When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos, #1)(54)

Brooke and Chloe set out early, before the masses of people arrived to gather the best picks of flowers and produce, not to mention some amazing street food.

Brooke was happy to see familiar faces and excited to be able to put names to them. Equally, it was nice to be remembered.

It wasn’t until the third person they passed asked about Luca, and was looking at Brooke instead of Chloe, that she turned to her friend and asked what was up. “Why is everyone asking me about your brother?”

Chloe laughed. “Small town.”

“What does that mean?”

“Everyone knows you and my brother are a thing.”

Brooke lowered her sunglasses. “What?” She and Chloe hadn’t even talked about it.

“All the mamas are talking. All the women who have been trying to get Luca to look at them since he’s been single are whining. You’re the talk of the town.”

“Who said we were anything?”

“Do you, or do you not, know how my brother kisses? Not that I really want to know how he kisses . . . but . . .”

Brooke opened her mouth, closed it . . . opened it again. “Who saw us?”

“It might have been Giovanni. But it could have been one of the kitchen staff. Hard to say.”

“Buongiorno, ladies.” It was Santorini from the gelato store. “How are you today?”

“It’s a beautiful day,” Chloe said.

“And how is L—”

“Luca is fine,” Brooke cut him off.

“Wonderful. Tell him to bring Francesca by today. I have her favorite,” he said directly to Brooke.

Suddenly it felt as if everyone was looking her way.

Paranoid, she knew . . . but still. “This is nuts.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t last long. Soon there will be something else for everyone to gossip about. For now, that’s the two of you.”

“Does Luca know people are talking?”

“Probably.”

Chloe placed her hand through the crook of Brooke’s arm. “We all like you, Brooke. And Luca hasn’t smiled this much in a long time. You’re good for him.”

“Hi, Brooke.” Maria from the grocery store. “How’s Luc—”

“He’s fine,” both Brooke and Chloe chimed in with a laugh.

Back home, Brooke left Chloe at her door and walked one flight up to Luca’s place and knocked.

“Come in.”

Brooke opened the door slowly and poked her head in. “Hello.”

“Cara, you don’t have to knock.”

“Yes, I do.” She walked all the way in, looked around for Franny.

“She’s in her bedroom.” Luca crossed from where it looked like he’d been sitting on the sofa and greeted her with a short kiss. “Happy Saturday.”

He reached for the bags in her hands. “Do you want me to carry these upstairs for you?”

She let him take them and pointed to his kitchen counter. “Actually, some of that is for you.”

“Oh?”

Brooke smiled and reached into one of the bags and pulled out a cluster of orange beets. “These are from Anderson Farms. I forget the woman’s name.”

“Lynnette.”

“Right. She knew you and asked that I give these to you. Said she had more if you wanted them for a dish you make.”

Luca took them, brought them to his nose. “Mmm. I might have to swing by there.”

Brooke reached back in. “Basil from Rosa’s garden.”

He sniffed the bundle.

Next, she handed him a bouquet of peonies.

“Who gave me these?” he asked.

Brooke had no idea what the guy’s name was. “The second flower guy as you head up the block. He said, and I quote, ‘Hand Luca these and tell him I have a special bouquet he can pick up to give you on your next date.’”

“Must be Hyun. He’s been at the market for years.”

Brooke stared at the flowers, then Luca. “Does it even faze you that all these people handed me things to give to you? And that’s not all. Santorini wanted Franny to know he has her favorite ice cream, and at least a half a dozen other people wanted me to tell you hello.”

Luca handed back the flowers with a smile. “I suppose that means we’ve made the gossip mill.”

“You suppose . . . ?”

He tilted his head to the side. “Does that bother you?”

“To have people I don’t know talking about me? It’s not something I’m used to.”

Luca placed a hand to the side of her face, leaned in, and kissed her. When he pulled back, he looked her in the eye. “They are talking to find out if the rumors are true. Once they know they are, they will stop talking altogether.”

“Are they true?”

“Aren’t they?” he asked, a question in his eye.

She shuffled her feet. “Yes . . . no. I don’t know. A few stolen kisses. A whole lot of flirting. We haven’t even been on a proper date.”

He was laughing. “What are you doing tonight?”

“You’re working.” Saturday was busy for the restaurant, and since she’d been there, Luca always worked Friday and Saturday.

“Not anymore.”