The past few days had been bliss. Luca hadn't felt this light in a long time. He thought Nadia was going to be hesitant about being so public with their relationship but he was pleasantly surprised when she took his hand while they walked around the town of St. Helena.

It was a small gesture, but the look of joy on her face and the pride in her eyes settled his worries. He'd never felt so happy to be with her like that and she should always be free to hold his hand no matter where they were. He was tired of hiding and Nadia deserved better from him.

They needed to talk about taking their relationship public and he needed to stop avoiding the main reason they couldn't. Now that Raquel knew about them, there was no reason for him not to take it seriously and deal with Ciara.

She hadn't contacted him lately, but he knew that meant nothing. He knew Ciara all too well. When she was quiet, she was plotting something. 

He shook his head and sighed as he closed and locked a gate behind him. Today was Nadia's birthday and he wouldn't let those thoughts plague his mind. 

He looked at the fresh cut flowers in his hand and today, he was going to tell her those three little words that have been itching to fall from his lips. He took a deep breath as he walked into a potting shed attached to the main house.

Maybe I shouldn't ruin her birthday with that kind of confession.

He plucked a clear vase from one of the shelves and filled it with water. He placed the bouquet of wildflowers in the glass and stared at the vibrant colors. A smile spread over his lips. There would be no difference if he told her today or any other day. His feelings weren't going to change and it was time he told her.  

He picked up the vase and walked into the house. His heart swelled at the sound of Nadia and Mari giggling and chattering to each other in the kitchen about one of his many childhood stories.

"Oh, mi hijo," Mari laughed as she wiped her tears, "he flew over the curb and straight into the hedges. Pow!" She clapped her hands, "his legs stuck out of the bushes. His car was in pieces and his little voice called out 'did I win?'"

Nadia burst out laughing and his heart thumped at the beautiful sight she made in his home.

He chuckled as he walked toward them and sat the vase on the island. "That's her favorite story to tell, Nadia, but she always leaves out that I was winning the race and I would've won if that damn rock wasn't in the middle of the road."

Mari looked at Nadia and pinched her fingers, "it was a pebble. He got too excited and oversteer his car."

"Aww were you about to show them kids up?" Nadia giggled.

"Yes, that was the greatest race I ever lost!" 

Nadia fell out laughing again, "you're a mess." 

"Maybe," he chuckled as he plucked a daisy from the vase. He closed the small gap between them and wrapped his arm around her waist. He tucked the flower behind her ear and slid his fingers to her chin, "happy birthday, ma petite fleur," he whispered and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"Dios mío," Mari whistled under her breath, "què suave..." 

Nadia smiled against his lips and her vibrant green eyes glimmered with joy, "thank you."

"You're welcome. What are you doing up so early anyway?" 

"I couldn't sleep. I was too excited to find that damn door," she huffed and poked him in the chest. "I'm finding it today." 

"I thought you might say that," he grinned and let her go to pick up the vase of flowers, "I picked these for you from the place where your key leads."

"You did?" She took the slim vase from him, "these are beautiful," she breathed and a smile tugged at her lips, "so it's a garden?"

He shrugged, "could be."

She frowned, "but you said there were four gardens and we've been to all of them," she glared at him, "I didn't see any doors for my key." 

"Or did you just miss it?"

She sat the vase on the counter and looked over at Mari, "is he bullshitting me?"

She chuckled and shrugged, "the staff are under strict orders not to tell you anything, mamacita."

"Oh come on! He's not giving me any good hints!" She huffed and slid her hands to her hips.

"Maybe you aren't asking the right questions. There's something missing on my estate and you haven't realised it yet." 

A smile tugged at his lips as she frowned and he could see her wheels turning. He couldn't believe she hadn't realised what was missing.

He shook his head and kissed her head. "Well, you can think about that while we go on a little excursion. It might jog your thoughts."

"Mm, alright," she mumbled, "will I have enough time to find it today if we go out?" 

He chuckled, "yes, you'll have plenty of time." 

Luca glanced over at Nadia as he drove down the highway. She'd been asking him questions about where they were going and why would it help her find something on his estate.

"What's in San Francisco that would help me locate a door on your damn estate?" 

"I don't know, what haven't you seen in my house?" He said and laughed when she glared at him.

"You can't answer my question with a question! That's not how hints work. You have everything in your house. Nothing is missing."

"Are you sure?" He said as he drove over the Golden Gate bridge into San Francisco. 

Her eyes lit up and she looked out the window at the view and glittering water that stretched out to the horizon. "I love this bridge. I did my first internship before Ono Medical in this city. I almost didn't take the place in Osaka to stay here," she sighed, "but I knew it was a better opportunity for me if I left."

His eyes grew wide. He shouldn't be surprised with how well traveled she was but the fact that she'd considered living here made his heart thump. "I didn't know that. How long did you intern out here?" 

"I was here for my last two years of undergrad. I did an exchange at University of San Francisco and interned at this small tech start-up doing their marketing while I gained some experience for grad school. I loved it here."

"Why didn't you come back?"

She shrugged, "life happened and I just never did," she said and slid her hand over his. "So, being in Cali again feels really good to me too." 

He brought her hand to his lips, "I'm so happy to hear you say that." 

Yes, today is the day I'm going to tell her I love her. 

Luca drove down a shop filled street with small boutiques and cafes of various colors and themes.  Some of the owners were just opening their doors to the few patrons window shopping on the sidewalk. He parked the car in front of a white bricked shop but the curtains to the enormous front window was drawn and the building looked bare minus the sign hanging above the door and the massive black 'Z' stenciled across white bricks.  

"We're here."

She frowned and stared at the storefront, "Zee Books? It looks closed," she mumbled as he got out of the car and walked around it to open her door.

"Come on, birthday girl. There's a present in there for you," he said and held out his hand to her.

She raised an eyebrow and slipped her hand in his, "but it's closed...there's a sign on the door."

He looked at the black and white sign that read 'sorry, we're closed.' "Mm, I guess I'll have to fix that, won't I?" He mumbled as he closed Nadia's door and they walked up to the windows of the shop. He jiggled the door handle and sighed.

"Oo, we can get in through the alley," he said as he tugged her down the small street on the side of the shop.

"Luca," Nadia hissed, "can't we go to another place. There's another book store right over there," she pointed behind him.

"No, it has to be this one. I told you your present is in there."

"Well shouldn't we just wait until they open and we can come back for it? Instead of trying to sneak in with our damn guards standing out front like a bunch of watch dogs," she said as she tugged on his hand.

"Ma petite fleur," he chuckled at the nervous tone in her voice and pulled her to his side, "we're not sneaking in when I have a key," he said as he slid a black iron key into the door on the side of the shop.

"Wh-what?" She frowned and her eyes grew wide as if a lightbulb just clicked in her mind.

Damn. This hint might've been too good.

"You own this book store and your book collection is missing from your house! How did I miss that!" She roared in excitement, "I figured it out, didn't I?" She felt her pockets and threw her head back, "fuck! I left my damn key at the house," she whined and stomped her foot, "I bet it fit in that door too."

Luca burst out laughing at the pout on her face, "I guess you'll never know." 

Her green eyes cut him with a glare that sent a delightful shiver down his spine. "You said it only fit in a door on the estate." 

A devilish grin curled over his lips as he opened the door, "you asked if the door was on the estate. You never asked if the key fit into any other doors." 

"I-" she started but stopped and shook her head. A frustrated laugh burst from her lips and her eyes sparkled in amusement, "you're an asshole and you're not even going to tell me if it would've fit, huh?"

"Nope. Should've brought it with you," he said as he slid his hand to her back and guided her inside.

"You know you're supposed to be nice to me on my birthday," she grumbled.

He gasped. "What? Did you forget I brought you here for a present?" he chuckled as he flipped on a light switch.

"Happy birthday, Miss Coleman."

Nadia's hands slid to her face and looked at him with shock and joy shining in her green orbs. She looked back at the woman sitting in a high back green chair in the middle of a room surrounded by a sea of books. In her lap sat the first book he and Nadia read together.

"I-I can't believe...," she breathed. "Are...are you going to read for-for us?"

The woman laughed, "I can't promise you I'll get Niklaus right, but Mr. Shola offered to handle those parts if you prefer." 

"Yes, oh my goodness yes," Nadia beamed and squeezed his hand. She looked up at him with tiny tears beading at the corner of her eyes, "thank you." 

"Anything for you," he kissed her hand and motioned into the room, "do you want to sit down?" She nodded and slowly walked through the small entry way to take the woman's hands.

Luca's heart overflowed with pride as he watched Nadia gushing her praises to one of her favorite authors. She looked back at him with a dazzling smile on her face as she crossed the small space to settle onto the sofa next to him. "I'm still in shock," she whispered.

"I can tell," he chuckled as he picked up a copy of the Eyes of the Beholder from the table and wrapped his arm around her as she curled up next to him, "are you ready?"

She nodded as he opened the book to one of her favorite chapters. He looked across from him and smiled, "Shall we begin, Eli?"

"We shall, Mr. Shola," she laughed and cleared her throat, "'Where...where are we? It's so bright...' Miri breathed closing her eyes."  

" 'We're in the Gods' citadel.' You brought us here.' " Niklaus chuckled and lifted her chin to look at him. His heart thumped as he fell prey to her heavenly blue eyes," Luca read and looked down at Nadia's face as she looked on in the book. Every now and again she'd steal a glance at Eli and a shy smile would tug at her lips.

"You're amazing," she whispered and kissed his cheek as she snuggled against him.

You make me feel amazing, ma petite fleur.

He pressed his lips to her head as they listened to Miri's triumph over a tyrant goddess. He laughed at Nadia's colorful commentary and the surprised look on Eli's face. Nadia could never stop herself from calling out 'get 'em!' or clapping her hands when Miri or Niklaus went into battle no matter how many times she'd read it.

Luca's heart was so full and he couldn't remember the last time he'd ever felt so...free. He never wanted to let this feeling go.

He looked at Nadia reading along on the page as she munched on a cookie from the spread of snacks on the table. His little flower was so engrossed in the story as if it were playing out on the pages in front of her. 

She was so damn beautiful and wholesome. He never thought he would ever heal enough to let someone in like this, but she made it feel so easy to do.  She made everything feel right.

And...and that's why I love her so much.

A/N: Luca my heart 😭🥰 You think that key fits into the bookstore?

And yes, I felt weird putting myself in the chapter 🤣 if that actually happened I'd be a puddle of mush around Luca 🙈🥵 Nadia and I would be cool though😎