When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos, #1)(62)

He kissed her again. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Good,” she said with a grin.

“Call me when you land.”

“I will.”

He walked her to Chloe’s car, where his sister was already inside with the engine running.

Luca placed her bag in the trunk and opened the door for her.

Another kiss and they were backing out and driving away.

When he turned to the restaurant, he saw his mother standing in the doorway watching him.

“Brooke will make a great addition to this family,” she told him.

“You’re jumping ahead,” he said.

“Am I? You like her.”

“I like her a lot, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to marry her.”

Mari placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t let her get away,” she warned him.

“This is a business trip, Mama. Nothing more.”

“I know. The D’Angelo men know what they want and run toward it. Don’t stumble and fall along the way. That’s all I’m saying.”

Luca kissed his mother’s cheek. “Your advice is noted.”

He worked his way back to the kitchen and forgot time.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


“Papa?”

“Yes, tesorina?” Luca sat on Franny’s bed with her as she did her daily reading before going to sleep. He treasured these moments, knowing they wouldn’t last forever.

“Are you going to marry Brooke?”

Luca felt his back stiffen. “Who told you that?”

“She’s your girlfriend, right?”

“And who told you that?” He was going to have to talk to his family.

Franny glanced up at him. “I saw you kissing.”

“Oh.”

“And Regina at school said her mama was talking with Rosa and they all said Brooke might be my mama soon.”

“Well, Regina, her mama, and Rosa haven’t talked to me.”

“I don’t understand.”

Well, damn. “I kissed Brooke because we like each other.”

“Regina says kissing is where babies come from. Is Brooke going to have a baby?”

“Oh God.” Where were his mother and sister when he needed them? Luca was not prepared for this conversation. “It takes more than kissing for Brooke to have a baby.” Of course, they’d done that, too.

Franny sat up in bed, tucked her legs under her, and waited patiently for an explanation.

“Which I’ll tell you about when you’re a little older.” Because he had no idea what to tell her now.

“I am older.”

“Soon, tesorina. Soon.”

Franny lowered her eyes in a pout that often got her her way.

Not this time.

“If you made Brooke my mama, do you think she’d leave?”

Luca narrowed his eyes. “Brooke had to leave town for work. She’ll be back.”

Franny shook her head. “I mean forever. Like my mama did?”

He gathered his daughter in his arms and held her close. “I won’t make anyone your mama who will leave us, tesorina.”

“Promise?”

Luca made a promise he knew he couldn’t one hundred percent control. “I promise.”

He tucked his little treasure in for the night and left her room. In his kitchen, he poured a glass of wine and glanced at his phone.

A text had come in from Brooke.

On the ground but stuck on the tarmac due to lightning. I’ll call when I’m off the plane.

He immediately texted back. Be safe, cara. I need your help.

Three little dots said she was texting back.

Luca sipped his wine and waited.

With what?

Franny asked where babies came from.

An open mouth emoji followed. You poor man. What did you tell her?

Luca smiled. Nothing. I chickened out and said I would tell her when she’s older.

I’m trying hard not to laugh right now. She is a bit young.

Another sip of wine. She saw us kissing.

The dots went on and on. When did she see us?

No idea. I’ll tell you all about it when you can talk.

Thirty minutes later, Brooke was finally able to call, and when she did, she was walking through the airport.

“What an ordeal,” Brooke said once he picked up. “There’s a crazy storm here. We circled the airport for a good thirty minutes, then had to stay on the plane for almost an hour after it landed.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll take this over having a birds-and-bees talk with my kid.”

“I’m sure you would have handled it better than me.”

“Is this because she saw us?”

Luca left his empty glass on the counter and moved to his bedroom, kept his voice low. “I think so. And gossip. Her little friend heard the mamas talking, so Franny had questions.”

“About babies?”

“About you. About us.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“It puts you in an awkward situation, doesn’t it? It’s one thing to have the town weighing in on our dating, but Franny?”

“Don’t forget my mother.”