Page 8 of Luca (Big Hot Alphas 3)

“Hey,” I say, smiling. “I was just joking around.”

She nods. “No, I know. It’s just…are you sure you want to date me, Luca?”

Now it’s my turn to be serious. “Yes. Absolutely.”

She worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’m sorry. But I have to ask. How old are you?”

“Twenty five.”

Something shifts in her face.Fuck.

“Hey,” I say. “Talk to me, Quinn.”

She shuts her eyes for a second. Breathes out. Finally looks at me again.

“I’m ten years older than you, Luca.”

“So?” I say.

“You’rereallyunfazed by that?”

I shrug. “Yeah. Is that so hard to believe?”

She studies me for a few seconds. “Have you ever dated someone older than you?”

“No,” I say. “Why does it matter, though? Who cares if you’re older than me? I like you because I likeyou, Quinn.”

“That’s sweet, but…” The strand of hair slips from behind her ear again and she tucks it back in place. “I’ve been your age. I know what it’s like to believe you know what you want. But looking back, there’s so much I was wrong about when I was in my twenties. There are so many things I’ve changed my opinion about.”

“I’m not going to change my mind about you,” I say. “Baby, you’re right about a lot of things, but that’s one thing you’re wrong about.”

She looks touched by what I’ve just said. But it’s obvious she still has doubt. Apparently no amount of telling her how I feel is going to convince her.

But maybe actions will speak louder than words.

“Are you free tomorrow evening?” I ask.

She frowns. “Luca, I…”

“I want you to meet my family. My parents, my brother, his wife, their kid. The whole troop.”

“We’ve gone on two dates and you want to introduce me to your family?”

“It’s fast. I know. But I want to show you how serious I am about you, Quinn. Besides, my brother’s only in town for a couple more days.”

She takes several seconds to think it over.

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. I’msogoddamn sure it’s not even funny.”

She smiles. “Okay. Then yes. Let’s do it.”

I didn’t expectto introduce Quinn to my family so soon. But, fast or not, it feels so fuckingright. When I introduce her to my family—my mom and dad, my brother, my sister-in-law, and my nephew—the group of us feels whole in a new kind of way.

“I’m so glad we could meet you while we’re in town, Quinn,” says my sister-in-law, Madison. “The first day we came up, when Luca mentioned that he’d met someone, I was instantly dying of curiosity.”

“Howdidyou two meet, by the way?” my mom asks as she comes into the living room and sets drinks down on the coffee table. “I don’t think you told us, did you, Luca?”

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