Lucca's Lust: The Luminara Series Book 3 (16 page)

Sophia and Franco are very youthful for their age but wise all the same, and I like them giving me advice. It does not make me feel young. It makes me feel blessed and honoured, and I always show them respect even if I do not always agree. It takes me back to my childhood and happy memories.

“Lucca, I know you miss your son and you feel bereft. You always will. What happened was unjust and a travesty, but you cannot let that hold you back from reaching out to a happy future. If you are feeling remorse and upset, then my best advice would be to open up and be honest. If Lexi agrees to get to know you, through time it might be something you want to share with her. Be truthful … Women are very good at understanding, and they seem very switched on with emotions, no?” He leans forward with his hands clasped in front of him.

“Yes, I have never mentioned it to any one before, other than my therapist. But it is not something I would hide. Before … maybe I would have, but now I feel like I would open up. I am more positive and mature,” I say, hanging my head down.

“You do not want to start a relationship off with skeletons and ghosts. It never works, trust me.” He pats me on the shoulder before checking the time on his watch. I stand with him and walk back towards the study.

Ghosts?

Skeletons?

Jasmine
.

That is something that needs to stay buried, something I do not think I could ever openly talk about with anyone other than Casey and Marco because they already know. Apart from the fact that my cancer did not spread and I am healthy now, it is not something I wish to share with anyone. It fucks with my pride and karma.

And as for Jasmine, how the fuck do I tell a woman that I was unable to save another woman who I let run away from me? How do I say I let her die? I watched as blood poured from her fucking head and there was nothing I could do.

Lexi would run a fucking mile if I told her that.

Lexi would never trust me.

Lexi is petrified enough without knowing I am a fucking monster.

Lexi freaked out when I waved a knife in her face. She would not cope knowing this.

Lexi must never know.

We bump into Lexi and Hazel in the corridor. Having just come from the gym, both are drenched in sweat. I smile inside. I like that Lexi is health conscious and likes to exercise, but more than that, I like the rosiness on her cheeks right now and the way her hair is wet and looks just fucked. Shit, she is even beautiful after her workout.

She could not sleep which is concerning, but shit, if I am not happy to see her again so soon and in her sexy fitness clothes. My eyes roam over the sweat glossing her neck and chest, running all the way between those perfect tits.

Her saturated tank clings to her breasts, showing the outline of her sexy curves. Panting, breathing fast, chest heaving up and down. Christ! I wonder if this is the look she will have after I give her a workout in my bed.

I offer to get them water because if I stay here watching the sweat glisten on her skin, I will take her upstairs and fuck her hard into a deep coma, and it will give her the perfect opportunity to catch up on her sleep. Giving myself a shake, a wicked smile curves my lips. This girl gets more appealing every time I see her.

She walks off with her bottle of water, not before I shoot her a dimpled smile and silently tell her she looks hot as fuck. I watch her perfect, tight little ass in those fitness shorts, which look like they have been painted on her, her hair wet and swaying down her back with every movement. I visualise pulling on that teasing ponytail and yanking her back to my mouth.

How am I supposed to get work done now? I cannot fucking concentrate. Instead, I head to my room and take a long, cool shower and then head to the study afterwards. I cannot help myself but look at the top of a pile of paperwork on top of Nonno’s desk.

Guest registration and booking confirmation from the associated travel agents.

I open up the top file … Lexi Robertson … D.O.B … address … email address … contact number. It is all here, booked under her name. Alexis Evangeline Robertson … Preferred name: Lexi Robertson.

Lexi Robertson.

Lexi Robertson.

Lexi Robertson.

I quietly say it and love the way it sounds. Now, I will never forget. Avoiding breaching guest privacy, I close the folder back over. All I needed was her surname to play around with in my head. I could have easily asked Mark when I called him or checked my employee database at the club … I am not sure why I did not.

She is beautiful Lexi to me. I guess that was all I really needed to know.

An hour later after checking in with Marco on how his meeting went with Dino and looking over the plans, I walk towards the lounge area. The ringing of my phone alerts me.

It is my papa. He wants to know all about the mysterious and beautiful girl Nonna has told him about. Of course he does. That is the thing when being part of such a big family, very close family. No one can bloody hold their fucking water. You leak, then the fucking whole family knows your business. Not that it matters because I would have told him about Lexi anyway.

“Papa, I will call you back,” I say before hanging up.

My eyes devour the sight of Lexi standing in front of me. Breathtaking. The air leaves my lungs once more.

Bello.
Beautiful
.

Stupefacente.
Stunning
.

Elegante.
Elegant
.

I fixate my eyes on hers, and I am so fucking happy to see a smile in her eyes. She is pleased to see me. She looks like a fucking angel standing in a blue chiffon dress, sweet yet sexy, just above her knees. Her hair tumbles in sexy waves around her shoulders and down her arms, her lips glossy, tongue darting out to dip into the corner of her lips.

Oh please … she is asking for it now. My teeth could suck on that lip all night long if she would let me. I only hope she does not turn me away and refuse a date with me.

“You look stunning, absolutely beautiful,” I say, walking towards her and kissing both her cheeks.

“Um … thank you. You look … um … nice too,” she stutters. Too fucking cute. I cannot help the laugh that escapes my mouth. I love cute Lexi. I guess I should be pleased she is attracted to me, or thinks I look
nice
. Nice. I like it. It is obviously the feminine way of saying she thinks I look good.

She seems to exude a little confidence tonight. Something seems different about her. I am not sure if it is courage or she now feels comfortable, but I like it a hell of a lot. Her eyes are not wandering like they normally do; even her posture seems more poised. I am relieved that she has come to a decision about my proposal. I wait for her to use the bathroom, and then we greet Hazel in the lounge.

“Doc, you are killing me here.” I sigh impatiently when Hazel uses the restroom herself.

“I’ll go on a date with you, just a date, but … not until we get home. It’s not fair to Hazel,” she says quietly.

Christ, the breath I was holding on to just left my lungs as I gasp for air. I have felt suspense on numerous occasions, especially securing huge business deals, but nothing comes close to the suspense and feeling of relief in this moment. I have just secured the biggest fucking deal of my life … a date with Lexi.

Lifting her hand to my mouth, I tell her I will wait and promise I will not hurt her. She seems to like when I say that word:
promise
. Her eyes smile and she glows with a serene look on her face. Getting it off her shoulders seems to have relaxed her because she is drinking her cocktails and unwinding and acting more carefree that I have seen of her in the last two days.

All the while I am thinking how I can make it possible for her to go on a date here in Tuscany with me. I know I told her I would wait, but I am desperate for her company alone. I glance between her and Hazel and feel a familiar stab of jealously that Hazel has all her attention, which is wrong. I know it is, but I cannot help it.

I also think it is not fair on Hazel that I steal her friend away from her, so I will need to think of something that will get me alone with Lexi, something that will not upset her or Hazel. I smile and watch the both of them talking, laughing, and enjoying their drinks.

But shit, the colour seems to fall from Lexi’s pretty face. Almost like a switch, she has gone from laughing and being rosy cheeked to looking ill and worried. She stands, unbalanced on her feet, and sways. All the alcohol, lack of sleep and food, and that intense workout today, no wonder she is dizzy.

Shit. I panic. Her body goes limbless and her legs come away from under her. I grab her before she hits the floor. Hazel squeals and I gasp. She has passed out. Within seconds there is lots of commotion from Hazel and my grandparents. I do not even entertain it. She needs her bed to sleep it off.

I scoop her in my arms and start to walk away. Hazel is shouting at me as I do, but I tell her to calm down. She advises us all that Lexi has a habit of fainting, that she needs to lie flat and sleep it off. I tell Hazel to come with me, that I will carry her upstairs. She picks up Lexi’s bag for me. I look at Lexi, eyes closed, cheeks pale, mouth parted, which tugs on my fucking heart to see her like this.

We try to wake her. I whisper against her head, rub my thumb across her eyebrow, but nothing. Hazel tries to wake her by gently shaking her, but she is out cold. With every stride I take, I hear her stirring. A soft little groan escapes her mouth, followed by the words
must run
, so I know she will come to soon. My grandparents follow us, my nonno appearing very distressed, but all I focus on is Lexi. Helping Lexi.

Her delicate fingers curl around my arms, and she buries her head against my chest and it feels perfect. Perfect other than the fact that I am so sorry she feels like this, and I just want to help her.

Once we get her into the room, I place her on the bed and lean over the top of her, calling her name until I see her fluttering her eyes. Thank fuck!

“Where am I? Have you taken me? Am I going to die?” She whimpers.

What the fuck?

“No. Jesus, no. Why would I want to do that? Thank God you are okay. You had us all worried. Do you know where you are?” I ask her. Once we establish she knows where she is, I calm her and caress her. She complains her head hurts. I explain she is dehydrated and collapsed, which freaks her out even more.

Sliding my hands off her cheeks, I talk with my grandparents. I tell them she has overdone it today and I am not leaving her. I will stay with her, and they insist on staying too. I advise they should go back and attend to the guests. I have not even considered that Hazel will want to stay. Right now all I want is to stay and look after her. She needs me. I desperately want to help her, and I know I can take good care of her. I do not even have to reiterate that to my grandparents; they agree.

I help Lexi sit up so she can take some painkillers Nonna passes over with water. Hazel watches in amazement. I am not sure if she is pissed off I am trying to take over, or if she is pleased I am caring for her friend.

Either way, I do not care. I know I am better staying with her and I am exactly what she needs right now. I shoot Nonna a look, tilting my head towards Hazel, so they try and convince her to go and leave me alone with Lexi.

Thankfully she takes the hint and eventually convinces Hazel to go. Although, she does not seem chirpy about it one little bit, but Lexi agrees, so she reluctantly does go, not before firing me one of her death stares. How the fuck does a five foot skinny blonde make you feel like she is scarier and has more power than the Devil himself? Jesus.

Now on our own, I stroke her, wipe her tears from her cheeks, and soothe her. She is still embarrassed about causing a drama downstairs, but I reassure her not to worry. Taking aside her misfortune of feeling ill, drunken Lexi is very cute. She is like sweet, sober Lexi tenfold, except she is slightly slurring her words which I smile at. It is another special side of Lexi I get to be a part of.

For Lexi’s sake, I wish right now she was not suffering, and I do not want to feel like this, but I am only glad it is nothing too serious. At least she can sleep it off. While I stare at the distress in her eyes, she frowns and closes them tight, taking a turn for the worst. Shit! She warns me in enough time so I can roll her to the edge of the bed. The poor girl vomits everywhere.

I take it back. This is serious. I cannot do enough for her here, while I am thinking drunk Lexi is cute, she is extremely ill and uncomfortable. Christ! I attend to her the best way I can by brushing her teeth, cleaning her up, and stroking her softly to reassure she will be okay. Right now I think her mortification makes her more ill than the alcohol in her empty stomach.

“You cannot sleep here tonight. Come on.” There is no way I am allowing her to sleep here tonight. I lift her up and carry her to my suite. Reaching the door she asks me what “La Fiducia” means. My heart must be hammering against her small body because my pulse just hitched up a notch. Staring at her with warm loving eyes, I tell her it means “The one to trust,” hoping she gets my silent message that I very much want her to trust me.

I settle her on my bed and offer to have food brought up, which she declines. I like stubborn Lexi, also very cute. Although, it is concerning me that she has nothing in her stomach. After making the call to Nonno to fill him in and to tell Hazel to come here, I kick off my shoes and lie beside her. There is no way in hell I am leaving her on her own in case she is sick again.

Lifting the comforter, I wrap it over her and wrap my arm across her body. God, she feels good beside me. Feeling her trembling, I rub her skin, caress her, and then place my head near the crook of her neck, stroking her hair.

“Please, trust me. I have got you … I promise,” I whisper, meaning every word. She relaxes, a soft sigh leaving her lips. Moving a loose curl off her cheek, she says the sweetest thing.

“
A promise is a promise …
”
It is low and sleepy. I almost missed it. She drifts off to sleep but I stay awake long after, listening to her quiet breathing, inhaling her sexy feminine perfume, feeling the heat from her body, and whispering endless promises to her against the palm of her hand which I have lifted to my mouth to kiss. I know she cannot hear me as she is deep in sleep, but I do not care. I want to promise her everything I can.