Page 101 of See Me

I cover my mouth with a shaky hand when I reveal a beautiful brown leather bag. I run my fingers over my initials debossed so delicately on the front flap. I pull it out and kick away the box, setting it in my lap and running my hands over the soft leather.

“I figured you needed a briefcase for papers and stuff. This seemed more like… you.” When I look up he’s rubbing his bottom lip with his index finger, something I’ve seen him do before. Is it a nervous tick?

“It’s beautiful, Luca.” I smile, to keep the shine in my eyes from being the only thing he sees.

He hangs his head, hearing the robotic reply, taking it as rejection. “You don’t like it.”

He takes my silence as confirmation, when what I’m really trying to do is not look like a giant baby in front of him for getting me the only gift I’ve ever gotten that wasn’t bought by a household staff member. The only gift that felt like it was picked out just for me.

My chin trembles as I blow a breath out to stop the tears from spilling over. The words come out as a whisper. “I love it.”

He waves a hand, “You don’t have to act like you—” He raises his head and sees the tears I can’t hold back. He drops to his knees and crawls over to me. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

I sniffle the most unattractive sniffle there ever was and run my hand under my nose. “It’s so perfect.”

He smiles and runs his thumbs under my eyes to dry my face. “You didn’t even see what’s inside it.” He wags his brows and I giggle through the sob.

I lift the front flap and it’s stuffed full with office supplies. I dig through the bag, stomping my feet and smiling. I pull out a box that makes my heart leap to my throat. A full fifty count of chalk markers. “You got the big box? And with the fancy tips?”

I toss the entirety of the contents off my lap and launch myself at him, knocking him back into the couch. I grab a handful of hair and cram my tongue, very unladylike, right down his throat.

His chest rumbles as he chuckles through my assault. “Your reaction to office supplies is something I could've used to my advantage a few weeks ago. I wish you would've put that on your application.”

I stop mid tongue thrust at the mention of my application. “Oh, that reminds me, you have to open yours now.” I stand and reach out a hand to help him up.

“I think I would rather my gift be what you were justdoing.” He pulls my hand and I slam back down on him, his growing erection hitting just the right spot. I take a moment to grind on him but the anticipation for him to see what I got him outweighs my physical needs.

I draw back from the kiss. “I really want you to open your gifts.”

“Yeah?”

I bite my lip and nod. I stand and help him up before he sits back on the couch, his nervous energy back full force. He runs his hand through his hair and eyes the packages, not moving to grab them.

“Well, go on.” I urge, my legs bouncing with excitement. “The big one first.”

He tries to paint a smile on his face, but it’s forced. He grabs the big box and rips the paper and box open and I see a genuine smile. He pulls the shirt out and places it over his chest and flexes his biceps. I clap. “Cat Daddy.” He covers his face and laughs. When he pulls his hand away his smile takes my breath away.

I want to divert my eyes, not so obviously stare, but he’s like a beacon and I can’t look away. “There’s more.” He pulls out a little purple backpack that earns me a quirked brow and starts rummaging through it. “It’s for Tuesday. Just little toys and stuff.”

“And the bag?” He eyes me curiously.

“In case she wants to spend the night, you know,” I wave my hand to gesture between the two of us, “when things change, or whatever.” I run my sweaty palms over my pants and he nods, stuffing the toys back in the bag. “Now the little one.”

His posture stiffens, revealing his unease. He plucks the ribbon off the little box and pulls out its contents. He turns it over in his hand, brows drawn together. “A flash drive?”

I smile. “I wasn’t sure you would know what it is.”

Herolls his eyes and grins. “I know what it is. What’s on it?”

I hold my hands palms forward. “Okay, don’t get mad. It wasn’t all my idea. I had help, so I share blame with two others.” I hold up two fingers to really drive home the fact that I’m not all at fault. He eyes them with skepticism drawn all over his face.

He scoots to the edge of the couch, flash drive rolling over in his hand. “Ella,” he draws my name out.

“It has all the files for the bar. Payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, inventory, taxes, all of it. I even made a spreadsheet of the ordering forms so you can see trends and for when you need to order more produce or the seasonal stuff during the busier times of the year. We got all the programs downloaded, well, they did, last night, and it should all be ready to go. It may take a few days for you to get the hang of it, but once you do, it will be so easy. I also maybe, kinda started a website, so people can apply online, and call-in orders and I made sure it’s all streamlined so you don’t have to worry about that. It’s really easy to use and you’ll have so much free time…” I stop my word vomit when Luca crawls over to kneel between my legs.

He brushes the stray hairs off my forehead and cups my face. “You got me time?”

“Yeah.” My eyes bounce from his eyes to his lips and back to his eyes, trying to decipher if he’s working up the courage to strangle me, or if he’s going to devour me. There’s a war going on in the depths of his eyes but all at once they soften and he leans in and brushes his lips so sweetly over mine.

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