<b>Chapter </b><b>147 </b>
Sutton hadn’t realized how draining it was going to be leaving Miles at the hospital. She felt empty. She was so d she had Luca. She was so tired.
Her body still ached from the hospital stay, her muscles weak from the enforced bed rest on top of everything else, but her heart was raw from everything that had happened to Miles. Now she had this new worry about Nicole getting near their son. The crazy bitch. She didn’t know what would make her stop unless she went to jail.
Luca opened the doors to his apartment… Their apartment. She could hear noise and people talking. Keira had said she would drop off all Sutton’s stuff with ir and Roman.
But the thing that caught her attention was how beautiful the penthouse was. It was warm and soaked in golden sunset light from the floor–length windows. It wasn’t all ck and steel like she had sort of expected. No.,. it was all warm colors, wood, and <i>cozy</i>. The colors reminded her of her ce in Europe. Had he prepared this ce to make her happy? So, he had paid attention to her tastes. Turning to him, she grinned, “Top score, Luca. Nicely done.”
“I wanted you to feel at home here. This is our home, not a showpiece or a corporate apartment.”
The smell of something delicious drifted from the kitchen.
She didn’t even make it past the entry before Keira came barreling toward her.
“You’re finally home!” Keira squealed, arms wrapping carefully, but forcefully, around her. “Okay, not really your home, but I guess technically your home–home now. Either way, wee.”
Sutton chuckled as she hugged her back. “Don’t make meugh. The stitches still pull.”
“I won’t. But isn’t it wild?” Keira pulled back, practically shimmering with energy. “I really feel like the underachieverpared to you and ir.”
“Hey, Beautiful. I’m so d you’re okay,” Jake said, appearing behind Keira with a ss of wine in one hand and a knowing smirk. “I know you’re going to tell me you’re still expressing milk, but Luca let me know you did a few bottles before you left the hospital, so if you don’t do it tonight, one ss will not hurt. I think you’ve earned this.”
Sutton took the ss after hugging Jake. He buzzed her cheek with a kiss. “I missed you.”
Roman and ir were already in the living room, curled up on the oversized sectional that overlooked the skyline. ir waved her fingers, trying hard to suppress a soft smile, but her eyes were warm and filled with love.
“I’m so d you’re well enough to leave the hospital,” ir said, standing slowly anding closer to hug Sutton. “You look happy.”
“I am,” Sutton replied honestly. “It still doesn’t feel real. Any of it.”
“Miles will be home soon enough,” Roman said, crossing the room to shake Luca’s hand firmly and then hugging Sutton. “You have a lovely home here for him toe to after he leaves the hospital.”
“And you’re going to love it,” Luca whispered in her ear, kissing the shell gently. “I did have it designed with finding you in mind.”
“Were you so sure of finding me?” Sutton teased, before dragging herself toward the oversized armchair. She sat slowly, wincing just a little at the stiffness in her hip.
“I’ve got you,” Luca said instantly, crouching as he adjusted a throw pillow under her back. “You need anything?”
“No, just a moment not standing,” she said, grateful.
About twenty minutester, the doorbell chimed again. Luca went to answer it.
“Apparently we throw dinner party tonight,” Keira muttered from where she lounged next to Sutton, <b>eyes </b>gleaming. <b>“</b><b>Surprise</b>.<b>” </b>
The newest arrivals entered: Be<b>, </b>radiant in a silk top and wide–legged linen pants, hair in a loose braid; and <b>Antonio</b><b>, </b><b>easygoing </b><b>and </b><b>freshly </b><b>pressed </b>wearing rolled sleeves and dark chinos.
Be headed straight for Sutton, her expression open and kind. “Ciao be,” she said gently. “You’re even more beautiful every <b>day</b><b>. </b>
Sutton smiled, heart warming. “Thank you foring.” She didn’t hate Be, she wasn’t to me for what had happened before. If <b>anything</b><b>, </b><b>she </b><b>was </b>grateful to her for taking Antonio instead of Luca as her husband. Seeing them together, they were a better match.
“You’re family now,” Antonio said, kissing Sutton’s cheek in the European manner. “Whether you want us or not.”
“We brought cannoli,” Be added, holding up a white bakery box.
That got the attention of everyone. Food always did. Keira told everyone no desserts until after her dinner.
Everyone got up to get dinner on the table. Only Jake stayed
her. He slid into the armchair beside Sutton.
“You need anything, let me know,” he asked quietly.
Sutton nodded slowly. “Actually… yeah.”
He leaned in conspiratorially. “What is it? Do you need help picking a dress for the wedding? I’m your
man.”
“No, not-” She cut him off, caught between augh and a sigh. “It’s the office. Everyone obviously knows now. Luca’s done press. There were images of me everywhere. I just… I feel like there’s a microscope on me. Like even if no one at Cyber10 says anything, they’ll be thinking it. That I slept <b>my </b>way <b>to </b>the top. That I didn’t earn the role.”
Jake gave her a solid three seconds of silence. Then said tly: “Bullshit.”
Sutton blinked.
“No one’s saying that. And if they are, I swear I will spill boiling hot coffee in theirp. But Sutton? You made Cyber10 viable again. Your virus software doubled revenue projections in the first year. And Luca mentioned today they’re fast–tracking licensing in two European countries. Cyber10 is going to be a multi–billion–dorpany in about four months, and that’s conservative.”
“You sound weirdly proud.”
Jake grinned. “That’s because I am. You’re my boss now, so technically I’m only sucking up half as much as usual.”
Suttonughed.
Jake softened. “You earned this. With every hour of code. Every line. Every day you worked out of reception instead of the development floor.”
She leaned her head back, wine nestled tight in her hands, “Thanks, Jake.”
“Anytime.”
After dinner, no one stayedte knowing she would be tired. Jake was thest they were seeing <b>off </b><b>at </b>the door. He <b>shook </b><b>Luca’s </b>d <b>and </b><b>hugged </b><b>Sutton </b>again. “I have to say, Keira has charm.” Tongue in cheek.
“Like <b>a </b>gremlin,” Luca said, deadpan. “Just don’t feed her after midnight.”
Jakeughed, elbowing Luca in the side as he stood beside her at the door.
“What? It’s true. Both Roman and I believe the man that marries her will need shares in whips and chairs and <b>earplugs</b>.<b>” </b><b>Luca </b><b>grinned</b>. <b>He </b><b>liked </b><b>Keira</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>she </b>had only juste around to liking him.
Once Jake stepped into the elevator with a cheery wave<b>, </b><b>Sutton </b>leaned <b>against </b><b>the </b><b>doorframe</b>, <b>her </b><b>legs </b><b>aching </b><b>and </b><b>her </b><b>shoulders </b><b>sagging </b><b>from </b><b>the </b>evening. She wasn’t <b>sure </b>if it <b>was </b>exhaustion, lingering emotion <b>from </b>leaving <b>Miles </b>behind<b>… </b><b>or </b><b>just </b><b>everything</b><b>, </b><b>all </b>at <b>once </b>
<b>Luca </b>rested a hand on the small of her back, rubbing lightly. “Come on,” he said softly. “Let’s get you to bed”
She didn’t argue. She was more than ready.
“I still can’t believe this is your ce,” she mumbled as she stepped out of her shoes, “I expected aloof executive chic. Grey concrete. ck void lines. But this… it’s actually… homey.” Following him into the bathroom.
Luca turned on the shower in the ensuite, then turned to her. “I’m allowed to be human sometimes,” he said, kissing her temple.
Sutton smiled faintly. “I’m so ready for bed.”
He started to undress, telling her he was joining her. Shame sex was banned for another month or so.
She began unbuttoning her blouse with slow fingers. Her motions were sluggish, her muscles stiff and aching.
Luca stepped up beside her without a word and gently eased his hands over hers, taking over. He undid the remaining buttons, slowly peeling the <b>fabric </b>back from her shoulders and slipping it down her arms. He helped her out of her camisole and carefully unhooked the soft cotton nursing bra.
He didn’t ogle. Didn’t make a move. He just kept his touch steady and light. She knew he still desired her after the kiss at the hospital. He was being so good to her.
Once they were both stripped to bare skin, Luca took her hand and led her into the steam–filled shower. The water cascaded over them. “This is so good. Sutton sighed.
Luca stepped behind her. He shampooed her hair with firm fingers, massaging her scalp, never speaking. He rinsed it away. Then he applied the conditioner. It was methodical. It was so good to be taken care of.
His hands moved over her body with a soapy cloth next, gentle as her skin carried battle scars and bruises, stretch marks, fading incision pain. He didn’t
seem to care.
Once they stepped free from the shower, Luca took a thick towel and wrapped her. He dried her hair gently, and when she tried to insist she could do it herself, he gave her a look that stopped her mid–sentence.
“You’re dead on your feet,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her damp temple. “Let me do this.”
He helped her into a cotton sleep shirt and guided her to the <i>bed</i>.
The moment she slipped beneath the sheets, her body melted into the mattress. She was already half–asleep before he had even tucked the nket around her.
Luca smiled, standing at the edge of the bed just watching her for a while. She was curled partly on <i>her </i>side, one hand tucked beneath her cheek, <b>the </b>other resting where Miles had once been growing.
He got up after a few moments, stepped into a pair of underwear, and turned off the lights.
Making his way around <i>to </i>the other side of the bed, he eased himself down, careful not to jostle her.
Then gently, he pulled her body toward him, nestling her back to his chest, his hand steady at her waist.
She didn’t stir.
“My Sutton,” he whispered against her hair. “My everything.”