Page 28 of Worship

“She never lies.”

Luca’s voice comes from behind Drew, and I smile at the pan in front of me, waiting for a moment before I look at him.

Drew spins around, clapping her hands together and reaching for the small bundle Luca is holding, asleep on his shoulder.

“Give me that baby. I’ll keep her sleeping,” Drew promises.

He nods, handing her over and giving a peck to Drew’s temple to say hello as he walks past her to me. He stands almost too close, making my breathing accelerate.

“Hi, gorgeous.” His voice is too low to be heard over the commotion. He leans in over the sauce I’m cooking and smiles. “Smells almost as good as you.”

I hold up my spatula as a warning and narrow my eyes.

“Get out of here. You’re flirting.”

Luca laughs and walks over to the couch where Drew has made herself comfortable holding Ella. I hate that my eyes follow him. Dominic walks into the room, and my gaze jumps to him, and he raises his eyebrows. I look away quickly and stir the sauce, embarrassed at being caught.

“Looks amazing, G.”

Dante’s voice surprises me. I didn’t even see him come in. For such a huge guy, he’s like a ninja.

“Thank you. It should be ready in about an hour,” I say over my shoulder, putting everything to a simmer.

I turn around to meet Dante’s face, only he wasn’t looking at my face—he was looking at my ass. “Seriously?” I’m not offended, just shocked that I caught him.

“Sorry?” he asks grinning, his words a question not an apology.

He tilts his head and scrunches his nose. He’s fucking adorable when he’s embarrassed.

I toss my dish towel at him. “Why are you asking it… Yes, you should say sorry.”

I start to laugh, and he just shrugs, completely unapologetic.

“You’re such a pig, Dante. The woman is making us dinner; the least you can do is apologize for harassing her.”

Luca winks at me behind Dante as he joins us, making me smile. I look down and fidget with the plates on the counter to avoid my bashfulness.

“She knows it was a slip—I would never mess with this girl. I’ve seen her in action. She’s a badass,” Dante offers, and it brings back the memory of when I met him in the hospital waiting room, the night Luca was attacked.

My eyes grow wide, hoping Luca doesn’t catch on to what’s been said.

Luca looks between us, intrigued.

“I assumed you two met at Dom and Drew’s wedding party. I hadn’t realized Gretchen was at the hospital… Do tell, brother.” My cheeks burn with embarrassment, deepened by Luca’s pointed interest. He’s staring at me, grinning like the devil, and I’m going to die.

I start to nervously laugh, shaking my head at Dante’s amusement.

“Don’t you dare tell the story. I will kill you. Dead. Done. Gone.” Luca lights up. That’s all he needed to know that this is something he wants to hear. I panic and yell over Dante’s laughter. “Oh my god, with the fishes…sleeping with them. Jesus, whatever that saying is…noooo!”

Dante’s laugh fills the room at my threat, and Luca smacks the counter repeatedly.

“Oh no, don’t clam up now, princess. You better spill, Dante.”

I giggle when Luca calls Dante princess because he’s such a massive, tatted monster.

Reaching across the counter, I pat it, calling for Dante’s attention.

“Listen to me! Listen, listen. I’m your friend, not him.” Dante looks at Luca, who is like a dog with a bone, and at this point I can barely get my words out through my laughing. “Dante. I swear to God, I will have baked goods delivered to you every day for the rest of your life if you don’t tell this story.”