?”

“Luca, I swear to god, if you?—”

“Enough!” Shay yells and then stands. “I’m not doing this right now. I have better things to do than listen to you two fight.”

Leo glares at me as if this is my fault, and sure, yeah, from Shay’s outburst, it’s clear I partially am to blame, but it’s not just on me.

However, when Shay looks up at me through those dark lashes and her eyes plead with me to help her, I don’t have to think twice.

“I’ll give you two some space,” I say, hating every single word, but I know that the sooner she gets things cleared with her brother and her family, the sooner she can relax and get back to focusing on The Marina.

I don't want her spending one more minute worried over this.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

I nod, then kiss the top of her head as I leave. “Call me when you’re done.”

“Okay.”

I rub her back for a split second.

“Let her talk before you freak out, okay?” I tell Leo.

Leo rolls his eyes..

On my way out, I pass the bar and wave to Carl and Matt. Since this place has picked up, they’ve both been working full-time, and then I walk out the main door.

The timing of her brother coming back is unfortunate. Itwould have been great if Shay was able to break the news of our relationship before he saw it in action, but life never works out that way.

Heck, despite the tension just now, perhaps this could mend things. Our families used to be close. Maybe there’s a chance they still could be.

God, I hope they give her a chance to talk.

I walk up to my truck and reach into my pocket to unlock the door.

I don't feel my keys.

Shit. I left them in the room with Shay and her brother.

I turn, jogging back to the dining room to get in and out so they can have their privacy.

I’ve got one foot through the door when I freeze.

“So it’s nothing?”

“No. It’s not serious. I’m not sure about Luca, but it’s just fun for me, and I?—”

Shay’s words halt when she sees me in the doorway.

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