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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.”
