Page 4 of Luca (Big Hot Alphas 3)

But this guy…like I said,holy shit. I was aware he was a big guy—it’s the look we wanted for this campaign, after all—but up close, his size is truly staggering. His arms are twice as big as any other guy’s arms I’ve seen; really, he’s a solid wall of muscle.

Yet not in an ostentatious way. It’s like he’s justnaturallythis ripped.

Then my eyes move up to meet his, and it feels like all the air has just been knocked out of my lungs. I’ve never seen such warm, piercing eyes on a man. Or such a strong, sexy jaw.

And like that, the butterflies erupt in my stomach.

“Here,” I say, thrusting the umbrella out at him. “Play around with it. Have fun.”

“Will do,” he says. He pops the umbrella open and rests the shaft against his shoulder. “How do I look?”

There’s only one word I can reply with. It almost comes out as a whisper. “Perfect.”

Behind me, the photographer coughs. “Should we start up the rain, Quinn?”

“Right,” I say, forcing my eyes away from the model. “Let’s.”

I walk off the set and rejoin Dani.

“Good call,” she says. “I don’t know why, but the umbrella somehow makes himhotter.”

“Uh huh,” I say, forcing myself to focus on the monitor in front of us.

I can’t believe I have a fucking crush on the model. What the hell is wrong with me?

Half an hour later—half an hour spent focused only on the monitor, especially when the rain starts falling, drenching the model in extra sexiness—the shoot finally wraps up. I’m over on the other side of the studio, going over some logistics with Dani for the rest of the week, when I sense someone approach.

It’s him, of course.

My heartbeat quickens as our eyes meet again. He’s dried off the fake rain, but his hair is still damp, and it’s almost unbearable how good he looks.

“Hey,” he says. He holds out my umbrella. “Wanted to give this back to you.”

“Right,” I say, taking it from him. A droplet of water runs over the back of my hand. “Thanks.”

“I’m Luca, by the way.”

“Quinn,” I say. I glance over at Dani. “And this is Dani.”

“It’s nice to meet you both.” He smiles at Dani, but then focuses on me again. A sexual tension-filled moment passes as Luca and I just gaze at each other, neither of us saying anything.

Finally, Dani clears her throat and says, “Uh, I’m going to go check on something.”

As soon as Dani leaves, Luca gives me another smile—a panty-melting smile this time.

“Can I take you to dinner, Quinn?” he says.

Flattery flutters in my chest. I’m not going to lie—to be asked out by a guy who’s gotta be seven or eight years younger than me—of course it feels good. But I’m not going to indulge in something that’s doomed from the start.

“I’m flattered, Luca. But I don’t date people I work with.”

“What about people youworkedwith, past tense? I’m not actually a model, you know. This was a one-time thing.”

I hesitate.

“I know a great Italian place,” he says.

Italiandoessound awfully good…

---