He nods.
“Any news on him getting out?”
He glances up at me and pockets his phone. “The attorney is working on it. At least getting him out on bail, like me.”
My stomach decides in that moment to growl, and Matteo laughs.
“Was that you?”
“It was all the hot sex,” I taunt, making him close his eyes and shake his head.
“You’re killing me, Little Russo,” he says.
I’ve noticed he only uses that nickname when I say something that crosses the line, like by saying it, it reminds him that I’m my brother’s little sister.
“Ehh, you’re strong and healthy. You’ll be okay. But me, on the other hand? If I don’t get some sustenance in me soon, I might die.”
He snorts out a laugh. “We wouldn’t want that.”
“Order in?”
“Or I can cook,” he offers. “You did say you wanted to eat healthier.”
“You cook?” I raise a brow, remembering he mentioned I could repay him by cooking and baking for him.
“Of course. That’s the healthiest way to eat.”
“Okay”—I open the gym door—“show me your ways.”
18
Matteo
I’ve never livedwith a woman, never wanted to. I always imagined living with someone would aggravate me. I like my space. I like my routine. Sure, I lived with my brother for years, but he didn’t tell me what to do. And most women I’ve spent time with want to control me, and I don’t like being controlled.
But living with Dani is unlike anything I could’ve imagined. For one, rather than dreading being around her, I crave her company way too fucking much. Whether it’s watching TV, talking, working out, and now cooking with her, I enjoy being around her. And that wouldn’t be a problem if she wasn’t off-limits. But she is.
“Oh my God, Matteo,” Dani moans, taking another bite of her food. “Seriously, this is so good.”
I pause bringing my fork up to my mouth and take a calming breath. This woman—her noises and scent and motherfucking curves for days—is going to be the death of me.
“And you were going to let me cook for you as repayment?” She shakes her head. “You would’ve been sorely disappointed.”
She takes another bite of the egg roll in a bowl that we made and moans again, and I drop my fork, unable to be around her a moment longer.
“I have to go,” I say, standing and taking my bowl to the sink.
I already ate most of it, so it’s not like I didn’t eat my food,but she still looks at me in confusion as I snatch my keys from the counter.
“Is everything okay?” she asks, concern laced in her tone.
“Yeah, I forgot I have a meeting.”
I’m full of shit. It’s six o’clock at night. There’s no meeting, but if I don’t get out of this house, the bit of restraint I’m holding on to is going to snap, and I’m going to fuck my best friend’s little sister on the goddamn table, right next to her bowl of food, and give her something else to moan about.
When I get downstairs, I voice-text my brother to see if he wants to meet for a drink at the country club, but he replies that one of the twins isn’t feeling well.
He texts back a moment later.
