Page 102

7:25 PM

I gavemyself a once-over in the mirror before meeting Lorenzo. I barely recognised myself. The girls had well and truly gone to town on my appearance tonight. They straightened my hairto within an inch of its life, and my makeup was completely different, especially for me since I tended to keep my face bare most of the time.

Tay had chosen an emerald green dress for me, a striking garment that embraced my figure perfectly, until it elegantly halted mid-thigh. The rich, deep hue of the fabric shimmered subtly under the light, adding an air of sophistication and allure. As I admired my reflection, I had to admit that I looked as stunning as I felt, my confidence soaring with each glance. A hint of anticipation fluttered within me as I couldn't help but wonder what Lorenzo would think when he saw me.

I made my way to the top of the stairs, pausing when my eyes landed on the man who waited for me at the bottom of them. He was dressed head to toe in black, his shirt rolled up to the elbows, revealing part of his intricate tattoo. I was nervous, and my stomach somersaulted, thinking back to what the girls said about love.

The second I descended the stairs, the air crackled with electricity. His eyes connected with mine, a smile playing on his lips. “You look breathtaking,” he complimented.

“Thank you,” I replied with a gentle smile. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I teased as I stepped closer, his eyes never leaving me with every step I took. Without a word, he pulled me into him and pressed his lips tenderly to mine. He wrapped his arms around my waist, not allowing there to be any distance between us. It was as if he wanted to remind himself that we were real and what we shared was, too.

Just as the moment threatened to deepen, the sound of laughter and loud voices interrupted our intimacy. Of course, it was the guys. They were never too far away. They’d just arrived home, their boisterous presence filling the foyer.

“Oh, would you look at that? Boss man is finally all loved up,” Finn joked, earning a chorus of laughter, and to be honest, I couldn’t help myself as I joined in.

I watched as Lorenzo’s jaw tightened, but I couldn’t work out if he was pissed off or amused. “Listen, you lot can all fuck off, alright?” They exchanged glances as their smiles faded before they quickly dispersed, knowing better than to push their luck.

“You know Ana laughed too, right?” Red chuckled as he made his way to the kitchen.

“She’s my wife, so she can,” he replied before returning his attention to me. He took my hand in his, leading me towards the garage. “Let’s go.” He smiled. The carefree and relaxed Lorenzo was back. I followed willingly, my heart racing with excitement and anticipation all rolled into one. “I have to admit, I’m excited to see your face when we arrive where we’re going.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t keep it a surprise.

“It’s a surprise.” He laughed.

Of course it was. I didn’t know why I expected anything else.

After what feltlike forever watching the city disappear from the passenger window, we took a familiar turn, one I knew all too well but many others didn’t.

My breath caught in my throat as tears stung my eyes. He brought me to a place that held a special spot in my heart.

The bowling alley. People might have pulled a face if I told them that’s where Lorenzo took me, but to me, it meant he did his research, finding somewhere that had meaning. It was aplace I used to visit with my grandfather, a place filled with so many cherished memories.

“So, is this okay?” Lorenzo asked from the driver’s seat as he took my hand in his.

“Lorenzo, how did you know?” I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. His smile transformed his rugged features. “I did a little digging,” he admitted, his voice soft. “I wanted tonight to be special for you.” I turned to face him, throwing my arms around him, gratitude washing over me in waves.

“Thank you so much,” I murmured against his chest. “This means more to me than you’ll ever know.”

“Your grandmother was a big help.” He beamed as he held me close.

“You went to visit her?!” swallowed hard, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it, as I struggled to mask the astonishment that must have been written all over my face. My heart pounded in my chest like a drum as I processed the gravity of the man's actions, my mind racing to comprehend the magnitude of what he had done.

“I did. I know you’re close with her. She seemed like the perfect person to ask. Besides, it was nice to get to know her more, too. ” He cupped my face, his eyes full of adoration.

Emotion overwhelmed me. Not only did he ask my grandmother, but he also took me to the exact bowling alley my grandfather brought me to regularly. It was our fun spot to hang out away from my family.

“Ana…” He spoke gentler than usual as my eyes met his. “We can leave if this is too much.” The care in his voice was more than apparent.

“No, I want to stay.” I kissed the back of his hand, “you’ve outdone yourself, Ricci.”

“Well, I do try.” He chuckled. “Now, how about we make tonight interesting? If you win, you get to do whatever you want after this, and if I win…” He trailed off, his eyes darkening with a promise that sent a shiver down my spine. “I get to do whatever I want to you when we get home,” he finished, his voice laced with challenge.

“Who says we have to wait until we get home?” I teased, exiting the car quicker than he could get out his next sentence. I left my words to replay in his mind until the winner was declared.

“Don’t think I’ll take it easy on you.” He laughed as he caught up to me.

“I don’t need you to, but you should prepare to have your ass kicked,” I winked as it was clear he was up for the challenge.