Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100605 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100605 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Chiamami,” she said.
My Italian was slowly coming back, especially now that I’d been dealing with customers at the antique shop, and I was pretty certain the woman had just told Matteo “call me.” Sort of ballsy considering he was leaving with another woman.
I was quiet on the drive home. I couldn’t stop thinking how easy it would be for someone else to take the chance I was too afraid to try. The woman at the club had put her hands on Matteo like he was the most obvious choice in the room, one worth staking a claim on, and maybe he was. Matteo was a man women noticed. He was the kind who didn’t chase, who carried himself like he didn’t need anyone, and that made you want to be the one he chose.
When we arrived back in Montepulciano, Matteo pulled into my driveway and put the car into park. “Did you have a good time tonight?” he asked.
“I did. I actually tried to get out of going earlier, but I’m glad I went. It was fun.”
“You were quiet on the drive home,” he said after a moment.
“Was I?”
He nodded.
“I’m just tired.”
Matteo’s gaze met mine. He didn’t say a word, yet somehow, I was certain he knew I was full of shit.
I cracked a smile. “And maybe I was wondering who the woman was at the club.”
His brows pinched. “Woman?”
“Liliana. She sized me up and couldn’t keep her hands off you.”
Matteo tilted his head, studying me. I thought I saw a hint of amusement in his eyes. “That upset you?”
“Not upset me. Not really, anyway. I guess it got me thinking what a good catch you are…” I looked away, not sure where I was going with this. As I tried to figure out what I wanted to say, Matteo reached over and gently took my chin in his hand, bringing my gaze back to his.
“We went out once. It didn’t even end with a kiss.”
An unexpected relief washed over me. Ridiculous, I know, considering I was the one keeping things between us from going any further. But that didn’t stop my neck from feeling looser. Matteo’s thumb stroked my cheek, and it sent a jolt of lightning through my body. Getting involved with this man was a bad idea. I knew it would end in disaster, like all relationships eventually did. Still, I felt the strongest pull toward him, and I imagined myself leaning in, pressing my lips to his. Our breaths would mingle, heavy and slow, the need building and building until we were tangled impossibly close, groping and groaning like we were the only two people in the world.
Matteo leaned in slightly, his eyes flickering to my lips before meeting mine. “I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but I have a feeling it’s heading in the right direction.”
I smiled. “I’m glad you came tonight.”
“I am, too.” He brushed a lock of hair from my face. “I’m going to walk you to the door and wait until you get upstairs and put da light on before I go. And I want you to know the only reason I’m not kissing you right now is because I don’t want to scare you away.” His gaze dropped to my lips. “I very much want to kiss you, Allegra, and I think you want the same.”
God, the way he said my name—Allegra—with that rolling Italian lilt that dragged each syllable out like he was savoring it, made me feel a little breathless. Matteo was right about a lot of things, and it was definitely time to go inside.
At the door, I pushed to my toes and kissed his cheek. “Good night, Matteo.”
“Good night, bellissima. Put da light on so I know you’re okay.”
“I will.”
My bedroom was at the front of the house, so after I turned the lamp on, I peeked out the window and watched Matteo get back into his truck. My eyes drifted to the bed and a shiver ran through me. If he could make me feel this desperate sitting in the car next to him, what might he do to me in bed?
Chapter 17
Allegra
TWO DAYS LATER, I was wrapping some items for a customer in the antique shop when Luciana stopped in.
“Ciao!”
“Ciao, Luciana. I’ll be done in a minute.”
“Figurati. Take-a your time.”
Luciana was fingering through a box of old postcards when I finished. She pulled one out and held it up. “I didn’t know you sell this kind of stuff. I would come by sooner.”
I smiled and took the postcard of a naked woman from her hand. “I remember the first time I came across erotic postcards like these. I think I was about eight. My grandmother was in the back, and when she came out, I felt like I’d stumbled onto something I shouldn’t have, so I shoved the cards down the back of my shorts. It wasn’t until a few summers later that I finally got the courage to ask about them. Apparently, there’s a big niche market for antique erotic postcards. There was an old guy who used to come in and go right to that box.” I laughed. “I thought he was such a perv.”