<b>Chapter </b><b>111 </b>
Sutton sat in ir’s car on the way to some bridal dress shop with her sisters.
“We’re almost there,” ir said, ncing over at her. “You okay?”
“Fine,” Sutton assured her, though she was exhausted.
Between helping ir investigate the embezzlement at Kingston Industries, her new programming role at Cyber10, and the project Luca had just thrown at her, she’d barely had time to rest.
But it was still so much better than herst role at Cyber 10. She’d been this close to stabbing herself in the eye–well, not herself, because that might’ve harmed the baby. Now Nicole? That was a different story. God, one’s imagination was a beautiful thing.
In the backseat, Keira leaned forward. “I still think it’s a girl. She’s going to be brilliant and beautiful like her mother.”
Sutton grinned. “What do you want?”
The question made Keiraugh. “Nothing yet.”
When ir parked in front of Be’s Bridal Boutique, Sutton took a deep breath, preparing for the effort of extracting herself from the car.
“I still can’t believe we’re doing this,” ir said, stepping out of the car first. “The wedding is this weekend. Shouldn’t we have done this months ago?”
Sutton carefully maneuvered herself out of the car. She was finding it more difficult every day to do things like… just standing up.
“Most people, yes. But most people don’t get engaged, catch an embezzler, confront a jealous <b>ex</b>–wife, expose a murderous uncle, and get ready to take over a family business all within the span of a few weeks.” Sutton grinned at ir.
Her sister’s whirlwind romance with Roman Kingston had shocked them, but Sutton had never seen ir happier. After everything they’d been through, learning the truth about their parents‘ deaths and their uncle’s betrayal… ir deserved this happiness.
Sutton had taken the day off as leave so she could be with ir today. Luca had sent her a message this morning to see if she was ok. He must’ve gotten her phone number from her file because she hadn’t given it to him.
They followed ir inside. The boutique was elegant, all cream and blush tones with pretty skinny waist dresses, that made Sutton feel suddenly self- conscious in her practical maternity dress. Sophia, the boutique owner, greeted them warmly, unsurprised by theirst–minute request.
“We specialize in miracles,” Sophia assured them with a professional smile.
That’s when the boutique door chimed. She turned automatically, then froze.
Luca. Standing in the doorway, tall and impossibly handsome in a tailored suit<b>, </b>his dark eyes finding hers immediately.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I just wanted… I was just dropping something off.”
Sutton’s face heated. What was he doing here? Had he followed her? Her hand instinctively moved to her belly.
ir nced at her, clearly sensing her tension, The room had gone awkwardly silent.
“It’s fine,<i>” </i>Sutton managed, keeping her voice neutral. “We’re just helping ir find a wedding dress.<b>” </b>
Luca’s expression softened, his eyes dropping briefly to her stomach. “I wanted to see if you were okay… you didn’t return my text<b>.” </b><b>Handing </b><b>her </b><b>a </b><b>small </b><b>box</b>.
That exined his presence. He’d been checking on her when she hadn’t responded to his <b>text</b>. She really didn’t know <b>how </b>she <b>felt </b><b>about </b><b>that</b>.
Sutton looked down at the box he’d given her<b>. </b>It was small but surprisingly heavy. She wasn’t opening <b>it </b><b>with </b>everyone <b>watching</b>.
Keira cleared her throat loudly, breaking the tension. “Sol Wedding dresses! Let’s see some options!”
As Sophia guided them deeper into the boutique, Sutton heard Luca saying he should leave, though he made no move toward the door.
“Actually,” ir surprised her by saying, “why don’t you stay, Luca? Give us a man’s perspective?”
Sutton caught the meaningful look Keira shot ir. Her younger sister was still firmly in the anti–Luca camp. But when Luca nced at her, clearly seeking permission, Sutton found herself nodding.
“It’s fine. Stay if you want.”
Why had she agreed? She should want him gone. Instead, some treacherous part of her was d for his presence. This was not good.
Luca hadn’t nned on hunting Sutton and her sisters down today. He just wanted to make sure she was ok. When she hadn’t replied to his text. He had asked Roman what store ir was getting her dress from. Sutton didn’t trust him and he didn’t me her. I needed to be in her orbit to change her mind. She wanted to push him away. He understood.
Something hadpelled Luca to create an excuse to be there. The small package in his hand… a small nt pot with an arrangement of sulents for her desk at work. In a pot no bigger than ten centimeters.
Now, standing in the elegant boutique with three pairs of female eyes regarding him with varying degrees of suspicion, he realized how desperate his
action must seem.
“I should go,” he said, though leaving was thest thing he wanted.
When ir invited him to stay, he couldn’t mask his surprise or his hope. ir had every reason to hate him after what he’d done to her sister. The fact that she was extending this olive branch meant a lot.
But it was Sutton’s quiet “It’s fine” that made his heart race. He’d take any opportunity to be near her, even if it meant enduring Keira’s res. They hadn’t been introduced but he know details about her family now.
He couldn’t help but breathe her in. He missed her, and he hadn’t realized how much until she was gone. But if he told her that now… she wouldn’t
believe him.
Because of how he had ended things. He had been cruel, believing for them both it was better and then he had thought she had cheated he had seen red. So now she would believe he was saying it for the baby. Somehow, he had to show her he cared for her.
Her dark blonde hair fell in gentle waves past her shoulders, and her blue eyes, though cautious when they met his, still made his chest tighten. Blue or green–didn’t matter.
“How are things going with the project I gave you?” he asked while ir was changing dresses.
“Good,<i>” </i>Sutton replied. “I’m… actually enjoying everything about my new role. Thank you for that.”
Moving her from reception to the programming department had been an easy decision once he’d learned about herputer science background. The hard part had been doing it in a way that wouldn’t make her feel like she was receiving special treatment.
“You earned it,” he told her truthfully. “Jake says you’re brilliant.”
Sutton blushed, the pink in her cheeks making his fingers itch to touch her. It reminded him of her flushed face as he would drive into h shifted on the lounge, his pants way too tight.
“He is just being kind.”<ol><li>y. Luca</li></ol>
“No, he is being honest.” He couldn’t keep the admiration from his voice. “You have a real talent, Sutton. I’m d you’re finally getting to use it. This new program of yours will change thendscape of virus protection. It’s going to set the bar.”
ir emerged then in a dress that silenced the room. Even Luca, who knew little about wedding fashion, could see it was perfect–elegant, timeless, and quintessentially ir.
<b>“</b><b>Oh</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>Keira breathed. “<b>That’s </b><b>it</b>.”
Sutton nodded, her eyes misty. “ir, you look beautiful.”
Watching Sutton’s emotional reaction, Luca felt like an intruder witnessing something intimate and precious. These sisters had been <b>through </b>so much together. Their bond was unbreakable, forged through tragedy and triumph. He had only found out how much from Roman… Sutton <b>hadn’t </b>told him a thing. Because she didn’t feel close to him and didn’t trust him. But that would change. If it thest thing he did, he would show her.
was
If he hadn’t been so lucky as to find her, at least he know his child would have been taken care of. The Warner sisters really were there for each other.
“What do you think?” Sophia asked, adjusting the dress’s train.
ir turned to the mirror, visibly moved. “I think… I think this is the one.”
“Roman’s going to lose his mind,” Keira dered. “In the best way possible.”
Luca cleared his throat. “It’s perfect, ir. Truly.” Thinking Roman was <b>a </b>lucky man to have found his happiness.
ir smiled at him through the mirror, a smile. A small one. But it gave him hope.
As Sophia took ir to change, Keira surprisingly ended up talking to him. Up until now, she had been giving him the cold shoulder.
Roman had warned him he was going to struggle to bring Keira around. She was the youngest of the sisters, but the scariest.
They talked about the wedding. Sutton joined in, her initial tension gradually easing.
When it was time to leave, Luca knew he should simply say goodbye. He’d already pushed his luck by staying this long. He really didn’t want to piss Sutton off. But as they stood outside the boutique, Sutton’s profile against the sun made his chest ache with longing. Oh.. he wanted her. But he needed to be around her for her to see things his way.
“I should get back to work,” he said reluctantly. “But it was nice seeing all of you.”
”
“You too,” ir replied.
Before he could lose his nerve, Luca turned to Sutton. “Would you… would you like to get dinner sometime next week? To discuss the baby? We still have a lot to figure out.” It was an excuse he wanted to be with her but he would use every mean necessary to bring them back together.
He held his breath as she considered, worrying his request was too much<b>, </b>too soon.
Sutton bit her lip, a gesture that sent his heart racing. “Okay. Monday night? There’s a ce near our apartment…nothing fancy, but the food is good.”
Relief and joy surged through him so intensely he couldn’t contain his smile. “Sounds perfect, I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“Seven works.”
As he walked to his car, Luca felt lighter than he had in months. She’d agreed to dinner.
She’d let him stay today when she could’ve sent him packing.
Small steps, but in the right direction.
He nced back to see the sisters talking, Sutton watching his departure.
Monday at seven pm. He had the wedding this weekend to be near her. Sutton didn’t know it yet, but she would be his wife before the <b>baby </b><b>was </b><b>born</b><b>. </b><b>He </b>
had told her he wanted to marry, but it was more than that. He had <b>to </b>have her, not just the baby.
<b>As </b>he drove away, He would earn his ce in their lives no matter how dirty he had <b>to </b>y.