Page 49 of Hat Trick
She's quiet for a moment as the car gently sways. I usually fill silence, but I let her have this. I bury my face in the crook of her neck and breathe her in. I can't help myself. I can't be near this woman without touching her, without tasting her. I lick her pulse point and run my hand down her leg to find the hem of her dress.
She swats me away.
"It took me too long to get my hair and makeup like this for me to show up to this wedding looking freshly fucked, young man. And this is the first time I'm meeting your family."
I grin against her skin. "But that's my favorite version of Emily - freshly fucked."
"Oh, you'll see her tonight, it just won't be until after the wedding."
I smile, retreating my wandering hand, and give her another kiss on her temple. Fuck, I love this woman.
Chapter twenty-nine
Emily
We drive an hour into wine country. The pastoral view of gently rolling green hills is breath taking. Luca is breathtaking. He always looks good in a suit, but casual suit Luca? Without the intensity of a game, is delectable. It's always so easy with him - flirting, chatting, being together. I always feel lighter around him. He's my breath of fresh air. Carter's my home. And Gabe? After last night I'm not sure what Gabe is. My biggest nightmare? My biggest fear? I'm terrified of the way he makes me feel, and of how I make him feel, apparently. I'm terrified of what last night meant, of what changes now. He's a storm, a wildfire. And it frightens me.
But tonight is all about Luca, so I push all thoughts of the others to the side and focus on him. He fills me in about his large, extended family. The wedding we're attending is his cousin Melanie's. Melanie is younger than Luca by about five years, but Luca, Melanie, and a handful of other cousins, all grew up in the same neighborhood so they're thick as thieves.
We arrive at a huge estate and the driver parks in the round driveway. The white palatial building must have been a private residence of someone very wealthy before it was sold as a winery and wedding venue. It gives me The Great Gatsby vibes. Luca introduces me to a few uncles and cousins, and I immediately forget all of their names. They're all welcoming and friendly enough, if not a little dismissive. But I don't mind. They don't know me, and this is a family affair.
We take our seats and smile polite 'hellos' to the people around us. The ceremony is blessedly short, the bride looks like a princess and her groom looks positively smitten. Luca reaches over and laces his fingers through my own, holding our combined hands in my lap during the ceremony. He presses his shoulder against me and I'm grateful for the grounding gesture. We stand and clap and watch as the newlywed couple retreats, before joining the crowd milling around, waiting for dinner to be served. There are several standing tables in a lawn to the left of the estate and a small bar manned by two servers in uniform.
Luca deposits me at one of the tables. "Will you be alright here if I go get us some drinks? No point in both of us waiting in line."
"Perfectly content." I smile up at him. God, he's gorgeous. He kisses my cheek before joining the line, shaking hands and patting the shoulder of I man I've never seen before. I close my eyes and tilt my head up, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my face.
"Do you mind if we join you? There aren't enough tables."
I open my eyes to find a beautiful blonde woman, flanked by two women with ebony hair. "No, of course not. Help yourselves." I smile at them. They rest their glasses on the table, but instead of chatting amongst themselves, the blonde engages me.
"How do you know the bride and groom? I'm not sure I've ever seen you before?"
"Oh, I don't know them. Not really. I'm here with Luca Tavares. I'm his plus one."
The blonde wrinkles her nose at me and says "Oh...I see." With barely hidden distain.
"You...see?"
"You're his flavor of the week. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, I'm just surprised he'd invite a puck bunny as his date."
Irritation bristles through me on Luca's behalf. Fuck these people and what they think of him. I understand he has a reputation as a player, but to immediately jump to that conclusion without any real proof of it grinds against my nerves. The fact that his own family can't give him the benefit of the doubt is appalling. Something fierce and protective sweeps through me. Just like that night at the pub when the puck bunnies accosted him, I feel an overwhelming desire to protect Luca. He's got six inches on me and easily 100 pounds, but if I can be his shield against these pathetic jabs, I'm going to.
"Oh. Flavor of the week? Have you told him that? Because he's been calling me his future wife now for months."
The leggy blonde gives a tiny gasp of indignation.
"Well how come we've never heard of you?"
"Oh, does Luca need permission to date? Or to marry? Who should I make the wedding invitations out to?"
"I'm Sarah. This is Tiffany and Melissa."
"And you are..." I should have checked to see if they were related to Luca before I insulted them.
The blonde frowns at me disapprovingly. "His cousins."
Shit.
