Lucca's Lust: The Luminara Series Book 3 (60 page)

“You and Lexi have a very intense relationship. You two fell in love quickly and have experienced your share of obstacles during your relationship. What would you say was the one that had you most worried? The one that you thought might possibly end the relationship or cause the most damage?” Relieved, I bite down on my cheek and inhale deeply, glad I managed to ask and question and get it over with.

“Hmmm … Lexi’s accident in Tuscany. I thought I had lost her and I was so afraid. After she recovered from surgery, I was so thankful when I knew she would be okay, but I thought she would leave me and I would lose her forever. It was my worst fucking nightmare coming true. We had to work through it and I had to gain her trust again. I pleaded with her for another chance, which is more than I deserved for putting her at risk. I just could not let her go. My head was screaming, my heart was screaming, and I just wanted to stand outside alone in the dark and scream away my pain and frustration into the shadows of the night because I fucked up and was scared to death for her, for us together.”

“I noticed earlier when you both arrived at the hotel that you have a tendency to kiss the scar on Lexi’s wrist from her surgery. You must have beat yourself up pretty bad over it. How are you doing now?” I ask and absently rub my wrist to draw attention to it in the hope that Lucca will stay focused and will spontaneously speak his mind as he thinks about it.

“I have a lot of regrets in my life, Rebecca, but that is my biggest. I felt sick to the core and have never hated myself as much. There was nothing I could do but regain her trust and show her I loved her, begging for her forgiveness. My heart split into a million pieces and that look in her eyes, God … that look of fear. It scared me more than anything else because I had let her down and was not able to protect her. It was almost as if she was recoiling and fading away from me right in front of my very eyes, and I just wanted that luscious, deep chocolate smile back in her eyes. The way she used to look at me before the accident, I needed that back.” Lucca shakes his head and then turns away, his eyes coated with moisture.

“How did she used to look at you before the accident?” I blurt, setting my hands on my lap and gripping my knees.

“Like I was her breath of fresh air. Like she trusted and loved everything about me. Like I was the luminosity surrounding her darkness. Like I was bright. She looked at me like I was in her heart, and I needed that back.” He sounds anguished and distressed.

“Obviously you got it back … the way she looked at you.” I appease him.

“Yes, she did, but I felt so desperate for her after that, I did not feel worthy of forgiveness. Her tears, Jesus … I felt like I had been ripped apart. She was so vulnerable, helpless and hurt, and time seemed to stop. My head … it was a mess. I could not function because I wanted to heal her and wished I could take it all back. When I see her small scar it reminds me of that horrendous night. I have had nightmares about it. I wish I could kiss it away. Her scar … it also reminds me of how precious my beautiful dolcezza is and how much she means to me and deserves the best. I will
never
put her in danger ever again,” Lucca replies with a broken voice, stopping for a moment to breathe slowly and deeply.

He excuses himself to use the restroom in the suite lobby. I wait and decide to change the direction of my questions because he appears to be upset and is showing signs of averseness. When he returns, he apologises and says he needed a moment and wanted to check in on Lexi, personally, before he switches his phone back off. He places it back into his suit jacket pocket before taking his seat and signalling that we can continue.

“Lucca, I’m sorry. Please take your time.” I use this opportunity to pour fresh coffee while Suzanne and Omari briefly speak with him. He tells me to continue when he is settled.

“I think that’s enough of the sad stuff. You’ve experienced enough of that already as it is. So tell us, what do you really think of Jackson and his feelings for Lexi? Have you kept in touch with him after the tabloid scandal?” I ask.

Anger flashes in his eyes, followed by a deep frown. Lucca grinds his teeth, clenches his jaw then closes his eyes.

“Jackson has laid his cards on the table. He is attracted to Lexi; I am not stupid. I knew he had feelings for her, but I see it in his eyes. He as much told me so and I respect his honesty. But I will not lie, he will never, and I mean
ever
have my dolcezza and he knows this. I have warned him. As far as our friendship goes, I need to accept he is a friend of Lexi’s family, which is now my family. Lexi spent a lot of time with him and feels comfortable around him. We keep in touch, have talked and worked it out, but as far as the allegations are concerned, they were a personal attack at Lexi and myself and he should not have been involved. We all know there is no truth to it and it is all nonsense. I was there the night Lexi and Jackson were both in BarAsta, and I can assure you there is nothing of truth in those monstrous articles. I am unable to comment further due to legal stipulations but know this … it is not true,” Lucca says, sounding agitated. He adds ice from the cooler with the little tongs into fresh glasses, the sound of the clinking ice the only noise I hear right now, before he fills them with water for us both.

“And how is your relationship with him now?” I ask, watching the ice swirl around in the water.

“We get along because Lexi asked me to be civil and I promised her, and he is a very good friend of Cameron, Lexi’s brother. He makes Lexi smile and I know he would never hurt her. Jackson has given me his word he would look out for her like a little sister, and I need to believe him because he has not fucked up yet, and so far he has been compassionate, understanding, and dignified. He hurts Lexi’s feelings or crosses the line, then he is in trouble, and I do not give a flying fuck who he is or what the press makes of it.” Lucca almost hisses on his last breath.

“I guess that would stand for anybody, right?” I ask, picking up my glass of water.

“Absolutely. Upset my dolcezza and then you upset me,” he confirms seriously, rubbing his temple with his middle finger. I now want to bring Lucca’s spirits up, and I know just the question to ask him to change his mood.

“You mentioned in your press conference that Lexi hit it off quite well with your nieces and nephews. Seeing Lexi interact with them and having her tell you she was now considering having children must have been the greatest thing in the world. Can you tell us what you were feeling as you watched her with the children?” I ask cheerfully.

Lucca smiles, his eyes brimming with bright colour once again. “She stole my breath away and left me gasping. She is effortless with the kids. My knees almost give way watching her. She is an absolute natural and looks so fucking sexy holding and caring for our baby niece. Of course, I knew she would be attentive and motherly. There is just an obvious caring side to Lexi’s personality. My heart beat so fast when I heard her singing to our baby niece Antonia. God, she sings like a goddamn angel. Her gentle touch and warm, kind heart will make Lexi the perfect mother. The sweet, caring way she is, especially with the children, is indescribable. It makes me so happy to see her bond with them. I could watch her forever with the kids fussing and running around her legs, and she seemed so happy and in her element. It is simply breathtaking to watch. Fuck, I am a lucky man.” Lucca blushes and moistens his lips. I notice my ice has long melted so I sit my glass back down.

“That you are. What were you thinking when she said that she was considering have children after meeting your nieces and nephews?” I add before picking up my mug and sipping the fresh coffee I poured, as I let the last mug go cold and forgone drinking it to concentrate on my notes.

“Christ, I wanted to kiss the life out of her and then kiss her back to life. You could have blown me down with a feather. I am normally very good at reading people, but she completely caught me off guard. Lexi had always been so opposed to having kids of her own and then she told me she wanted to be the mother of my child. Jesus, I lost my man-card that day because it took me ages to get my head around it. It weakened my resolve and sent tingles down my spine. Although, it just felt right. Lexi is everything I have ever hoped and dreamed for, and those words nearly ended me. I can say it made me an extremely happy man. Family is very important to me, and Lexi … hell, she is my world.” Lucca sounds so full of passion while he fists his hand and clenches it against his mouth, almost as if he’s silently thanking his blessings and holding on to hope.

“I’d like to ask you about the first time you met Lexi. The very first time in December, outside of Casey Huddersfield’s office. I remember you referring to it in the press conference as the moment that left you entranced and wild with desire for the beautiful and mysterious woman. A woman you could not stop thinking about. Can you tell us what went through your mind when you discovered that Lexi was the mystery girl you met briefly? Your first initial thought?”

“Si. Love. My first thought was that I loved the look of this beautiful girl in front of me and the aura around her. I remember every single thing about that day: her shyness, rosy cheeks, soft plump lips, long, wavy locks, and those huge timid chocolate eyes. Not to mention that perfect little figure. I was instantly attracted to her; she intrigued and bewitched me. I remember she shivered … or seemed to be shaking and then looked down. All I wanted was to see right into those beautiful, adorable eyes and tell her she was beautiful and not to be scared. The minute I lifted her chin with my hands and met her eyes with mine, something happened. I cannot quite explain it, but I knew she had got inside me and ruined my eyes for other woman. I could have stood frozen on the spot all day just staring into her eyes, as they were gradually thawing me out; a heat rose inside me. I just wanted to hug her against me and keep her warm, and I hated the thought of her walking alone outside in that horrendous blizzard.” Lucca sucks in a sharp breath as if remembering the cold weather.

“I asked Casey about her, but of course she would not tell me because of patient confidentiality. It is funny how fate intervened. And of course Casey is a close friend of both our families; I did not even know Lexi existed before that day. But I thank my lucky stars for Casey Huddersfield, more than anyone will know, and for that cold winters day.” Lucca cocks his head towards Suzanne, who smiles softly with appreciation before fixing her spectacles on her face. I remember reading that Casey is Suzanne’s sister.

“If you were to ask my husband who I was to him, he’d say his best friend, the mother of his children, his wife, his everything, his soul mate. What’s Lexi to you?”

“Lexi is my life. She is
all of me
. My breath-stealer, love at first sight, and instant attraction. She is my angel. And everything you have mentioned. I am glad your husband refers to you as all these beautiful things, Rebecca. I believe a man should remind the love of his life of this often. It is very important, si?” Lucca asks.

“Oh yes. You are right, Lucca. My husband and I have been together a long time, but he still reminds me.” I blush. I don’t know why I’m telling him these things but I feel comfortable doing so.

“And so … you are
all of him
and his life,” Lucca says casually while he holds his wrist and runs his thumb over his cufflink. I pause and stare at my engagement and wedding rings, a sappy smile framing my face. I think back to my husband proposing and our wedding day, and how wonderful it felt. It still feels wonderful, but those moments were blissful and extra special, and it reminds me to ask Lucca about his engagement.

“Let me offer you and Lexi my congratulations on your engagement. Did you think Lexi would say yes so easily?”

“Grazie, Rebecca, che è molto gentile …
Thank you Rebecca that is very kind of you
. Actually, if I am honest, I am always a very confident man but I have never been as nervous as I was that night in Florence. I was afraid she would say no because I asked her very quickly after meeting her. Lexi is a very cautious and careful person, and I was worried that I would be pushing her too quick too soon. I knew I wanted to make her my wife, but Lexi seemed nervous about going home to Scotland and returning to her ordinary life, and I was worried that facing her life would intervene and she would become distant or withdrawn. I seized the moment and it was the perfect opportunity. It was extremely unexpected for her, and I knew that others would question how quick our relationship progressed, especially those close to Lexi who know her on a personal level.”

Lucca sips his coffee before resting his mug on the edge of the sofa. “In my mind, there was no real question about time because it felt right and I know how my heart felt. I expected her to say no, and I planned to do something exceptionally romantic for her on the sixteenth of every month until she said yes. I proposed on June sixteenth … the night of the Luminara candle parade and festival. I thought it might take me a year of asking, and I had even thought about venues and places I could take her to every month until she said yes.” He grins, his lip curling up at one end.

“But she said yes. That must have made you exceptionally happy,” I add.

“Si. Extremely happy. God, that moment was just so special. She surprised me by saying yes. My knees buckled, and I am not afraid to admit I wept with tears of joy. I was hoping she would say yes, but it was always in the back of my mind that she would object. It was a feeling of complete utopia; I was floating for days afterwards. Of course the good thing is all those special, romantic things I planned for her … I can still give her when I can. She deserves
all of me
and everything I can give her.” He winks playfully.

My husband proposed to me after a short period of time, and I remember he was petrified when he met my family. It must have been daunting for Lucca, too, because he had a massive task of gaining Lexi’s family’s trust, which prompts me to ask, “You’ve met Lexi’s grandparents and mum. Was there one you were more nervous about meeting than the other?