She’d known Matteo for a long time and didn’t understand. The time he’d helped her home when she had no shoe was in no way romantic. He’d kissed Viola that same night. And she’d vowed to never, ever, ever get involved with him or his kind. Her stomach still knotted at the memory and she shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”
“Look,” Rossie, Stefano’s new bride, pointed toward the door.
Stefano and Matteo opened the door to the patio and servants followed them with even more food.
Sheena never ate this much. This was indulgent, though she made herself another cup of coffee as Matteo sat beside her. She smiled at him. “Matteo. I’m glad you’re back.”
He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. He studied her and asked, “What’s going on?”
Her face felt like ice pellets had hit her and every part of her was frozen. It was hard to say the words. “Cassidy and Chelsea believe we are a love match, according to her computer program.”
His face went white—join the shock club, she thought—she couldn’t offer comfort.
Cassidy sat back and said, “I haven’t been wrong yet, Matteo.”
He sipped his coffee and relaxed in his chair. She started to feel her pulse again as Matteo tapped her on the back. The tingles made her remember his kisses and how tonight, she’d be in his home and in his bed.
Tension returned fast but this was different than a moment ago. This was desire.
Matteo finished his coffee in a gulp. “We shall see. Are you ready to go, Sheena?”
Absolutely. The last thing she needed was to hear how happy Chelsea was now that she’d married her true love—even if she was her best friend. Right now Sheena needed clarity. She stood next to Matteo. “Come visit me in Avce soon.”
“I hope so,” Rossie said. “We can explore it together.”
Neither of them knew a thing about the place and it would be nice to have a new friend. “Sounds lovely, especially since the only Avcean who was my friend up and moved to the South of France to help run a vineyard.” She arched a brow at Chelsea.
Chelsea laughed. “And I’m very happy.”
She glanced at Matteo, who tilted his head toward the door. Sheena waved her goodbye. “Well, I’m glad you are.”
They left the room and went down to the lobby, the staff having packed up their hotel suite. Sheena pressed against Matteo’s arm to get his attention. “Thank you for letting me air out my issues with Stefano. We’ll be fine in the future.”
He held open the front door for her. There was a black Mercedes town car waiting for them and as she passed, Matteo asked, “What did Stefano do that I didn’t?”
He’d been kind, and when Chelsea had asked Sheena for help, she’d agreed as a way to pay him back. She got into the car. “He burned through my new leather shoes in chemistry class and refused to apologize—it left a small scar.”
The door closed behind him and the driver went to the front seat. “You have a scar on your foot?”
“It’s small and it healed, thankfully.” She remembered how many times someone had pulled her ponytail and told her she didn’t belong at the boarding school because her father was in trade. Her face felt hot from the memory though it had been years. “That was just one incident. Kids weren’t nice to me as an awkward shy girl who loved art more than people.”
He held her hand as they headed toward the airport. “You’re a lady now. No one will dare hurt you on my watch.”
She pressed her hand to his cheek and gazed into his dark eyes. “Your kindness is one of your best endearments, Matteo.”
His eyes burned into hers and she felt like he could see into her soul. He said, “I’m not kind.”
Did he not know? He was one of the good ones. She lowered her voice. “You were to me.”
He took her hand off his face but clasped her fingers. “Then you were the clear exception. I always thought I was a carefree, spoiled brat.”
Her heart beat strong and heat coursed through her. They were married. Tonight, she’d have a real wedding night. Sheena couldn’t even imagine it. Right now she needed to learn to breathe around him. His touch set something off that she wanted but never quite had before. She stared at his top lip. “Matteo, can I change the topic and ask a question?”
“Sure, what?”
Maybe he thought this was about a kiss. She wanted it to be. She’d liked that kiss earlier. But now… she needed something to stop the fast pace of her heart. “Do you still skateboard?”
Matteo let out a chuckle. “Yes. Why?”
