“Yeah. Niddhi said there hadn’t been a happy hour in a while, but she was sparing my feelings.” I sucked in a shuddering breath, hating myself for being so sad about this. “They don’t want me there.”
“What the fuck?” Luca seethed. “Who wouldn’t want you with them? Are they all idiots? I have idiots working for me?”
“No, I’m sure it’s because they want to unwind and talk about work, but they probably don’t feel comfortable doing that with me there since we’re married.” I swiped my eye again. “It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
“It isn’t fine.” His jaw worked as he gritted his molars. Then, without another word, he strode from the room.
When he didn’t come back, I closed my laptop and went into the bathroom to wash my face and attempt to get ahold of my emotions. This really was silly. Not worth wasting tears over.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I took it out, reading a message from Clara.
Clara: Please tell your husband he CANNOT ban all after-work fraternization.
Clara: Seriously, Saoirse. Stop him before he sends out this email. He’s begging for a lawsuit.
Me: What email?
Clara: Oh, thank god you’re by your phone. Luca just sent me a draft of an email he wants to send to the entire company, banning all fraternization outside work hours. He’s clearly lost the plot.
Me: He’s home. I’ll go talk to him. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.
Clara: Why do I have a feeling this has something to do with you?
Me: I think it might. But I’ve got it handled.
Clara: Tell him if he sends out that email, I’m firing him as uncle.
Me: I’ll let him know!! xx
I found Luca in his home office, boring holes into his computer monitor. Crossing the room, he watched me approach. When I rounded the desk, he pushed back, giving me room to slide onto his lap.
I hadn’t spent any time in this room, nor had I ever been in this position with him, but it was as natural as breathing, especially when his arms closed around me.
“What are you doing, Luca Rossi?”
His eyes searched mine. “Your feelings are hurt.”
“They are. But you can’t burn down your entire company to make up for it.”
His brows drew together in a hard line. “That’s where you’re wrong. I can and I will.”
I shook my head and stroked his tight jaw. “You can, but you won’t. Clara texted in a panic.”
He grunted, holding me tighter. “I did what she asked and sent her the draft of my email before sending it to the rest of the company. She repays me by going to my wife?”
“She thinks you’ve lost your mind.”
His huff of breath brushed my neck. “When I walked in and saw you crying, your little chin wobbling, I did feel like I was losing my mind. I need to fix it, Saoirse. I won’t let you be hurt.”
“You know you can’t send that email.” My fingers moved to his hair, carving lines through the side. “You’ve already made me feel better by giving a shit. Your irrationality soothes me.”
He made a grunting sound. “You like seeing me go crazy over your tears?”
“I like knowing you care.”
With a sigh, he tucked his head beneath my jaw, pressing a kiss on my throat. “I knew she wouldn’t let me send it.”
I snorted, already lighter in his arms. “Did it feel good to write it?”
“Nothing feels good when you’re sad. I fucking hate it.”
We held each other, and I slid my fingers through his hair. His breath was warm and slow on my skin, his fingers soft and rhythmic, trailing along my spine.
“I can’t work at Rossi anymore,” I whispered.
His hands stilled. “You can.”
“I think it’s obvious I can’t.”
“I want you in the same building as me.”
“We do live together. It isn’t as if I won’t see you.”
He raised his head, glaring at me the same way he’d glared at his monitor. I’d replaced it as his enemy, which made me want to laugh, but I held it in since I didn’t think he’d take kindly to it.
“I don’t want you working for someone else,” he stated.
I shook my head. “I don’t want to work for anyone else. I’m hoping my rich husband will keep me afloat so I can throw myself into starting my business. I’ve been delaying jumping in with both feet, but I think this is the push I needed. It’s time.”
“You don’t have to hope, Saoirse. Anything you need, I’ll give it to you. What about office space? I’ll clear out the office beside mine. You can have it.”
“In the Rossi building?” He nodded in all seriousness, which made me sputter a laugh. “Isn’t that Miller’s office?”
“Say the word, and he’s out.”
Laughing again, I patted his chest. “Poor Miller. I think Clara might object to you kicking her husband out of his office.”
“She’d get over it.”
“Luca,”—I dropped my forehead to his—“you’re being sweet. Crazy, yes, but very, very sweet.”
He squeezed my butt in response.
“I’m not going to work in the Rossi building.”
He sighed. “I know, and it pisses me off.”
“Maybe I’ll take over this office.”
He leaned back in his chair, eyeing me. “You can have it. I barely use it anyway. I like the idea of you working here.”
“With Miles.”
That made his lip curl. “I have to accept that?”
“You do. He’s my partner.”
“I’m your partner. Miles is your coworker.”
“Sure.” I brushed his hair from his forehead. “You’re really good at cheering me up, you know.”
“I’m not done. Go get changed. I’m taking you to dinner.”
I perked up. “Can we go on the bike?”
His lips curved as he looked at me with his bedroom eyes. “Anything you want, pretty girl.”
Why did I actually believe he meant that wholeheartedly?
Chapter Thirtytwo
Luca
The next morning, I woke up still as pissed off as I’d been the night before.
The email I’d pounded out hadn’t helped.
Saoirse soothing me—soothing me—hadn’t touched it.
Going for a ride hadn’t been the release it normally was.
Spending a quiet night with my wife in a cozy restaurant had been nice as hell, but I’d still been left with a roiling anger beneath my skin.
I couldn’t massacre all the people who’d put tears in her eyes. Neither Clara nor Saoirse would allow me to destroy my company as vengeance, which was extremely irritating.
So, I found myself sitting on the side of Saoirse’s bed while she slept, only making minor attempts to wake her up.
Stroking her cheek.
Sliding my fingers through her hair.
Trailing my knuckle along her arm.
Pulling the sheets back to look at her in her silky nightgown.
I thought I was getting away with it until her lips curled into a smile. “What are you doing, crazy man?” she croaked out, her eyes still firmly closed.