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Making him feel like the biggest asshole in the world. All those tears, her shoulders shaking, her chest heaving, all because of him. And how he toyed with her, led her to believe he wanted more from her than he was willing to give.
How he wished he could give it all to her. Everything she could ever want. She was young and vulnerable and a believer in fairytales and he absolutely was not.
At this very moment, he wished he were a believer. So he could give this beautiful, sweet woman everything she ever dreamed of.
“Come here,” he said gruffly, reaching for her so he could pull her into his arms. She sobbed against his chest, her tears dampening his shirt, and he let her cry. Running his hand over her silky-soft hair, breathing in her intoxicating scent, he remained silent, offering her comfort, wishing again he could give her more.
“You drive me crazy,” she mumbled against his chest. “I should hate you.”
“You should,” he agreed.
“I shouldn’t go with you.”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong, bella.” He slipped his finger beneath her chin and tilted her face up, staring into her beautiful, shining with tears eyes. “You absolutely should go with me.”
“Why?” she breathed, closing her eyes, as if she couldn’t look at him any longer.
“Open your eyes,” he commanded. She did so quickly, pleasing him at how easily she obeyed. “Because I want you, Paige. I want you there, at my side, with my son, with my family. Please.”
His chest ached. He shouldn’t have said that. His words would give her a false hope he had no business offering her. But it was all true. Having her with him in Italy, in the country of his birth, at his childhood home, perhaps something could happen. Perhaps he could relax and let her in.
Completely.
Chapter Seven
Exhaustion weighed heavily on Paige as she studied her closed suitcase. From where it sat on the stand at the foot of the bed, it mocked her. Taunted her to unpack her belongings and settle in, but she was too tired to worry about it.
Unpacking could wait for later.
The flight to Italy had been long and especially hard on Matty. He hadn’t slept well the night before—quite frankly, neither had she—and she’d grown irritated with him more than once. It didn’t help, how quiet Matteo had been the entire trip. He’d hardly said a word, offering only the occasional stern reprimand to his son, which sent little Matty into a tizzy.
Only offering a few terse words to her, Matteo would return his attention to his laptop, scanning over documents, financial reports, whatever it was that he needed to analyze while in Italy. Leaving her to wallow in her own worry.
She needed his words of reassurance, of kindness—of anything, really—to keep her happy. He had no idea just how much she needed him, and how that need grew every single day. Becoming dependent on Matteo Renaldi was the last thing she should do.
Too late.
A shower and a few hours’ sleep would do her some good and leave her refreshed. Matty was snuggled in his bed, fast asleep. He’d nearly collapsed upon their arrival at the Renaldi compound in Amalfi, already out when Paige put him to bed.
She went to the cracked open door and stepped out onto the tiny balcony with the wrought-iron railing. Her breath lodged in her throat at the view. There was so much natural beauty spread out before her. The water was a deep, sparkling blue, the endless white buildings that dotted the surrounding hills seemed to brim with history. A variety of boats dotted the water, swaying gently with the waves, and a sudden breeze blew over her, bringing with it the salty tang of the sea. Amalfi was simply breathtaking.
Despite the worry and turmoil over her feelings for Matteo and the fact that she desperately needed another job, she was glad she came to Amalfi with him. The opportunity to see such beauty would’ve never happened otherwise.
But knowing this was her last week with Matteo pressed heavy on her already cracking heart.
A soft knock sounded on the door and she turned, watched as it cracked open to reveal Claudia peeking her head around it. “Do you like your room?” she asked.
“Oh, Claudia.” Paige’s shoulders sagged with relief. “It’s amazing. Beautiful. Thank you for having me as your guest.”
“You are never a guest. You’ve become one of the family.” Matteo’s mother entered the room and came toward her, drawing her into a comforting hug. “What’s wrong, Paige?”
She stiffened within the woman’s kind embrace. “What do you mean?”
“You look so tired, so…defeated. Is Matty being hard on you?”
Paige shook her head, unable to find her voice. If she did, she might say too much. And this was Matteo’s mother.
