•5•Unexpected Relative

Skylar's POV

After the introductions, Luca's mother, Cornelia sends us upstairs to go freshen up. We'll be sharing one room which doesn't surprise me.

After all, we're not in the 19th century. But I must admit that the thought of sharing a room with my boss is a bit unnerving.

Luca agrees to let me take a shower first. After I'm done he also goes in to take a shower while I wait for him. When he comes out from the bathroom, he onlyhas a towel around his waist.

His torso is bare and glistening with moisture. My mouth dries as I stare at his sexy body. A week ago, I would've never thought that I would see my boss half naked.

He's like sex on legs. He has wide shoulders which taper to a lean waist, and his stomach is carved to perfection with breathtaking abs.

The towel around him wraps so low around his waist that I swear I can see the beginning of his pubic hair...

“I can get you a camera if you want?” My boss smirks at me.

That causes me to snap out of my daze. “I'm not staring at you,” I say defensively.

“If you say so.” Luca says, his cyan eyes shining teasingly.

Fuck, I can't be around him any longer. “I'll wait for you outside.”

I can hear him laugh as I run out of the room. My heart is beating loudly as I close the door and lean my back against it.

*****

Luca does have a big family. The long dining table is occupied as we sit down to eat. Everyone seems to care about each other and it makes me a bit jealous.

“So how did you two meet?” Someone suddenly asks.

Looking up, I find Ramiro with his gaze locked on me, and my heart skips a beat. Why is he always giving me that strange look as if he knows me already?

Ana, Luca's sister, nods in agreement. “Yes, bro. Tell us.”

Luckily, Luca and I have already discussed what to tell his family. We met at an opening of one of Luca's restaurants.

"I felt entranced by her. But I didn't think I would meet her again.” Luca continues.

"Till we met again a month later,” I add with a smile.

Wow, I'm even beginning to believe our lie.

Luca chuckles. "Luckily for me, she remembered me perfectly. I approached her, and we instantly hit it off ”.

"Lucky guy." Ramiro says, causing me to stiffen. Why does it feel like he's teasing Luca?

"Aww, so beautiful." One of Luca's aunts says dreamily, causing everyone to laugh.

"It is!" Cornelia, Luca's mother chimes in. Then she turns to look at her husband. “Honey, you remember how we met?”

"How can I forget?" Luca's father says, looking at his wife lovingly. "You came for an interview to be my secretary.."

"You were such an asshole,” Cornelia says.

"Well, you did fall in love with this asshole.” Luca's father lets out a small laugh before kissing his wife.

"Aww, you guys should stop. Stop being so sweet." Luca's auntie says. "You'll give all of us diabetes.”

Everyone laughed.

*****

“How was the first day?” Luca asks me just as I'm about to get ready for bed.

I give him a small smile. "It was surprisingly easy. Everyone is so easygoing and… happy.”

I didn't mean to sound so sad with the last word. I quickly school my expression so Luca doesn't notice my sadness

But I should've known Luca won't let it go so easily. “What are you thinking about?”

I shrug as I turn to face him fully. "About how happy your parents are together after so many years of being together. They're so unlike my parents.”

I snort bitterly.

Luca rubs his chin as if he doesn't know what to say. "Are they divorced?"

“Yep.” I reply, trying hard not to think too much. “It was my dad who fell out of love with my mum but was too afraid of breaking our family. He and mum tried so hard to pretend as if everything was okay. They just didn't realize how horribly they pretended because we knew what was going on. Finally, my dad snapped after several years of unhappiness and left the house.”

I blow out a shaky breath. “I used to blame my dad at first, but now I realize that my mum was just as much to blame. Why was she desperate to keep holding on to their marriage even though my dad didn't love her anymore?”

An awkward silence settles between Luca and me. I'm actually shocked about how much of my personal life I've shared with him.

It's been a long time since I let anybody get this close to me emotionally.

****************

The following morning, Cornelia takes all the ladies out to have some fun. We first eat at a fancy restaurant, then go to the beauty saloon before going to a boutique.

When we get home, the men are gathered outside waiting for us. "Why did you ladies. Take. So. Long?" Luca's uncle's words trail off when he sees us.

All of us ladies completely ignore the men as we agreed to, holding our heads up arrogantly as we walk past them without a word.

We all burst out laughing when we're finally inside the house. I realize that Luca is staring at me and walk towards him.

“Hey.” I say casually.

"Hey." Luca's eyes scan me appreciatively. "You look..." He seems lost for words for a while. "...breathtaking."

Fuck, I think I finally know how it feels for butterflies to fly through your stomach.

Later that evening, the family throws a party in the mansion. Everywhere is beautifully decorated. Luca and I descend the stairs together when his mother approaches us.

“Your grandmother-in-law wants to speak to you.” She tells me with a teasing smile.

I follow her to where an old pleasant woman who looks to be in her eighties is seated. It's Luca's grandmother. Her name is Elliot.

For several minutes, she regales me with tales about Luca's childhood that makes me laugh so hard. Like the fact that Luca was still wetting his bed at age seven.

My favorite is when a ten-year-old Luca climbed to the rooftop of his grandparent's house after watching Tarzan for the first time. He was so confident that he could jump and swing on the trees just like Tarzan.

He nearly gave his grandma a heart attack.

I laugh so hard that I think everyone is looking at me as if I'm crazy. Luca appears behind his grandma and hugs her from behind, kissing her on the cheek.

“Ay, don't scare me like that.” Elliot chastises him.

"But I missed you." Luca pouts at his grandma. He looks so adorable.

"You haven't called me in months and have the audacity to tell me you missed me.” Elliot huffs and crosses her hands on her chest, looking away in annoyance.

“Oh Grandma, don't be like that. Work has just been so…”

"Save your excuses, young man. I don't need them."

I almost burst out laughing again. Luca's grandma is so adorable.

"Can I have my girlfriend back now?"

Elliot shakes her head in disbelief, her lips twisting in mock disgust. "Youngsters! They can't stay without each other for just an hour."

I chuckle as I follow Luca. "So what is it now, Mr. Tarzan?"

"Mr. Tarzan?" He furrows his brows at me "Why are you calling me that?"

I laugh without answering, knowing he'll figure it out. "Why did you come to get me?"

"My closest cousin and his wife have arrived. I want you to meet them.."

"Okay." I say, wondering who this cousin is.

The whole world comes to a standstill when I see the cousin Luca wants to introduce me to. The blood in my veins turns to ice.

"Darling, meet my cousin, David and his wife, Becca."

No, this can't be!