Page 47 of All’s Well that Friends Well (Lucky in Love #2)

JULIET

I know Luca is the one who had his birthday yesterday, but when I wake up the next morning, I feel like I’m the one who was given a gift.

After he blew out his candles last night and then made his wish—which he wouldn’t tell me, by the way—we ate peach crumble. And it was amazing, but all I could focus on was what he had said.

That he was willing to work for what he truly wanted. And I think…

I think what Luca wants is me.

So there’s a spring in my step as I get dressed for the day; I practically waltz down the hallway and into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

Unfortunately, my mood is hampered slightly by the sight of Aurora, headphones on, wiping down the mirror.

“Oh, dear,” I say.

When we asked yesterday why she wanted cleaner, Aurora didn’t elaborate. She just said she was feeling stressed at work. But this clearly goes beyond normal stress, because her eyes are doing that squinty thing they do when she’s angry. She’s cleaning that mirror like it’s wronged her.

I clear my throat and step into the bathroom, giving her a little wave in the mirror so she’ll know I’m here. She pauses her manic wipe down and looks over her shoulder at me. When she gestures to her headphones, I reach up and pull them off for her.

“Hi,” she says breathlessly. “Do you need in?”

“I need to brush my teeth,” I say with an apologetic smile. “But what’s going on, Ror? Is this about Bart?” I gesture at her t-shirt and leggings. “Don’t you have to get ready for work?”

“I have the morning off,” she says, her eyes darting away from mine, and my jaw drops.

She has the morning off? When has that ever happened?

“All right,” I say, putting my hands on my hips and standing up straighter. My excitement about Luca filters out of my mind as I zero in on my sister. “Spill. Now.”

Aurora sighs, but before she can protest, I say it again.

“ Now. Come on.” It’s a struggle to keep my voice so stern, but I manage it. And when Aurora gives another sigh, I know my approach has worked.

“Apparently,” she says, her shoulders slumping, “I am not the only woman Bart has been seeing.”

My jaw drops at this. “Casual Bart is being casual with other women?”

“It would seem so,” Aurora says, and I can barely stop my jaw from dropping further at the way she looks.

There’s genuine disappointment in her features, in her posture—no matter what she said about stupid Bart, she liked him, at least a little.

I want to go on a tirade, want to scream at the man who made my sister look this way, but I don’t.

“Oh, Ror,” I say instead, my voice soft. Then I step forward and wrap my arms around her. “I’m so, so sorry.”

She lets her forehead drop onto my shoulder, exhaling loudly. “Don’t be,” she says, her voice muffled. “It’s my own fault. I should have known.”

“It’s not your fault at all,” I say. I rub her back soothingly. “Bart will never find someone as amazing as you.”

Aurora rolls her eyes now. “I don’t know. The person he found seems to be my subordinate Mindy. She’s petite and adorable.”

“Mindy can suck it,” I say, keeping my voice light. I give Aurora one last pat on the back and then let go of her, holding her by the shoulders and looking closely at her. “We need to egg his house, Ror.”

Aurora’s lips twitch. “He lives in an apartment.”

I slump. “Boo.” My eyes dart over her face, cataloguing her expression. Then I ask, “You’re all right?”

“I’m annoyed that I wasted time,” she says. “And I guess I’m a little sad, but my pride hurts more than my heart.”

I nod, because I think she’s telling the truth.

We should still probably egg his car, though.

I’m just about to make this suggestion when Aurora straightens up, clearing her throat.

She’s obviously done talking about it. So when she offers to let me brush my teeth and then skirts past me out of the bathroom, I don’t protest. I just finish getting ready for work, say goodbye to my sisters, and head out.

The spring is back in my step before I even get to my car.

Luca officially gave me access to his calendar yesterday, so when I get to the office, I put the day’s agenda on his desk, socialization periods included.

Then I go to the break room and fill his water bottle, smiling and waving at the people I pass.

They’re warming up to me quickly, Josh and Marianne especially, which makes me feel glittery and glowing inside.

And by the time I return to Luca’s office with his water bottle in tow, he’s already arrived.

“Good morning, Mr. Slater,” I say in a singsong voice as I step inside, closing the door lightly behind me. “Once you’ve settled in, check the agenda on your desk, please, and let me know if you have any problems with what I’ve outlined.”

Luca looks up at me with a startled expression, and even though he straightens up at my entrance, I can tell he still needs a minute. So I head over to my spot on the couch and settle there, forcing myself not to stare at him like I want to.

But come on. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. He has sexy square glasses and amazing hair. He smells deliciously blue-green. What girl could resist that?

So I do sneak a few peeks. Just some tiny ones, every now and then. And I only get caught once.

It’s Luca’s long, loud sigh that alerts me. “Miss Marigold,” he says. “What you’re doing is very distracting.”

“Well, are you ready to go over your schedule?” I say. “I might stop staring at you if I could stand next to you instead.”

He leans back in his chair and gestures for me, and I pop up immediately.

“Did you read through?” I say, pointing to the agenda now off to one side on his desk.

“I did,” he says dryly, “and I have some complaints.”

I smooth my hands down my fitted shirt and flowy skirt. “I’m sure you do,” I say, “but unfortunately, some of these items are nonnegotiable. However, ” I add quickly when he opens his mouth to argue, “some of them can be finagled.”

When he arches his brow at me, I lean across him and grab the paper, sliding it over to the corner of the desk where I’m standing.

“What I really insist on is face-to-face time with your employees. You don’t have to purely socialize if you can get that time in elsewhere.

If you have a question for someone out there”—I wave in the direction of the office door—“instead of calling them and barking an order, go out and ask them in person. If you pass someone on your way to the break room or bathroom, speak to them. That’s what needs to happen. ”

He grunts but doesn’t argue, so I go on. “You also need to spend thirty minutes with the sun lamp on. It doesn’t matter when.”

Another grunt.

“Also—last one, I promise—I think it might be helpful if you have me read over any emails or memos you’re planning to send.”

He doesn’t grunt at this request; he nods.

“That’s really it,” I say, straightening up and smiling at him, my hands clasped behind my back, a bubbly excitement brimming in my chest. “Not so bad, right?”

“Not so bad,” he admits. His gaze skates over me as he speaks, lingering on my outfit. “This is different,” he says, and he’s right; my clothes today are less office-wear and more just pretty.

“They’re different,” I confirm with a nod. “I wanted to feel extra good about myself.” Because I’ve got Luca on the hook; now it’s time to reel him in, patiently, step by step.

Except instead of reeling him in, I want him to swim to me willingly. He said he would put in the work; I want to see that happen.

“I see,” he says slowly, still looking me over. There’s appreciation in his gaze, but confusion, too.

I sigh and hop up, sitting on the edge of his desk. He frowns with disapproval but doesn’t ask me to move, so I stay.

“It’s simple,” I say. “Remember how I’m trying to get you to fall in love with me?”

He chokes at these words, coughing and spluttering as his cheeks turn pinker than normal. After he’s cleared his throat a few times, he cocks one brow at me. “Yes,” he says, his voice dry but clearly interested. “I remember something about that.”

I nod, swinging my legs a bit. “And you said I could try,” I remind him.

He hums. “I remember that too.”

“Well, I made a list of ways to make that happen.”

That arched brow rises further. “A list?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Luca’s glasses glint with the desk light as he leans back in his chair, folding his arms. “Just to clarify—a list of ways to get me to fall in love with you?”

“Of ways to become Mrs. Luca Slater,” I say with a shrug. “So yes.”

“You’re planning quite the future, I see.” His voice is still dry, matter-of-fact, but his eyes are dancing with humor now.

I give him an earnest nod. “I’m nothing if not devoted to my cause.”

His lips twitch at this, one of my favorite things to see. “I find myself unsurprised but intrigued,” he finally says as his gaze darts over my face. He’s silent for a second, and when he speaks again, his voice is rough. “Show me.”

I can’t stop the grin that curls over my lips as I lean forward, my pulse jumping. “You want to see the list?”

Slowly, his gaze glued to mine, he nods.

“It’s going to cost you,” I say lightly, and I hear a note of taunting in my voice that I rarely use. Teasing, challenging.

His gaze sharpens on mine, his body stilling. Then, with a languid ease that makes my heart pound, his eyes drift down to my lips.

“I’m listening,” he says in a low, hoarse voice.

And I want to accept the invitation he’s offering—the invitation he might not even realize he’s offering. I want to kiss him again, wrap my arms around his neck, hold him close.

But we’re not ready for that to happen again. Not yet. So I rein in the impulse and tell him what I want instead.

“Take me on a date,” I breathe, watching his expression closely to see what he thinks. “A real date.”

It’s surprise I see first—a flutter of widening eyes, jumping brows. Then he nods slowly, almost hesitantly. “I could do that.”