“Let me have my fucking moment,” he teased, watching as Nat greeted Tallulah with plenty of affection. Lulah happily wagged her tail, tongue sticking out of her mouth as she reveled in all of the attention. She was pretty spoiled.
“I busted my face and don’t want people asking questions,” he explained. “Also didn’t feel like running into someone I know. You don’t count,” he said, which was true. He’d known Natalia for most of his life. Luca felt somewhat anxious, wondering how Nat would react to the news that he’d be a father. He didn’t have any romantic feelings for her anymore, but he wondered if she’d be disappointed that Luca’s partying days were pretty much behind him until his kid was eighteen.
Shit. That was a long time.
“Tallulah’s a great running partner. You should take her sometime. She likes you.”
Nat raised an eyebrow when Luca told her he busted his face but if he didn’t want to answer questions, Natalia knew better than to ask. For now, at least. Nat figured he’d tell her when he was ready to admit whatever the hell it was that happened.
She perked up at the mention of taking Tallulah for runs. “Oh, I’d love that,” she said. “ Picking up men on a run is so damn easy. Lu spots assholes from a mile away; it’ll totally streamline my love life. ” Much needed, especially now that Natalia’s plate was full with casino business. Dating seemed impossible, especially when one needed to weed out the creeps and the losers.
“How’s work going?” she asked, knowing Luca was getting more and more responsibility with Leon in charge. Nat was happy for him; she just hoped he could balance work and life.







