Luca emerged from the hallway. “I booked a flight. If I leave in an hour, I can fly standby on the redeye. I apologize. I wasn’t thinking. I only wanted to surprise you. I didn’t realize the awkward position I put Vincent in.”
Tom extended his hand to Luca. “You’ll have to excuse me. I promised to throw the football with my grandsons.” He continued, dryly, “Everybody steps in a pile of shit at least once in their life. You’re doing the right thing by going back. Best of luck with your series, Luca.”
Luca gave JC a confused frown.
“He meant, we all make mistakes.” JC elucidated.
CHAPTER FOUR
If it weren’t for Dan scheduling a European perfume ad, JC would’ve stayed in Colorado through Christmas. As the plane took flight, her fingernails gripped the armrest leaving crescent shaped groves in the leather. Angst and uncertainty loomed pondering what it would be like to see Luca again. Should I just call it off? I need to just call it off. Breaking up is so difficult.
Luca greeted her at the airport with a bouquet of red roses in hand. Every woman standing in the near vicinity took notice of his striking features, including JC. He tenderly brushed the hair from her eyes and clutched her around the waist, kissing her passionately right in the middle of the airport. She flushed from head to toe as onlookers gushed and swooned. This is what JC admired most about Luca, his bold sense of self-assurance.
“I missed you.” Gently tilting her face upward, his dark eyes bore into hers searching for answers. “Mi dispiace.”
JC wanted to believe his apology. Gazing into his dark eyes, she wanted to trust the gentleness he showered her with at that moment. The decision she reserved for Luca during her long flight, strangled in her throat. God, I am no good at this. This is why I never had boyfriends. She buried her face against his neck releasing a soft exhale filled with indecision.
On the drive to his apartment, Luca apologized repeatedly for his behavior, insisting he had smoothed things over with Vincent and his family. Mrs. Giovanni even invited him to dinner while JC was in Colorado. Lugging her suitcase up the steps, JC caught a whiff of the unmistakable sweet scent of garlic. Candles flickered, casting a glow over the romantic table set for two.
“You made me dinner?” She smiled softly in surprise. “What’s this all about?”
“I don’t like it when you leave.” Luca stood behind her, speaking in a soft tone laced with authority and longing. “I missed you. I don’t want you to go away anymore.”
“I missed you too,” she admitted. JC was a bit startled by her own revelation. Part of her really did miss him. “Luca I’ve always been very close to my family. I was raised with certain family values and traditions, especially holidays. I love spending time with them.”
“You live with me, JC. I think you should love spending time with me too.” Luca’s fingers slipped into the neckline of her sweater, exposing the dip of her shoulder. He placed a searing kiss of possession on her skin.
“I do enjoy spending time with you. It’s just…this isn’t easy for me. This is the longest relationship I’ve had. Do you understand?”
His fingers compressed firmly over her upper arm. “I don’t understand.” Luca’s voice filled with animosity. “You love your family, but I’m not part of your family. I flew to Colorado to see you, to surprise you, but you sent me home.”
“I suggested you come home because it was the right thing to do. Quitting your job at the vineyard wasn’t fair to the Giovanni’s or Vincent. It was your choice, but I don’t believe in burning bridges.”
“Do you love me?”
Her heart slammed against her chest and she cringed at the fully loaded question.
JC turned to face him, but her gaze fell to his shirtfront. She wanting him to comprehend the feeling she could not put in plain words. “I’m not sure what love is Luca. It has nothing to do with you. It’s my head that struggles. Staying with you for the last few months is a big deal for me, but it’s also very confusing,” she whispered, easing her conscious.
His eyes glazed with passion and anger, kissing her roughly, shoving his tongue into her mouth aggressively. “Ti amo,” he said persuasively, tightening his fingers securely around her wrist, yearning to hear the words returned.
“I missed you,” she managed to say feebly.
****
The next few weeks flew by. Dan landed her a Vodka commercial and JC was thrilled to be working again. The producer was turning a ski slope into an outdoor nightclub for the shoot, and they were waiting for a break in the bad weather. JC pushed back her flight to Colorado until two days before Christmas. Luca began filming and was unable to get away. He asked her repeatedly to stay home with him. Each time she responded, I’d love to Luca, but…., his agitation grew, verging on the brink of incensed desperation at times.