“My plan was to butter him up and kill him with kindness so he behaves. The last thing I need is a new headline pissing everyone off. But as soon as I see his cocky ass sitting in my chair with his feet up on my desk, that kindness flew out the fucking window. The rest of the meeting, I pictured punching his perfect handsome face.” I sip my coffee as my eyes follow his car around the track yet again.
“So we’re resorting to violence now?”
I jab her in the side, and she feigns pain.
“Jeez, Nev, what’s gotten into you?” Mel jokes as she wraps her arm around my shoulder.
“LucaDeMello.”
“Well, he hasn’t quite beeninyou yet. But I’ll give it another week.”
“Hey!” We both dissolve into laughter, and I feel lighter than I have in days. Sometimes all you need is your best friend to help you see a little perspective. Or cause you to makebad decisions.
Like sleep with Lucacocky assholeDeMello.
Nope, not happening.
* * *
Tap,tap, tap.
I look up at the sound on my office door. It’s after seven on Friday evening. Who could that be? Everyone already went home.
I want to ignore it, seeing as I was about to pack up and leave, but whoever it is knocks again, this time harder.
“Neveah? I know you’re in there. I see the lights on.”
I freeze. Luca? What the hell does he want on a Friday night? Shouldn’t he be preparing for tomorrow’s race?
“Can I come in,please? I just have a quick question.”
Sighing, I push to a stand and shuffle over to the door, flipping the lock and pulling it open. There he is in all his glory, grinning like always. Why does he have to look so damn good? And why does he have to know it too?
I force a smile and wave him in. “Make it quick. I was just leaving.”
“Do you know if my logo is all set for Sunday’s race? I need to have it added onto my suit tomorrow.”
His logo? Why is he asking me? I already told him where he could get it.
“I told you in our first meeting where to get the logo.”
He rolls his eyes as he casually strolls in, stopping before he reaches the desk. “You don’t think I tried there first? No one was around. It looked like a ghost town.”
“Not surprising. It’s after five on a Friday afternoon. Why did you wait until now to say something?”
He shrugslike he doesn’t have a care in the world. “I forgot about it until just now.”
“You’ve known about the upcoming race all week. Surely, you remembered before now.”
“I don’t want to argue. Can you help me or not?”
Yeah, one phone call to Patti, the logo supplier, and you’ll have the logo waiting for you in the morning.
But why should I?
“Fine. I’ll put in a request. It shouldn’t be an issue.”
Luca’s mouth tips up on one side, his famous smirk creeping across his face. “Boss lady has the connections.”