“Sounds like you had a great time,” I state once he’s done.
“The best. Can we keep her, please?”
I smile, amused. “People can’t be kept, Leonardo.”
And I doubt she’d want to be kept by us anyway.
“Okay,” Leo says sadly. “But before she leaves, you should teach Lindsay how to swim, Daddy. She says she’s scared.”
I consider that for a moment. And then my mind wanders to the other things Lindsay Beaumont could possibly be scared of. I wonder if she could ever let me in enough that I could conquer her fears.
I’d drive them all to the edge of darkness and then plunge them to the abyss.
CHAPTER 18
Lindsay
Three days fly by quickly when I’m mostly doing nothing.
Other than hanging out with a five-year-old, my days consist of lying about and eating some really deliciously cooked meals. I would say I’m in heaven. Except the devil’s gatekeeper drove me here himself.
Matteo and I haven’t spoken outside of brief glances. I itch with the knowledge of everything that’s happened between us. An apology dances on my tongue every minute he’s in my line of sight.
But I don’t approach. I tell myself it’s better this way and try to believe it.
The only real productive thing I’ve done is go visit my father with four bodyguards in tow. Crater and Boulder, and then two other tall, domineering men following me around. And as infuriating as it was, I managed to not go knocking on Matteo’s door to argue about it.
It was a real exercise in self-control, and I was pretty proud of it.
Unfortunately, what’s worse than not knocking on his door looking for a fight is not talking to him at all.
I head down to the kitchen later that morning, in search of some breakfast. I decided to sleep in today. While this may not count as a vacation resort in an exotic country. It’s my first time away from work in a while and I’m looking to make it count.
I walk down the hall and through the space leading to the kitchen. And then my feet fall to a stop.
Matteo’s standing at the counter. His sleeves are rolled up and his hair is slightly disheveled in a messy just-rolled-out-of-bed look.
My throat grows dry at the sight of him.
He’s usually not home this time of the day. It’s why it’s been so easy to avoid him. He leaves early and comes back just before Leo’s bedtime.
Perched on a stool, entirely too focused on his father, is Leo. It takes me a second to process the scene. Matteo’s gaze lands on me and the air in the room shifts.
“Hey, Lin. Good morning,” Leo greets when he notices me.
“Good morning,” I say, my voice softer than I intended. “What’s going on?”
“Dad’s staying home to hang out with me today. We’re going to make brownies.”
My eyebrow arches. I glance at the bowl in front of Matteo, then at the man himself before looking at Leo.
“Who’s making brownies?”
“Dad is,” he replies seriously.
“That’s… unexpected,” I murmur. “Your dad can bake?”
It’s so strangely domesticated and so unlike him. I’m completely thrown off by it.
