“I did.” She gave my arm a shake. “Are you having a good time?”
“Mmhmm. You?”
“Great.”
Attention fell on Saoirse as conversation died off, and I introduced her around. Her easy, affable confidence made me proud to call her mine. Her goal was to make me look good, and the truth was, she elevated me. I looked better with her beside me.
She chatted away with the other men, telling them about her family’s ranch, which kept them following her every word. I was enchanted and already knew everything she was saying from firsthand experience.
Clara and Miller joined us after a while, and Saoirse and my sister fell into another conversation. Someone who’d worked at Rossi years ago was waving to me from the other side of the room. Saoirse told me to go, and Clara promised to guard her with her life. Miller just stood there like a useless bookend. But that was Miller. No surprise.
Saoirse, Clara, and Shira were having a grand time, so I ventured to the bar after my former coworker was pulled away. While I waited for my drink, someone snuck up behind me and laid a hand on my shoulder. Seconds before she spoke, I breathed in a whiff of jasmine, and my stomach clenched with dread.
“Luca, funny seeing you here.”
I turned, putting on a polite smile for Frank’s daughter. “Francesca. I thought you were living in Paris.”
That was the only reason I’d felt comfortable bringing Saoirse tonight. I’d made the mistake of taking Francesca to bed a few years ago. Now, every time our paths crossed, her attempts to lure me in for a repeat were unsubtle and off-putting. There was no way I would willingly expose Saoirse to it.
Francesca hadn’t dropped her hand, merely sliding it down my arm. “Keeping up with me, are you?” A practiced, throaty giggle fell then disappeared like it had never been there. “Yes, I’m still living in Paris, but Dad asked me to be here for my step-monster’s big three-oh. How could I refuse?”
“Probably best if he doesn’t hear you call her that.”
“Oh, please. He married a woman three years older than me who barely speaks. What did he expect?” She gave my arm a squeeze. “It’s been too long since we’ve run into each other. Tell me what you’ve been up to, handsome.”
I took her hand in mine and lowered it to her side. “I’m married.”
She burst out laughing, this one real and boisterous. I cringed at the heads no doubt turning our way and took a subtle step away from her. The last thing I needed was for anyone to get the idea I was flirting with Francesca.
Especially Saoirse, who I’d lost sight of.
When I didn’t join Francesca’s laughter, it slowly waned. “Oh my god. You’re not serious, are you?”
I nodded once, folding my arms over my chest so my ring was visible. She homed in on it, her eyes flaring.
“I’m very serious. My wife is here somewhere. Actually, I should be looking for her.”
Francesca patted her rosy cheek, and her mouth pulled tight. “You’ll have to introduce us. I would love to see the woman who tamed you.”
My nostrils flared, and another hit of heavy jasmine assaulted me. “We’ll see. Have a good evening.”
With that, I brushed by her and went in search of my wife.
Chapter Twentysix
Saoirse
Saoirse
Some people didn’t enjoy themselves at parties where they didn’t know anyone, but that wasn’t me. My mother said I could make friends with a brick wall, and although I always thought she meant it in a negative light, it was true, and I liked that aspect of myself.
I was having a great time. With Clara here, the company was wonderful, and every time my earrings swayed, I was reminded of how sweet Luca had been in the limo.
I’d just broken away from Clara and Shira to find him when I stopped dead in my tracks. A gorgeous brunette had her hands all over my husband. I watched him stand there, not removing her hands, and bile rose in my throat.
I couldn’t watch them together for another second.
Swiveling in the opposite direction, I made my way into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water to cool off. Too bad I couldn’t pour it over my brain, which was sizzling.
Whatever our relationship might’ve been in private, in public, Luca was supposed to be mine, which meant no sexy brunettes pawing all over him. I hated that I had to witness that, and even worse, I hated that I wasn’t able to see how much worse it got. Who knew? They could’ve been making out right now. Licking whiskey off each other’s hot bodies. Fucking on the—
“Oh. Hello.”
My downward spiral was interrupted by Miller stutter-stepping into the kitchen.
“Hey, Miller.”
He gestured to the empty kitchen. “Is this a party for one, or may I join you?”
“Of course you can join me.” I held up my glass, pleased at the interruption, even if it meant having to spend time with Miller. “I was having a glass of water. Wild times.”
He filled up his own glass and leaned his hip against the counter across from me. His smile was stiff and didn’t reach his eyes. “Sometimes these things get overwhelming and I need to find a quiet spot to take a break.”
“You and Clara really balance each other since she seems to enjoy socializing.”
“She does.” He lifted his glass to his lips. “It’s always been a bone of contention between us.”
“That’s too bad.” Although Clara and I had become friendly over the past couple weeks, we weren’t so close I should have been hearing about marital problems, especially not from her husband, who I barely knew. I tried to steer us to safer waters. “Do you enjoy working at Rossi?”
His brow dropped, and I immediately knew I shouldn’t have gone in this direction. “In normal circumstances, I would answer wholeheartedly yes. But with the upheaval lately—”
“You mean Luca taking over?”
His jaw jutted out. “Not simply that. It’s all the changes. I don’t do well with change, especially when they’re unneeded. And Luca doesn’t take my advice—”
“I’m sure that isn’t true. He’s just incredibly busy.”
Miller set his glass on the counter and took two steps closer to me. “By any chance, has he mentioned my concerns over the Grave Business Report? They are persistent in running articles about Rossi. More importantly, our financial situation—and not in a flattering light. It’s aggravating. I’ve told Luca we have to do something about them. We can’t let this go on.”
I knew right away Luca had never mentioned this publication, but I pretended to rack my brain to appease Miller, who was beginning to get twitchy.
“I’m sorry, Miller. I can’t say I’ve heard of them. But Luca and I don’t talk a lot about business.”
He scratched the back of his head and looked away. “No, I don’t suppose you do.” Then he squared his shoulders. “I should go find Clara. Good evening.”
He walked out, leaving me alone once again, confused how Clara could be married to a man like that. I’d yet to find a redeeming quality about him.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my calm and decided to head out to the party. But the doorway was blocked by a frowning Luca.