Suited

Ten

He stopped at a craft store and soon we were looking at different bracelets and necklace chains. We weren't there long. He found a simple black paperclip chain and bought it. In the car, he slipped the key out of his pocket and fashioned it onto the metal before securing it around his neck. I admired it for a moment before he dropped the key down the front of his shirt. I had no clue how he made a dress shirt look effortless but he did and seeing the little bit of metal peeking through the collar made me smile.

We arrived at my family's property a little before five. I'd texted Jessie that we were on the way back so he was waiting at the gate to let us in. Lucas stopped the car at the driveway and handed me a plastic bag after he unlocked the door. I looked at him for a minute and didn't take off my seatbelt. He wasn't taking off his.

"What is it?"

"You said you'd kiss me for helping with the puzzle."

"I did." He stared at the steering wheel as if that would help him take his seatbelt off and walk me upstairs. I guess it did because he said "Okay" and did just that.

Jessie opened my door for me and asked how my day was. I hadn't spent an entire day out with someone other than family in years if we didn't count the Tulum incident. "It was fun," I said and left it at that. He didn't need to know what kind of fun I'd had.

"That's good to hear. I hope he didn't give you too much trouble, Alberici."

"None at all," Signore dismissed. I smiled to myself and glanced at the cuffs again before yanking down my sleeves to cover them a little. It looked weird. I put them back how they were. I liked seeing them anyway.

Mom was in the living room reading on her tablet. She didn't glance as she said hello. "Hi Mom," I chirped.

That made her look. "You sound better! How was your d—" She looked me up and down and smirked, then quickly hid it. "How was your day?"

I stuffed my hands in my pockets, letting the bag on my wrist be held up by one of my cuffs. Cuffs. Shit and I had hickeys. It was probably fine. She was old. She didn't know what cuffs were. "It was good," I answered.

Luckily all she said was, "Good. Mine was too," before she asked me if Lucas was staying for dinner.

I looked at him. "Are you?" Then I remembered he had work in the morning. "You don't have to."

He chuckled. "I know. I'd love to, Mrs. Genevieve. Thank you."

"Of course. Miranda sets the table at five thirty—Oh, and Leonard wanted to speak with you. He's in his office."

"Yes ma'am." After the day we'd had, it was almost weird to see him so pliant. He also didn't seem phased that my father wanted to talk to him. He just had this patient smile that didn't quite meet his eyes before dismissing himself.

Jessie whisked me upstairs before I could ask any questions. I was going to wait for him to leave so I could put away the dildo and lube Lucas had gotten me but he just wouldn't leave. I set it on the empty nightstand.

"It looks cleaner in here," I noted. Maybe he was waiting for me to notice. It was true. The wood floor was shiny and it smelled different. Not hospital sterile but clean. Vaguely of oranges, which I loved. It was nice.

"Kelly made time since you were out of the house."

Oh. "Tell her I said thank you."

"I already did."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'll bring your food up at the normal time."

What sense did that make? "I'm eating at the table."