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Tugging on his hand, I bring him to a stop. “What are we doing?”
“I thought we were going to dinner at your father’s house.”
Father’s house.That sounds so strange to hear.
Rolling my eyes, I say, “You know what I mean.”
“I already told you. You’re my wife. Going to dinner at your father’s house seems like a husband-and-wife thing to do, don’t you think?”
“You really want to start acting like husband and wife now?”
“Don’t you think it would make it a bit more tolerable since we’re going to be stuck together for the rest of our lives?”
I cock an eyebrow. “How romantic,” I mutter before stepping around him so I can continue making my way toward theelevator, but before I’m able to, Matteo grabs a hold of my forearm, stopping me. I can feel his gaze on me, but I refuse to look at him.
“Is it romance you’re after?” he teases.
My eyes remain locked on the elevator door as I say, “The only thing I’m after when it comes to you is finding my mom.”
He chuckles softly. “That’s not what your body was saying just a few moments ago.”
I snap my head in his direction, narrowing my gaze on him. “Oh, good for you. You can play tonsil hockey like a champ.”
He lets out a full laugh this time, and the sound is deep, vibrating through my bones. “Tonsil hockey, huh? Can’t say that’s been used to describe that sort of skill set of mine before.”
The thought of him playing tonsil hockey with other women doesn’t settle well with me, but I push that vicious green lady down as deep as I can. She’s never been a part of my life before, yet she’s already shown up twice tonight.
Ignoring his comment, I say, “We should probably get going. We’re already running behind.” I pull my arm from his grasp and make my way to the elevator with him on my heels.
“Aren’t you forgetting something, dear wife?” Matteo calls out from behind me, but I ignore him as I press the down button and watch the doors open.
We step onto the car, and I feel Matteo’s gaze on me. “What did I forget, Matteo?” I ask, keeping my focus on my reflection in the shiny metal door as it closes. I have nothing here, so I’m not sure what there is that I could’ve possibly forgotten. This is just another one of his stupid games, like playing into the whole being husband-and-wife thing.
I watch his reflection as he reaches into the pocket of his slacks and pulls something out. Turning to him, he holds the object up between his fingers, and I see it’s a wedding band.Mywedding band. The last time I saw it was the morning he forced me to marry him. I took it off and left it on my nightstand and haven’t thought about it since. When the hell did he get that?
“I know you haven’t been wearing it.”
“Well, there wasn’t really anywheretowear it.”
“This is a symbol of our marriage. It represents the binding of our relationship. I would like for you to wear it at all times.”
I almost roll my eyes at the statement, but then I notice the shiny metal band he has wrapped around his ring finger.Does he wear his at all times?
“I keep mine on, so keep yours on. . . please.”
I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him sayplease. The shock from it, along with his want for us to keep something so symbolic on at all times has me mute as he takes my hand and slides the ring on, like he did on our wedding day.
I drag my attention back to the elevator door when it dings. Matteo takes my hand into his as we walk off and guides me to the G-Wagon that’s sitting there idling for us. Now, instead of thinking about the dinner, the only thing on my mind is the confusion at Matteo and his sudden change of heart when it comes to our marriage . . . and what that means for us.
20
MATTEO
After going through security, we pull up to Mancini’s impressive estate, which has a grand three-tiered stone fountain in the middle of the circular driveway. I had Rocco drive us in case I need backup, so he’ll wait in the SUV until we’re ready to leave. Mancini and I might be working together, but it would be lazy of me to not practice the same level of security I would with anyone else.
I lace my fingers with Luxtyn’s as I pull her out of the vehicle, then make our way up the steps to the front door. A man dressed in a butler’s uniform greets us before we’re able to knock, gesturing for us to come in.
Walking into the grand foyer, the butler takes our coats before showing us down the hallway lined with small marble statues on top of pedestals. I notice Luxtyn’s hands tremble as we round the corner into the dining room, so I grab her hand with my own and give her a soft squeeze to remind her I’m here. She gives me a small smile in return.
