24. Luca

Chapter twenty-four

Luca

A fter dropping Kylie off at her apartment, Rafael drops us at the downtown office. He'll continue to the club to meet with the men he hired for the investigation. Rafael has a string he's about to pull and I'm anxious if it will produce results.

I switch my thoughts to Kylie as we walk to the bank of elevators. While I'm distracted, Gio greets everyone we pass until we board the elevator.

"I've got reports to finish before my meeting with Terry about the plans for the hotel. I want you to do the property inspections. Call me if anything is out of order, but if all is ok, then meet with Rafael to see if he needs any help. Otherwise, you're free for the rest of the day."

"You got it." Gio leans back against the elevator wall as he looks through his phone.

Running a hand through my hair, I worry over Kylie. The thought of these men targeting her, while slim, still has me antsy when I'm not there for protection.

"I'm ready to wrap this thing up. Joseph is on Kylie, right?" I ask, even though I already know the answer .

"Yeah man. She's covered. Don't worry. You know how good he is. He won't let anything happen to her." His phone pings with a notification. "He just reported he's following her to school."

"Good."

The elevator stops and as we exit, I turn to face Gio. "Thank you. I don't tell you guys that enough, but thank you for all your hard work. You could be off handling your own businesses by now, but you're here helping me grow mine. It means a lot." Pausing, I gather my thoughts. "When this is all over, I would like to talk to you and Rafael about becoming partners. I know you said you don't like a lot of responsibility, but you're already shouldering it, so you might as well get all the perks that come with it." They need to know I couldn't do this without them.

Gio looks dumbfounded, so I squeeze his shoulder. But then the right corner of his mouth tips up and I know he's about to mess with me.

"Damn, Luca. One weekend with the girl and you've gone all soft."

I growl and lean in to give him a quick jab to the stomach while still holding him by the shoulder. Not expecting the punch, Gio's breath rushes out, and he bends over, wheezing.

"Your stomach is what's gone soft. You might want to work on that." I turn and walk off, whistling.

My assistant is standing at my office door with eyes wide as she waits for me. "Good morning, Esther." I take the folder from her extended hand while not breaking my stride to my desk.

Esther follows me in and clears her throat. "Uh … good morning, sir. Can I bring you coffee?" She waits at my desk as I settle myself into my chair and turn the computer on.

"No, but I would love some water, please." When she doesn't leave right away, I look up, arching my eyebrow.

Esther's eyes widen again before she backs away. "Yes, of course. Coming right up." Then she rushes out of my office.

"What the hell?" I frown. "Haven't gone soft, damnit."

Turning back to my computer, I check my schedule for the day .

Before I get to work, I text Joanna requesting the red dress she bought a few nights ago be delivered to my house and ask her to make sure she provides the appropriate accessories to match as Esther enters with my water.

Setting my phone down, I address her. "Esther, find me a respected jeweler in town and get me their contact information, please."

"A jeweler?" The pitch of her voice brings my eyes to hers.

"Yes. A jeweler." My brows dip at her reaction. I realize I've never asked this of her before, but does she have to act so surprised?

"Yes, sir. Right away." She rushes out of my office.

Shaking my head, I wonder how she'll react when I have Kylie come to my office after school.

***

I'm having a shit time concentrating on work when Kylie is constantly invading my thoughts. Twice, I've read the contract my lawyer put together for the next charity gala and I still don't remember what I've read. Giving up, I set the file down and take my reading glasses off to rub my tired eyes. I didn't get near enough sleep this weekend, but I don't regret it.

Swiveling my chair around, I lean my head back and stare out over the Chicago River. The more time I spend with Kylie, the more she's turning into a drug for me. I couldn't keep my hands off her this weekend and all I want to do today is take her back home.

Hell, it took everything in me not to wake her with my mouth on her pussy this morning, but she needed her rest for school today. Signing to be a sugar baby wasn't easy for her. I wanted to ease her into this contract before I let my baser self off its leash, but I'm not sure I succeeded with that. Seeing the bruises on her thighs should have made me regret being so rough with her, but hell, I could never regret that.

As soon as I woke, my need for her was my first thought. I found myself wrapped around her and was afraid I was suffocating her. But the minute I moved away, I wanted her back in my arms. The only thing I could do was roll her on top of me just like I did the first morning so that I could feel her everywhere.

The longer I laid awake feeling her soft body on top of mine, the more my control slipped. I don't believe in the supernatural, but I'm not so sure Kylie isn't a witch. She's had me under a spell from the moment I laid eyes on her standing outside Sweet Connections. My life hasn't been the same since.

It's not like me to crave time with a woman. The few times I thought I could hang around beyond the sex, they showed their true selves. I've seen so much cattiness toward other women or worse, begging me to buy them expensive things just because I have money.

It's not that I think they are all gold diggers. Some are, but some just crave to be with a man who can take care of them. I understand that basic need. As a man with means, I'm protective and instinctively want to take care of those who mean something to me. It's why I'm about to bring Gio and Rafael into my business. It's also why I bought the attached brownstones for them to live in. We're as close as brothers and I want to take care of them as if they are.

I knew, early on, if I ever fell in love, I would be just as protective of her, but as the years passed and every woman I spent time with soured me on relationships, I began to believe love just wasn't meant for me.

Kylie changed everything. And then I remind myself it's been less than a week. I have this lust for her and I think it's clouding everything right now. I can't discount that once the lust is slacked, I most likely won't crave to be around her as much. It's not like we've gotten to know each other yet, but I can admit the desire is there.

It's ironic because I know she's with me for my money, but for honorable reasons. The loyalty to her parents already puts her above any of the other women I've been with. When she marries and has babies, I already know she will sacrifice herself for their happiness. My gut tells me she won't change with money. But does that make her right for me?

Jesus. I can't believe I'm even thinking about this.

"Mr. Morelli?" Esther's voice comes through the intercom .

I swivel my chair to face my desk and press the speaker button. "Yes, Esther?"

"Mr. Thompson is here for you. Would you like for me to send him in?"

"Yes. Thank you." I stand, taking my jacket off and placing it on the back of my chair.

"Mr. Morelli, it's good to see you." Terry enters my office and extends his hand.

"Thanks for coming, Terry. And please, it's about time you call me Luca." I shake his handand then indicate the two chairs off to the side. "Let's take this over here. Can I get you anything? Water? coffee?"

"No. I'm good." Terry settles into one of the chairs and lays out the plans on the coffee table.

I nod to Esther, dismissing her, then move to sit in the chair next to Terry. "Show me what you've got."

After hashing over the plans, I only have a few items I want changed. I've worked with Terry awhile now, and he's getting better at predicting my preferences. This is one of the things I'd like for Gio to handle in the future. Once we figure out who the mole is, I'll start the transition.

As for Rafael, he's excellent at investigating and he enjoys it. I want to propose he open his own firm with backing from me. Gio and I will be his priority clients, of course.

I think their loyalty to me is keeping them from pursuing their own goals, and that needs to end. I never want resentment to come between us.

"Thank you, Terry. If you can send me the revised plans as soon as possible, I'd appreciate it."

Terry stuffs the tube with the plans under his arm so he can shake my hand. "I'll get them to you by tomorrow morning. It's always a pleasure, Luca."

He leaves and shuts the door behind him.

It's perfect timing, as my smartwatch dings with a text. I glance at it to find a notification from Kylie. I've already asked Esther to keep the rest of my afternoon clear so I can go home early tonight. The weather's nice and I want to take her out on Lake Michigan for a dinner crusie.

I rush back to my desk for my cell when I stop and scowl.

Fuck. Maybe I am going soft.