Truth was, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. I liked him too much. More than I wanted to. And spending an entire night alone with him in some little Hawaiian town sounded like the kind of trouble I shouldn’t let myself fall into.
But then he leaned in, voice softening just enough to make my heartbeat stumble. “I promise you a good time, Francesca. Nothing more. And I’ll always respect your distance.”
The sincerity in his tone caught me off guard. No teasing. No cocky grin. Just him.
I felt the smile forming before I could stop it. “Fine,” I said, shaking my head. “One night.”
His grin spread, slow and genuine. “I’ll pick you up from your door in one hour. Don’t be late.”
I laughed softly as I pushed my chair back. “We’ll see.”
I grabbed my beach bag and started toward the path leading back to the villas. I didn’t have to turn around to know he was watching me. I could feel it – his gaze lingering, warm and heavy, all the way to the door.
And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t try to hide my smile.
Exactly an hour later, there was a knock at my door.
I glanced at my reflection one last time – white dress flowing softly around my legs, gold sandals catching the light just right – and took a slow breath to steady the flutter beneath my ribs. Then I opened the door.
Matteo stood there.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
The warm hallway light spilled over him, outlining the sharp planes of his face, the tan glow of his skin, the breadth of his shoulders under the crisp white linen shirt. The top two buttons were undone, revealing a hint of chest and the glint of his gold cross chain. White trousers, tan shoes, a gold watch on his wrist. His hands rested casually in his pockets, but there was nothing casual about the way he filled the doorway.
And then he looked at me.
His eyes swept over me slowly, reverently, like he was seeing me for the first time. For a heartbeat, Matteo Di’Ablo – cartel heir, infuriating flirt, impossible man – looked completely star-struck.
“You look breathtaking,Donna.”
His voice dropped low, a little rough around the edges. My pulse skipped. The nickname, the way he said it – it wrapped around me like silk.
We stood there, suspended in something warm and electric. The soft Hawaiian breeze drifted in through the open balcony doors behind me, carrying the scent of night-blooming flowers and the distant ocean.
I stepped closer, my heels clicking softly against the tile, until there was barely any space between us. My hand lifted almost on instinct, smoothing over the front of his linen shirt. The fabric was warm from his skin, the solid wall of muscle underneath unmistakable.
“You look good, too,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips.
His answering smile was slow and devastating.
We finally stepped out, the night wrapping around us like velvet. I slipped my arm through his, linking it around his bicep as we started down the path toward the waiting car. His arm was solid beneath my touch, his warmthseeping into me in a way that made my heartbeat a little too fast.
He gave me that infuriating smirk.
“So I don’t fall,” I said quickly, lifting my chin a little.
His smile softened, something almost tender flickering across his face. “Well, we wouldn’t want that.” Then, lower, almost like a promise, “Don’t worry,princesa. I got you.”
And God help me… I believed him.
The town was alive beneath a velvet sky. Golden string lights draped from palm to palm, casting a warm, magical glow over the cobblestone streets. Laughter spilled out from cafés and bars; surf shops still had their doors open, boards stacked against the walls like colorful sculptures. The air smelled like vanilla, hibiscus, and sea salt, and the night breeze was soft on my skin.
We walked side by side, my arm still holding onto his, the sound of our footsteps mingling with distant music.
“So,” I finally asked, glancing over at him with a raised brow, “where exactly are we going?”
Matteo shoved his hands into his pockets, the corners of his mouth curling into a half-smile. “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
