12. Kylie

Chapter twelve

Kylie

" H ey!"

I glance up from my textbook as Danny jogs toward me. My gut clenches as I give him a little wave, knowing what I need to do. I'm nervous about it. It's easy to tell a jerk no, but not so easy when it's someone like Danny.

I like him. He's nice. It's why I had a crush on him for so long. I saw the way he interacted with his friends and even some of his girlfriends. He always came off more mature than the other guys. Still, I never thought he would look my way. I'm nothing like the girls he's dated in the past.

"Hey, Danny. How are you?" I stick my notes I'm working on in the textbook and close it to give him my full attention.

He steps over the bench to sit down across from me. Like most of the students today, I chose to study outside, since the weather is unseasonably warm, although a bit windy.

"Did you get everything taken care of yesterday?" He leans on his elbows and tries to keep the wind from pushing his bangs into his eyes.

My gut clenches again as he reminds me of yesterday's events. Secrets have a way of coming out, and it's hard not to wonder if he already knows what I was up to. I hate this paranoia.

"I did." Not knowing what else to say, I just nod .

"Good." His eyes skitter around us before coming back to me. It's obvious he's gearing up for something. "So, the team is having a party at the frat house tonight. Would you like to go? I know you have a lot going on with your dad, but I thought you might like to have a bit of fun."

Damn. I hate when I'm right.

I give him a regretful smile. "I'm sorry, I just started seeing someone and … well, we have a date tonight. But I would love to go to a party sometime. I've never been. Isn't that crazy? Here I am, a senior in college, and I've never been to a frat party." I shake my head, more at my rambling than anything else.

Ugh, this is so awkward. And why did I say I would go later? I don't want him thinking I'm in a casual relationship. The urge to smack my forehead is strong.

"Oh. yeah, anytime. Just … let me know when you want to go." He taps the tabletop in a nervous gesture and looks over at a group of students walking across the lawn.

"So who are—"

"What kind of—"

We laugh, breaking the tension. He gestures to me. "You first."

"I was going to ask if there was something in particular you guys are celebrating or if it's just a party. I don't keep up with football. Did the team win a big game or something?"

He shrugs. "It's Friday."

I laugh. "Yeah, I guess that's reason enough."

"Listen, I gotta go." He swings his leg around the bench and stands, barely looking at me. "Have fun tonight and … I'll, uh, see you Monday."

"Yeah …" I trail off since he's already jogging away.

I sigh. Hopefully, this doesn't mean he's going to avoid me now. I'd still like to be his friend.

** *

A faint knock comes from the front door as I'm applying eyeshadow the way Talia showed me yesterday. Cursing, I quickly finish before rushing to find out who's at the door. When I check the peephole, a pretty woman holding a dress bag is waiting on the other side. Assuming she's here for Talia, I open the door.

"Hello?"

She looks up and smiles, sticking her free hand out for me to shake. "Hi! You must be Kylie? I'm Joanna, Luca Morelli's stylist."

"Oh, hi, yeah." I shake her hand, a bit stunned. A stylist was the last thing I was expecting. "Come in." I step back, giving her room before shutting the door. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting you. Luca said he was sending a package."

She laughs. "Leave it to a man to not explain things." She walks over to the kitchen table to lay the dress bag flat, then pulls the zipper down. "This is the dress he's picked out for tonight. I pulled two sizes to make sure we have the right fit. I'll also need to take measurements so I can supply you with the full wardrobe he's requested."

I raise my eyebrow. "A full wardrobe?"

"You're a lucky girl. Luca gave me carte blanche for you." Joanna pulls two identical dresses from the bag, then holds them out by my side and tilts her head, studying me. "I think this is the one for you. Want to go try it on for me to make sure it fits?"

"Sure." I take the hanger and head to my bedroom.

The dress looks expensive. My parents, being a cop and a teacher, I never went without, but also never grew up with any kind of luxury. I'm not sure how I feel about a man buying me a new wardrobe. While I want to enjoy the experience, there's a part of me that doesn't think I should accept it.

Resigned, I tell myself to get used to it. At least for now.

After taking the dress off the hanger, I lay it on my bed and strip out of my clothes before slipping it over my head. The material is stretchy and comfortable, with long sleeves and a slight turtleneck effect. The only part of me exposed are my legs. While it's not as short as I've seen some women wear, it's much shorter than what I'm used to, which is why I tug at the hem as I walk to the full-length mirror.

I gasp at the image before me.

"I heard that! Can I come in?" Joanna is already opening the door before she finishes asking. "Well, look at you." She comes over and walks around me, inspecting every inch.

Not used to this kind of thing, I stand there awkwardly.

As I fidget, I pull at the hem again, but she lightly slaps my hand away. "Stop tugging. This may be shorter than what you're used to, but it's the perfect length for your legs. Honestly, it's as if this was designed with you in mind." She steps back to study me before she plucks the clip from my hair and fluffs it around me. "Girl, you look like a sexpot. Don't wear any jewelry—this dress is the jewelry." She steps to my side and pushes me closer to the mirror.

I gulp.

She laughs. "Let me guess … you've never seen yourself like this before?"

"Uh, no." I no longer recognize myself.

"I see why you've caught Mr. Morelli's eye when no one else has." She says it so nonchalantly I snap my gaze to her and frown.

"What do you mean? He's had lots of women."

She cants her head, frowning at me. "I don't know about that. What I do know is you're the first woman he's asked me to outfit and I've been working for him for three years."

Shocked, I gape at her. That can't be. Why wouldn't he outfit the other girls he's contracted with on Sweet Connections?

"Let me grab my measuring tape. I'll be right back." She leaves and I'm stuck staring at my image in the mirror while my mind races. Why would he outfit me and not his other girls? It makes nosense.

Unless they already had clothes like this. I should have guessed my wardrobe wouldn't be what he wants to be seen next too.

"Okay, take the dress off and I'll take your measurements." Joanna says as she walks back into the room. "Do you have any specific requests for your clothing? Any favorite colors? Would you like for me to take you shopping or bring the clothes to you to try on?"

Joanna is like a whirlwind and leaves me no room to ponder more about Luca's intentions.

***

I'm refreshing my eyeshadow when there's a knock at the door again. Nervously tugging on my dress, I scan my features in the mirror, looking for anything out of place.

A second impatient knock comes.

"Ok, Kylie, pull it together. You can do this." Nodding to myself in the mirror, I take a deep breath before rushing to answer the door. Seeing Luca through the peephole, I smile and swing the door open.

Luca's unbuttoning his jacket, but he stills the moment he lays eyes on me.

The man can smolder like no one else.

After his heated perusal, he gently puts his hand on my stomach to push me back as he walks forward and closes the door behind him.

"You're so beautiful and you aren't even aware of it, are you?" He doesn't give me a chance to respond because he immediately puts his hand behind my neck to pull me to him and takes my mouth with his.

Savoring the slide of his tongue on mine, I slide my hands under his jacket and around to his back to hold him to me as we explore each other's mouth. A shiver runs through me when his hands roam down my back and to my ass where he squeezes, sending heat straight to my core.

I moan.

As I'm about to hike my leg onto his, he suddenly releases me. Startled, I stumble before righting myself as Luca paces and runs his hands through his hair.

"Fuck woman. Where's your purse? We need to leave before I take you back to your room and miss this business dinner. "

Brows lowered, I tug on my dress. "You know, I'm confused. I never thought my sugar daddy would stop our make out sessions. Isn't that the point of being a sugar daddy? To ravish me whenever you want."

I don't know why I felt bold enough to say that, but I'm frustrated he got me all hot and bothered again only to stop.

Again.

Luca growls, advancing on me.

He cradles my facein his hands, bringing me close but making sure our bodies don't touch. "Don't worry, Angel. I'm taking you. But our first time will not be when I'm rushed. I want all night with you." He moves his thumb to caress my lower lip, his eyes following the movement with hunger.

Feeling bold, I lick my lips, making sure to touch his thumb resulting in him pulling me in and gently biting my bottom lip before he releases me.

"Come on, Angel. We're going to be late." When I turn to grab my purse, he smacks my ass, causing me to clench. Who knew that was so hot?

I glare over my shoulder to find his eyes still on my ass and realize Luca's an ass man.

Deciding on a little payback, I lean down slowly to pick up my purse, bending lower than I needed and doing a little wiggle. I grin when he groans.

Still grinning, I stand and head to the door as if I didn't just shake my ass at him. "Are you coming?" I ask cheerfully as I dig my keys out of my purse.

"Almost," he grumbles, following me out the door.

After locking up, Luca leads me outside, where I let out a slow whistle at the expensive-looking sports car waiting for us. It's a beautiful shade of blue with sleek curves and I can't resist running my hand over the hood. I know little about vehicles, but I do know I would love to drive this one.

"Nice car." It's too lame of a response for this beauty, but Luca grins at me, anyway. As he opens the door for me, I look around, expecting to find the black SUV idling nearby. "No Gio and Rafael tonight?"

"No. I've got them looking into something for me. "

When I settle into the car, Luca's already bringing my seatbelt around to click in place. I've only ever seen my dad do that for my mom on occasion and I want to giggle at the comparison of this sophisticated man to my dad, a former cop. He returns my smile, oblivious to what I'm thinking, and gives me a quick peck on the lips before backing out and closing my door. After settling into the driver's seat, he starts the car, then grabs my hand and sets it on his thigh, holding it in place.

Joanna is right. I am a lucky girl.

Luca asks me about my day on the ride to the restaurant, keeping our chat light. When he pulls the car to the valet parking, it dawns on me I never asked any details about tonight. Before he steps out of the car, I place my hand on his arm to stop him. "You never said who this business dinner is with?"

He hesitates, searching my face before responding, "We'll be dining with Chief Canton and Mayor Daniels to discuss my new hotel acquisition." Then he steps out of the car as I sit and reel from the bomb he just dropped into my lap.