“Good.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “Because if he doesn’t treat you right, I know people. Keep that in mind.”
Constance laughed at that and shook her head as he walked away, and not a moment too soon. Luca’s car pulled up to the door just as she stepped outside. Say what you will about him, but the man had impeccable timing.
He jumped out and hurried around to get the door for her, pulling her in for a quick kiss before she could get inside.
“Quit doing that,” she muttered.
“Not a chance. It’s the best perk of this whole situation and I have every intention of taking advantage of it.”
He stepped away from the door and she slipped inside as quickly as she could.
Constance settled back against the leather seat of Luca’s car, her heart still pounding furiously, and not from the realization that there had been a photographer hidden in the bushes earlier, or that she’d just told her father, and everyone else important in her life, that she was getting married. She licked her lips, letting her teeth lightly scrape along the flesh that still tingled from where he’d kissed her. Her heart was trying to jump out of her chest because of him.
She’d wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Just getting close the first time they’d met had swept her up so much she’d almost forgotten herself, which was exactly what had gotten her into this whole mess in the first place. She didn’t know what it was about him. Yeah, sure the man was chiseled like he’d been carved from solid marble and exuded sex like some kind of walking pheromone. But a simple kiss, even from a walking wet dream like Luca, shouldn’t totally eradicate twenty-seven years of strict upbringing. It was all well and good to be passionate in the bedroom, but somehow the man had reduced her to making out in the streets like some hormonal tart. What was truly terrifying was she didn’t even think he was trying. Heaven help her if he put any real effort into seducing her.
Constance inwardly rolled her eyes at herself at the tart thought, wishing she could get rid of her grandmother’s voice scolding her in her own head. Still, the thought stood. Supreme example of a male specimen or not, she should have better control over herself. Maybe it was because he kept catching her unawares. Both the near and actual kisses had been ambush jobs, sprung on her when she wasn’t expecting it. Surely, if she knew they were coming she’d be able to keep a bit more composure about her.
He hopped in his side and glanced at her over the rim of his sunglasses. “So? How did it go?”
“As well as can be expected,” she said.
“Excellent. Here.” He reached to the backseat and came back with what looked like a shoebox. “I got you something.”
“What is this?”
He pulled the car away from the restaurant and out onto the main road. “Open it and find out.”
She wasn’t sure if she should be afraid or excited by that exuberant lilt in his voice. She opened the box. She still wasn’t sure how to feel. Inside lay the cutest pair of gold sandals with a little strap that went around the ankle. They looked like something she’d have worn before she had six kids and focused more on comfort than fashion.
“Luca…I don’t know what to say…”
“Do you like them?”
He actually sounded like he was worried she might not.
“I love them. But…”
“Nope. No buts. The saleswoman assured me they are so comfortable you’ll think you’re walking on clouds. Or some nonsense like that.”
“Thank you,” she said, not sure if she should say anything else. She’d never had a man buy her shoes before.
He nodded. “There’s several more pairs in the trunk, along with some other clothes.”
“What?” she said, her gratitude quickly evaporating.
He shrugged. “If you’re going to be my fiancée you need to dress the part.”
“What’s wrong with the way I dress?”
He looked her up and down before turning his gaze back to the road. “You’re not completely hopeless.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Except for those shoes of yours. Try on the new ones.”
She had a good mind to take one and smack him upside the head with it, but the leather was deliciously soft and her old sandals were about ready to fall apart. Wouldn’t hurt to try them. She slid them on her feet and had to bite her lip to keep from groaning. Walking on a cloud indeed. The whole charade might be worth it just for those shoes.
“We’ll be at the shop soon. Ready?”
She stared into those deep brown eyes of his, the faint hazelnut taste of him still on her lips, and took a shuddering breath. “Not really, but it’s not going to get any better with waiting. Let’s get this over with.”