“I know we can’t keep the photographers controlled all the time. But no more inviting them along; they have enough pictures of us.”
“Arrangements have already been made for a few sessions with you and Miss Constance. I’m afraid if we cancel those, they will try to get shots in a less civilized manner.”
Luca sighed. “Fine. We’ll honor whatever arrangements have already been made, but no new photo ops. And I don’t want them anywhere near the children. I want extra security measures taken when they are with us. It’s one thing for them to get pictures of me, but the kids don’t need to be involved. No more leaks about me spending time with them. No more mention of them. They are here for a vacation. That is all.”
“Sir…”
“Is that understood?”
Joe nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Good.”
He turned back toward the chaos in his backyard; toward the little girl at the edge of the pool in particular. And the woman sitting beside her. There might not be much he could to ease the pain of their pasts. But he could help ensure he didn’t instigate any in their futures.
It wasn’t enough. But it was a start.
Chapter Twelve
Constance held her breath, her heart twisting with the emotions rushing through her. Luca had been busy with work for the last week and as a reward for closing his first solo deal since returning full time to the firm, he’d surprised them all with a day of horseback riding on the beach. Organizing six children with enough adults for each child to ride with was the definition of chaos, but things had gone relatively smoothly.
Constance was already mounted and Magdalena sat in front of her. Mrs. Ballas had shocked Constance by springing onto the back of her small mare like she’d been doing it her whole life. She took Lexi up with her. Each of the other girls rode with staff from the riding company except Elena. Elena had watched quietly while everyone got situated and then walked over to Luca, raising her arms up to him.
He glanced at Constance with something like panic but had bent to lift the child onto the horse, swinging up behind her. He rode over to her side, his brows lifting when he reached her, his eyes looking from Elena, to Constance, and back again. She just shrugged with a smile she knew was both pleased and amused. She didn’t know what it was about Luca that appealed to the little girl…maybe she sensed the same sadness in him that she carried with her. Maybe it was as simple as the fact that Luca was about the only man in her life. Whatever it was, she’d taken a shine to Luca, which seemed to disconcert him to no end. Constance would be lying if she said she didn’t find that at least a little amusing.
“Quit smiling,” he playfully growled at her, which only made her smile bigger.
He smiled back and she had half a second for her suspicion to spike before he reached across the space between them and grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her to him for a quick but thorough kiss.
Magdalena giggled and he let go, winked at Constance, and spurred his horse into a trot through the surf.
Constance glanced around, blushing at the indulgent and amused smiles of the adults, the giggles of the girls, and the outright anger on the face of one of the guides. She stared at her, for a moment not sure what she’d done to earn the woman’s scowl, then she realized the other woman must be jealous. A spark of pride and possession burned in her chest. Temporary or not, Luca was hers and whether it was all an act or not, he made no secret of the fact that he wanted her and enjoyed her company. Any other women could just keep their jealousy to themselves.
She nudged her horse to a trot, following the path Luca had taken through the surf. He smiled at her when she caught up and her heart filled with joy at the expression on Elena’s face. Luca earned so many brownie points because of that bit of happiness, she didn’t protest once at his repeated stolen kisses and slightly inappropriate behavior throughout the afternoon. By the time they’d returned the horses and finished the picnic dinner they’d packed and the girls were drowsily roasting marshmallows in the fire Luca and the men had built, Constance was ready to concede just about anything to him. It had been an amazing day, thanks in large part to him.
So when he slid down behind her next to the fire, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back against his chest, she didn’t hesitate to snuggle into him. They watched the sun sink into the sea while he nuzzled against her neck, murmuring nonsense in her ear. She didn’t even care if it was for real or for show. The few photographers that had tried to get near the group had been chased off by Luca’s security. A surprise, to be sure, since she thought he wanted “proof” more than anything. But a welcome one. She cuddled closer to Luca and pretended it was all real.