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Her fingers bunched the fabric of his shirt, brushing against his chest, and he shuddered at her innocent touch. He’d give anything to gather her into his arms and take her back to his bed. Undress her slowly, kiss every inch of her skin before finally taking her, filling her body over and over again with his.
Not yet, though. He needed to approach her slowly. She didn’t trust him. He had to earn it back.
And he would. Of that, he hadn’t a doubt.
“Promise me.” She tugged on his shirt and he met her gaze straight on. “Promise you won’t run away from me. Promise that you’ll face whatever happens between us head on.”
“I promise.” He kissed her again, keeping it purposefully simple and soft. Her lips were plump and damp, her taste sweet, her accelerated breathing matching the rhythm pounding through his blood. She wanted him. He wanted her.
But not yet. This would be a courtship, the ultimate proof of his sincerity for her.
Even if it killed him.
Chapter Eight
“Mama told us something and we’re worried.”
Matteo frowned at his two brothers. Leave it to Rafe to blurt it out, no subtlety involved. “What did she tell you?” he asked carefully.
His youngest brother, Vincenzo, crossed his arms in front of his chest. They’d come for the annual meeting and had returned to the villa with him, the entire family—minus Stasia—would be in attendance for dinner. Well. Not including Vince’s wife either, who was working back in the States. The woman always worked. Matteo wondered more than once if their marriage was little more than a sham. “She said you’ve fallen in love.”
Ah. Leave it to their dramatic mother to declare he’d gone and fallen for a woman. “She exaggerates.” He wasn’t in love with Paige. They hadn’t even had sex yet. He was merely enjoying her company.
And falling for her more and more as each minute passed, not that he would tell them that.
“We hear it’s your nanny.” Rafe shook his head, his eyes narrowed as he studied him. “Really, Matteo. The nanny? How much of a cliché could you be?”
Anger pulsed through his veins and he clenched his hands into fists. “What does it matter who I spend my time with?”
“Haven’t we had enough sordid stories about our family? First our father dies and disinherits Stasia because of Mama’s affair. It’s not just a simple affair, but she goes and sleeps with one of our father’s greatest enemies in the business. Then we must deal with your wife’s untimely death and the doctor’s discovery that she was pumped full of meds. Now you’re screwing the nanny and don’t give a shit who knows? You’ve lost your damn mind and you’re supposed to be the practical one,” Rafe said, the irritation in his voice clear.
The anger turned to white-hot fury. “I’m not screwing the nanny.”
“Oh, so you’re just holding hands and reciting poems to each other? Please,” Vince sneered. “We’re your brothers. You’re allowed to confess to us that you’re banging the help.”
That did it. Matteo lunged toward Vince without thought, grabbing hold of his shirtfront and jerking him close. “Watch what you say about her or I’ll bash your face in,” he murmured, his face in his brother’s, their gazes locked.
Vince had the nerve to laugh, the asshole. “Wow, you must really care about her if you’re ready to beat me bloody.”
“Let him go, Matteo,” Rafe said, his voice full of irritation. “We don’t want to fight with you about this. We just have some…concerns.”
Matteo let go of his baby brother, giving him a shove for good measure. His hands shook, he was so agitated. He hated hearing them say anything detrimental about Paige. “What sort of concerns could you have? I’m not an idiot. I didn’t sign over the company bank accounts to her, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“We know you’re not an idiot. It’s just…do you really know her? Mama said she’s young. She might be interested in you only for your money,” Rafe explained.
“So she couldn’t be interested in me as a man, then? There are dollar signs in her eyes and she only wants my money?” Christ, everything they said irritated him to no end. Thank God they were outside on the lower terrace that overlooked the ocean, far enough away from the house so no one could hear them arguing. Such as their mother.
Or Paige.
“We’re not saying that exactly. It’s just—you shouldn’t mess with the help. That’s what we’re trying to tell you.” Rafe shook his head. “It’s dangerous.”
