107. Natalie

Chapter 107

Natalie

I digmy fingers into Luke’s arm, but he doesn’t complain as we wade through the rest of the photographers, the journalists in the lobby, and the throng of people stopping to greet us when we make it into the ballroom a few floors up.

“Talk about marrying Mrs. Popular,” Luke whispers as we move away from the last couple to flag us down.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen those two so excited before,” I whisper back. “I bet they’re secretly hockey fans but were too shy to admit it.”

Luke looks down at me. “Why would anyone be shy about liking hockey?”

I shrug. “Rich people are weird.” He snorts, and I narrow my eyes at him. “What?”

He holds up his free hand. “Nothing. I have absolutely nothing to say to that.”

I squeeze his arm. “That’s what I thought.”

Luke turns us toward the bar set up at the back of the room. “Drink?”

“Yes, please.”

As we walk, Luke looks around. “Warn me if your dad is approaching.”

“I will.” I don’t even tease him since I’m also a bit nervous about sitting through a dinner together with my dad. “I don’t think he’s here yet.”

I feel Luke relax next to me.

“Damn, they really go top tier here, don’t they?” Luke’s eyes bounce over the liquor options.

He probably has more money than half the people here, but he’s taking the time to actually appreciate the details around us. And it only makes me like him more.

When it’s our turn, Luke politely asks for a glass of chardonnay for me and a Perro Rabioso Whiskey on the rocks for him.

Luke lifts his drink. “I wonder if this guy is here tonight.”

“The person who makes the whiskey?”

“It’s owned by a guy who used to play for the Biters.”

I eye his glass. “Huh.” I should probably have known that. “Speaking of…” I look around the room but don’t spot the man in question. “There’s another football player here my dad introduced me to the other week, and I’d like to say hi.”

Luke makes an unimpressed sound.

I nudge him in the side. “Play nice.”

He makes another sound as he takes a sip of his whiskey. “So, how does this go?”

I dropped my hold of Luke’s arm when we ordered our drinks, but as we start to stroll around the outside of the room, he twines his fingers with mine.

It’s sweet.

Intimate.

I take a big swallow of wine as I remind myself about expectations.

“Well, there are silent auction items we can look at. Then we’ll find our table and eat dinner, and then someone, possibly Vincent, will get up for a speech. There will be a show of people donating money, and then we can go home.”

Luke gives my hand a squeeze. “You have one of those giant checks hidden inside your dress?”

A laugh pops out of me. “Um, no. Wag Corp already made our donation, and it was through a wire transfer.”

“Sounds fancy.” Luke hums as we reach the auction tables. “I know I’ve thought it a thousand times already, but I don’t think I said it out loud.”

I look up at him. “Thought what?”

“How fucking beautiful you look tonight.”

There’s no humor in his tone. Just honesty.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “You look rather amazing yourself.”

I mean it. The black on black, with his neck tattoo on display and the…

My eyes move to that damn green pocket square.

“I’m passable,” he says. “You are way beyond that, Princess. And if you don’t want me to ruin this dress when we get home, you’re gonna need to⁠—”

A throat clears behind Luke.

“Daughter.” My dad’s voice cuts in.

Luke widens his eyes, and I press my lips together, my mouth starting to pull into a smile.

With his back still to my dad, Luke squeezes my fingers as he mouths Oh my god,and I have to try not to laugh at his expression.

“Hi, Dad.” I greet him brightly as I step around Luke.

Luke continues to hold my hand tightly as he turns to face my father.

“Hi, uh, hello, sir.” Luke stumbles over his words, making it even harder to keep my composure.

I know I shouldn’t find this funny. I don’t want Luke to feel uncomfortable around my dad. But… it is funny.

“Luke.” Dad dips his chin.

Neither man attempts to shake the other’s hand, but I let go of Luke’s so I can give my dad a hug.

He accepts it, of course, and some of the tension lessens around us as I let go.

“You look wonderful tonight, Natalie.” Dad smiles down at me.

“Thanks.” I twist side to side, making my skirt dance. “You don’t look too shabby yourself.”

Dad sighs and places a hand on his tux-covered stomach. “The tailor has been sneaking into my closet and making everything smaller again.”

I snort. “I’ll be sure to chastise Mr. Thompson the next time I see him.”

Dad narrows his eyes at me. “Pest.”

Luke makes a choking sound.

“Something funny?” I ask my husband.

He shakes his head. “Nope.”

“No need to lie, son.” Dad claps him on the shoulder, apparently over the awkwardness. “It’s no secret my daughter is a stubborn woman.”

Luke grins, also moving past the weirdness. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Smart man.” Dad nods. “Alright, I’m gonna hit the bar. I’ll find you at our table.”

“’Kay.” I smile, then turn back to Luke. “Well, that broke the ice.”

Luke groans. “I swear, I keep looking worse and worse in front of him. The next thing will be your dad walking in on us having sex.”

“Like what Jackson did?” I lift a brow.

He grimaces. “Yeah, I guess we already ticked that box.”

I reach for Luke’s hand. “I’d love to leave that as a one-time-only experience.”

He closes his fingers around mine. “Deal.”

Together, we take our time looking at the auction items, and I put in a few bids on random items. But it’s mostly just to bump up the prices since I don’t care that much about winning.

“Did you want another drink before we sit?” I ask Luke.

He shakes his head. “You?”

“There’s wine on the table, so I’m set. But I think your whiskey is just at the bar.”

“Then let’s find our table. I need to stop after one anyway.”

My mouth pulls down. “I forgot you’re leaving again tomorrow.”

Luke’s hand flexes around mine. “Just for two nights. Then I have a surprise planned.”

I side-eye him as I lead him toward our table. “Hopefully a good surprise.”

He just smirks.

“Natalie!” A brunette woman holds her hands out toward me as she comes around the table. “So glad you could make it.”

“Hi, Sasha.” I greet her, accepting her hug. “Wouldn’t dream of missing it.”

Sasha Mazzanti pulls back, beaming at me. “I can’t tell you how excited I was when you emailed to say you were moving here. And please let me apologize again for that asshole employee in Vegas. As soon as we realized it was our resort that leaked those videos, Vincent fired him. And blacklisted him from any other hospitality job in the state.”

I let out a slightly awkward chuckle. “I appreciate that, but it’s all water under the bridge now.”

“Well, I insist we do coffee soon to catch up. Then you can tell me just how choppy that water was.” She steps back just as her husband stops at her side.

I smile at Sasha, then take her husband’s offered hand. “Vincent, nice to see you.”

I’ve met the tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed man several times. He’s been nothing but kind. But I don’t think I’d ever dare try to hug him.

“It’s an honor to have you join us.” He smiles at me before turning his gaze to the equally tall man beside me. “And I see you brought your husband.”

“I did.” I look up at Luke. “This is Luke Anders. Luke, this is Vincent and Sasha Mazzanti.”

Because I know him, I can see the tiny shift in his features, putting together who we’re talking to. The couple who owns this whole building. Owns several massive buildings here and across the country. Wag Corp has money. But Mazzanti Enterprises has money.

“My cousin and his kid talk about you all the time,” Vincent says to Luke. “Noah still hasn’t shut up about the time you showed him some workouts.”

“Noah,” Luke repeats. “Wait, Angelo is your cousin?”

“True fact, pipsqueak.” A deep voice cuts in from the other side of Luke.

We both turn, and an involuntary sound of surprise leaves me.

The man is massive. Like legitimately massive.

Luke is over six feet tall, but this guy probably has half a foot on him. And he’s wide. Built like a wall.

“Jesus,” I mutter.

Luke glares at me over his shoulder. “He’s not that big.”

The giant barks out a laugh and reaches his hand past Luke toward me. “Angelo Rossi. Nice to meet you.”

I let my hand get swallowed by his as I shake it. “Natalie Wagner.”

Angelo lifts his brows. “Wag Corp Wagner?”

I nod. “One and the same.”

“I worked with your security guys last year setting up some new protocols. Good company.” He tips his big head toward Luke. “You find this guy on the street and decide to bring him inside?”

“Ha, ha.” Luke fake laughs and shoves at the giant. “That’s enough.”

Angelo, who is apparently Vincent’s cousin, lets go of my hand and steps back.

“How do you two know each other?” I ask.

“The gym.” Luke pulls his shoulders back. “Can’t you tell we go to the same place?”

I bite my lip and nod. “You’re basically twins.”

Angelo laughs again. “I like this one. You should keep her.”

Luke grins and holds up his hand, showing off his pink silicone ring. “Already married her.”

“So the rumors are true? Well, congrats, man.” Angelo slaps Luke on the back, causing Luke to stumble forward a step. “Nothing beats marrying out of your league. And I say that from experience.”

Sasha says something to Angelo, asking where his wife is tonight and pulling attention away from us.

I reach up and gently rub my palm across Luke’s back. “You okay?”

Luke rolls out his shoulders. “Nothing a good chiropractor can’t fix.”

“Such a baby.” Angelo snorts, apparently still listening.

The music in the room changes, and Sasha gestures for us all to sit.

We’re all seated together at the same table, which shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the size of the donation my dad decided to give this year. But it’s a pleasant surprise since I really do like Sasha, and I’d love to get to talk to her more.

Dad shows up just as we’re sitting and does his round of greetings.

Nametags are in front of each spot, and the empty chair next to me has his name in front of it. But he sits in the only other empty chair, next to Vincent, across the round table from Luke and me.

“Dad, that’s not your spot.”

He looks down, seeing the paper marker, but instead of moving, he just holds it out to me. “Switch ’em for me, will ya?”

I roll my eyes but hand him his name and take the other one from him.

“John Clark.” I read the tag. “Another cousin?”

Sasha snorts. “That’s my brother.”

“Does he work with you too?”

She shakes her head. “He’s an FBI agent.”

“Oh, wow.” I don’t know if that’s a weird way to react to that, but I’ve never met anyone in the FBI before.

Movement catches my attention, and I see a man striding toward our table. He’s tall and built, like all the men at this table—well, not quite like Angelo. And his hair color matches Sasha’s, so I’m guessing this is her brother.

He’s almost to our table when another man intercepts him, stopping him to talk in his ear.

The new man has dark hair buzzed short and more tattoos than Luke, his going from his neck to his fingertips. And damn, he’s handsome too.

A hand settles on the back of my neck, and Luke leans into my side. “If you keep staring at other men, I’m going to start to get jealous.”

Sure, these other men are all good looking, but they aren’t Luke. And they don’t have Luke’s energy. That aura that calms me.

I lean back in Luke’s hold. “What other men?”

He presses his lips to my temple. “Good answer.”