Page 63 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“Absolutely,” he said. “This call may have saved calories and emergency bathroom visits.”

She laughed, the sound of it tingling almost on his fingertips. True laughter.

“I was thinking the same thing! So thanks for that too.”

He stared out into the dark, smiling to himself. “I’ll repay the favor.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Luca.”

“You know, I think that’s the first time you’ve said my name to my face.”

And the feelings it invoked might be more than he’d bargained for. But not enough for him to stop either.

“I’m not in your face though,” she argued. “But I will be again, and when I am, I’ll make sure to say it. Only I’ll say it lower. Deeper. Rougher.”

He gulped.

“Conversation over,” he said. “I’m waving the flag, because my parents are in the house.”

“And now I think we’re even. Have a good night.”

She hung up on him.

Just as easily as she made him laugh.

20

POKE THE BEAR

“Wow,” Luca said when she opened the door to her condo ten days later.

There he was, in another suit that he must have bought, this one black. A white shirt, open at the collar again, black shoes on his feet.

He looked dark and dangerous and her body was telling her that tonight might not turn out the way either of them might have planned.

“The same,” Gabriela said. “Did you come back here to Boston to buy this?”

“I ordered it and had a courier deliver it last week. Good thing it fit, or I’d be wearing the same one from the Bond Fundraiser. Not sure if people notice those things or not.”

“I would have,” she said. Because she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes off of him that night and she wouldn’t be able to tonight either.

“As cute as your toes are,” he said, his gaze dropping. “I think you need shoes for the proper attire.”

She held her finger up. “Got it. And our ride is on the way.”

“I’m not driving?”

“Nope. You’re not going to find a parking spot anyway. And this way, we can both have a drink if we want. You’re parked in my building and we’ve got a service here.” She looked at her watch and turned to run back to her room, calling over her shoulder, “It will be here in ten minutes.”

She found her nude pumps to go with the deep violet dress she was wearing.

V-neck, what would be sleeveless, but had sheer sleeves down to her forearms, a thick black band around the waist showing a bit more attention there, then straight to the floor, a slit up to mid-thigh.

Yeah, she bought this dress last week.

Might as well poke the bear some and see if he growled.

The way his eyes traveled over the length of her said mission accomplished.