Page 13 of Attraction (Mobsters + Billionaires 3)
I crack up, my hand landing on his chest.
“What?” he asks, mock-offended, covering my hand with his as we continue swaying to Old Blue Eyes. “You don’t think I’m concerned about my social media presence?”
The weight of his hand on my mine is distracting as hell, but it doesn’t stop my mouth from hooking into a smirk. “Do you even have an active social media account?”
He moves his hand to scratch his neck, and I stifle a pout.
“I might have an anonymous Twitter account.”
“For what purpose,Stefano?” I ask, mocking him to his handsome face. “To follow your favorite porn stars?”
He raises a brow, spinning us. “You’re telling on yourself there,Bradley.”
A flush rises on my cheeks. “Oh, no…I don’t…porn isn’t…”
Luca holds up his hand, benevolently halting my sputtering explanation. “I’ll have you know that I follow all the major media outlets. It’s an efficient way to stay up to date.”
His eyes sparkle with mischief as he awaits my response. Straightening my shoulders, I take a deep breath. “Mm-hmm.” I adjust his tie. “I believe you.”
He glances down at my hand, still touching his tie, then back up to my eyes, a teasing smile playing along his lips. He takes my hand to continue our dance. The ballroom and its occupants fade to the background, and it’s just us in an intimate embrace, moving to the music.
“You know,” he says, leaning in to murmur in my ear, “since I am starting to divest myself of my—allegedly—not-quite-legal enterprises, I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be a hardship to make a pact to endure gala season together.”
I hesitate. Luca hasn’t exactly kept his interest in me a secret, and I’ve known for a while that he’s distancing himself from illegal activities. Still, I’m thrilled he’s confirming it with me directly. Actually, I know for a fact he’s underplaying the shift in his organization. Charlie was here the other night because Luca is making it a priority to reduce human trafficking in the New York City area.
“No pressure, of course,” he tacks on, his smile genuine.
I think about how Fallon used to be so impatient with me. Hating that I couldn’t sleep with him right away, that I needed to be more comfortable before giving that part of myself. Memories of what happened at Fallon’s house float up, and I shiver. Luca would never.
I straighten my spine, and his hand on my back follows the movement. Carefully, I brave my friend-crush’s gaze. “You have never once pressured me, Luca. You have no idea how much that means to me. And I want to say that I appreciate you stepping in tonight. Fallon and I have a not-great history with one another.”
Luca presses his lips together, a dark expression in his eyes.
“Yeah, I picked up on that. What he said about you…it wasn’t kind.”
I shrug, loving the feel of my hand in his. “He wasn’t lying though.”
His eyebrows shoot up and he cuts off a sharp inhale. He’s quick to neutralize his expression, but I know shock when I see it.
If previous experience is any indication, his gentle flirtations with me are about to come to an end.
Pity.
Then again, Luca has never played to type.
After two eternal seconds of absolute silence, Luca stitches his brows together, shaking his head. “What’s true is that he used his words like daggers against you, and I can promise he will never do that again.”
I shrug, secretly pleased and way too relieved at his words. “Gotta say, having Hopper come in right behind him was a nice move.”
Luca’s lips twitch, but he’s far too cool for anything like that. “Sometimes I get a little lucky.”
I laugh, and he tugs me in closer and…sigh. I feel so safe in his arms.
“You okay there?”
“I’m a little tired. By the way, I think that accompanying you during this gala season would revive my passion for it. If you’re still interested.”
Luca, holding me gently as he sways to the music, whispers in my ear, “Ford, darling, you never have to question my interest.”
