CHAPTER 23
28
Amara’s POV
His jaw tightened slightly at the last part, but he said nothing. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, studying me like he was trying to piece together a puzzle.
“Everyone deserves to feel important at least one day a year,” he finally said and I reveled at the fact that his voice was softer
than I had ever heard it.
For a moment, I did not know what to say. Matteo was not supposed to have layers like this. He was supposed to be the cold and indifferent, the calculating Don who kept everyone at arm’s length. But tonight, he was something else entirely.
And I did not know how to handle it.
After dinner, I thought the night was over, but Matteo had other plans.
He stood and offered me his hand. “Dance
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with me.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” His smirk returned, but there was a challenge in his eyes now, like he was daring me to refuse.
“I didn’t take you for a dancer,” I mused, still seated.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about
me, cara mia.
1ས་་
Before I could argue, the soft music filled the terrace and I could not get myself to refuse anymore, seeing the hope and anticipation in his eyes. And I did not have the heart to break it.
I stared at him, my heart doing that stupid fluttering thing again. “You really went all out, didn’t you?”
“Are you going to keep stalling, or are you going to dance with me?”
I stood and placed my hand in his.
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His touch was warm as his hand rested lightly on my waist and I placed my free hand on his shoulder, trying to ignore the way the closeness made my skin tingle as he guided me into the simplest of steps. It’s been years since I had this, it had been years since I was taken to a date, a dance, or even a romantic dinner. Luca had forgotten to treat me like this- or he might have chosen not to since he was already so busy with Casey that I was put to the sideline, dealing with the family businesses, while they fool around under
my nose.
“You‘ re full of surprises tonight, Vitale,” I mumbled.
“Only for you,” he replied without hesitation.
The words hit me harder than they should have, and I found myself looking up at him, searching his face for any hint of insincerity. But there was none.
He was confusing me, playing with my
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feelings like this and I was scared that I might fall into a trap and end up breaking my heart, again. I did not know what game he was playing; was this still a part of the plan to achieve our common goal?
Or was it already something else entirely?
I did not know.
As the song played, the space between us ceased to exist. His hand on my waist shifted slightly, pulling me closer until our bodies were against each other and his warmth was already seeping into mine. My heart pounded against my ribcage, and I wondered if he could feel it.
This was dangerous. Matteo was not supposed to make me feel this way. He was not supposed to look at me like I was the only person in the world.
And yet, here we were.
He leaned in slightly, his eyes never leaving mine. I held my breath as I realized how close we were, how easy it would be for
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him to keep me in his arms.
But I couldn’t. Not yet.
I was scared that I would fall and break again. The wound that Luca left was still fresh.
I pulled back, breaking the moment, and his hand dropped, and I saw the disappointment that flashed briefly in his eyes before they were replaced with coldness.
“Matteo,” I stammered. “I… I can‘ t-”
“You don’t have to explain,” he replied gently and understanding. “I won’t rush you, Amara. But I meant what I said earlier. You don’t have to run from this. Not with
me.”
He walked me back to my room after that, and even with the door closed and I was alone, his presence still lingered, and his warmth still remained in my system.
What are you doing to me, Matteo?
