Luca (I Love the Way You Lie #1) (24 page)

“I appreciate your honesty, Mel.” I laughed out loud.

Archer excused himself from present company, a drink already in his hand. “The guests of honor. Welcome to Fantasy Island.” He imitated a Spanish sounding voice.

We giggled. He extended both his arms, offering it to us. We grabbed hold of his hulking forearms with pleasure, Melissa licking her lip at me—a gesture more about embarrassing me and watching me squirm. She could be a real bitch at times. However, I knew this was more about getting me to relax than anything else. She doused me with witty humor. And thank god she did because it worked. Put me at ease.

“Let’s get a cocktail for you two.”

“Yes please,” I said quickly, which got me a quick, genuine wink from Melissa.
When in Rome right,
I thought. My closet freak could use a night off. “Archer, I’d love to meet your CEO Mr…err—” Fuck, this was embarrassing. We didn’t even know his last name. His signature was illegible on the bottom of his check.

He smiled, nodding. “We call him D. I guess you can call him Mr. D, and it’s actually very fitting. And I can’t wait for you to meet him. In fact, he’s over there as we speak.”

Our head whipped around simultaneously. My eyes followed his finger. “Which one? Most of them have their back to us?” I asked as politely as I could, but I was excited to meet him.

“The tall one with the dark hair. His back is to us,” he said, smiling widely. Jesus, Archer had some of the whitest teeth I’ve seen on a man.
He could easily do a commercial for toothpaste
, I thought. Most of them had salt and pepper hair and wives on their arms. However, there was only one young man. Surely, that couldn’t be him.

Archer handed us our champagne cocktails and offered his arms again. “Come on. You have people to meet.”

We followed like little soldiers. I guess we had plenty of time to meet the CEO, to which I’d give my sincerest thanks and appreciation. I already plotted out what I’d say to him. Thankfully, Archer didn’t offer his hand. He’d be grossed out by my sweaty palm. My nerves were hardly in check. I took a large gulp of my champagne and looked at Melissa, who was in her Agent Provocateur mode. I was envious that she could silence her demons. Yeah, she had them, but was proficient at expelling them. God bless her crazy ass. There was no one else I could see myself as partners with. Hell, I didn’t get along with most girls. Most women had an instant dislike for me. Why? I could never figure out.

We approached our first group of pretty people. I pushed down my insecurity, and the woman I was meant to be stepped forward. He introduced us. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet our guests of honor.” Each couple stepped forward, greeting us with smiles and wishing us well. Positive vibes seemed to be the theme of the evening. I was happy. More than happy—elated. I can’t remember a time in my life that I had felt such joy.

My eyes scoped the crowd like an eagle looking for prey. My smile widened for the cameras in action. “Archer, is that him?” I pointed at the crowd of social elite up ahead.

His smile was positively wicked. “Maybe?” And then he steered us to another group of people who were listening to a trio playing cellists.

“Is that Apocalyptica?” My eyes were wide and hands balled in nervous excitement. I knew it was them. They were one of my favorite bands. Archer quirked an eyebrow and nodded once. “Do you know they’re my favorite band?” I clapped happily. Oh, this day was going into my journal for sure.

“I do now,” he said, pulling us over to greet them. How in the world did they get
this
band here? From Finland? Then, I thought maybe that’s why Oliver asked where I was? Did he play a part in all this? We met the band and had a drink with them. It just so happens they were going on a short break.

I thought it was very contemporary to have classically trained
Cellists
and yet so alternative at a societal event such as this. I added that to my already long list of thank yous to the CEO when I’d finally meet him. Paavo handed me a rose, a gesture of his thanks for the invitation to play at this event. I broke the stem off, tucking it behind my ear. I looked at Melissa, who was more focused on Archer’s Adam’s apple and watching it bob up and down when he spoke. She had a bit of a kink for them. I’d remember to kid tomorrow with her about that. We said our goodbyes and I promised to come back through later.

Archer escorted us to the glass carriage house. It was a winter wonderland theme. Complete with a small snowy stone bridge over a Koi pond. Clear Christmas lights wrapped around the trees, giving the illusion of being Christmastime. An antique black horse-drawn carriage was the main centerpiece of the room. Of course, there were no horses. However, the thick burgundy velvet blanket was draped across the worn leather seat that a couple would share. It was stunning, and a pang of longing escaped me. My mind dwelled on the lucky couple that would sit there and enjoy a romantic ride through a park on a snowy winter day.

Next, Archer walked us to a lily pad pond. I expelled a loud sigh when my hand found its way, skimming the water. I remembered a pond like this years ago. I sat along the edge of the pond, getting lost in the reflection staring back at me. The smell of fresh Hyacinth scented the air sweetly, and I remembered telling Luca the story. Hyacinths were the most important of the Spartan festivals and lasted three days. Luca was fascinated by Greek mythology. My skin was on fire as my body very clearly remembered in vivid detail
that
night. A shiver went through me, squeezing my heart in sorrow. I blew out one slow breath, trying to release the tension that wound me when thinking of him. I turned, watching Mel and Archer lost in flirty conversation. I found myself jealous of that. I wanted a relationship, but found myself unable to get over Luca.

Melissa held up her glass, asking if I needed another cocktail. I shook my head no; I was happy to stay here while they got a fresh one. I watched the koi navigate through the lily pad and was captivated by the vibrant colors.

“Beautiful,” I murmured to myself, watching them glide through the water with ease.

Warmth wrapped around my skin, cradling me in comfort. “Allison,” a gruff voice called.

My spine straightened, goose bumps fleshed my skin, and every hair on my body rose to attention. I closed my eyes tightly, willing the demon away. Fuck, now they were talking to me.
Not good
.

A gentle finger caressed my cheek slowly. “Open your eyes, Allison.” His words carried his scent and both threatened to choke me from the air I so desperately needed. “Open those beautiful eyes for me,” he cooed into my ear. My eyes remained tightly closed, but I allowed myself to lean forward, catching his scent and pulling it deep into my lungs. If I opened my eyes and he wasn’t there, the pain would surely kill me. However, if I opened my eyes and he was, the sting of his betrayal would taint me all over again.

I opened my eyes, slowly revealing the demon that sat next to me. “Luca,” I said, swallowing the ball of doubt.

“Yes.” He grabbed my hand, placing it over his heart. “I’ve waited seven years for this moment, and it nearly killed me every fucking day.”

I pulled my hand away abruptly, looking around. We were alone and the doors were now closed. I eyed him suspiciously. “What are you doing here? How are you here? Where have you been all these years?” I threw all the questions out at once. Fury now colored my sight.

“It’s my event. I’ve lived in New York for the last seven years, and I did all this for you.” He gestured with his hands.

“For me?” I screamed, standing and taking a step back. I needed to put some distance between us. “You…you…fucking shattered me. You have some fucking nerve.” I raised my voice.

“Will you let me explain?” he pleaded, walking over to me.

“Stay back.” I pointed. “I’m just putting myself back together. I fucking fell in love with you, and you left without so much as a goodbye. It’s been seven fucking years and now you’re here.”

He held his hands up defensively. “I had no choice in the matter, and I’ve never really left you. I’ve always been watching,” he tossed out angrily. “You can ask Archer.”

“Archer?” I whirled around. “What does he have to do with this?”

“Archer is my oldest and dearest friend. He knows why I left and how it killed me doing so. He’s bared witness to it all,” he said, pulling out his lighter. The lighter—he still had it. He lit a cigarette. “I gave these up years ago, but if there’s ever a night I needed one, it’s tonight.” He inhaled and exhaled smoke that seemed to fill the room.

I took a moment to look at him. Actually look at him. He looked the same but mature—polished. Dangerously handsome in his tuxedo, his hair was neat and short. He looked taller and more filled out—wider through his shoulders. Fucker, he was a handsome bastard. But a bastard, nevertheless. His evergreen eyes followed me as I paced. The eyes that followed me into my dreams, and woke me up screaming most nights.

“I need alcohol—now.”

He nodded, walking over to a bar in the far corner, reaching for a bottle of McCallan 18 and poured us two fingers each. He handed me the heavy leaded crystal glass with a sexy as sin smile. I took it down in one gulp, favoring the burn over this conversation. I needed more. I handed him my now empty glass and took a seat beside the pond again. Fuck. My head couldn’t even catch up. The emotional seas churned with a vengeance within me. Waves of anger banked against the shores of my sanity. What was I feeling? Happiness? Anger? Relief? Yes, I was oddly relieved to see him and yet all the pain resurfaced, threatening to drown me.

“Talk to me…” he whispered and rubbed his scruff against my ear.

His scent was affecting me, and my thighs squeezed as a soft moan escaped. I hated myself for being so affected by him—still. He walked along the glass expanse of the carriage house. It was dusk and the full moon seemed to follow him as he walked. I watched the devil closely. His kinetic energy pulled me much like the moon does to the tides. My body had little say in the matter. It was as natural as breathing, and it irked me. He has always controlled every situation with grand execution. I realized no matter how the devil treated me, I would always be a slave to his will. And that revelation had the first of many tears falling.

The scenery began to shift as he carried me to some other room away from prying eyes. My shoes slipped off my feet and his warm hard pressed into my arch lovingly. He kneeled beside the chaise and began to explain everything to me. This devil knew no rest and never grew tired. I was exhausted, but my ear bent to his voice. And I listened. My head lolled to the side, watching the sun crest over the horizon and the moon take its place high in the sky. I was blown away by his admissions and exposed to his truthfulness. And my will followed the devil as he walked me through the last excruciating years of his life without me. The light reflected off the crystal, illuminating his green, tear-filled eyes. I wallowed in his torment, and the angst of the last seven years began to fade. And as it cleared, there was only one word that was paved across my heart—love.

All day my heart was lodged in my throat and I couldn’t wait another minute longer. After watching her at the lily pond I knew she’d love, I went to her. It didn’t go how I planned, but it could have been worse. And I deserved anything she slung at me. I’d take it like a warrior and hoped she give me the opportunity to change her mind. She could have asked to leave, but she didn’t. She listened. My heart exploded with love and admiration. I faced my biggest demon for the last seven years, and my mouth opened, full of truth, for the first time in even longer. All of my past corruptions poured out of me, and the space was now filled with desire. Desire for her and the desire to be forgiven. I didn’t want to push or pressure her. However, I knew what a hard, bitter pill betrayal was to swallow. Her eyes welled up and I quickly gave her my handkerchief to prevent any tears from spilling down her gorgeous face. Her lips were swollen from crying. I watched her out of the corner of my eye; guilt set in as I watched her heart breaking all over again. My fingers traced the shape of her heart shaped lips and she opened slightly. Her pink tongue met the tip of my finger, sending a powerful jolt racking my body. A sexy grin made an appearance, peeking out at me…daring me to kiss her.