Going about my usual daily routine, I tried to push his handsome, smug face out of my brain and go about my life.
My life within these four walls, I reminded myself. My life in this gilded prison with the most handsome jailer in the entire universe, who made my heart beat faster just by looking at me.
“Now that’s a view a man can get used to.”
I jumped at the sound of his voice, almost spilling the hot coffee over myself, and whirled around to find him standing there and staring at me.
“W-what?” My eyes roved over him just as his swept over me.Pursing my lips, I blew out a breath. How was it possible that he looked even better with his sweaty hair falling into his eyes?
“You.” Striding forward, he closed his chilly hands over my hips and lifted me onto the countertop, sliding between my legs.
I wrapped my thighs around him without even thinking about it. My arms went around his neck.
“You still run?” I asked.
“Yeah. It helps clear my head.” His forehead bumped into mine.
I knew that. Even when we were teenagers, he had always run. It just hadn’t occurred to me that’s why he had left before dawn.
“But I have to admit that coming home to you dancing around the kitchen in nothing but a T-shirt is…” blowing out a breath, he shook his head, “well, I would have cut the run short if I had known I was coming home to that.”
“I was just making breakfast.” Suddenly, I was nervous like I was a teenager again, because my brother’s handsome best friend was giving me the time of day.
“Would you like some?”
“Since when do you cook?”
The question took me by surprise, and I answered without thinking about it. “I had to learn quickly with…”
I froze. Shit, I had almost slipped up. Swallowing hard, I forced myself to smile. “To feed myself, and then I found out I was good at it and…”
A darkness flickered into his eyes. “You got yourself a little job at an Italian bakery in good old London town?”
“Yeah.” My voice shook. He knew about my job. The fact made my heart speed up. What else did he know?
I glanced at him. At his open, smiling face, and let out a sigh of relief.
He might know about my job, but he didn’t know about Lily. He wouldn’t be looking at me like that if he did. Hell, he wouldn’t be like this if he even suspected.
My secret was safe, but I would have to be more careful and keep my guard up.
“Maybe tonight I can cook for you?” I asked sweetly. “Show you my skills.”
Matteo’s hands slid up my thighs. “I’d like that a lot, Sophia.” He blinked once, shaking himself. “But I can’t tonight. I have plans.”
Just like that, my good mood evaporated. The smile on my face froze. He was probably going out with his fiancée.
“I have a club opening.” Strong fingers continued to massage my thighs, making it impossible to think clearly, because I knew this was all an act and I was only here to help my family. My body was a traitorous bitch and responded to him like it had always done.
“Okay.”
“I’d like you to come with me.”
His words took me completely by surprise. My head jolted up. “Me? Shouldn’t you take Franny?” I couldn’t help it. My voice dripped with sarcasm.
He shot me a look that clearly said drop it and I smashed my lips together.
“I…okay,” I stuttered. “Then I’d love to come with you, Matteo. It will be nice to get out for a while.”
