Page 55 of Tempting Me

Good.

“Last night,” I begin in a whisper, “I made up a fake date, and Luca drove me all the way to Wind Valley for it, only for him to see me at the bookstore, not on a date.”

Grace cracks up while Brooke and Sadie just smile.

“So, I feel as if I’m missing some details,” Sadie says.

I fill them in on how it all came to be then huff.

“And he knew the entire drive home and waited until he walked me to the door to tell me.”

“Oh, he walked you to the door? That’s sweet,” Brooke swoons.

“Not sweet. Annoying.”

The girls all share a glance, but I’m too worked up over my situation to analyze it right now. Because basically, I don’t need to analyze what they are thinking. I know it.

I like Luca.

They aren’t completely wrong, but saying it in my head versus admitting it out loud are two completely different things.

“So now, when he comes over tonight?—”

“Ladies,” a deep voice comes from behind us.

Sadie brushes past me to wrap her arms around Hudson’s neck and pull him in for a kiss.

“You’re overreacting,” Grace whispers after Brookeexcuses herself to go back to the bakery. Sadie is fully smitten by her fiancé now, so it’s just me and Grace.

“Am I?”

“It’s just Luca. You don’t care what he thinks anyway.”

She grabs a book and reads the back blurb while I let her words sink in.

I actually do.

Care.

I groan.

“At the same time, what if you just act normal around him? No comebacks, no quick anything. Just plain old kind Shay. As if you were hanging out with me.”

“I can’t do that,” I admit on a sigh.

Grace checks her watch. “I have to get back to the lodge. Walk with me?”

I nod, and we tell Sadie goodbye.

That impromptu girls’ meetup wasn’t any help. Other than that, I did get to tell someone my problem, and that alone is helpful.

As soon as we step out the door, Luca and Miles are walking up to the bar. Luca’s gaze snaps to mine instantly.

I think Grace and Miles exchange pleasantries, but I can’t be sure. I’m too focused on the way Luca’s T-shirt hugs his chest.

His eyes slowly move from my face, down my body, and back up.

My body buzzes as if he were right in front of me, touching me, slowly running his hand up my arm until he threads his hand through my hair and tilts my chin, letting his lips hover over my mouth as if he were going to kiss me.

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