Page 14 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

I shake my head once. She disappears with the jacket, but not before I catch Matteo and Camilla looking at each other. It’s quick, but I don’t miss it.

Matteo clasps his hands together.

“Why don’t we move to the garden? It’s such a nice day out.”

Camilla steps aside, gesturing toward the doors that lead outside.

“We’ll follow you and Rosalia out.”

Rosalia moves to my side. For a moment, no one moves. Then it hits me. They’re waiting for me. I step forward. Rosalia’s hand slides around my forearm, her fingers curling lightly against my sleeve. I have to fight the immediate urge to pull away.

We all take our seats at a lavish table set at the edge of the garden. The view stretches out over a wide koi pond where flashes of orange and white drift lazily beneath the surface of the water. Roses bloom everywhere around us, climbing trellises and spilling over stone borders in thick waves of color.

Within seconds, several maids appear from the house carrying silver trays. Crystal glasses are set in front of us, followed by tea poured carefully from porcelain pots. Small plates of fruit, pastries, and delicate appetizers are arranged across the table as if this is some kind of afternoon garden party instead of a business meeting disguised as a family gathering.

Matteo clears his throat, folding his hands on the table as he looks across at me.

“Michael,” he says warmly, “before we discuss anything else, thank you again for your generosity toward our family.”

I give a tight smile but don’t respond. The gratitude in his voice is genuine enough. Five million dollars tends to inspire that.

“If it weren’t for you forgiving our debt,” he continues, glancing briefly toward Camilla before returning his attention to me, “our situation would have been…far more complicated.”

Beside him, Camilla smiles politely, though her posture remains rigid.

“But thankfully,” Matteo goes on, his tone brightening as he gestures lightly toward the women beside him, “Camilla and Rosalia have been very busy these past few months planning the wedding.”

At that, Rosalia’s smile widens.

“Everything is coming together beautifully,” Camilla adds, clearly pleased with herself.

Matteo chuckles softly and leans back in his chair. “And the date is approaching quickly now. Only two months away. August will be here before we know it.”

I’m half-listening as he continues talking about venues, flowers, and guest lists. Across the table, Rosalia watches me the entire time, her smile never once fading.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I reach for it automatically, glancing down at the screen beneath the table.

Katie: What am I supposed to wear on a date with a man who wears tailored suits to a college bar?

A laugh slips out of me. I clear my throat and look up. Across the table, Matteo, Camilla, and Rosalia are all staring at me.

“Excuse me,” I say, standing from my chair. “I need to make a phone call.”

“Of course,” Matteo says politely.

Rosalia’s eyebrows pull together as I rise from the table, her expression tightening slightly as she watches me walk away.

Once I’m far enough from the table that their voices fade into the background, I pull my phone from my pocket and dial her number. I stop beside a wooden trellis and lean back against it as the phone rings.

She answers on the first ring.

“Hello?” she says, her voice carrying a note of confusion.

“Wear whatever makes you comfortable,” I tell her.

“No. We’re not doing that,” she says. “What are you wearing?”

The irritation in her voice makes me grin.