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She gazed into those deep, dark eyes for a long moment. Dangerous eyes that drew out uncomfortable truths. “I don’t mind. Gotta learn from past mistakes. That’s how we grow, right?” She fiddled with her marshmallow like a tiny stress ball. “Jason was in my study group for the world’s most boring education course. He had this way of focusing his whole attention on me. Made me feel seen, you know? I loved that feeling.”

Matteo’s fingers softly massaged the back of her neck. “I see you, bella. Do you see me?”

She tossed her mangled marshmallow into the fire and faced him. The softness in his gaze stirred impossible longing—for a future where what she wanted mattered as much as what she owed. Where she could love a man without fearing his loss. Crazy, stupid dreams.

“I see a puzzle, Matteo. How did you end up here?”

He shrugged. “This is where I want to be.”

“With a lonely older woman, when you could have someone much younger? Don’t you want a family of your own?”

A tiny smile flicked across his lips, there and gone. “I have a family. Friends too. What I want is a partner. And I don’t give a damn about your age. How do I make you believe that?”

I wish I knew.“But why are you single? You’re so—” She flapped a hand. “So—everything good. It just doesn’t make sense.”

He sat up straighter and stared out to sea. “I was with Anna for three years. We broke up on Thanksgiving.”

“She dumped you?” She squeezed his forearm. “You want me to mess her up?”

He chuckled. “It was mutual. She wanted to get married and start a family. To do that, I’d have to give up my furniture business and get a real job.” His fingers hooked in air quotes around the last two words. “Something that would allow her to be a stay-at-home mom. Can’t do that on the pittance I make.”

“Ah.” She rubbed slow circles on his back. “That sucks.”

He nodded. “It does. When we started out, we were both doing creative work and barely scraping by. But we had fun. We had what we needed.” He gave a sad shrug. “Over time, things changed. Anna got a promotion. Her work friends were all getting married and having babies.”

“And you don’t want kids?” Yet another reason their connection could never last.

He raked his fingers through his hair. “I love kids. But there are already lots of kids in my life—my nieces, my cousins’ kids, my friends’ kids. Hell, we’re smothering the earth with too many people and too much worthless stuff.”

Firelight flickered in his eyes. “That’s what I love about my work. I turn old furniture into something new and useful. Good materials, quality craftsmanship, not like that pressboard crap that gets tossed into landfills every few years.” He flopped onto his back, his hands laced behind his head. “I’m happy with my small-town, small-business life. In some people’s eyes, that makes me a slacker.”

She stretched out beside him. “Not in mine, Matteo.”

He rolled toward her and twined a lock of her hair around his finger. “The question is, could I ever fit into your life? Because the thought of letting you go next Saturday is tearing me up.”

A heavy weight pressed on her chest. “Matteo, I have to put my kids first.”

“Of course. I’d never ask you to do otherwise.” He brushed his knuckles over her cheekbone. “But don’t you deserve happiness too?”

“Not at their expense.” She stroked the curve of his shoulder. “I’m a teacher, Matteo. I’ve seen how hard it is for kids, stuck between Dad and his new girlfriend, Mom and her new boyfriend. The so-called grownups put their own desires first and ignore the effect on their kids.”

He slumped back onto the sand and draped his hand over his eyes. “You don’t want me to meet them.”

She fought to keep her voice even as heat rose in her chest and tightened her throat. “Can’t you see how stuck I am? I want to keep you and keep their lives normal, and I don’t see how I can do both.”

His hand closed over hers. “If anyone could pull it off, it’s a mother like you who cares more about her kids’ happiness than her own.” With his thumb, he massaged her palm. “And maybe a guy like me. I’ve got first-hand experience in how parents’ selfish priorities affect kids. There’s no way I’ll ever repeat that pattern. And I’m not looking to disrupt your kids’ lives. I’m just a guy who met the most amazing woman and wants to hold on to her.” He drew her hand to his lips. “Give us a chance, bella.”

If any man could make her want to risk her heart, it was Matteo. But to risk her kids’ hearts, she’d need a lot more than pretty promises. Building that kind of trust takes time—time she and Matteo didn’t have. She sniffed and swiped at her tear-prickled eyes. “You’re merciless, you know that?”

He rolled to his feet and tugged her up with him. “Good name for a pirate, eh? Matteo the Merciless.” Flashing a wicked grin, he shuffled backward toward the tent. “Climb aboard? I promise to leave my blade at the door.”

Seven more days. Six more nights.

Each night with Matteo would only make parting that much more painful, but a night together under the stars was too enticing to miss. She kicked off her sandals, ducked inside, and sank onto the pile of bedding. “Pretty cushy for a tent.”

“But wait, there’s more.” He unzipped a panel, leaving only mesh between them and the stars.

“A tent with a moon roof? What a delicious surprise.” She pecked his lips, then lay back and drank in the diamond-dusted sky.