by Angie Pepper
“He just bought a garage on Baker Street,” Tina assured her best friend. “He’s not even open yet. They’re still renovating. He’s not going to Australia. He’s not going anywhere. And neither am I.”
“There’s something wrong with him. I have a bad feeling.”
“You always have a bad feeling.”
Rory narrowed her eyes at her best friend. “He must be really good looking. I bet he gives you a party feeling in your you-know-what.”
“Rory! Was that a vague reference to sexual desire?”
She frowned. “Shut up.”
“A party feeling? Really?”
She clapped both hands over her ears. “Forget I said that! Never say that word again!”
“I can’t say party? What if there’s a birthday party I need to invite you to?”
“You know what I mean,” she growled.
They crunched more cheesy nachos. She looked at the clock on the mantel. It was coming up on seven-thirty.
“Stop looking at the time,” Tina said. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Stop eating so loud,” Rory said. “I can hear the food in your mouth.”
“I’m eating normally, like a normal person. I’m not loud. Meenie is the loud eater.”
“You could eat more quietly if you wanted to.”
Tina slowed down her chewing. In addition to her quirks about certain words, Rory had misophonia. She didn’t hate all sounds, but if she was agitated, anything could set her off.
Rory looked at the clock five more times.
Tina kept thinking about what Rory had said, and about how she was feeling in her body. She did get warm whenever she thought about Luca. If she happened to be hungry, or her feet hurt, thinking about him made the discomfort go away. But then, when she was around him in person, there was another layer to it. Lots of layers.
As Tina watched her best friend eat and watch the clock, she wondered if Rory had any way of understanding how Luca made her feel.
Finally, she asked, “Rory, do you ever get a party feeling?”
Rory jerked her head up, her eyes wide and horrified.
Tina said, “Maybe for a cute singer, or a movie actor? Not for anyone we know in person, of course.”
Rory’s face went gray.
For a moment, Tina thought Rory was going to throw up. Instead, Rory stood, grabbed her bag, and quietly let herself out the door without a word.
“Sorry I asked,” Tina said to the closed door, but the truth was, she wasn’t sorry. If Rory was going to push Tina to do things that made her uncomfortable, Tina was going to do the same to her. Fair was fair.
Tina finished eating, brushed her teeth, and fussed around with her hair. Curly hair always had an attitude. The only time it curled perfectly was in the morning on the day she had a haircut booked.
The intercom connected to the main house buzzed. Tina groaned. She knew exactly what was happening. Luca had ignored her directions, just like every pizza delivery guy did. He’d gone to the main house instead of coming around the back to her tiny house.
She grabbed her purse and ran out to intercept him before Meenie could get to him.
Too late.
He stood on the front step of the main house, talking to Tina’s sister. They were laughing about their shared adventure, when they’d sold out the flower shop on Wednesday to his contractors.
“Oh, there’ll be a baby boom in nine months,” she said. “Guaranteed. I hope you’ve got your shop renovated by then, because your guys won’t be getting any sleep with all those babies around.”
“We’ll be open long before the baby boom,” he said. “It’s all on track.”
“Hey,” Tina said, announcing her presence.
Luca turned slowly. The setting sunlight caught his wavy brown hair, turning it golden.
“There’s our Teenie,” he said. “Thanks, Meenie. See you around.” He gave her a nod goodbye.
Megan stayed on the porch.
Tina made the shoo gesture at her sister.
Megan gave Tina a dirty look then turned and went into the house.
“You didn’t read my directions,” Tina said to Luca. “You’re as bad as all the pizza delivery guys in this city.”
“I read your directions. You live in the tiny house in the backyard.”
“You read them and chose to ignore them?”
“If you’ll note the time, it’s not eight o’clock yet.” He tilted his head to the side. “Are you always this tough on guys? No wonder they don’t ask you for second dates.”
She snorted.
He held out his arms and asked, “What do you think? Do I clean up good?” He wore a button-down shirt with dress slacks and stylish leather shoes.
“I like you better in the motorbike boots,” she said.
He nodded. “So that’s how it is. You like the bad boy image. Good to know.”
“I like it when people are themselves.”
He pointed at her outfit, which was a flower-print sundress, topped in a cardigan.
“That explains why you brought the flower shop with you, Flower Shop Girl.”
She frowned at her dress, which suddenly seemed way too floral and mature.
“I don’t know why I’m wearing this,” she said. “My best friend didn’t like it, either.”
“That was meant to be a compliment,” he said. “You look pretty. Over the last few weeks, I’ve developed an appreciation of flowers. Did you know there are flowers everywhere? Even dandelions are kinda cool, if you look at them closely.”
“Dandelions are not cool,” she said, crossing her arms playfully. “Not cool at all, Luca.”
He chuckled.
They were still standing on the front step, and Tina sensed her sister nearby. Megan was probably listening through the door, like the nosy brat she was.
“We should get going so we don’t miss the previews,” Tina said. “What movie are we going to see?”
“It’s a surprise.” He offered her his elbow in an old-fashioned sort of way.
She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and walked with him to the sidewalk.
Parked directly in front of the house was an old-fashioned-looking motorbike. He handed her a helmet.
A bike. She should have known.
“I’m not dressed for this,” she said, backing away. “Sorry.”
“Then go back to your place and throw on something else,” he said. “You’re not getting out of this that easy.”
“I wasn’t trying to get out of anything.”
“Good,” he said. “Get changed into something else. I’ll be here.”
“What should I wear?”
“Ideally, leather pants.” He grinned. “Tight ones.”
She put her hand on her hip. “Do I look like the kind of girl who can pull off tight leather pants?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yes. A thousand percent. Yes.”
The front door of the main house suddenly opened. Tina’s sister yelled out excitedly, “I have some leather pants you can borrow, Teenie.”
Luca held up one hand. “There you go.”
Tina shook her head. “I knew she was listening.”
“At least she’s helpful,” Luca said.
Tina gave Megan a dirty look. “So helpful,” she said.
Chapter 9
Tina Gardenia was nervous to get on a motorbike for the first time in her life. Almost as nervous as she was about being seen in the leather pants she was wearing. They were so tight. They left nothing to the imagination.
Luca watched her as she fussed with her hair, then tried to pull on the helmet. She barely got it on the top of her head before giving up.
“It’s too small,” she said. “Either this helmet’s too small, or my head’s too big.”
He got closer and used his big hands to measure the circumference of her skull. She liked the feeling of his fingers wrapping around her head. It was a nice way to be measured and assessed. Comforting. It remind
ed her of her visits to the pediatrician when she’d been growing up. The doctor was a kindly older man, always quick to laugh. He’d squeeze her arm or shoulder, then pronounce her to be growing up tall and strong, like a sturdy weed. Then he’d say he was proud of her. She hadn’t done anything in particular since the previous visit besides get older, but when he paid her the compliment, it always made her feel so proud, and excited about the future. Tina had almost forgotten about that good feeling.
Luca lifted his hands away slowly then studied the circle he’d made. “Your head is not big,” he said. “Helmets have to fit tight. It’s a safety feature. It’s going to feel tight for a minute, but as soon as you get it past your ears, you’ll be fine. You’re not claustrophobic, are you?”
“Not that I know of. And if you saw the size of the house I live in, you wouldn’t ask that.” The house couldn’t be seen from the front yard, so he hadn’t seen it yet.
“Try again with the helmet,” he said. “You’ve already got your leather pants and your leather jacket. You look ready to rumble. Stop stalling, Flower Shop Girl.”
She took a deep breath and jammed her head all the way into the helmet. He was right about it getting easier once she got it past her ears.
He helped her fasten the helmet’s buckle under her chin, his hands enveloping hers.
He pulled on his own helmet, turned, and threw one long, muscled leg over the leather seat of the bike.
Without any delay, Tina hopped up behind him. She felt safe in her helmet, and she felt brave in her leather pants. She put her arms around Luca’s waist, and she felt even safer and braver.
He started the bike’s engine, and the night air filled with a deep rumble. The vibration in the seat was surprising. She felt it through her whole body.
Then the whole world moved, blurring alongside them. Luca adjusted her hands like they were Velcro straps, pulling them apart and then back together so she was hugging him even tighter.
They rode along streets Tina had traveled a thousand times. Familiar territory. Everything was slightly different on a motorbike. The trees had more color. Everything was denser, closer together. People turned their heads and looked her way. People didn’t do that when you were in a car.
They continued on past the local movie theater. “You missed a turn,” she said to the back of Luca’s black helmet. “The movie theater’s back behind us.”
He must not have heard her over the rumble. She’d barely heard herself.
They kept riding.
Eventually, they pulled off the main road and turned into another residential neighborhood. They pulled up behind a giant white trailer, and he parked the bike.
Tina’s legs were shaking when she stepped off the bike. The leather pants felt like they were the only things holding her up. The engine was off, but she could still feel the rumbling in her body, especially the center of her chest.
They were surrounded by big trailers, a catering truck, and filming equipment.
She looked around. “This is the movie?” Her voice was muffled by the helmet.
“This is the movie,” he said through his helmet. “Oh. Did you think I meant a finished movie?”
“Uh. Yeah. Smarty pants.”
They both took off their helmets. Luca ruffled his hands through his wavy brown hair. It was impossible for her to look away. No wonder girls fell for guys who rode bikes. That ruffling of the hair was really something.
Two people with clipboards and headsets rushed past them.
Tina asked Luca, “Are we allowed to be here?”
The people with the clipboards were telling a lady walking her dog that the whole block was a closed set.
“Don’t worry, Flower Shop Girl,” he said. “We’re officially invited.”
“How’d you swing that? Hollywood connections?”
“I’m renting them some bikes from my private collection. The director told me to come by tonight and watch. They’re shooting an outdoor scene that should be pretty entertaining. It’s a romantic comedy. That guy everyone loves is in it. Dalton Deangelo.”
“But it’s just one scene,” she said. “Not a full movie.”
“We don’t have to stay long if you’re not having fun.” He thumbed over his shoulder. “We can still hit the local multiplex. I had a look at the marquee, and we’ve got our choice of superheroes or... other superheroes.”
She rubbed her hands on her leather pants. “I might be overdressed for the multiplex.”
“True. One look at you, and nobody will pay attention to the screen.”
She felt her cheeks flush. “I mean, I probably look like one of those geeks who dress up like superheroes to go see a movie.”
He held very still, studying her. “What do you want, Tina?”
She was genuinely stumped by the question.
He went on. “Do you want me to talk you into going to the movie theater and pretending we’re geeks?”
She didn’t like what he was saying about talking her into things, not to mention his tone. “No,” she said sullenly.
“Good,” he said. “Then we’ll go ahead with the date as planned. You can plan the next one.”
She didn’t like the sound of that, either, but said nothing.
“Come on.” He took her hand in his. She did like that. “Let’s go watch some of the movie happening on this block.”
He led the way toward the action, both of them stepping over thick cables criss-crossing the ground.
Luca talked to the two people with the clipboards and headsets, and they set up a pair of folding chairs for the movie attendees, right near the action.
Luca and Tina watched as the crew set up a shot, taking a hundred measurements and notes. Finally, a bell rang. They were filming.
The scene was of a guy picking up a girl at her house for a date. At the end of the scene, they drove away on a motorbike very similar to the one Luca had brought Tina there on.
At the end of the scene, Luca turned to Tina, his blue eyes looking pale gray in the artificial light. “I was really hoping for a kiss.”
She leaned over and kissed him, right on the lips.
He pulled away, looking surprised. “I meant in the shot they’re filming. It’s supposed to be a romantic comedy. There’s kissing in those, right?”
She covered her mouth with her fingertips, mortified.
He grinned. “If I’d known getting a kiss from you was so easy, I would have asked sooner.”
“Oh, Luca.” She shook her head, still so embarrassed.
One of the PAs with a headset approached them with takeout cups. There was one coffee and one tea. The tea was Tina’s favorite, the same one she’d had at Delilah’s. It was a special blend, not the sort of thing you’d expect to find at an on-set catering truck. Tina could tell by the way Luca was looking at her that getting her favorite tea had been no accident.
After the PA walked away, Luca took the tea from her hands and set it down on the ground, on the other side of his chair.
He slid toward her on his chair, so his hips and legs were in contact with hers.
“Body heat,” he explained. “Just so you don’t get cold when there’s no action going on. It can take a long time in between takes.”
“These leather pants are actually pretty warm. I’m glad I didn’t stick with the dress.”
“I almost wish you had. As hot as you look in those leather pants, if you were colder, you might be talked into sitting on my lap.”
“You actually think you’re that much of a salesman?”
“I know I’m that much of a salesman.” He gave her an eyebrow waggle then wrapped one long arm around her shoulders. He wasn’t wearing a jacket, so the heat of his arm came through his long-sleeved dress shirt. She felt his warmth, even through her leather jacket. He was like a furnace.
On the set, the crew members were taking more measurements and making lighting changes. The two actors—one of them was the dreamy Dalton Deangelo—had retreated to their tr
ailers.
Tina turned to Luca, preparing to ask him how many bikes he had. Before she could speak, he reached up and softly stroked her jaw.
She pulled back. “What are you doing?”
“There must have been some dirt on the inside of your helmet,” he said. “Don’t move.” He licked his thumb then used it to clean the side of her face. “Much better,” he pronounced.
“You put your spit on my face,” she said.
“You started it,” he said. “Remember when you kissed me?”
“That was barely a peck. There was no tongue. My mouth left your mouth exactly as it had been.”
He paused and gave her a look she would later describe as smoldering. “My mouth will never be the same,” he said gravely.
“A big, tough guy like you? Being changed forever by one little kiss?”
“Big, tough guys have feelings, too.”
“So you keep telling me.”
“I’m hoping for another kiss,” he said.
She waved at the set. “Be patient,” she said. “I heard someone talking about a rewrite on the scene to turn up the heat.”
“I didn’t mean on the set.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know what to say. That’s probably your best bet, if you want any more kissing action tonight.”
He rubbed his chin and gave her a thoughtful look. “Did your best friend make you promise you wouldn’t kiss me? What’s her name? Rory?”
“How do you know about Rory?” She immediately realized the answer to the question. “I’m going to kill my sister,” she said. “Did she tell you everything?”
“She told me enough. I’ve known people like Rory.” Luca looked down at her leather pants then back up to her eyes. “What do you think her issue is?”
“Where do we even start? She’s got a lot of issues.”
“But the main root of the problem,” he said. “Why is she so guarded?”
“It’s pretty obvious. People have hurt her in the past.”
“But everyone’s been hurt,” he said. “Not everyone shuts down. Not everyone gets stuck in arrested development. Most people move on with their lives.”