Hers To Love (complete) Cover By @army_ss841

Chapter 6 (edited)

Unknown POV

A man sitting across 94th watching the SUV was talking on the phone. 

 "I have the SUV in my line of sight. What are your instructions?" "Okay I see. Yes if that is what you want to do we will wait. What? Oh I'm not sure. There is a woman getting out of the SUV. No, no. They met for the first time at Cafe Italia. Of course I'm sure I was there the entire time. Okay, call me back when we have a time line. Ciao!" 

 The man took a long drag on his cigarette, rolled his window down, exhaled, threw his cigarette butt out of the car and said menacingly "We are coming for you Constanti and everyone around you. Nothing or no one will be safe!"

Ari

She stood there on the sidewalk and watched Luca drive off; leaving her feeling a little sad. How ridiculous was that?  She had just met the man for Christ sake.  

"Hi Harry" Ari called out to the doorman. 

 "Your out kind of late aren't you Ms. Ari? Did you get some good pictures?" he inquired. 

Ari nodded, smiled and said "Some of the best Harry, some of the best! Good night!" He tipped his hat as she went inside and walked toward the elevator. She was deep in thought and seemed to be on auto pilot going up to her apartment. Before she realized, she was in front of her door.

Shaking her head, Ari dug into her pocket for her keys, unlocked the door and went inside.  Walking to her office, she sat her camera bag down on the table, walked out and headed for the kitchen. A bottle of Merlot was what she needed, that and the corkscrew and a glass.  As she headed to her bedroom, the thought of a nice hot bath made her smile. 

Ari walked to her room, sat down on the bed and removed her boots. Ugh! Her feet were really killing her tonight! She didn't realize how tired her feet were. She peeled off her socks, stood up and unzipped her jeans and shimmied them off, leaving them on the floor. Lastly, came the vest and her sweater. 

Stopping at the lavatory, she picked up the corkscrew, got the cork out and poured a healthy glass of wine.  After a long drink, she walked over to her I Pod docking station and started looking through her albums.  Her eyes landed on Nina Simone's I Put A Spell On You and she pushed play. Nina's sultry tones wafted through the bathroom and between her and the wine, her head was starting to feel lighter.

Realizing her phone was still in the kitchen, she turned on the bathtub, put some Jasmine scented something-or-other in there and went to retrieve it.  Glancing into the tub, Ari decided it was high enough to get in and shed her final layer of clothing; her bra and panties. 

She grabbed a hair tie and put her hair up in a messy bun and just let everything soak. Nina was still crooning away in the background when the ringer of her phone broke the peace. It was Sade's Your Love is King...where did that come from? 

Ari looked at the phone and didn't recognize the number, but answered it anyway. "Hello" she said softly. 

"I can't stop thinking about you" said the other voice. 

"Luca??" The color drained from Ari's face.  She never thought, in a million years, that she would get a call so soon!

"Guilty" his voice sounded husky and kind of sexy. 

"I'm pretty sure I didn't give you my phone number or at least I don't remember doing it!" Ari blurted. "Sorry I didn't mean to sound so bitchy, you just took me by surprise is all." 

She could hear him chuckle a bit and then he said "Well check your phone. You should have my number as well." The young woman pulled the phone away from her ear and searched through the contacts. Well I'll be damned there it is..she thought.  Luca Constanti! 

"You have me a distinct disadvantage sir." She said, willing to play whatever game he was up to. Suddenly she felt wide awake and to be honest she felt like a high school girl who's date just dropped her off and then called her as soon as he got home. 

"Ari" he asked. 

"Yes?" She cursed her voice for giving her away. 

"This is not something that I make a habit of doing.  Actually, I've never done this."  His voice sounded slightly irritated.

Ari decided to tread carefully with her response.  "Done what Luca?"  She heard a loud sigh come from his end.

"I would very much like to see you again.  Soon."  There was a finality to his voice.  One that she knew not to argue with and to be honest, she wanted to see where it would go.  

"Luca, I would very much like to see you again as well."  Ari couldn't tell if he was still on the line and about the time she was going to call out his name, he spoke again.

"This makes me very happy, bella.  Very happy.  May I call you back and we can set a time, date and place?"  His whole demeanor had seemed to change in a single moment.  He sounded...carefree.

Ari couldn't help smiling at the phone.  "I would like that very much."

"Bene, bene" Luca responded.  "Good night then Ari.  Sleep well."

"Good night Luca and you too."

When she was sure he was gone, Ari let out a squeal and sighed.  Did she know what she was doing?  No!  But life is about taking chances and she was sure that Luca Constanti was worth taking a chance for!