When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos, #1)(24)

It was as if they both recognized each other at the same time.

“Oh . . .”

“Your mother said—”

“You’re the tenant.”

He was not happy. Brooke didn’t need a crystal ball to call that one.

She stiffened her spine despite her unease. “I am. I believe this is the spot where your mother told me to park.”

Luca’s arms dropped to his side. “It is.”

“You’re upset.” The words came out of her mouth without permission from her brain. They were exactly what she was thinking, and her only excuse was that she was tired and had no bandwidth for bullshit after putting her father in the equivalent of an old folks’ home.

Luca attempted a smile that he sucked at. “I’m surprised, although I shouldn’t be. My mother is very . . .”

Brooke narrowed her eyes. “Very what?”

This time he smiled with a small laugh, and she felt he meant it. “Welcome. Brooke, was it?”

Was Luca good with names, or did he commit hers to memory as somehow his had been ingrained in hers? “Yes.”

“Do you need help?”

The word need echoed in her brain.

She shook her head. “No. I’m fine. Thank you.”

Brooke reached into the back seat and pulled a box out.

The strap of her purse slid from her shoulder, shifting her balance enough to make her catch herself.

She straightened to find Luca taking the box from her arms. “Please. My mother is many things. One of them is unforgiving if she learns I’ve been less than a gentleman.”

Without letting go, she said, “Then we won’t tell her.”

“I insist.”

Brooke had two choices. Play tug-of-war or let him give her one less trip up the stairs.

She met his dark, piercing eyes and let go. “Thank you.”

She followed him inside with a suitcase dragging behind her. By the time they reached the top floor, she was out of breath.

“Having second thoughts?” Luca asked.

“Saves on the gym membership,” she said.

A single nod and he opened the unlocked door and stepped inside. “Where would you like this?” he asked.

“Anywhere is fine.”

Luca set the box in the center of the living room. “You’re the first renter we’ve ever had.” He crossed to the small kitchen space and lifted a key. “I placed a lock on the door. My mother has a key for emergency use only.”

“You’ll hardly know I’m here, Mr. D’Angelo,” she assured him.

Some of the stiffness left his spine. “Mr. D’Angelo was my father. My name is Luca.”

“I’m mindful that this is new for your family. And I’m not a twenty-year-old with her first apartment who wants to have parties. I’m new to San Diego and don’t know anyone here yet. No worries there. That isn’t me anyway.”

Luca narrowed his eyes briefly. “It’s less about noise, and more about my daughter’s safety.”

“From me?” What was he getting at?

He shook his head. “That came out wrong. Less about the parties, but who might be invited to them.”

Or who Brooke might invite over to “entertain.” She thought of Marshall, briefly, and rolled her eyes as she grasped the handle of her suitcase. “Oh, please. I’ve all but sworn off your entire gender. I’d switch teams if I could. Franny is safe with me, Luca.”

“Thank you for your assurance.”

She started toward the bedroom. “I only brought a few boxes. And I’m sure you have better things to do.”

Someone saying “Hello” from the hallway caught their attention.

Brooke turned and Luca sighed. “Gio.”

“Hello, brother. I thought I heard voices.”

Luca’s brother was faster with a smile. He waved a bottle of wine in his hand as he stepped into the apartment. “I came to welcome our new tenant.”

“I’m Brooke.”

“I’m Giovanni. The younger, better-looking brother.” He stepped forward and extended his hand.

“The cocky brother,” Luca corrected him.

“I came with wine. He probably came with a list of rules.”

Brooke tilted her head to the side, glanced at Luca. Pretty accurate assumption coming from the baby brother.

“Is there a party going on up here?”

Through the open door walked Chloe, a face Brooke recognized.

They spotted each other and Chloe started to laugh. “I knew it. Mama wouldn’t tell me, but I saw the two of you talking that day, and knew you were the one she rented to.”

“Hello, Chloe.”

Chloe turned to her brothers. “And you guys were worried. See, it’s going to be fine.”

“We weren’t worried,” Luca denied.

Brooke pinned him with a stare. “Excuse me?”

He lifted a hand as if to defend his words and then changed his mind and dropped it to his side.

“Good call,” she told him.

Franny bounced into the room, Mari right behind her, albeit a bit slower. “I see no one is watching the restaurant,” she said, unaccusingly.

“Look who is here,” Chloe said as she moved to the side so Mari had full view of Brooke.