Stealing Luca's Heart (16 page)

“Who’d have thought that the two of us would be getting all fancy for a Tetari party? Look at you, even straightened your hair! I know what that means,” Tara teased.

“Yes, I straightened my hair. These people have only seen me wearing hats and T-shirts. I just wanted to look nice for a change.”

“Right. It’s me sitting here, remember? So, you’ve been drinking the water, apparently.”

She turned around. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, Al, you’re so obvious. The rest of the southern hemisphere is hot for Luca Tetari. You had drinks with him last night, and you straightened your hair. Duuhh.”

She held up her hands. “You’re right, Tara. You know me too well.” She still didn’t know how much she wanted to admit. She pulled out a black sleeveless dress.

“Not that one, it’s too dressy. You know, Dad might decide to stay longer to recuperate. I don’t see why you have to leave right away.”

She folded the dress and placed it back on the shelf. She knew Tara was right about the dress and about Dad. It was so hard to make any decisions, maybe because she didn’t want to. She couldn’t even decide what the hell to wear to dinner.

Tara lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “We are actually sitting in Luca Tetari’s house! I’ve seen pictures of this place in the Sunday paper and in a few magazines.”

“Well, technically, it’s not his house. He claims to live in a shearing shed, not that it matters,” she mumbled. “Did you meet Simone or George Tetari when you came in? They’re great too.”

Tara sat back up. “No, just Phillip. He said everyone is down in the barn getting things set up.” She glanced at her watch. “I was told the barbecue gets going in about a half an hour or so. Phillip said there’s a band, roasted pigs, the works.”

“Phillip. Phillip. Phillip,” Ally said dryly.

“What? I had a really nice ride with him. No big deal! We talked about Iowa, why I moved here, my job, his farm. You won’t believe this, but I think he’s a bit shy.”

“Really? Well, shit. That’s a deal breaker,” she joked. “I just met him briefly on the plane ride down here. Seems like a good guy.”

“Quit staring at your clothes and come sit down,” Tara ordered, patting the spot next to her. “Come talk to me and fill me in. What’s he like?”

“Phillip? I just told you I just met…”

“No, Luca.”

“Jeez, I can’t keep up with how your mind works.” She sat, reminding herself that Tara had always been the true romantic.

“Well, what you see is what you get.” Actually, Ally was surprised by all the fascinating layers of Luca. “He’s probably perfect, Tara. I’ve never seen him play rugby or anything, but he seems to be a nice guy.” She almost said nice lips. “I don’t think he likes all the attention that gets thrown at him, but he makes the best of it.”

Ally thought back to the hospital. Those kids would never have guessed that Luca was a guy who didn’t like signing autographs, just doing it to make them happy. “Thankfully, he’s intelligent, has great parents, and…he’s an excellent kisser,” she threw in, bracing herself. What the hell, if she couldn’t tell her, then who? She could actually hear Tara sucking in the air around her.

“You
kissed
him already! Oh. My. God!” Tara’s eyes returned to their normal size. “But you just met him yesterday. How did this happen? Did you get drunk last night? Oh, Ally, you were drunk!”

Ally waved her hands in front of her. “No, I wasn’t drunk! Why would you go there? He did strike when I wasn’t expecting it, though. I know it sounds crazy. We’ve already spent so much time together, so it feels a lot longer—like I’ve known him at least a whole week,” she said smiling. “Seriously, though, I don’t know if the reaction I’m having toward him is just the normal reaction that all women have. There seems to be some chemistry. Who knows.”

“It’s called lust, but I say who cares? You usually just go out with guys and enjoy it for what it is. No strings, no problem. You seem to be overanalyzing this one. The worst thing that could happen would be you slept with him. Oh, the horror!”

She laughed. Tara had a point. “Leave it to you to oversimplify things. Enough of that. How did the bach thing go? Any decent guys?”

“No. Just guys out of college looking for one-nighters. No, thanks. I had a great time with my girls, though. Oh, before I forget, about tomorrow morning. Since you won’t be here, I’ll get Dad settled here and then fly out after. My flight to Melbourne doesn’t leave until late afternoon. I had a good catch-up today at the hospital with Dad for a couple of hours, so we’ve had our quality time. You’ll never guess who invited me out to lunch when he’s back up in Auckland?”

“Phillip?”

“You got it. What a great guy he…”

“Wait a minute,” she interrupted, “Why am I not going to be here tomorrow morning?”

“Well, Simone told Dad that Luca was inviting you to fly with the family, I think at the crack of flipping dawn, to watch Luca in an All Blacks match in Christchurch. I don’t think you’re going to be gone all day if that’s what you’re worried about. Don’t look at me like that. What’s wrong?”

She placed her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t invited yet, and it sounds like Luca assumed I’d just pick up and go.”

“I think it sounds like fun, and if I wasn’t leaving, I’d go too. Really, Ally, what’s your problem?”

“Just my control issues raising their ugly head.” She turned and searched her clothes quickly before selecting a sleeveless beige, crocheted, fitted halter dress that came down dangerously midthigh. She slipped into red sandals with a low heel. When she turned around to show Tara, her sister let out a whistle.

“He’s dead.”

Chapter 13

Luca walked into the crowded barn with his second beer in hand. A band was playing an upbeat Earth, Wind & Fire song. He’d showered and changed into a clean white T-shirt, faded jeans, and flip-flops. He felt good about how the day with Ally had gone. He hadn’t planned on kissing her out at the canyon, but guessing by her reaction, he’d made the right decision. He’d learned to trust his instincts.

He couldn’t get enough of her. Not just because he wanted to finish what they had started under that tree, which he couldn’t stop thinking about. But here was this smoking hot woman who he could talk shop with. She seemed to get him.

Surveying the room, he was pleased that the turnout was good. His mum usually held a few big barbecues every year. He was glad that Tara and Ally would be here for this one. It seemed everyone involved in the farm was here, along with their families. His own family was out in full force, minus his dad’s sister Ginny, who was traveling in Australia. Everyone knew that his Uncle Wayne and Aunt Ginny were getting a divorce, but no one really knew why. He caught Phillip’s eye, who motioned for him to come over by the keg.

“So you brought Tara here?” Luca asked.

Phillip smiled into his beer. Then glanced at Luca and scoffed when he noticed they had on the same outfit, except Phillip’s shirt said
Speight’s Beer
. “C’mon, do we need to call each other first?”

“You boys look handsome in anything you wear,” said Simone, walking up from behind.

Luca put his arm around her. She was wearing a bright red-and-white floral wraparound skirt, sleeveless white linen top, and red sandals. Luca knew she loved breaking out of her daily uniform of boots and jeans. Her outfit looked casual enough, but Luca knew it was from a top New Zealand designer. He’d witnessed her the other day with a mountain of shopping bags on her arm, attempting to carry them all into the house in one trip. None of the family were particularly big spenders. Her weakness just happened to be Trelise Cooper’s summer collection.

“Now, you two need to mingle. Some of these wives and kids have never been out here before. Luca, before I forget, Uncle Wayne said to tell you he’d like a quick word at some point. Something to do with the conference. Don’t ask me what about as I didn’t ask.” Her sons had both turned their heads, so she followed their gaze to see the Edwards sisters walk in.

“Now that I’ve lost your attention, remember you still need to make the rounds. I’m going to go welcome our special guests.” Simone strode off to attend to Tara and Ally while the men were left gawking.

*

“Tara, why didn’t you tell me it was stupid to wear heels on a farm,” Ally whispered, hoping no one would notice the mud on her heels that had gotten thicker with each step from the house to the barn from the wet ground.

“Because if you’d look up from your stupid shoes, you’d see that your dress and heels are giving you exactly the reaction you were going for. Whew, the male to female ratio is certainly in our favor tonight, isn’t it?” Tara said, scanning the room.

She kicked the mud off her shoes and looked up. There were families having dinner by the buffet, stray kids running wild, and lots of young farmhands standing by the bars. “I swear, Tara, we need to find you a man. Just pick one and let’s be done with it.”

The barn doors were open at each end. Wooden tables and benches lined the length of the hall. Two open bar stations were busy, and the band was now rocking a Nickleback tune. This
barn
was more like the size of a Hilton ballroom, and the sound system could probably handle a U2 concert, Ally guessed. She noticed Luca by the bar on the back wall and met his stare. His eyes trailed very slowly down to her shoes and back up. He then toasted her with his beer.

“Girls! How are you? You must be Tara. I’m Simone Tetari,” she announced, running up toward them and offering Tara a kiss on the cheek. “Now, don’t you both look stunning?” Simone put an arm around each girl’s waist. “Let’s get you something to eat and drink. Not the small intimate affair we were hoping for last night, Ally, but our barbecues are a great time. Let’s meet a few people.”

Simone was an efficient hostess. After a quick trip through the buffet line and a wine refill, Simone ushered them through the crowd for a few initial introductions before slipping away to attend to the other guests. The sisters were continuously handed off to the next person eager to meet them. Inquiring minds asked about the States and what brought them to Queenstown. They spoke to sheep shearers, website designers, a woman who helped with marketing, and just about everyone in between who would make a farm of this size hum.

Finally, Ally pulled Tara out to the dance floor when the band started in with a Bee Gees song. The party exploded with strobe lights. They stayed out laughing, talking, and sweating through thirty minutes of disco tunes.

Finally, as the music slowed, they made their way off the dance floor. She could hear Tara giggling and looked back to see her heading back over to the dance floor with Phillip.
Good for her
, Ally thought. She hadn’t seen Luca much tonight, and when she did, he seemed deep in conversations and assuming his role as host.

She ordered a glass of water from the bar and turned back to watch the dance floor. She smiled watching George and Simone dancing next to Tara and Phillip. The song was
Cherish
by Kool and the Gang. As much as she enjoyed watching the Tetaris dance, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of pain that her own parents wouldn’t be doing that anymore. At least, not in this life.

Feeling sentimental, Ally opted to step outside for a breather. It was dusk, and the moon was a bright orange ball moving up the sky. She’d noticed while she had been in New Zealand that the stars seemed brighter and closer than back home. Must be the lack of pollution or higher altitude, she figured.

Loud voices were coming from down the hill, off to the side of the barn. She cautiously made her way down the hill in her sandals, wondering what the commotion was. In the fading light she could make out that there were two men in a heated discussion. Inching just close enough to see who it was, she noticed that one of the men was Sean, who must have sensed her because he immediately snapped his head and stopped talking. She hadn’t recognized him at first. He looked younger than he did on the plane in his faded jeans and worn red T-shirt.

“Hi, Sean. I didn’t mean to intrude. I just heard voices. Sorry.” Turning, she started to head back. It may be dark, but she clearly sensed that he wasn’t pleased to see her. Not to mention there was a pile of empty shot glasses at their feet and a half-empty liquor bottle in the grass.

“Ally! Wait!” Sean called out. “Ally, this is my Uncle Wayne Hill, George’s brother-in-law. Sorry, you just surprised me.”

She noticed both men’s demeanor had done a one-eighty.

Wayne extended his hand and gave her a warm smile. “Pleasure, Ally. I’ve heard all about you. Sorry about your dad, though. I’m sure that shot wasn’t meant for him.”

Ally tilted her head. “Naturally.” What an idiotic comment. “You’re married to George’s sister, Ginny, right?” He was Ally’s height, thin but with that healthy look of someone who spends time working outside.

Sean and Wayne gave each other a glance. “Well, for now, anyway. When Ginny is in the country, she lives with my other daughter, Gracie, in the Bay of Islands.”

Ally suddenly felt uncomfortable but tried to find an easy topic. “What does Gracie do?”

“Gracie’s a geologist. She’s actually somewhere around here tonight,” he said, looking up to the barn. “She’s consumed with a government project up there. It’s nice she made time to attend the party.”

“So, I guess you’re into the family business too?” Wasn’t everyone?

Wayne’s eyes narrowed. “Well, it’s a long story, but I started River Rage years ago. I retired and now have let Gabi run with it. I can’t keep up with that young crew down there anymore.”

“She’s doing a bang-up job,” Sean added.

“That she is. But you know what, Ally? I’ve got some new ideas on how an old retiree like me can be of use, but no one’s interested.”

Ally could smell the liquor on his breath when he leaned in.

“I’m just the brother-in-law. Did you know that George has control over everything? Then it falls to Luca and down that branch.” His voice grew louder. “Just for me to do the river ride, there were mountains of legal papers for me to sign. Bottom line, for someone who doesn’t have
Tetari
blood in their veins—”