“Stop worrying,
bella
,” he whispered, his fingers tangling in her hair, combing out the snarling waves. “What’s happening between us is a good thing. Don’t mind my brothers.”
Ah, so her perception was right, not that she was really surprised. They didn’t like her.
“And my mother adores you, as does Matty,” he continued.
“What about you, Matteo? Do you—adore me?” She pressed her lips together, cursing her boldness. Every time she got around him, he pushed her to her very limits, always making her say things when she probably should use more restraint.
He slipped his fingers beneath her chin and tipped her face up so their gazes met. His was dark, mysterious and she wished she knew what he was really feeling.
More than anything, she wished he would tell her what he really felt.
“I want you in my life, Paige. By my side. I can’t…we can’t predict the future, but know that I want to pursue this. Us. Together.” Leaning down, he brushed her mouth with his, his lips lingering, his tongue licking.
She opened to him on a sigh, overcome with emotion and a smidgeon of disappointment. It was all she could ask for from him. Not a full commitment, but not an out and out rejection either. How she hoped she could somehow submerse herself into his life he couldn’t go on without her in it.
“Your smile is so big, Matteo,” Claudia observed, a wry smile curving her lips as well. “Happy to return to New York, I take it?”
His mother had always been perceptive of his moods. And she was no idiot. He and Paige had spent the last two days at the villa mooning over each other like lovesick teenagers. She knew what they were about, why he wore such a giant smile on his face. It had nothing to do with his leaving and everything to do with the woman who still slept in his bed at this very moment.
“I need to get back,” he said noncommittally as he poured himself a cup of rich, dark espresso, courtesy of Renzo. “The plane leaves in four hours and the flight is long. Plus, I have to be at work tomorrow so I’m not particularly looking forward to the next two, very long days.”
“You should’ve slept in more,” his mother said. “Though I must say, you’ve looked terribly…refreshed these last few days.”
“Mama,” he said, his voice filled with warning. He wasn’t in the mood for his mother’s subtle digs for information. Not that she disapproved of what was happening between him and Paige. She just wanted to know what exactly was happening between the two of them.
Rather hard for him to come up with an answer, since he wasn’t quite sure himself.
“Where’s Matty?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
“Out in the garden with Renzo, cutting flowers for the house. He’s had such a wonderful time here and he’s put so much joy in the home. Perhaps you could let him stay with me for a few weeks over the summer. Just me and my grandson.” His mother smiled. She adored her only grandchild and was thrilled Stasia was giving her another one, though she wanted plenty more.
So far, her sons were disappointing her in that aspect.
“I’m sure Matty would love it.” That could give him some time alone with Paige. Perhaps he could take her on a vacation. Somewhere tropical and warm, where she would have no choice but to wear a tiny little bikini that barely covered her slender curves, and he could have her naked in his bed every night…
His mother patted his arm, pulling him from his thoughts. “You’re very distracted this morning.”
“I have…much on my mind.” That was an understatement.
“Any of it has to do with a certain redhead who’s sleeping peacefully in your bed at this very minute?” Matteo opened his mouth to protest, but she shot him a stern look. “Don’t bother giving me excuses, my son. I’ve heard every single one in the book, so let’s get right to the point. Tell me, what are you doing with Paige?”
“I—I’m dating her,” he said lamely. What else could he call it? He wasn’t about to be crude and tell his mother he was flat-out fucking Paige. Because that’s what he was doing. The most glorious, fulfilling fucking he’d ever experienced in his life. In fact, calling it by such a base term demeaned it somehow. But saying that he was making love to Paige made it seem so much more…serious.
And they weren’t serious. Not yet.
“Well, that you are, taking her out to dinner every night after Matty goes to sleep, spending all of your time with her while you’re here. I know you came for the meeting, but you haven’t returned to Renaldi since then, and I thought you were going to put in more time there. But who am I to judge? You have the business under control and now your life too. This is the happiest I’ve seen you in years.” His mother smiled softly. “She’s in love with you, you know.”
His mother’s words made him stagger to a chair and plop himself into it heavily. Paige wasn’t in love with him. No way could she be. “She is not,” he insisted.
Claudia nodded. “She absolutely is. Have you not seen the way she looks at you? How her eyes follow you every time you enter the room? You do much the same to her when you see her. It’s cute. The moment you two get close to one another, the magnetic pull between you becomes apparent.” She paused. “Matty asked me about you two last night.”
“What?” Matteo asked incredulously. He hadn’t expected that. Not yet. “What did he ask?”
“He said it makes him happy how his daddy and Paige seem to spend more time together and that they like each other. I told him I liked how you two spent time together too. Then he asked if maybe someday Paige would become his mommy.” His mother stared at him, her expression serious, her eyes boring into him. “Don’t play with her heart, Matteo. And don’t play with your son’s either. If you’re not serious about Paige, then you need to end this now. Before you return to New York. I don’t want her or Matty to be hurt.”
A soft sound came from the open doorway of the kitchen and they both turned to find Paige standing there clad in a thick pale blue terrycloth robe, her feet bare, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, her expression sheepish. As if she might’ve heard the last few words his mother had spoken.
“Good morning,” she said as she padded into the kitchen.
“Good morning,” Matteo murmured, sending his mother a look. He didn’t want to talk about it. Hell, he really hoped Paige hadn’t heard everything they said.
But the way she shuffled around the kitchen silently with her head bent, not looking at either of them, when she’d become so forthcoming and chatty the last few days, told him that she had.
Damn it. He needed to do damage control and quick.
“I’ll go check on Matty and see how he’s doing with Renzo. Chatting his ear off, I’m sure.” Claudia stood and offered them a smile. Clearly she got the hint and was leaving.
“He should come in soon,” Paige said, her responsibilities ever present. “I packed his suitcase for him last night, but he’ll need to bathe and get dressed before we go.”
“Perfect. I’ll send him in a few.” His mother fled the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone, the strained silence building between them so thick he could slice it with a knife.
“You heard what my mother said,” he said as Paige came around to sit across from him at the table.
She met his gaze direct, her hands clutching the coffee cup in front of her. “I did.”
“How much did you hear?”
“All of it, I’m afraid.”
“I see.” He breathed deep, propping his elbows on the table so he could steeple his fingers in front of him. “She’s only watching out for you.”
“I know. And I love your mother for that. She’s always been so kind to me.” She averted her eyes, staring out the wide window that overlooked the ocean. “She’s right, Matteo. We’ve not discussed anything about the future and what you—expect of me once we return. I didn’t want to push. I was afraid you’d reject me completely if I asked for too much, too soon so I’d rather live in the present.”
“I’d prefer that as well,” he agreed.
She jerked her gaze back to his. “Living in the present?”
He shrugged, acting far more nonchalant than he felt. His heart rate increased double time as he studied her, trying his best to keep his expression an emotionless mask. He couldn’t declare his undying love for her because he wasn’t exactly sure what he felt for Paige, but he knew he couldn’t let her go. Not yet. He might eventually break her heart and hurt Matty, but he’d hurt more if he couldn’t have her.
And he was too much of a selfish bastard at the moment to even consider letting her walk out of his life.
“Take it one day at a time, then,” she said carefully.
“Yes.” He nodded. “I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t expect you to.” She gripped the coffee cup so tight, he was afraid she’d shatter the thick white ceramic. “You’re not…embarrassed to be seen with me, are you?”
He frowned. “Embarrassed? Why would I be embarrassed?”
“Because I’m the nanny. Like I’m sure your brothers said, I’m just the hired help. It might look bad, that we’re having an affair, all while I live under your roof and take care of your son. People might think less of me.” Paige brought the coffee cup to her lips and he noted the unmistakable way her hands shook.
Matteo leapt from his chair and rounded the table, going to where she sat. He knelt at her side, gripping the table for balance while setting his other hand on her knee. She looked at him, her eyes full of worry, her lips pressed together. “I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you. I’d be fucking proud to have you on my arm, Paige. And if anyone dares to insult you or say something because of how we met, I will personally beat the hell out of them.”
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. “You won’t beat someone up for me.”
“The hell I won’t.” He squeezed her knee. “Don’t doubt me. And don’t doubt us, Paige. I believe in us. Do you?”
She nodded, all the sadness gone from her eyes. Reaching out, she settled her tiny hand against his cheek and he turned in to her, kissing her palm. “I believe in us,” she whispered.
“Good. That’s all I need to hear.” Rearing up, he kissed her soundly on the mouth. “Now go take a shower. We’ll be leaving soon.”
Matteo stepped back and let her go, watching as she exited the kitchen, his gaze dropping to her sashaying hips. She had a sexy walk and didn’t even realize it, which made it that much sexier.
He had it so bad for this woman and she had no clue. Though he couldn’t admit he was worried about returning to New York. The industry he worked in, the people he knew… Paige was right. They might look down on her.
And he couldn’t have it.
Chapter Eleven
Paige was living in a dream world and no way did she want reality to intrude and burst her precious little bubble.
Since their return from Italy almost three weeks ago, it had been work as usual. Taking care of Matty throughout the day, doing their usual activities, teaching him what she could, going on play dates, museum visits, to the movies, playing with him on the giant rug in his bedroom. He was such a happy, inquisitive child and she enjoyed her time with him, loved him more and more every day.
But then there was his father. Ah, Matty’s father owned her nights. He came home from work every evening, devastatingly sexy clad in his perfect, expensive suits, the hungry look he’d shoot her from across the room as he was attacked by Matty hot enough to set her panties on fire.
They would eat together after Matty went to bed and talk about their day, Paige picking at her food, her body in a constant state of arousal from his heated stares, his casual caresses from across the table. He would take her hand and bring it to his mouth, slowly kissing her fingers. Dart out his tongue for the occasional lick, making her entire body ache for his.
And then…he would take her back to his bedroom where they would remain for the rest of the night, naked and entwined together in his giant bed, until she finally fell into an exhausted dreamless sleep pressed against him.
She truly believed she’d died and gone to heaven.
He was late tonight, calling her just before five to let her know that he had a dinner meeting and wouldn’t make it home ’til after eight. It was past nine and she’d put Matty to bed well over an hour ago. Worry filled her when she hadn’t heard from Matteo, that he hadn’t come home yet. Where could he be? She didn’t feel right in calling him. They may have some sort of insular relationship that played out in the luxurious penthouse apartment he called home, but they rarely ventured outside the walls together.
So really she had no right to call and ask when he might be coming home. He’d probably think she was a nag, probably believe she was overstepping her boundaries. They weren’t in a real relationship, just some sort of fantasy world where they didn’t allow reality to intrude.
How she hated it. There was no real definition to what was happening between them. Things hadn’t changed much since before they left for Italy, beyond her essentially moving into his bedroom. She didn’t protest the move, of course. She was in rapturous heaven every night, lying naked in the middle of Matteo’s bed, having him do the most wondrous things to her body with his mouth, hands and tongue before she so gladly returned the favor until they finally joined their bodies as one.
Again and again and again…