Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 132

Chapter 132

The restaurant Luca chose wasn’t dramatic or flashy. It wasn’t the tower–high, jacket–required kind of place that would attract the media outside laying vi wait to snap photos of the rich and famous. Instead, it was tucked behind a narrow street off the main drag. The tables were decorated with candles in mason jars, rough wooden booths, and soft Italian music that played gently in the background. Sutton appreciated it.

She appreciated even more that Luca didn’t try to play the part of the seducer. He didn’t touch her hand across the table, didn’t lean in too close. He just sat across from her, one hand resting beside his wineglass and the other occasionally touching his lipa

as he watched her.

She pushed spaghetti around her plate, not sure why she couldn’t make herself eat more. She wasn’t nauseous. She was just… anxious.

“Do you not like it?” Luca asked gently.

She looked up. “No–I mean, it’s good. I think I’m just… my mind. Call it pregnancy brain.”

He nodded but didn’t press. Just sat back a little, his expression unreadable in that maddening way only Luca could pull off. Calm on the surface, she knew better. There was always something churning underneath. He wanted to say something; he was holding back… just. She wondered if he was thinking about asking her to marry him again.

She wasn’t sure she was ready to say yes. There were three little words neither of them had said. She wasn’t even sure he loved her. Was it just the baby? She knew he was attracted to her, but that wasn’t love; that was lust. She didn’t want to marry just for the baby.

She picked up her water, fingers wrapping around the cool glass. “Thank you for coming today.”

“I’m glad you were ok with it. I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable?”

“No. Just… unsure.” Sutton looked down at her plate.

“In what way, Sutton?”

When she said nothing and kept her eyes on her plate. Luca reached across the table, putting two fingers under her chin and lifting her head until their eyes met. “This is how we move forward: we talk and we communicate. We are not always going to like what the other has to say, but we need to talk. Express how we are feeling.” His hand dropped away.

“About what this is. What you want.” She said at last.

Luca didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached for his napkin, wiped his mouth, and then leaned forward slightly.

“I’m not here because of obligation,” he said. “I wanted dinner with you. Not as the mother of my son, or the head of cybersecurity, if you ever take the job, or the woman I hurt months ago. I wanted to sit across from you and just… see you and be with you.”

Her chest tightened.

simple as that for me. The

into the possibility that maybe someone could want her just for being her. But old wounds cast long shadows. She was scared

don’t want to be someone you like and are with just because of the baby. What if you finally figured

out how to love the moment I realized might have lost you,” he said, voice low and even. “This baby didn’t make me love you… only

Sutton’s throat went tight.

was slowly crawling into her chest. Was it true? Did he love her? She so wanted to believe him.

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Chapter 132

anything back.

The ride back to Sutton’s apartment was done mostly in silence.

wasn’t sexual at all. When the baby kicked right

eyes closed against the moment. He had been so interested today, asking a

had made Sutton blush. It wasn’t a question

before.

the car stopped in front of her building. “Goodnight, Luca,” she said, voice

leaned in, kissed her lightly. She knew he was

not being able to control himself. Now he was trying to woo her into marrying him. “Text

“I will.”

building. Halfway up, she already knew Keira was home. The

the door, Keira was standing in the hallway, arms

“Well?” Keira asked.

off her shoes without looking her way.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re vibrating with judgment.”

into the kitchen. “Sutton, I love you, but the man

to like him,” Sutton said flatly, turning around to face

that this

feel her own voice shaking, but

But I also didn’t forget how I felt when I was with him. How