Luca watched Nadia chatting with his mother and Lacey. She looked like she was having a good time. He thought for sure Lacey was going to be cold towards her. He saw the way she was sizing her up when they came in, but it seemed Lacey liked her too.

"So, what's really going on between you and Nadia?" His father nudged him in the side.

Twin flags of red burned over his cheeks as he tore his eyes away from Nadia to the food on the grill, "I told you, we're just friends." 

"Mm, heard some of the guards say after Nadia's lap, you popped out of your car and ran away holding your junk like you had blue balls." 

"Jesus Dad!" Luca's head whipped towards him. A smile cracked over his face at the laughter in his father's eyes, "I didn't run away...but shit, it fucking hurt." 

Philip burst out laughing and slapped his shoulder, "I bet it did. So, why aren't you making a move on her, son? Take her out on a date, woo her. I already told you I like her and it looks like your mother and sister do too." 

Luca shook his head, "No, it's just not like that between us." He said placing some meat on the plate his father was holding.

"But why not?" 

Luca chuckled at the pout in his father's voice. "Because we just want to be friends. Why is that so hard to understand?"

His father looked across the pool at Nadia and his shoulders sagged, "I just don't want you to miss out on someone special."

"I know she's special, Dad. That's why I have to be her friend. I don't want anything to happen to her because of me."

Philip looked at Luca with sadness in his eyes, "You have to face that demon you've been hiding from because one day, friendship isn't going to be enough for you."

Luca's heart stuttered, his father's words hit him straight in his soul. He turned away from him to turn the meat on the grill. His dad was right and he knew it. The only way Luca would consider being in a relationship with Nadia, or anyone, was if he took care of Ciara.

And he wasn't sure if he was ready to do that. He'd tried so many times in the past, it was like nothing touched Ciara. She was Teflon.

"I'm sorry, Luca. I shouldn't have said that," he sighed, "I'm just excited, I'm glad you've let someone new in your life and I shouldn't push you like that. "

"It's alright. You're not wrong but I'm happy with the way things are."

His father nodded, "If you're happy then I'm happy for you, son." His eyes twinkled with mischief, "I promise I won't mention this again but, I would fully support having a daughter in law like Nadia, but I'd prefer it to be her." 

"Jesus christ, Dad. You just don't let up." 

His father scrunched his face up, "Well I'm not getting any younger and your mother and I would like some grandchildren to spoil in our retirement."

Luca burst out laughing, "I'm not your only child, you know." 

"I've mentioned this to your sister and she laughed in my face. You're both ungrateful." He grumbled.

"Well I'm sorry, I won't be having any children any time soon." 

"It's alright, your mother and I are enjoying each other's company again." Philip smiled and looked across the pool at his mother who was chattering away to Nadia and Lacey. She looked over at them and winked at his father. A bright blush stained his father's cheeks and a dazzling smile lit up his features.

Luca admired his parents' relationship. He always thought their kind of love was unattainable. That they were just two people who were extremely lucky to find one another. They weren't perfect and they had their fights but they were so solid. He never thought for one minute they didn't love each other.  

While Luca used to play the field and have a different girl for every day of the week when he was younger; what he'd always wanted was the kind of love and commitment his parents had. At least, he used to. 

"Are we going to eat today or are you two going to stand over there chit-chatting all day!" Lacey hollered from across the pool.

"Oh dear, better get the food to Lacey. She's getting hangry." 

"We don't want a drunk and hungry Lacey, she gets evil," Luca laughed, turning off the grill and helping his Dad carry the plates of meat and roasted vegetables to the table. He frowned as he sat the food down, "where's Mom and Nadia?"

Lacey frowned and giggled. "I have no idea, Nadia went to help Mom carry some stuff from the kitchen and they haven't come back yet."

"You better go save Nadia. Your mother probably dragged her out to the garden." 

"I didn't even think of that," Lace gasped and pushed at Luca's shoulder, "go save the poor thing!" 

He chuckled, jogging into the house. His mother could be a bit full on sometimes especially when it came to her garden. The fact that she knew Nadia liked plants she was probably dragging her around and telling her all the things she'd like to do.

He walked through the kitchen to find it empty with the forgotten salads and utensils left on the counter. Yep, she definitely kidnapped Nadia in the garden. He opened the door to the sunroom and continued out to the expansive gardens. 

His steps on the path slowed to a stop as he found his mother and Nadia kneeling down next to a patch of tulips and wildflowers. Half empty glasses of wine and a basket full of plant cuttings sat next to them.

"I love getting cuttings of things and trying to grow them. I have a small collection of plats I'm trying to revive too." He heard Nadia tell her.

"You are just a girl after my own heart," His mother grinned, "I have a few pots I've been trying to revive in the green house, maybe you can do something with them." She said looking over Nadia's shoulder, her smile grew even brighter once she spotted him, "Did your father and Lacey send you out here to save Nadia?"

Nadia sat back on her knees and looked over her shoulder at him, her green eyes glowing in the sun, "I didn't need saving." 

"No you didn't, ma petite fleur," he mumbled, getting lost in the joy that radiated in her eyes. The red hue in her auburn hair and the glow of her skin in the sun made her look like a spring goddess sitting in a meadow of her creation. His cheeks burned at the beauty in front of him. He cleared his throat, "actually, I'm here because dinner is ready."

"We forgot all about the salads in the kitchen." His mother gasped. "Nadia, you weren't supposed to let me get so distracted." 

"What can I say? I'm easily distracted by gardening too," Nadia giggled as she stood from her kneeling position. Luca was quick to place his hand on her waist to steady her. She looked up at him a small laugh escaping her lips, "thanks." 

"Wouldn't want you tripping over air again." 

She glared at him, "I tripped over the damn gravel!" 

He smirked, "Sure you did." 

They jumped from the sound of his mother clearing her throat obnoxiously loud, "Could I get some help here, younglings?" She said holding up her arms to them, "I'm not a spring chicken anymore." 

Empty plates, half filled drinks and the remnants of a barbeque dinner littered the table. The lamps around the pool just came to life as the sun dipped beyond the horizon making the patio glow in a soft amber light. Luca sat with his arm draped around the back of Nadia's chair, his leg over his knee and a sated smile on his face as he listened to the conversation around him.

Nadia and Lacey were trying to convince his father that the fashion industry was a viable investment. Nadia was going over the endless marketing strategies and potential profit margins of a hypothetical company. Lacey piggy backed on her argument and explained the cultural impact fashion had which could uplift the company that invests in it.

Luca chuckled as his father firmly shook his head and argued the industry is too tumultuous to be viable. His dad never liked or trusted the fashion industry, he thought it was too fickle. He still detests the fact that Lacey went into fashion design. She'd been trying for years to get an investment from Shola. She wouldn't invest with anyone else but her family. She was stubborn like that, but it meant a lot to her that she had their father's blessing.

As Luca listened to the debate, his mother's hand slid over his. He looked at her and his heart clenched in his chest. Tiny tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she whispered, "I like her." She squeezed his hand and let go to dab her eyes before a cheerful smile graced her lips, "I don't know why you ladies are arguing with him when the CEO is right here." 

Lacey and Nadia's scorching eyes fell on him, "So why haven't you invested in Lacey's fashion line?"

His groin twitched at the fire that sizzled in Nadia's eyes. Damn his mother for directing this shit on him.

Ma petite fleur needs to stop looking at me like that.

She had no idea what that made him want to do and he couldn't think of her like that.

"So, why haven't you, Luca? You've been CEO long enough." His sister pressed giving him the perfect opportunity to tear his eyes away from the heat in Nadia's eyes.

"Lacey, I've told you I have no problem investing in your fashion line, but Dad's still the owner and you know he gets final say of what the company invests in." 

He heard Nadia suck in a breath and whip her head toward his father and exclaimed "So you're the one." 

To which his father roared with laughter, "of course I am, but I didn't mind that little reprieve from the two of you," he chuckled, "Lacey's a bit tipsy Nadia, she knows the rules of the company." 

"It's bullshit," Lacey mumbled into her wine glass, "one day you'll want to invest, mark my words father!" She pointed her finger at him.

"I'm still waiting for the day little Lace." 

Lacey glared at him and flipped him off making his father fall out into a fit of laughter. Luca grinned at Nadia's amused face. "I'm sorry Lacey got you wrapped up in that argument. It happens every Sunday after a few glasses of wine."  

"It's fine, I thought it was funny," she said, stifling a yawn and chuckled, "I'm sorry. I think the day is catching up to me." 

"Well it was an eventful one," his mother said and pushed his arm, "Luca take her home if she's tired." 

"Oh no, that's okay, Gordon can take me home." 

A wave of jealousy washed over him at the thought of Gordon taking her home. He knew this feeling was unreasonable. It was normal for Gordon to be her chauffer, but after today, his petite fleur woke something in him that he'd been suppressing for a long time. He didn't want anyone taking her home, but him. 

He chuckled. "Don't be silly, I'll take you home." 

She raised an eyebrow at him. "are you sure? What if -" 

"I'm sure." He answered before she finished her sentence or said Ciara's name. He didn't care about that right now. 

Nadia gave him a puzzled look and shrugged. "Alright, if you're cool with it. I don't mind."

"Good, now don't forget your cuttings and the two pots you're going to revive for me. I left them in the kitchen for you." His mother chimed in as his father stood from the table.

"Well, thank you for coming today. I hope you had a good time, Nadia." 

She nodded and popped up from her seat. "I had a wonderful time, Mr. Shola. Thank you for having me." 

"We're not in the office, you can just call me Phil or Philip." He grinned. "You come back anytime you like." 

"Yes, actually why don't you come without Luca and bring Minerva with you. We'll have a ladies day." Lacey smiled and cut her mischievous eyes at Luca before she looked back at Nadia. "You know what, I'm going to need your number." 

"Oh good idea, Lacey."

Luca shook his head at his mother and sister eager to stay in contact with Nadia. He should be worried about this, he shouldn't want his mother or Lacey to keep in contact with her, especially when he knew they'd try their best to play matchmaker. He was just thankful he and Nadia didn't that. 

He stood next to Nadia, placing his hand on the small of her back. "I'll put your things in the car. You're going to be a minute." 

"Mm-hm." She nodded, distracted as she tapped her number into Lacey's phone. 

Luca ignored his sister's raised eyebrow and smug grin as he said his goodbyes to his family while they continued to carry on a conversation with Nadia. He kissed his mother on the cheek, she patted his arm. "Don't forget her plants." 

He grinned. "I won't, mom." Nadia had no idea what she'd gotten herself into by giving her number to his mother. She was going to call her all the time to talk about gardening.

He strolled into the sitting room and plucked Nadia's pineapple print tote from the couch. He swung it over his shoulder and carried on to the kitchen to gather her beloved greenery. A smile tugged at his lips, Luca couldn't remember the last time he enjoyed having dinner with his family like this.

He wouldn't mind having Nadia over for Sunday dinner more often - but maybe not with a trip to the racetrack every time. A blush scorched his cheeks, he wasn't sure his balls could take it. Not with the way it made him want to be her dom.

He sucked in a breath. He hasn't had those kinds of thoughts in a very long time. He locked those urges up tight after Ciara lied to him about what she was. He wouldn't trust himself like that with anyone again.

But - Nadia stirred something in him today. He wanted her beneath him moaning his name and telling him who she belonged to. 

He let out a long breath as he carried the basket of cuttings and the potted plants to the car. He didn't want that. Not from Nadia - not from anyone. He dropped her bag and the plants in the trunk and hung his head. He stared at her pineapple bag and the greenery next to it.

What the fuck is wrong with me? I'm not like that anymore.

"Hey you alright? There weren't too many plants right?" Nadia's teasing voice pierced through his thoughts.

He picked his head up and looked behind him. He couldn't be like that with her. Not only was it too dangerous...he knew she'd be the one to make him fall in love again.

And that scared the shit out of him.

"No, there weren't too many," he chuckled, closing the trunk, "are you ready?" 

She nodded and tilted her head to the side. "You switched cars."

He opened the passenger door for her. "The Tesla is a little less identifiable." 

She raised her eyebrow and slid into the car. "And electric, you seem like more of a petrol head." 

"I care about the environment on occasion too." He chuckled, closing the door. He took a deep breath as he rounded the car to his door. Everything was so easy with Nadia the way it was. He didn't need to complicate matters and they weren't like that. 

He slid into the car and looked at her. She was gushing over the touch screen panel, exclaiming how she'd go electric just for the center console. A smile tugged at his lips, he could be content with how light she made him feel. He didn't need anything more than that.

A/N:  Sorry to disappoint, there was no bathing suit scene. When I wrote this initially I was going to put that in, but there's a reason Nadia and Luca - especially Luca - don't get in the pool....yet. That scene may or may not be coming later down the road 🤗🤷🏾‍♀️

As always, thank you so so much for reading, Little Bees!