Page 47 of Tempting Me

“Why do you keep looking outside?”

“Because if any of my neighbors see Luca pick me up, I’ll never hear the end of it. I’m just making sure no one is outside.”

“Okay,” Grace laughs. “By the way, I have to say, for a not real date, you look hot tonight.”

“Thank you.”

I glance in the hallway mirror and run my fingers through my loose curls. Then I take in my burgundy V-neck top that has flowy sleeves and cinches at the waist. It’s a short dressy top that stops just above the waist of my dark high-waisted jeans. There are holes in them, but not too many, and the strappy nude heels I added give me the perfect cute casual look. Or in Grace’s terms, hot look.

“Luca is going to flip when he sees you.”

“What does that mean? I didn’t dress up for him.”

“No, but I haven't seen you this dressed up in a while, and my guess is that neither has he. In fact, this very well may be the first time he sees the real grown-up Shay Parker.”

“He knows I'm grown up.”

“Yeah, in cutoff shorts and a tank top all day every day.”

“That's not—shit, he’s here. Look at him all dreamy or something so that he knows I’m talking him up.”

“I’m not doing that.” Grace laughs. “I won’t lead him on.”

Ugh. She’s right. Why does my brain short circuit and take me back a year whenever Luca is involved?

Why can’t I just be normal around him?

I rush back to my bedroom to get my purse, then dip into the bathroom once more to add one last spritz of perfume. When I come out to the living room, Grace is opening the door to reveal Luca.

Like me, he’s showered and changed since earlier.

His hair is styled, and I’m pretty sure there is a little bit of gel in it. His shirt is clean, a simple dark green with sleeves that hug his biceps, and his jeans, held up by a dark tan belt, hang just perfectly off his hips. His shoes match the belt, and before I can even think of what to say, the smell of sandalwood fills the room.

Luca cleans up nicely.

Grace clears her throat. My gaze flashes to hers, and she presses her lips together.

“So, you two have fun tonight.”

Luca is staring at me, but when we make eye contact, it must break whatever trance he was in, because he, too, clears his throat.

“It’s not a date. Not for us. Not for me. But I’m open to dating. In general. Not Shay. But tonight isn’t a date. I mean, she has one. I’m just … driving.”

Luca sighs in defeat, and I hate to admit it, but rambling Luca is a tiny bit adorable.

“Noted.” Grace grins and pats his shoulder before waving goodbye.

Since we have a deal where my part is to set him up with Grace, I expect to watch him take in her every move as she walks away or fawn over her for a moment, but he doesn’t. Instead, he looks back at me.

“Um…” He clears his throat again. “Is that what you’re wearing?”

“Yes.” I put a hand on my hip, ready for him to pull some macho move and tell me to change. “Why?”

My tone must wake him up, because he glares at me.

“This guy better not be a douche, Shay.”

“He’s not.”

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