Page 54 of The Fall Affair

“Yes, but I was standing because that’s what you do when a woman joins you.”

“Oh.” I laughed. “I guess it’s been a while since I was around a man with manners. But I’m ready to get out of here if you are.”

He lifted his chin toward the dance floor. “What about Luce?”

“She’s staying. The guy she’s seeing owns the club. She’s going to hang out with him.”

Matteo’s face wrinkled, but he shrugged. “If you say so.”

He held a hand out for me to walk first. We’d made it almost to the door when a woman stopped us.

“Matteo! Cosa ci fai qui?” She kissed both his cheeks and kept her hands on his chest as he answered her in Italian.

Then he looked to me. “Liliana, questa è Allegra.”

The woman gave me the once-over, followed by a very fake smile, and went back to talking to Matteo in Italian. Her hands didn’t leave his chest until he removed them and waved goodbye. “Ciao.”

“Chiamami,” she said.

My Italian was slowly coming back, especially now that I’d been dealing with customers at the antique shop, and I was pretty certain the woman had just told Matteo “call me.” Sort of ballsy considering he was leaving with another woman.

I was quiet on the drive home. I couldn’t stop thinking how easy it would be for someone else to take the chance I was too afraid to try. The woman at the club had put her hands on Matteo like he was the most obvious choice in the room, one worth staking a claim on, and maybe he was. Matteo was a man women noticed. He was the kind who didn’t chase, who carried himself like he didn’t need anyone, and that made you want to be the one he chose.

When we arrived back in Montepulciano, Matteo pulled into my driveway and put the car into park. “Did you have a good time tonight?” he asked.

“I did. I actually tried to get out of going earlier, but I’m glad I went. It was fun.”

“You were quiet on the drive home,” he said after a moment.

“Was I?”

He nodded.

“I’m just tired.”

Matteo’s gaze met mine. He didn’t say a word, yet somehow, I was certain he knew I was full of shit.

I cracked a smile. “And maybe I was wondering who the woman was at the club.”

His brows pinched. “Woman?”

“Liliana. She sized me up and couldn’t keep her hands off you.”

Matteo tilted his head, studying me. I thought I saw a hint of amusement in his eyes. “That upset you?”

“Not upset me. Not really, anyway. I guess it got me thinking what a good catch you are…” I looked away, not sure where I was going with this. As I tried to figure out what I wanted to say, Matteo reached over and gently took my chin in his hand, bringing my gaze back to his.

“We went out once. It didn’t even end with a kiss.”

An unexpected relief washed over me. Ridiculous, I know, considering I was the one keeping things between us from going any further. But that didn’t stop my neck from feeling looser. Matteo’s thumb stroked my cheek, and it sent a jolt of lightning through my body. Getting involved with this man was a bad idea. I knew it would end in disaster, like all relationships eventually did. Still, I felt the strongest pull toward him, and I imagined myself leaning in, pressing my lips to his. Our breaths would mingle, heavy and slow, the need building and building until we were tangled impossibly close, groping and groaning like we were the only two people in the world.

Matteo leaned in slightly, his eyes flickering to my lips before meeting mine. “I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but I have a feeling it’s heading in the right direction.”

I smiled. “I’m glad you came tonight.”

“I am, too.” He brushed a lock of hair from my face. “I’m going to walk you to the door and wait until you get upstairs and put da light on before I go. And I want you to know the only reason I’m not kissing you right now is because I don’t want to scare you away.” His gaze dropped to my lips. “I very much want to kiss you, Allegra, and I think you want the same.”

God, the way he said my name—Allegra—with that rolling Italian lilt that dragged each syllable out like he was savoring it, made me feel a little breathless. Matteo was right about a lot of things, and it was definitely time to go inside.