Riley POV
Luca’s words stayed between us after the sound from the twins’ room faded.
So are you.
He had said it quietly, almost as if the truth had escaped before he could stop it. For one second, I forgot every reason I had spent weeks trying to keep my distance from him. I forgot Elena’s warnings, the gossip, the family photograph, the auction, and every unfinished conversation where Luca had looked at me as though he wanted to say something but could not find the courage.
All I could think about was the way he was looking at me now.
The hallway was dim, lit only by the small lamps along the walls. The children were asleep behind closed doors, the mansion was completely quiet, and Luca stood several feet away with exhaustion and emotion written across his face. He no longer looked l
