Page 44 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

She liked him better without it.

Just a personal preference.

The light blue—almost silver—pinstriped shirt she’d convinced him to buy looked sharp enough on its own. Clean. Effortless. Dangerous.

And his brown shoes were darker than the ones she’d seen him wear to the office. Nicer.

She was seeing another side of Luca.

One she’d definitely be dreaming about later.

One she needed to ignore if she planned on getting through the night without saying something she couldn’t take back.

Humor had gotten her this far.

Since it came naturally, she stuck with it.

She glanced over at him as they pulled into the parking garage. Maybe she should give him a heads up since they’d be showing up together.

She could say they were friends all she wanted, but other family members might not believe her.

She was starting to wonder if she believed it herself.

But then again, it would just mean it was only one-sided.

Been there before with a man.

“Just so you know, once we walk in there, you’re officially family-adjacent as long as you’re by my side.”

“Family-adjacent,” he repeated. “Is that better or worse than actually being family?”

“It depends,” she said. “You’ll know within the first five minutes of being swarmed.”

He found a parking spot and pulled in neatly, then turned to her. “Five minutes feels aggressive. Should I be scared?”

“Trust me, that’s restraint in the Bond family. At least from the older generation. The younger ones will just watch, wait, and laugh.”

He sighed dramatically, enjoying this game as much as her. “Any survival tips before I’m released into the wild?”

He got her. That she was busting his ass and he was playing along the way she hoped.

Who knew it’d be this much fun to have a guy who got her personality?

“Yes. Rule one. Don’t let my cousins corner you.”

“Which cousins?”

“Doesn’t matter. Someone is bound to and there are a lot of them in there. If you feel like it’s hard to breathe, just run.”

He burst out laughing. “Got it. What about your parents?”

“My mother will smile like she’s harmless,” she said. “She is not. She’ll know your blood type by dessert.”

He nodded as if he was being serious when she knew he wasn’t. “I’ll know to keep that to myself. And your father?”

“Stoic. Observant. If he likes you, you’ll never know. If he doesn’t, you’llalsonever know.”

He stared solemnly like he was contemplating his next move. “I can’t say you didn’t prepare me. I’m mildly terrified, but ready.”