Chapter 6 Freckles like stars.

"Are they serious right now?" Eric asked as he looked out the private set's window and spotted Manny waiting with a car.

"What's going on?" Daisy asked, her eyes squeezed shut and hand gripping Eric's. Daisy hated flying. She wasn't a fan of being in the air where anything and everything could go wrong. She had enough dreams at night about falling out of the sky.

"Gia's bodyguard is on the landing strip," Eric said, unbuckling his seatbelt before the pilot turned off the sign.

"What are you doing?" Daisy asked, hearing the click of the seatbelt. "The plane is still moving."

"Yeah, but we landed," Eric said.

"Don't get up," Daisy pulled him back down into his seat. "That's a dick move. And we're the only ones on this plane. Who are you trying to beat?"

"You're hurting my wrist," Eric picked up his hand from the armrest. "Your nails."

"Sorry, sorry," Daisy relaxed her hands but didn't pull back.

"Fuck man," Eric complained. "You're like clawing my skin off."

"Sorry," Daisy apologized again.

"Here," Eric reached down and picked up the pillow that was on the floor. "Mutilate this."

Daisy quietly took the pillow and hugged to her chest. She waited until the plane stopped moving and the cabin air pressure released before opening her eyes. As soon as the seatbelt sign switched off, Daisy felt her stomach settle back into its place.

"Oh, thank god!"

"We're back," Eric sighed. "To real life and work and bills."

"Yeah," Daisy sighed as she thought about the warm sun and beach they had just escaped from. "That was fun."

"You were fun," Eric leaned forward and placed a kiss on the tip of Daisy's nose. "Thanks for coming with me."

"Thanks for inviting me."

"You're insane if you think I would have gone on this trip without you," Eric laughed.

Daisy grinned, feeling her heart hum happily after her post vacation high. She couldn't look away from Eric as he got up from his seat and shook out his brown hair. The back of his shirt was extremely wrinkled from the long flight, Daisy reached up and pulled it down, trying to stretch out the material.

"Thanks to Ms. Gia, we now have free air miles," Eric chuckled. "We can use it the next time we fly out."

"The next time?" Daisy shuddered. "More flying?"

"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad," Eric said. "You did great."

"I think I still have chunks of your skin under my nail," Daisy examined her hands.

"Well, beside that," Eric rolled his eyes. "That's irrational fears."

"It's a very common fear."

"True, but still irrational."

"How?" Daisy unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her bag. She stood up and walked to the exit as the flight attendant opened the door and the stairs descended.

"Airplanes go through so many tests and routine check ups before flights. There's a very low chanc-"

"Daisy," Manny walked up to the jet as soon as Eric and Daisy set foot on the stairs.

"Hey Manny," Daisy waved.

"I have orders to take you straight to the house," Manny said.

"Okay, can we drop Eric off on the wa-"

"No," Manny said. "No delays, no detours, no pit stops."

"What?" Daisy frowned. "Who said that?"

"The boss man."

"Luca?" Daisy barked.

"Manny nodded.

"That's ridiculous," Daisy snapped. "Eric's apartment isn't that fa-"

"No can do," Manny shook his head. "I don't want to get in trouble with Luca. He said, and I quote, ''Throw her ass into the car as soon as she lands and get her to the house."

"Whoa, hey," Eric spoke up. "Who is this guy?"

"Don't worry about it," Daisy waved her hand.

"No, I am worried about it," Erica interjected. "He can't just say something like that."

"I'll handle it," Daisy began to march down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Eric asked, following her.

"To give Luca a piece of my mind," Daisy said. "Who does he think he is?"

"I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not," Manny held out his arm and stopped Eric. "Luca said, and I quote, Ditch the boyfriend."

"Babe, I don't feel safe with you going anywhere to see this guy," Eric shook his head,

"What is he going to do?" Daisy barked, looking over her shoulder as she marched to the black SUV. "I like to see Italian seasoning try something."

"But-"

"Want me to call you an Uber?" Manny asked Eric as Daisy got into the car.

"No, I'm fine."

"Babe!" Daisy hollered and rolled down the window. "Take the Uber, Luca will pay for it. Manny, get the Uber Black."

"He's going alone," Manny said, pulling out his phone. "Why Uber black?"

"Gotta make Luca's wallet hurt," Daisy said.

"Sweetheart," Manny laughed, typing away as he ordered the ride. "That won't even scratch his wallet."

"I'm okay," Erica said. "I'll get my own ride home."

Seeing the irritation in Eric's eyes, Daisy felt her heart sink, "Babe? You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Eric muttered as he typed away on his phone. "Call me when you're done with all this."

"I'm so sorry," Daisy apologized sincerely. "Gia was in a car ac-"

"Yeah, I get it," Eric said curtly. "Gia. You should just go and date her."

Daisy was taken back by her boyfriend's sudden attitude. Her brows knit together as she frowned deeply.

"I'm really sorry but my best friend was just in a car accident," she said. "I have to go see her."

"And we just got back from Mexico and you're leaving me at the airport."

"Well, were you expecting me to carry you home?" Daisy snapped. "We had a wonderful time but right now I really need to go see Gia. This isn't the time to start a fight."

"Whatever," Eric snorted. "I'll take your luggage home. Come pick it up whenever."

"Thank you," Daisy said. "Now, look at me and give me a smile."

Eric ignored her as Manny climbed into the driver's seat.

"Eric," Daisy called. "Come on. Don't be like this. I'm about to go fight a very vicious ill mannered Italian man. Send me off with a smile."

"Who is she talking about?"

Daisy gasped and turned around as Luca's voice filled the car. She watched his name scroll past on the display next to the call button.

"She's in the car, boss," Manny said.

"Straight home," Luca said.

"Listen here, you meatball!" Daisy lunged forward towards the center console, before she remembered her boyfriend outside. "Wait! Hang on a second. Eric! Come give me a kiss before I go."

"Manny, drive," Luca ordered.

"Manny, no!" Daisy struggled with the door handle. "Manny!"

"Daisy!" Eric looked up with concern.

"I'm fine," Daisy called out the window. "Go home. I'll come by tonight! I'm sorry and thank you for such an amazing weekend!"

"I need you here in the next twenty minutes, Manny," Luca demanded.

"Boss, the house is forty five minutes from the airport!"

"What is wrong with you?" Daisy climbed into the front passenger seat and reached back for the seatbelt as Manny pulled out of the private airfield. "Is it fun for you to torture people and make others miserable like your sad existence?"

"Ouch, Manny," Luca laughed. "You're going to let her talk to you like that?"

"Uh....I think he's talking to you," Manny looked at Daisy and then at the screen on the center console.

"I'm talking to you, you goober!" Daisy yelled.

"A goober?" Luca chuckled. "Was that supposed to offend me, sunshine?"

"Fuck off," Daisy said.

"Gia's waiting for you," Luca announced. "Vacation's over. Time for best friend duties."

"She doesn't know you're doing this, does she?" Daisy asked. "You evil conniving hermit crab."

"Much better than goober."

"Shut up."

"Forty minutes, Manny," Luca chuckled before ending the call.

Daisy fell back against her seat in rage as she crossed her arms over her chest and lowered. Her stomach was in knots over leaving Eric at the airport like that. She would have been furious if the roles were reversed. What made it worse was the fact that it didn't need to happen that way. Eric could have dropped her off at Gia's house like a normal boyfriend. But of course, Luca's deranged mind never made anything easy for anyone. Daisy shook her head as she pulled out her phone and sent Eric another apologetic text. She promised she would make it up to him later that night as soon as she was done speaking to Gia.

I'll be waiting, Eric texted back with a red heart.

Daisy smiled as a bit of the guilt evaporated from her chest. She began to scroll through her vacation photos as Manny drove in silence, trying his very best to make the forty minute mark. The man was on a mission. Daisy was impressed when he actually completed the trip within thirty five minutes and brought the car to a smooth stop outside the townhouse.

"Thanks, Manny," Daisy grabbed her purse and jumped out of the car. She adjusted the strap on her shoulder as she looked up and caught sight of the devil standing at the window.

Luca's moss green eyes followed Daisy across the sidewalk with a small smirk on his lips. He stood with the sleeves of his button down rolled up and his tie nowhere to be found.

Daisy narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips as she climbed up the stairs and entered the house. She took her time walking up to the family floor where she knew Luca was waiting with that stupid smirk on his face. Her belly felt funny as she turned the door knob and entered.

"So nice of you to stop by."

Daisy took in a deep breath and closed the door. She let the air sit in her lungs for two seconds before she turned to face Luca.

"I'm asking you again," Daisy said, stepping into the room. "What is your problem?"

"I don't have a problem," Luca shrugged with his hands in his pockets. "Not anymore."

"Because of you my boyfriend is mad at me."

"Oh, boohoo," Luca snickered.

"We just had the most amazing weekend and now it's all tainted because you have to be so goddamn domineering all the time," Daisy said with frustration. "Why can't you see people happy? Are you really that miserable?"

All traces of humor vanished from Luca's eyes. Daisy watched them narrow as the muscles in his jaw clenched ever so slightly.

"You're her best friend, right?" He asked. "You should be here for her right now."

"Yeah, I'm her best friend," Daisy sighed. "Not her chambermaid. She's not a fuckin' princess and I'm not a friend you hired who you can pick up and drop any time you need me. I am a person with my own personal life too."

"And what personal life are you giving up by being here right now?" Luca asked curiously. He stepped forward casually.

"Time with my boyfriend," Daisy said.

"Boyfriends come and go," Luca said, pausing in front of Daisy.

"Maybe for you," Daisy glared up at Luca through her lashes. "Eric and I are -"

"Eric and I?" Luca chuckles, shaking his head.

"What's so funny?"

"How long have you known this guy?" Luca asked.

"Why does that matter to you?"

"More than a year? Less than a year?"

"Less than a year," Daisy said. "But I still don't see how that's any of your concern."

"Less than a year," Luca nodded. "And you're flying to foreign places with him."

"Who are you to question me?"

"I wasn't questioning you," Luca corrected her.

"No, but you're judging me," Daisy snapped back. "What makes you think you have the right to judge me?"

"You're around my sister," Luca said. "I need to make sure you're not bad news."

"Bad news?" Daisy laughed. "Gia has a higher chance of getting killed with you than she does with me."

Luca's eyes darkened.

"You know what," Daisy shook her head. "I'm done with this. I'm here to see Gia, not you. And once I see Gia, I will not be showing my face around here until you and your scent vanish for the next whole year."

Infuriated by his presence and tone of voice, Daisy turned to head towards Gia's bedroom at the back of the house. But right as she looked away, the strap of her bag slipped off her shoulder and everything spilled out onto the floor.

"Shit," Daisy groaned.

She stared at the pencils, hair ties, tampons, passport, credit cards and Mexican candies all over the floor for a second before dropping down to her knees to pick it all up and shove it back inside her purse. Her hands worked fast as she grabbed whatever was near her. From the corner of her eyes, she watched Luca bent down and pick sometime up. When she looked up, she felt her heart fall out of her chest.

"Don't touch that!" Daisy lunged forward to grab her sketch journal from Luca. Her fingers only managed to brush the soft brown cover as he stood up with the journal in his hands and examined the doodles and writing on the page.

"A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow," Luca read the word on the page as Daisy jumped up to try and snatch the book from his hands.

"Luca!" Daisy warned, struggling against him as he raised the book higher and higher.

"Charlotte Bronte?" Luca asked. "Oh, this one is in Italian. Non c'è rosa senza spine."

"Give that back!" Daisy jumped up, her eyes glowing like angry amber fire.

Luca looked down at her as she continued to struggle to reach her journal. He held it high over his head as Daisy placed her hand on his shoulder to try and use him as leverage to push herself up. He didn't move as she clawed at his raised forearm, trying to sink her nails in hopes that he might surrender in pain. His skin began to be marked by her nails. Small moon shaped indentations and long red trails.

"Luca!" Daisy shoved at his chest in anger, hitting him hard over his heart.

"I just realized something," Luca said, his eyes locked on her face.

"What?" Daisy scowled.

"You have freckles."

"What?" Daisy's brows knit farther together.

"They're much more visible now with your tan," Luca observed.

Daisy didn't know what to say. She stood staring up at him as he let his eyes run over her with a slowness that made her heart beat quicker. He stood so close and the material of his shirt felt so soft beneath her hand. And the steady beat of his heart under her palm...

Daisy's chest began to rise and fall much faster than it had just a few seconds ago. Her brows relaxed as she let her eyes lower to Luca's lips. She knew he was looking at her's. She could feel it. As the second ticked by, Daisy swallowed and sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth.

Luca's eyes darkened as he watched its fullness. A hot feeling began to build in the pit of his stomach as Daisy's breathing labored. He slowly lowered his hand but did not move away. Luca could not seem to control anything as the scent of her hair made its way to his nose.

Daisy's sun kissed skin suddenly made Luca miss the beach. Her hair was lighter from the sun and the straps of her blue bikini top beneath her white shirt teased Luca with curiosity. What did that color look like on her tan skin?

"The sun suits you," Luca said, his words brushing Daisy's cheeks.

"Thank you...." Daisy lifted her lashes to look up at Luca. "Sunshine."

The corner of Luca's mouth curved up. He took in a deep breath before willing himself to step back. Daisy's hand fell from his chest as Luca presented her journal back to her.

"I like your sketches," Luca said.

"Maybe sometimes you should show me yours," Daisy took her journal and shoved it back into her purse.

"Why would I do that?" Luca teased.

"I think I can learn a lot from you," Daisy said, remembering the snippets of techniques she had seen before.

The smile on Luca's lips grew a little bit wider. He didn't say anything as he pushed his hands back inside his pockets and cleared his throat.

"Gia's waiting for you."

Daisy nodded before securing her bag on her shoulder and turning on her heels. As soon as she looked away, she filled her lungs with air and silently screamed in her mind.

What the fuck was that? She asked herself.

Luca was asking himself the same question as he watched Daisy walk down the hall and disappear into his sister's room. Those short camel shorts of hers...

What the fuck? Luca shook his head as if he couldn't believe what he was thinking. Not her. No fuckin way her.

But he couldn't stop.

He thought about her all day and after she left to go back home to her boyfriend, Luca found himself sitting in his study adding freckles to all the sketches in his book.

Freckles like stars.   

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