The four of us burst into laughter as he checked the screen. “Get in here, asshole,” Axel yelled.
Scott slid the glass door open, already apologizing, “I’m sorry! I know I’m late. I got caught up.”
“Where were you?” I asked with a lifted brow.
“A meeting.” He grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and joined us at the handmade conference table—a perk of working with a master artisan.
Miranda rolled her eyes, tossing her glossy black hair behind her. “The appointment on his calendar’s private.” She clicked and typed a bit. “The address is a hotel downtown.”
“How’d you get my password?” Scott looked at her with wide eyes, his mouth hanging open.
Miranda smiled sweetly and said, “Your mom’s name plus her birthday. You had me buy her gift and send it this year.”
Ashley sucked her teeth. “You didn’t buy your mom’s birthday present?”
“Mama Adams is a saint, and you couldn’t even buy her a gift?” Axel added, his eyes narrowed at Scott.
“Can we talk about how shitty of a son I am later? How’d the meeting go?”
“You’d know if you were here.” I sniped.
“Fine. Let’s do this.” He straightened his spine, clearing his throat, as if preparing for a firing squad. “I was at a late lunch with Nicki, and things got . . . interesting. I’m sorry I’m late, but I’m here now.” Scott shifted in his seat as he looked from person to person.
“You can’t be serious. Nicki?” I twirled my pen, praying he hadn’t just signed his death certificate.
“What? It’s not like we’re having an affair. It was a one-time thing.” He shrugged, chugging half the bottle of water. His pale face flushed with embarrassment, or maybe from thinking about his afternoon of fun.
“Let it go, Sash. It’s done.” Ashley checked her phone and sighed. “You need to get going. I’ll catch Scott up.”
I stacked my folders and shoved them in my bag. “Scott, stay away from Nicki. I promise you don’t want to be on her fiancé’s radar.”
Scott laughed. “You mean the accountant?”
“You’ve never seen Aldo, have you?”
“No. Why?”
“No reason.” Giving Scott my back, I turned to Axel. “Can you make sure I have those pictures Monday morning?”
“Yep.” He jotted down a note, stood, and left the room without a word.
“Have a good weekend,” Ashley shouted, getting only a grunt in return. “Go. Go. I’ll send you the Stay Magazine info once we get it from Margot.”
“Wait! Stay Magazine?” Scott sat up in his seat, grinning.
“They want a full spread of the new Oxford Hotel Chicago as soon as the renovations are complete. See what you miss when you choose to bang the antichrist?” I joked as I walked to the door.
“She’s not so bad,” Scott mumbled.
“Uh-huh. Make sure you don’t let it happen again. I’m serious.” I checked my phone and groaned. Breaking into a power walk that would make my mall-walking grandma proud, I met the car service as it pulled up to the curb.
Somehow, I got myself date ready in under an hour and was only fifteen minutes late getting to Moretti’s. As I said goodbye to the driver, I felt eyes on me. One thing I’d learned is there was always someone watching. If you’re lucky, it’s one of your guys. Shaking off the nerves, I rushed down the sidewalk, sidestepping patches of melted snow.
To my surprise, the awning was dark, and the restaurant was empty. I locked the door behind me, grinning as I slipped out of my coat. Sure enough, only one table was set with rose petals scattered around it—just like our first date.
“Hello?”
“Back here.” Grinning, I pushed through the kitchen door. Luca looked up from the stove, his crooked smile crinkling the skin around his eyes, and like always, my heart beat a little faster. “Hey there.”