Chapter 113
“You’re seriously going to dinner with him?” Keira demanded, sprawled across Sutton’s bed while Sutton tried on her third outfit. “After everything he did to you?”
“It’s just to discuss the baby,” Sutton replied, smoothing the black wrap dress over her bump. “Plans for when he or she arrives. It’s practical.”
“Bullshit.” Keira sat up. “You’re still hot for him.”
“I am not.”
“Your face says otherwise.” Keira grinned. “Plus, you’ve changed clothes three times for this ‘practical‘ dinner.”
Sutton sighed, turning sideways to examine her reflection. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, making her pregnant belly look elegant.
rather than cumbersome.
“It’s… well, complicated, Keira.”
“No shit.” Keira flopped back on the bed. “He called you terrible names, accused you of cheating, pushed you away. But he’s hot, and you still want to
climb him like a tree.”
“I do not!” Sutton protested, but the heat rising in her cheeks betrayed her.
“Look,” Keira said, her tone softening slightly, “I get it. He’s trying. Blair says Roman vouches for him. And at the bridal shop last week, he looked at you like you hung the moon.”
“He did not,” Sutton muttered, though she’d noticed his gaze following her.
“Whatever you say. Just be careful, okay? You’re my big sister. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Sutton insisted, though she wasn’t entirely convinced herself.
The doorbell rang, making Sutton jump. “He’s early.”
“Of course he is.” Keira rolled her eyes.
Sutton opened the front door to find Luca standing there, looking so gorgeous it made it hard to remember why she should keep her distance. His eyes darkened as they swept over her, lingering on the way the dress hugged her curves.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice low.
“Thanks.” She grabbed her purse, trying to ignore the flutter in her stomach that had nothing to do with the baby. “Let’s go.”
Keira appeared behind her. “Have her home at a reasonable hour. She needs her beauty sleep.”
Luca nodded solemnly. “I’ll take good care of her.”
“You better,” Keira replied, the threat implicit. “I know where you work.”
Sutton shot her sister a warning look before stepping into the hallway.
He placed his hand at the small of her back as they walked to the elevator, the heat of his palm burning through the thin fabric of her dress. Every nerve in her body was very aware of him.
In the elevator, they stood on opposite sides, the small space suddenly feeling too intimate. Luca’s eyes never left her face.
“Where are we going
?” she asked, needing to break the silence.
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11:27 Sat, 5 Jul G
“Osteria. I have a private room reserved.”
“I thought we agreed on somewhere public,” she said, frowning. She worried about her control somewhere private.
“It is public. The restaurant will be full. But I thought you might be more comfortable somewhere we can talk without being overheard.”
The doors opened, and they stepped out into the lobby. Through the glass doors, Sutton could see his car waiting–black, sleek, and expensive. She was
so not a car person, so she had no idea of the model. Now give her a computer… that was a different story.
It was only as they stepped outside that she realized there was a driver.
“I can send the driver away if you prefer,” Luca offered, reading her hesitation. “We could walk. The restaurant is only a few blocks.”
The gesture surprised her. “No, the car is fine.” Sutton let Luca help her into the car. He closed her door and then got in on the other side….
The restaurant was indeed busy, but the maître d‘ led them through to a small private dining room with windows overlooking the main space. Candles flickered on the table, roses arranged in a low centerpiece.
“This looks more like a date than a practical dinner,” Sutton observed as Luca held her chair.
He sat across from her, his eyes never leaving hers. “Would that be so terrible?”
Yes, she wanted to say. Because I don’t trust you yet. Because you broke my heart once already.
Instead, she picked up the menu. “Let’s just keep it simple.”
They ordered, the waiter pouring sparkling water for Sutton and wine for Luca. When they were alone again, Luca leaned forward.
“I meant what I said the other night. What you did was incredible. The virus you contained could have cost Kingston millions.”
“I was just doing my job.”
“No, you went above and beyond. The system you built… it’s revolutionary.”
“It’s not ready yet.”
Luca studied her for a moment. “I know, but after it worked so well on the Kingston system… at least it’s been tested.”
Sutton could see he was struggling with switching between work and the reason they were here tonight. “How good I am at Cyber10 isn’t the reason we’re here tonight.”
Luca looked at her for a moment. “I know you don’t trust me.”
“Can you blame me?”
“No.” He looked down at his wine. “But I’m trying to make it right, Sutton.”
“Some things can’t be fixed with money or job promotions, Luca.”
“I know that.” He reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers. “But I have to start somewhere.”
The touch sent electricity racing up her arm. She pulled back, needing distance to think clearly.
“Let’s talk about the baby,” she said. “That’s why we’re here, right?”
Luca nodded, though disappointment flickered in his eyes. “Right. Have you thought about birth plans? Where you want to deliver?”
The conversation shifted to practical matters–
doctors, hospitals, preparations for the baby’s arrival, It was safer territory, though still intimate in its own way. He was still coming to her appointment this week.
2/4
Their food arrived, and they ate while Sutton told him about the names she had played around with for the baby.
“I want to be there,” Luca said suddenly. “For the birth.”
Sutton looked up from her pasta, caught off guard. “I haven’t thought about that.”
“I understand if you don’t want me in the delivery room,” he continued. “But I’d like to be at the hospital. To see the baby as soon as possible.
The raw honesty in his voice made her chest tighten. “I’ll think about it.” She was the one pushing
him away now.
As they finished their meal, Luca ordered dessert, though Sutton protested she was full.
“The chocolate soufflé here is exceptional,” he insisted. “And you’re eating for two.”
“You know that’s an old wives‘ tale, right?” She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue further. When the soufflé arrived, steam rising from its perfect dome, Luca pushed it toward her.
“Try it.”
She took a small bite, closing her eyes as the rich chocolate melted on her tongue. “Mmm.”
When she opened her eyes, Luca was watching her, his gaze heated. “Good?”
“Very.” Her voice came out huskier than she intended.
He reached across the table, his thumb brushing the corner of her mouth. “You had chocolate…”
His touch lingered, and Sutton found herself leaning into it slightly. The air between them thickened.
“Sutton,” he murmured, his voice dropping…
Her heart rate picked up… she wanted him, and just his voice was enough to remember how good it was between them.
“I… I just can’t make the mistake of loving you again, Luca… If it happens, it’s going to take time.” She was lying to him and herself.
Luca stood, moving around the table to kneel beside her chair. “May 17” gesturing to her belly.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. He placed his hand gently on her belly, waiting. When the baby kicked again, his face lit up with wonder.
“That’s incredible,” he whispered.
“He or she has been extra active lately. They say it’s normal.”
“Hello in there,” Luca said softly to her belly. “It’s your papa.”
The simple words, the tenderness in his voice, made tears spring to Sutton’s eyes. This was what she’d imagined when she first learned she was pregnant –with Luca beside her, sharing the joy and wonder of their child.
He looked up, catching her expression, the tears in her eyes. “Sutton?”
She blinked rapidly. “It’s nothing. Hormones.”
“It’s not nothing.” His hand moved from her belly to cup her cheek. “Talk to me.”
“I just…” She swallowed hard. “This is what I wanted. Before.”
Understanding filled his eyes. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
I wasn’t
He was still kneeling beside her, his face
tilted up to hers. It would be so easy to lean down, to close the distance between them.
3/4
QUE
Chapter 113.
As if reading her thoughts, Luca rose slightly, his face coming closer to hers. She could feel his breath on her lips, see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes.
“Sutton,” he whispered, “I want to kiss you again.”
She should say no. She should keep that boundary firm. But her body had other ideas.
“Yes,” she breathed.
た
His lips brushed hers, gently at first. A question. When she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, his hand sliding into her hair.
Sutton’s mind went blank. There was only sensation–his mouth on hers, his scent surrounding her, the baby moving between them.
She was the first to break away, breathless. “We shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” His voice was rough with desire.
“Because I don’t trust you yet. I can’t…” The words hurt to say, but they were true. “And I won’t sleep with someone I don’t trust.”
Luca’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “I understand.”
He moved back to his seat, the distance between them suddenly vast.
“I should get home,” Sutton said, unable to meet his eyes. “It’s getting late.”
“Of course.” He signaled for the check.
The drive back to her apartment was silent, thick with unresolved tension. When they arrived, Luca insisted on walking her to her door.
In the hallway outside her apartment, he stopped. “Thank you for coming tonight.”
“Thank you for dinner.”
They stood awkwardly, neither quite ready to say goodnight.
“Sutton,” Luca began, “I meant what I said. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll wait as long as it takes to earn your trust again.”
Before she could respond, her phone rang. She pulled it from her purse, frowning at the screen. “It’s Jake from the office.”
“At this hour?”
She answered, concern rising as she listened. “When? … How bad? … Yes, I’ll be right there.”
She hung up, her face pale. “We need to go back to the office. Now.”
“What happened?”
“The virus is back. Worse than before. It’s taken down the entire client database.”
Luca
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